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rees at the base of the slope and skimmed two streams of annihilation discs straight into Rand's path。 Consequently； he had to bring that fancy maneuvering into play sooner than planned； but he did succeed in dodging the energy Frisbees of the enemy's first volley。
Of course； it meant leaving the road entirely to do so。
But at least we're alive！ he screamed to himself as the Cyclone was bounding down the steep slope toward the trees； Annie hanging on for dear life； in and out of the pillion seat half a dozen times before they hit the flat ground at the base of the cliff。 Rand risked a look over his shoulder and saw that the APC had also left the ledge roadbed。
What he； didn't see； however； was that Lunk's landing was far from smooth。 A second discharge of disc fire had forced Lunk to swerve at the last moment； the nose of the vehicle connected with some large rocks and overturned； sending Marlene sprawling while Lunk rode out the roll。 The same Invid ship swooped down for a close pass over the fleeing Cycloners； loosing a barrage as it fell； but Lancer's Alpha was on the thing now and holed it before it could manage a follow…up burst。 Rand； meanwhile； was closing on the trees at top speed； heartened when he heard the Pincer unit explode behind him； but panicked when he saw two more rise unexpectedly out of the forest。
〃They're everywhere！〃 he shouted。
〃Rand！ Get into your battle armor！〃 he heard Scott say over the mecha's tac net。 〃I'll keep you covered。〃
Rand halted the Cyclone and began to snatch sections of armor from one of the storage partments。 Off to his right he saw Lunk leading a dazed Marlene to shelter among the rocks at the base of the slope and told Annie to join them there。 She ran off； holding her cap on her head with one hand。
Rand struggled into the 〃thinking cap〃 and launched for reconfiguration。 A moment later he was back on the ground in Battle Armor mode； squaring off with one of the ships。 The thing tried an overhand pincer swipe that missed； then a； quick spray of disc fire after Rand had aggravated it with two Scorpions from the Cyclone's forearm launchers。 The discs tore into the earth at Rand's feet and threw him flat on his back； but he countered with three missiles that found their way into seams in the ship's alloy。 The Invid had enough life left in it to attempt a second pincer crush； but Rand rolled out from under it and watched as the ship collapsed onto its face and exploded。
Elsewhere； Rook was in pursuit of the second new arrival； Scott was several lengths behind her as she chased the ship across wooded valleys and dry fingers of foothills。 The lieutenant's face came up on the red VT's cockpit mo screen。
〃That's enough； Rook…let it go。〃
〃But we can't let this one report that it found us；〃 she pointed out。 〃We've gotta finish it。〃
〃Forget it；〃 Scott told her more strongly。 〃They're on to us already； or we wouldn't have had that little skirmish back there。 Swing around。〃
Rook glared at Scott's screen image； then began to ease the VT off its pursuit heading。 She couldn't help but notice how beautiful the land was below her…green hills and meadows； in startling contrast to the barrenness of the high ground。 She saw a town and alerted Scott to her find。
〃It doesn't look like anybody's home；〃 she mented as the two fighters pleted a quick flyby。
Scott was silent for a moment； then said： 〃That'll be perfect。〃
〃Perfect for what？〃 she asked him。 But he had nothing further to say。
They all agreed that the village must have been a delightful place when it was alive。 Now it was just a motley collection of buildings and houses （spanning several hundred years of architectural styles）； but nothing could diminish the tranquillity of the valley itself or the beauty of the surrounding mountains。
Scott ordered the Veritechs in and instructed Rand to assist Lunk with whatever repairs the APC required； afterward the two men were to join the others in town； but Marlene and Annie were to wait until they received an all clear before ing down from the hills。
A building…to…building search of the place revealed little in the way of supplies； but Lancer stumbled across one item that prompted a scheme to turn the tables on the Invid Troopers in the nearby hive…as well as carry out the more prosaic surprise Scott had in mind for Annie。 What he had found…hidden in a barn on the outskirts of town…was a device known as a bio…emulator； a Protoculture…powered instrument that was capable of mimicking the energy emanations of a supply…sized cache of the pure stuff。 It had been developed not by the resistance but by the black market racketeers at the close of the Second Robotech War； for luring Southern Cross personnel to their deaths。
Given top billing in Scott's reworked plan was an unusual building that dominated the town； a circular structure with a columned cupola adorning its domed roof that had once served as an armory。 Installation of the bio…emulator setup required a certain amount of group effort to conceal wiring and such； but the original plan； the prosaic one； called for little more than setting up several strategically placed rocket launchers and breaking out some of the supplies the team had brought with it from the Rocky Mountains underground plex。 The freedom fighters split up into two teams； with Rook and Rand handling the indoor chores while Lunk and Lancer worked together rigging the armory building with charges。 Scott did what he did best： he supervised。
Then Rand was sent to fetch the two women。
The sun was setting； huge and golden； and。 Annie and Marlene were still waiting in the mountains； sitting side by side on the rock with a western view。
〃I guess birthdays are very special days；〃 Marlene was saying consolingly。 〃I wish I could remember if I ever had one。〃
〃Oh； you've had one；〃 said Annie。 〃I don't think there's any way around that。〃
〃Do they always make you unhappy？〃
Annie brought her knees to her chest and put her head in her hands。 〃Let's just say that it's hard to be happy when every single one of your birthdays is a disaster。〃
〃But Annie； were they all bad？〃
The young girl was sniffling now； her eyes closed。
There was a time； she recalled； when things could have been pleasant but weren't。 A time before the Invid invasion； when her parents and Mr。 Widget were still alive； when the Northlands were embroiled in war with the Robotech Masters； and the Southlands prospered。 Before the bombs。。。when she still had a home。
She could see herself in that simple shingled house； dressed in her yellow pants and blouse； reading the card they had given her and gazing at the cake her mom had bought at the market； left alone to puzzle out why they couldn't stay to enjoy it with her； why they always seemed to have more important things to do。 She could hear her mother's voice still： Your father and I won't be back till late； Annie； so when you've finished your little party； be sure to clean up all the dishes and put yourself to bed at a decent hour； all right？ Well； good…bye； honey； and； oh yes； happy birthday。。。
〃I don't know how many times I prayed that just once I could have a real birthday party with friends and family like e