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more unsettling was the Human pilot who had once again demonstrated a bewildering ambivalence。 Scott refused to believe that the woman had purposely stayed her hand； he pointed out how she had fired on him earlier without punction。 Lancer； however； knew better than to accept Scott's explanation that the woman had been distracted by their sudden fire。 And he also saw that something inexplicable had transpired between the woman and Marlene。 Both Rand and Annie had been touched by the Invid consciousness in the past； but their psychic encounters had been brief and transient。 Marlene； on the other hand； had been profoundly affected。
〃I don't belong with you；〃 Marlene told Lancer later； when the others had moved off in the direction of the buried mecha。 〃Please； Lancer； I'll just bring trouble for all of you。。。〃
He tried to fort her as best he could by offering himself as her protector。 And that did seem to calm her a bit。 But it brought him little succor。
Who would be next to feel the enemy's mind probe？ he wondered； shivering as he led Marlene away from the abyss。
CHAPTER THREE
In quieter moments I find myself wondering about the men and women I have served with during these long campaigns。 I think about the ones left behind； like Max and Miriya； and the ones sent away； like John Carpenter； Frank Tandler； Owen； and the rest。 The list goes on and on。 Would I have joined that crew had it not been for the Sentinels； abandoned these dark domains for even a chance at seeing Earth's blue skies once again？ I think： Absolutely。 But what can my homeworld offer me now？ Certainly not peace； that endangered species。 Retirement； perhaps。 How Lisa would laugh！
Admiral Hunter； as quoted in Selig Kahler； The Tirolian Campaign
Freeing the Veritechs and Cyclones from the snowslide proved to be a greater challenge than anyone had expected。 The team brought the collective heat of their MARS…Gallant H90 hand blusters to bear against the massive chunks of ice that had been loosed during the avalanche； by sunrise they had succeeded in defrosting the Alpha Fighter。 Tango…9 explosive and the VT's thrusters did the rest of the work in a tenth the time； but Annie and Marlene sustained mild cases of frostbite nonetheless。 And despite Scott's optimistic projection； it took the team several false starts and another two days to cross the Sierra range。 But waiting for them was the desert with those warm highland winds； and with it came a renewed sense of purpose and determination。
This was the same arid expanse crossed by pioneers and adventurers during North America's push toward its western horizon； but few would have recognized it as such。 Over the course of the last two decades the region had seen periods of devastation to rival those of its geoformative years。 Dolza's fleet of four million had not overlooked the cities that had grown up here； and neither had Khyron after New Macross had risen to the fore。 Vast stretches of the territory were cratered from the thousands of annihilation bolts rained upon it； host still to equal numbers of rusting Zentraedi dreadnoughts； thrust like war lances into the ravaged land。 Just north of the team's present route were the remains of Monument City； which had played such a pivotal role in the Second Robotech War。
Population centers had grown up in some of the craters； but most of these were abandoned now； their onetime residents returned to life…styles more befitting the territory's original nomadic tribespeople than the Robotechnologists who had once tried to breathe new life into the wastes。
Scott had listened intently to Lancer and Lunk's information； he of course had read and heard accounts of Macross and Monument； and the team's propinquity to those legendary cities filled him with an awe usually reserved for sacred places and archeological power spots。 It made him think about the long road that had taken him back to this land of his parents' birth and the treacherous one that lay ahead。 The team was close to Reflex Point now…the presence of an Invid tower assured him of this much…but he had to wonder how many more twists and turns they would have to negotiate before they stood at the portal of the Regis's central hive； how many Invid stood in their way； and how many more deaths their journey would entail。
There were many such munication towers placed around the hive plex； and Scott knew from past experience that the team's further progress toward Reflex Point would depend on how many of these they could circumvent； or better still； destroy。 Options were discussed while the team made temporary camp near a meandering river where cottonwoods and conifers provided a narrow green ribbon of safety and shade。 In the end it was decided that Scott and Rand would recon the outlying area； nearby were the ruins of a deserted city and what appeared to be an inhabited town。 Annie insisted on tagging along； hoping they would run across a cowboy or two。
The three freedom fighters set out on Cyclones； Annie in her customary place on the pillion seat behind Rand。 Only Scott was suited up in battle armor。 Rand had tried to talk him out of it but soon recognized that Scott fancied himself the only law and order between here and Reflex Point。
A short ride brought them into the town they had glimpsed from the Veritechs； a curious bination of high…tech modular buildings and wooden structures fashioned after centuries…old designs； plete with elaborate facades； shaded boardwalks； and hitching posts for horses and pack animals。 The dirt streets were empty； but this no longer came as any surprise。 Scott was certain the townsfolk were well aware of their arrival and were merely concealing themselves until the proper moment。 As they powered the Cyclones down the town's main street； he could almost feel the weapons being trained on them from upper…story windows。
The one thing he hadn't figured on was getting arrested。
But that's just what the residents of Bushwhack had in mind when they finally did show themselves； twenty or so strong； dressed in Twentieth…century garb and armed with antique rifles； shotguns； and revolvers。 They formed a broad circle around the rebels and ordered Scott and Rand away from their mecha。 Scott was willing to ply…even to go as far as removing his battle armor…until he saw the ropes e out。 But by then it was too late to do much about it。 He and Rand were stripped of their weapons； tied up； and led by the jeering mob to the sheriff's office。
He was a short； stocky man with curly black hair and a handlebar mustache。 He was wearing a beat…up felt fedora and a sheepskin coat。 Scott didn't see any badge displayed； but when the sheriff pointed a six…gun at him； he stopped looking。
〃Anybody who goes around dressed like that is just lookin' for trouble；〃 the sheriff told him； gesturing to the heap of Cyclone armor Scott had piled in the street。 〃I reckon you're under arrest； strangers。〃
〃But we haven't done anything！〃 Rand protested； struggling against the rope coiled around his arms。 Silently he cursed himself for having listened to Scott's harebrained logic about uniforms and earning respect。
〃Well； you look like you might do something；〃 the sheriff answered him； putti