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winds of shrapnel； and in vacuum。
Battlecruiser number three； the Austerlitz； disappeared in a furious fireball。 Other vessels were taking heavy damage。 The Terrans had been taken by surprise； and no one could answer the question； How could this have happened？ How could they have been waiting for us； as if they knew we were ing？
But the Humans struggled to throw up a screen of AA fire； bring damage under control； and simultaneously launch mecha of their own。 In moments the A…JACs； rotors folded for space bat； howled forth from the battlecruisers to engage in battle。
As soon as the A…JACs began their counterattack； the hatches opened in the sides of the assault ships； and enormous Bioroids rode forth to give battle on circular antigrav Hovercraft。 The Bioroids deployed for the fight； looking like vaguely human…shaped walking battleships。 They swarmed angrily； outnumbering the Human mecha。
〃Air Cavalry One to Lieutenant Crystal；〃 the call came over the mand net。 〃I'm breaking radio silence to request immediate assistance。 We are under heavy attack and request immediate assistance。〃
Marie； on the bridge of the destroyer escort Mohi Heath； saw the worried look on the face of Lieutenant Lucas； the Aircav mander。 She opened her headset mike to transmit。 〃Roger； Aircav One； we're on our way。〃
The ships of the patchwork evacuation force went to maximum speed。 Marie threw the headset aside and ran for her own A…JAC； and the rest of her TASC outfit； the Black Lions； hot…scrambled。
The Bioroids were enjoying good hunting。
The relief expedition was short on mecha； since so many had been mitted to the first strikeforce and many more had to remain behind to guard Earth。 So； the enemy assault ships stayed back and let the clone…operated Bioroids ride their Hovercraft； and slaughter the enemy。
The relief force A…JACs and others fought valiantly； but the sheer unevenness in numbers became apparent at once。 Bioroids blazed away with the weapons mounted in the control stems and platform bows of their Hovercraft； and with the disc…shaped handguns that were as big as fieldpieces。 A…JACs blazed into explosive death one after another。
Lieutenant Lucas； his unit half gone； was calling to ask permission for a hasty withdrawal； there was no point in throwing away Earth's valuable mecha。 Then； suddenly； there was a blue Bioroid on his tail； the gun in its control stem spewing annihilation discs。 Lucas only had a split second to wonder who would take over （his exec being dead already） and to hope that the strikeforce somehow would survive。
But then the Bioroid disappeared in a flaming ball of gas； and a strange A…JAC bearing a rampant black lion came zooming past。 〃Crystal； this is Lucas！ Crystal； is that you？〃
〃Looks like this time the settlers have e to rescue the cavalry；〃 she said。 She added to her own outfit； 〃Okay； boys； let's wrassle 'em around some。〃
But that was already happening。 Marie Crystal's Black Lions had e in on the enemy's rear flank； undetected； and hurled themselves into the furious dogfight。 They had already changed the odds； within seconds they were turning the kill ratios around。 Before fifteen seconds passed； eight surprised Bioroids had been shot to fragments or utterly destroyed。
But the enemy seemed determined to stand its ground； as it were； and fight。 The Lions； having been mauled so badly on their first assault only days before； were more than willing to oblige。
Dogfight？ Rat race？ Oh； yes！ Marie thought。 Now you pay！ And if somebody asks who your accountants are； you just say； 〃the Black Lions〃！
The engagement got even hotter。 Marie did a classic 〃Fokker Feint；〃 flamed a blue； then raised Aircav One again。 〃Lieutenant Lucas！ Now's your chance！ Head for ALUCE base！〃
It was too sensible a suggestion for Lucas to argue with； the units still on the moon would need the relief force； and Marie's pilots were keeping the enemy busy。 Lucas disengaged his A…JACs even as the relief warcraft made their way past the distracted Bioroids to recover Aircav One and its birds on the fly。 He headed for ALUCE at top speed。
Some of the enemy tried to give chase； and Marie led several of her A…JACs to stop them。 She decided to change the mix a bit； and went to Battloid mode。 Other A…JACs followed suit； screaming after the enemy with back and foot thrusters blaring。
The A…JACs launched missiles； and three more Bioroids got waxed。 The rest broke off their chase； to turn on their tormentors。 Aircav One and the rest of the relief force were already disappearing for their rendezvous with Luna。
The Black Lions hit the Bioroids with everything they had； driving them back； until Marie judged that the evacuation force had enough of a head start。 With the enemy ranks drastically thinned out and their attack broken； the A…JACs got in a final barrage that blew one of the invader assault ships to atoms。 As before； destruction of their field…mand nerve center confused and demoralized the Bioroids； the A…JACs took advantage of that to break contact and return to their convoy at max thrust。
Soon Earth loomed huge and blue…white before them。
CHAPTER FOUR
Very well； I can't stop you。 Take the Protoculture from me！ Seal my fate； and seal your own as well！
The original Zor to the Lords of Tirol
The Robotech Masters' anger was not assuaged by their warriors' excuse that Zor Prime had mentioned nothing of a second force ing from Luna to catch the Bioroids in a pincer。 If the Masters were not so short of functioning servants； many clones； both in the mand structure and in the ranks； would have been deactivated and sent to reclamation。
The Clonemasters cut short the reports and turned to one another； as they waited fearfully。 〃Well then；〃 Dag said to the Clonemaster group leader； Jeddar； 〃I presume that is all the evidence we need。 We know we can no longer depend on Zor Prime's transmissions。〃
Jeddar bowed。 〃That is correct； Master。 He has been overexposed to the emotional contagions of Humanity。 But there is a matter of more immediate concern。〃
〃And that is？〃 Bowkaz demanded； looking down at him。
〃Taking Musica as an example；〃 Jeddar responded； 〃we are seeing an upsurge in emotionality and counterproductive behavior similar to what we now know happened to the Zentraedi giants when they tried to recover the Protoculture Matrix。〃
Shaizan declared to the other Masters； 〃It seems to me that the time has e to begin all…out production of our Invid Fighters。〃
The Masters' Invid Fighters were different from the mecha of the same designation once used by the Zentraedi giants。 But like the Zentraedi's； the Masters' Invid Fighters…more monly referred to as the Triumviroid…were the most powerful mecha in the Masters' inventory。 The clone/fighting machine system had been developed rather recently by their stagnated standards…and incorporated certain characteristics of the savage Invid with whom the Masters had fought a long and unrelenting war。
The reason there were not more Triumviroids in the Masters' forces was because their production was so costly。 But the Masters now faced the choice of either losing the war or launching a crash program to create a fighting force of Invid Fighters