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At the same time； Corg's Troopers were taking the battle to the edge of space。 The so…called Mollusk Carriers and squadrons of Pincer units a thousand strong had moved in to engage the main fleet。 Laser fire crisscrossed and lined local space； spherical explosions blossoming like so many small novas。
Hundreds of Invid ships were annihilated by mecha they could not even see； let alone fight。 Squadrons of Enforcers and Pincer ships were wiped out； Mollusk Carriers exploded before they could even release their brood。 And yet they continued to e； more and more of them。
On the bridge of the fleet flagship； Reinhardt received the latest updates。 〃Estimate of Invid troop capability is ing in now； sir；〃 Sparks reported。
〃I want a full status report on the assault force entry into Reflex Point；〃 he demanded。
〃They're continuing to meet heavy resistance； sir。〃
Reinhardt studied the monitors and displays。 〃If push es to shove we're going to be forced to use the neutron S missiles。〃
〃But our troops。。。〃 said Sparks； alarmed。
〃I'm aware of the consequences；〃 Reinhardt answered him grimly。 〃But is there a choice？ Either we eliminate them and reclaim the planet or give it all away。 We can deal with the ethics later on。〃
〃I understand；〃 Sparks said softly。
〃Shadow Fighter launch is plete；〃 a female tech said over the link。
〃This is it； then；〃 said Reinhardt。 〃Wish them Godspeed for me； Lieutenant。〃
In the hive chamber； Lancer； Lunk； Annie； and Sera had their eyes fixed on the Protoculture globe as glimpses of the battle in space were relayed to the Regis's sanctum sanctorum。 It was obvious to the Humans that the Regis was growing concerned now； she was no longer the omniscient being they had first met。
〃All units regroup；〃 she was telling her troops。 〃Repel the invaders at all costs！〃 As she swung around to face her small audience； her eyes found Sera。 〃Your defection has cost us much； my child。〃
No one really understood what she meant by it； least of all Sera。 It was true that she had stayed her hand when it had e to killing Lancer； but it was beyond her how her presence in the current battle could have affected things or altered the oute any。 〃It can't be；〃 she answered her Queen…Mother； knowing guilt for the first time。
Lancer was about to add something； when he saw one of the cells of the munication sphere black out。 It was the third time he had seen it happen now； and it suddenly occurred to him that the sphere was tied in not only to the Regis in some direct way but to her offspring as well。 He turned his attention to the battle images again： A squadron of Enforcers was being decimated by laser…array fire erupting from what seemed to be empty space； and as the last of the ships were destroyed； another cell faded and was gone。 Annie noticed it； too。
〃Hey； look at that！〃 she said； pointing to the dark patch on the underside of the globe。
〃It loses power with each Invid loss；〃 Lancer explained。 〃Isn't that right； Regis？〃
The alien looked down at him imperiously。 〃You are perceptive； Human。。。And as you have observed； our entire race feels the loss when even one of our children ceases to exist。〃
The pain she must have known； Lancer found himself thinking。 Even over the course of the past year； to mention nothing of what had happened before； with the Tirolian Masters； then Hunter and the so…called Sentinels。。。
〃Those Shadow Fighters are chewing them up！〃 Lunk enthused as more and more Invid ships disappeared in fiery explosions and seemingly sourceless cross fires。
Lancer took a step toward the pillar of flame that was the Invid Queen…Mother。 〃Your forces can't detect those fighters；〃 he told her。 〃Your children are defenseless； don't you understand？ Now you're the only one who can end this destruction。〃
Unmoved； the queen regarded him。 〃Twice in our recorded history we were forced to relinquish our home and journey across the galaxy。。。 But this time we shall not leave！〃
〃Don't you know when to take no for an answer？！〃 Lunk shouted at her。 〃Your children are dying！〃
Sera glanced at Lunk； then looked up to the Regis。 〃Mother； perhaps we should listen to him。。。 〃
〃You have the power to transform any world you choose；〃 Lancer argued。 〃Some planet you won't have to fight for！〃
〃You cannot understand；〃 the Regis said； almost sadly。 〃The Flowers of Life exist on this world and this world only。 They are our strength； they are our life。 Without them； we would perish。〃
Scott opened his eyes to Marlene's face and a world of pain。 He was in his battle armor and propped up against a tree not far from the smoldering remains of a crashed fighter。 He had no recollection of the events that had landed him there。
〃Scott；〃 Marlene was saying； dabbing at his head with a moistened rag。 〃Is your head any better？〃
Scott saw blood on the rag and raised his fingers to the wound。 Even this slight movement brought a wave of pain along his left side； at the very least his ribs were cracked under the armor's chest plate。 〃Agh。。。what happened？〃 he groaned。
Marlene gestured to the VT； 〃You were shot down。 I saw you fall and…〃
〃Where's the Beta's ponent？〃 He tried to raise himself and collapsed； Marlene laid her hand and cheek against his chest。
〃You shouldn't be moving； Scott。 Stay here with me！〃
〃I've got to get back。。。 〃 He saw that she was staring at him in a peculiar way and couldn't understand it。 The revelations of the previous day and the sequence inside the chamber of the hive were lost to him。 〃Marlene； what's wrong？〃 he asked her； almost warily。
〃I。。。I don't know how to explain it；〃 she stammered。 〃I feel so strange； so concerned about you。。。Do you think you could love me； Scott？ Even if only for a little while？〃
Some of it was ing back to him now； scenes of battle； memories of Corg！ He looked at her like she was crazy to be saying these things。 〃Marlene； I'm capable of only one thing； and that's fighting the Invid！〃 Refusing her offered lips； he managed to struggle through the pain and get to his feet。
Marlene chased after him as he ran off。 〃But； Scott；〃 she screamed； 〃I love you！〃
Elsewhere； two Battloids were moving through the chaos like lovers taking a Sunday stroll in the park。 Rand's had just suffered a near miss； and Rook was teasing him about it over the tac net。
〃I think you need some lessons in how to maneuver； kiddo。 My grandmother could do better than that。〃
〃All right；〃 he told her in the same teasing voice。 〃But the next time you're in trouble； don't e to me for help。 〃
〃Who'll e to who for help？〃
Rand smiled for the screen。 〃Love you； too。〃
〃Same goes for me；〃 Rook started to say； but Corg's approach put a quick end to the flirtation。
He split them up with fire from his hand cannon。 They had arrived on the scene too late to see what the alien had done to Scott； so it took Rand by surprise when Corg moved against him hand to hand…something seldom done in midair…effortlessly knocking the rifle/cannon from the Alpha's grip。 Rook stared out of her cockpit amazed； watching the two ships begin to duke it out； moving in to exchange rapid flurries of blows； then separating only to thruster in against each other all over aga