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raft mostly； seemingly under the mand of a blue leader。 Curiously enough； they didn't fan out to search the woods but wandered around the battle wreckage instead； as though searching for something。 On several occasions they came close to crushing the overturned Cyclones； and a mindless pincer swipe almost sent the APC off the slope （where it was supposed to appear crashed） and down into the river below。
From the edge of the woods； Scott's team of irregulars watched the aliens' movements with growing alarm。 The search party represented more collective firepower than any of them had yet witnessed； and Scott couldn't help but wonder about it。 He was saying as much to Rand； when Sue Graham suddenly stood up and began filming the Invid。
〃Graham； what are you doing？！〃 Scott whispered from behind the fallen tree that concealed them。 〃You're going to give away our position！〃 It was getting dark now； but that was no reason to take chances。
〃Every piece of footage adds to our knowledge； Lieutenant；〃 she answered him calmly。 〃Besides； I don't have any decent shots of these things on two feet。 Most of it's aerial sequences； and I'm not about to lose the opportunity now。〃
Scott reached over and grabbed her ankle； twisting it and forcing her to sit down。 〃You do that on your own time； Graham；〃 he grated。 〃Not when there are other lives at stake。〃
A short time later； the Invid patrol left the area and the team began to relax somewhat。 Lunk； Rand； and Lancer stole their way to the APC and returned with the sleeping gear and provisions。 They made camp in a small cabin fifty feet into the woods。
Meanwhile； Sue Graham filled Scott in on what she knew about the Earth forces' imminent invasion。 She had spent the past year aboard the SDF…3 as Admiral Hunter's personal photographer； and she couldn't say enough good things about the man。 She didn't say what had made her join the ranks of Jupiter Division； but it was obvious to Scott that there was some intrigue connected to the move。 They spoke of Tirol and Fantoma； of Rem and Cabell； and of other notable people they both knew。 Scott felt himself growing strangely homesick for deep space if not for Tirol itself； and even his attitude toward the journalist was softening somewhat。 The red bodysuit she was wearing in place of the armor helped。
〃The third attack unit is in preliminary maneuvers at a base on the far side of the moon；〃 Graham was saying now。 She had set her camera up to project some of the holographic footage she had shot； and everyone was gathered around。 〃Here's a shot of the site；〃 she narrated as views of deep space and the warships of the Expeditionary fleet lit up the darkness。
〃The admiral's fleet is due to rendezvous with the advance units any day now。 Squadrons of new…generation Veritechs will arrive with the fleet。 They've been codenamed Shadow Fighters。〃
Scott； Lunk； and Lancer leaned toward the holo…image for a better view。 The craft looked something like the standard VTs but were colored a nonreflective gray…black and had a more pronounced delta…wing design。
〃Why ‘Shadow Fighter'？〃 Lunk wanted to know。
Graham changed discs； technical readouts now filled the bolo…field； replacing the space footage。 〃The Protoculture generators of the new…generation VTs have been redesigned to include a fourth…dimensional configuration that renders the Shadow Fighter invisible。 The Nichols drive； it's called。〃
Scott had a hundred more questions in mind； but once again it was Marlene who threw him off track。 She uttered a low moan and began to sink into that posture of agony they had all witnessed so often。 Sue Graham looked at the red…haired woman skeptically and asked： 〃What's with this one； anyway？〃
Scott ignored her and crept to the edge of the woods to search the skies。 Sure enough； the Invid squadron was returning； their thrusters blazing in the night。 Scott ordered everyone forward； and silently they made for the valley floor to investigate the enemy's reappearance。 Marlene； even though breathless with pain； was the first to notice that the cockpit of the blue leader was opening。
And out of the innards of the ship stepped what looked like a Human being： a young man with long blond hair in a tight…fitting broadly striped uniform of black and green。 He issued a mand the team strained to hear； and two of the Pincer Ships appeared to acknowledge him with raised claw salutes。
〃Human pilots！〃 Graham said in amazement。
〃Another turncoat；〃 said Rand。 〃Just like that woman we saw。。。The Invid must have a thing for blondes。〃
〃Quiet！〃 Scott told him。 〃I'm certain they know we're here。 〃
〃Maybe not； Lieutenant；〃 said Graham almost casually； the camera perched on her shoulder。
Rook turned around to look up at her。 〃Then what？ Some piece of Robotech mecha？〃
〃Exactly。 A syncro…cannon。〃
Scott was the only one who knew what she was talking about； the rest of them were scratching their heads while he cursed Graham for not telling him earlier that the assault group had been equipped with such a weapon。
〃It's a particle…beam weapon；〃 he explained。 〃The cannon was developed by Dr。 Lang for use against the Invid。 〃
〃It must pack one helluva wallop if the Invid are bothering to look for it；〃 Rand mented。
〃It does；〃 Sue told him； still filming the aliens' movements。 〃That's why I hid it from them。〃
Scott shot to his feet and yanked the camera out of Graham's grasp。 〃Where； Graham？ And no games。〃
〃In a cave。〃 She gestured without looking。 〃About a click or so upriver。〃
Roughly； Scott shoved the camera back into her hands。
〃We've got to get that weapon before they find it。〃
〃Count me out； Lieutenant；〃 said Graham。
〃Ever hear of loyalty； or self…sacrifice？〃
She smirked。 〃We've all got our jobs to do。 For me； it's this。〃 She patted the camera。
〃Please； Scott；〃 Marlene said； cutting them off； reaching up for his hand。 〃Don't try to go out there。 You'll be killed。〃
Scott squeezed her hand and smiled thinly。 〃I'll see that weapon destroyed before I see it fall into their claws。〃 He turned to glare at Sue Graham： 〃That's my job。。。but I can't expect you to understand。〃
Graham laughed shortly； patting the camera again。 〃Just give me some good footage； hero。 I'll make you a star。〃
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
God knows Rick and I have had our share of difficulties； Max； especially during the weeks following his decision to join the Sentinels； as you probably recall。 But this is worse than that； and it's beginning to prey on me。 Sue's with him day and night lately； and Rick doesn't seem to mind it one bit…the lecher。 He claims Sue sees him as some kind of father figure； but just who does he think he's kidding？ She's infatuated with him； and I'm worried that he is going to fall for it one night…the loneliness of mand and all that rot。 Max； can't we just see about getting her transferred？ Who'd be the wiser？
Lisa Hayes…Hunter in a letter to Max Sterling
Oddly enough； some of them managed to get a little sleep。 Marlene had made Scott promise to wait at least until morning before making an attempt to go after the syncro…cannon。 He had given his word； proverbial fingers crossed behind his back； if only to calm her down。 She had appear