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eserves； were sitting ducks for the Human gunners。 Pass after pass by the mecha and broadsides from the heavier craft inflicted heavy damage on the mightiest machines of the Masters' Robotechnology。 But what the Humans didn't realize was that they were wasting valuable time and effort on targets of no importance…on targets that contained only a few barely functioning zombies。
The Masters' flagship was far more effective； taking a heavy toll on its attackers and sustaining little damage。 The Southern Cross forces； unaware that they had been outflanked； decided to concentrate on eliminating the other mother ships first。 They would deal with the flagship once the rest of the invasion fleet had been destroyed。
One mother ship flared； and minutes later； another； their power systems rupturing and yielding up their remaining energy in explosions that expanded them and rent them apart。
Another mother ship； drifting； began the long crashplunge into the Earth's atmosphere。 Mecha and heavy craft raced after； trying desperately to shoot it to bits。 The impact of an object that large could work more damage than any other blow the Masters had yet struck； Humanity had learned that with the SDF…1s crash； so long ago。
It was then that the first reports came through of the massive； renewed attack on Earth itself。
The Triumviroids dropped in waves on Monument City； Fokker Base； and a half…dozen other strategic objectives in the region of the mounds。 Southern Cross mecha and defense forces barely had time to brace themselves before the countryside became a ghastly killing ground。
Reds whirled and swooped on their Hovercraft； strafing and spreading death and destruction。 Outnumbered； the Humans fought grimly to make every death count； but still the uneven score mounted in the enemy's favor。 All the volunteers and final reserves went into action。 The death toll mounted and mounted。
Triumviroids met their end； too； in staggering numbers； it mattered little to the Masters if their mecha…slaves were wiped out to the last one。 The Matrix was the only important thing now。 Neither side gave quarter or asked it。
In his office high up in the Southern Cross headquarters； Supreme mander Leonard looked down on the Taming graveyard that was Monument City。
Colonel Seward implored again； 〃Sir； the defense forces are simply outgunned and outnumbered！ Monument City's doomed！ We have no choice but to evacuate！〃
Seward knew there was at that moment another flight of assault ships ing in at the city from the north。 It might already be too late。 For some reason； the enemy hadn't seemed to have understood that the slim white towers were the nerve center of the Terran military。 But with the enormous volume of munications traffic now being channeled directly there； and the obvious disposition of surviving forces to protect it； even the aliens would realize it was a prize target。
Seward fidgeted； wanting to run。 Good career moves might justify a certain recklessness； but all the threat…evaluation puters agreed that staying in the HQ was suicide。 And Seward had no desire for a posthumous medal； no matter how high。
But Leonard didn't seem to see things that way。 He stood； bulky and stolid as a stone； his back to the staff officer； watching as the city burned。
Even as Seward was begging for Leonard to see reason； alien sights were ranging on the white towers。 Slim； gleaming pillars suggesting Crusaders' pennons and medieval ramparts； the HQ structures were an easy target to spot。 Targeting puter gunlock was established almost instantly。
〃Go if you want；〃 Leonard said brusquely。 〃I'm staying here until this battle is over。〃
It wasn't an act of bravery or loyalty。 He knew he had made a terrible blunder； answering the alien feint with the bulk of his forces。 His hatred of all things unearthly； the loathing burn in The terrible injuries he hall taken in bat against the Zentraedi； had blinded him to everything but the chance for revenge。
He seemed bigger than life to the people around him； but the damage done him…to his body and thus to his spirit； his mind…that day of Dolza's holocaust attack； almost eighteen years before； was beyond any healing。
From the moment when Leonard had overridden Emerson's wait…and…see policy； when the Masters first showed up； things had gone from bad to worse。 Leonard had long since admitted to himself that Rolf Emerson was the better strategist and tactician by far； the better general even in terms of manding his troops' loyalty。 But…dammit！ The man had no true appreciation of the danger of these aliens； of all aliens！
Seward saw further argument was useless； and started for the door。 His rationalization was that he was carrying Leonard's last dispatch； but in fact he was deserting his doomed post。 The Southern Cross was finished。
Leonard let him go； waiting to die。 Better that way； rather than to live； being known as the man who had lost Earth to obscene monsters from another star。
Leonard didn't have long to wait； the first salvoes hit while Seward was still in the doorway； a massive strike that lit the sky and shook the ground。 The proud white towers of the Southern Cross were blackened； as concrete went to powder and structural alloys melted at the peripheries。 At the centers of the hits； there was plete destruction。 For Leonard； it was the end of an inner agony that had lasted some seventeen years； for the Human race； his death came too late。
The 15th had picked up more of the refugee clones； hundreds of them； until Angelo Dante began wishing somebody a little more suited to the mass escape was in charge…say； somebody who could part the Red Sea； for instance。
But there wasn't； even Lieutenant Satori was less qualified than he to lead a bat operation like this。 Just a big； dumb career sergeant waiting around for his pension； he thought； who happened to get his turn in the barrel at the wrong time。 Just bad luck； drive on； ATACs！
Going back for the tanks was out of the question。 The 15th had to move onward； as fast as possible； and give their trust to luck。
〃This hatch leads to an assault ship docking area；〃 the clone who was guiding him said； crouched on the ladderway under an oblong metal slab。 〃I think it is the one you wanted。〃
Dante was hunkered own next to him； studying the hatch。 Spread out behind him on the ladderway and the drawbridgelike catwalks leading to it were the murmuring； frightened clones marked by the Masters for mass extermination。 Nova and the rest of the 15th were spread out through the crowd； trying desperately to keep the people from panicking。
People； Dante sighed to himself。 Hell； no denying it： that was the way the ATACs had e to think of them。 And ATAC…15's line of work was not letting innocent people be slaughtered。
Angelo gripped his idle and awkwardly changed places with the clone； then eased the hatch up for a look。 The place was empty； as far as he could see； more to the point； there were three or four of the whiskbroom…shaped assault ships waiting there； parked in a row。 The hatchway was in a passageway leading to the hangar deck； which was at a slightly lower level。
He couldn't believe the ships hadn't been mitted to the ba