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Zibyl did。 The three Praxians who had womanhandled the Enforcer assault weapon out of the arsenal and into the corridor had set it up on its tripod。 The gunner had to sit on another woman's shoulders to aim； and she fired。
The shot got the lead Invid where the creature's naval would have been if it had had one； and burned it in half。 The Praxians traversed the beam and cut the next Enforcer in two。
More amazons poured into the corridor from the armory； blazing away with pistols and rifles。 Zibyl spun around on her stomach and fired； too。 In moments； the Enforcers were smoking debris in a spreading pool of green slime。
Zibyl rose to her feet； coughing at the smell of it； and hollered to her Sisters； 〃What are you waiting for？ They know we're here now！ Get weapons； quickly； we haven't much time！〃
〃They've been discovered；〃 Veidt said； as he seemingly stared off into space。 〃The alarms are going off now。〃
Vince took a deep breath。 〃Okay； everybody keep low。〃
He pushed off from the wall with his shoulders and stepped from concealment behind the flying buttress of the Central Slavepen。 The coast was clear。 Vince loped toward the entrance； Wolff right behind with the other Invid rifle。 Lisa； Rick； and Jean were next； along with the still…unsteady Miriya Sterling； who was being helped along by Max。 Cabell came just behind； looking dignified even in this frantic endeavor； and with him floated Veidt。 Karen Penn brought up the rear； covering with Rick's pistol。
Rick had dithered a little before making the decision to give Karen his pistol； but it came down to a matter of practical necessity。 Karen had the skill and training for the job he had assigned her； and it was only sensible that she be armed。 Max wouldn't leave Miriya； and Rick himself wanted to be up toward the front； where he could see what was going on and help make decisions； even if this had turned into Lisa's show。 To his relief； Lisa had made no objection。
The automated weapons installations guarding the main entrance were silent； just as Veidt had promised。 The fugitives made it through the door and onto the big rotunda beyond。 They kept to the shadows along the walls； working their way in the opposite direction from that taken by Zibyl and the others。 They were headed for the slave cages。
Enforcers and Armored Officers； along with a scattering of scientists and other Evolveds； were running back and forth； taking no notice of the interlopers at first。 Vince； leading the way； was thankful that the Invid had decided to make their Glike slave operation an Enforcer…and Officer…run facility； if there had been Inorganic bipeds； the Sentinels and the Praxians would have had little hope of coping with them。
The checkpoint to the slave cages was a guard station one quarter of the way around the gleaming green circle of the rotunda。 They were nearly there when a passing Officer noticed them and skidded to a halt； heels striking sparks from the superhard substance of the floor。
〃Halt！ Identify yours…〃 was all he got out before Vince waxed him with a sustained burst from the rifle。 Guards were just being aware of the danger when Vince and Wolff went charging at them assault…style； firing on every other footfall as they fast…walked。 Rick dashed for the fallen officer； to relieve it of its sidearm。
Karen rushed forward to help Vince and Wolff； laying down rounds with the pistol。 The guard station had been stripped of all but three soldiers in the emergency； and they only lasted a few quickened heartbeats once the shooting started。
But at least they left behind more weapons。 Everyone was armed now except for Veidt； and Cabell； whom Rem had once warned； Stay away from guns or you'll end up burning your foot off！ Even Miriya was in the fight； insisting on having a pistol。 After studying the Haydonite…installed equipment for a few moments； Veidt judged that escape from the slavepens could be cut off by Invid in the mand center； or even there at the guard station if the stations were retaken intact。
Wolff solved that with his usual panache。 Cycling the heavy security lock doors to open all through the slavepen maze with the station's controls； he then brought up the rifle's mouth and blew the controls to wreckage。
〃One problem down； but they'll be sending reinforcements here any time now；〃 Lisa said。
Wolff ran a fingertip over his superbly groomed mustache。 〃Then； dearest Captain； may I suggest that we not be here at that time？〃 He turned and set his rifle across a control console； checking fields of fire； preparing to hold the position while the others effected rescue。 At Lisa's mand； Karen stayed with him； handing her pistol to Jean and taking another rifle in its place。
Rick had readjusted his own Invid rifle's sling so that he could lug it； leveled in firing position； at waist height with the sling over his left shoulder； right hand on the grip and trigger。 It was unbelievably heavy； the sling pressing deep into his flesh。 He said； 〃Everybody ready？ No objections？〃
No objections。 The Sentinels descended into the slave…pens of Haydon IV。
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Awright； so the mecha are in dinged…up shape and the weapons barrels are shot out and the replacement parts stocks are all gone。 Boys and girls； we're all functioning beyond manufacturer's specifications。
Rick Hunter； quoted in Mizner's Rakes and Rogues： The True Story of the SDF…3 Expeditionary Mission
〃I forbid it！〃
Vowad hovered before Sarna as she sought to take control of the giant flying carpet。 Some two acres in area； it would hold all the Sentinels and all the freed slaves； too…provided that any of them survived the uprising。
And it wasn't every Haydonite who could mand and control such a carpet alone。 But she was the daughter of the greatest intellect of her species。
Nevertheless； Vowad blocked her way as she tried to take control of the carpet there on the immense landing surface at the summit of the city's tallest tower…the roof of her home。
〃I forbid you to bee involved in this bestial business！〃 Vowad ranted。 〃Let the lower orders settle their own vendettas！ Let them kill and kill one another if that's what they want so badly！ You have a far higher destiny！〃
〃Why do you always talk like a god to me；〃 Sarna asked him； 〃but bow your head like a slave to the Invid？〃
Hearing that he went rigid； the only movement being his robe's hem wafting in the breeze。 She went around him； took control of the vast carpet； and bade it rise into the air。
Moments later； she was streaking for the Central Slave…pen。
Bela stabbed her shortsword tip in the elevator floor to jam the doors open。
The Invid in the mand center were preoccupied with reports of a firefight at the arsenal； and the sudden silence from the guard station by the slavepen entrance； when Jack and his raiders opened up。
The two ranks put out the heaviest volume of fire they could； aware that the Invid would respond very quickly； and that the pneumatic reservoirs of the Karbarran long…guns would empty rapidly。 Even the submachine…gun magazines would last only three or four seconds at full auto。 The Sentinels were all； including Burak； on the firing line； Gnea and Bela had abandoned their