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The kind of thing I've learned the hard way； she thought。 〃So； what now？〃
He wasn't sure； the decision to help her escape Edwards's sadism had e rather on the spur of the moment。 〃We'll get you to REF Base Tirol； to Lang's bailiwick； for a start。〃
〃Why？ So The Great General has an excuse to kill Lang？ Why don't you save everybody the trouble and just drop me off right here？〃
He felt at a loss； but brought the fighter onto course for Base Tirol anyway； for want of anything better to do。 One plan had been to try to link up with Breetai； but the Valivarre； the hijacked Zentraedi mining op ship loaded with the all…important monopole ore； was already beyond the VT's range。
〃Stop feeling sorry for yourself；〃 he said in an odd monotone。 〃It never does anybody any good。 Now； tell me what you want。〃
〃I…I want Jonathan。〃 She was trying to hold back more tears； because she knew he was right about feeling sorry。 〃Jonathan Wolff！ Just to be with him！〃
〃So。〃 The word had a hollow； final sound； the way he said it。 〃Getting to Lang and the council is still a first step。 Hang on。〃 He increased power again。
〃Y…you still haven't told me why you're doing this；〃 she strained to get out； as the mecha thundered under her。
She didn't have a flight helmet； so she could still only hear him over his own helmet's tinny external speaker。 〃I don't like seeing people pushed around； Minmei。〃
Just when he should have been enjoying his triumph； Edwards had to suffer the galling news of Minmei's escape。
At first he had thought it was just another of her temper tantrums； set off by news that he had permission to send a contingent after the fleeing Zentraedi and their stolen ore。 He realized now； though； that she still thought she loved that idiot Jonathan Wolff。
The half of T。 R。 Edwards's face that wasn't hidden under his gleaming metal cowl burned red。 She was his property； and he had no intention of losing her…not to Wolff and not to anyone else。
Of course； it was out of the question to admit publicly that she had left him。 The word was put out； to a limited number of key people； that she had been kidnapped。 Minutes later； news reached him of the chase after the armored Alpha。
Apparently the pilot； whoever he was； was neither a Ghost Rider nor some rogue Skull； but rather one of the detached…duty fliers serving the R&D people and council…liaison offices。 That hadn't kept him from knocking out several crewmembers and stealing a VT。 Edwards looked forward to exacting a fearsome revenge。
But he had no time to waste monitoring the pursuit of the Alpha。 There was his flotilla to put into motion； and every second counted； since Breetai was already under way。 The ore the Zentraedi had taken with them was the key to a fleet that would let Edwards return to Earth in glory and conquer it。
Once the Zentraedi had been eliminated； it would be time to do away with the bothersome Sentinels。 And soon； Minmei would be his wife and rule at his side； an empress over whole planets but his own obedient chattel。
CHAPTER THREE
The place was called Haydon IV； but nobody was able to explain why。 It was the third planet out from its primary； so that explanation was null and void。 There was no record or myth that gave a clue。
Odd； though； it was the fourth planet the Sentinels were to fight on…Tirol being an REF show。
Oh well。 Coincidences were for the scientists； we troopies were just there to shoot V salute。
Susan Graham； from the narration to her documentary film； Protoculture's Privateers： SDF…3； Farrago； Ark Angel； Sentinels； and the REF
Like schools of deadly fish； the fiery defensive vortices of Haydon IV plastered themselves to the Veri…tech； glowing brighter and brighter； burning fiercely at the fighter's shields。
〃They mean to roast us alive！〃 Bela said grimly； Jack knew that tone in her voice； the one she took when she had her hand on her sword hilt。
He doubted that the energy defenses would actually do that； though； once the shields went down； the end would be rather swift and spectacular。 Even now； the VTs were beginning to lose power； the final fall would be soon。
〃Jan； can you spot any large bodies of water downstairs？〃 Maybe a swan dive into a lake or ocean would short…circuit the vortices； or something。
But she was replying； 〃Negative。 Jack； I'm losing flight control。 My instruments say these things are melding with the shields； being part of them and making them rigid。 Control surfaces are being immovable。〃
It was happening to him； too； and to Learna's ship。 The energy was forming a shell； and unless they could break it。。。
Then he yelped as a last； desperate solution occurred to him。 〃Listen up； everybody！ Separate fighters and go to Guardian…correction！ Go to Battloid mode； I say again； separate fighters and go to Battloid mode！ Maybe we can hatch outta these energy shells！〃
The fighters were beginning to tumble and wobble； the mere act of separating them under these conditions bordered on the suicidal。 But Kami followed Jack's countdown from her place in the Beta's pilot…seat and at his mark they disengaged。 The drubbing they got from the atmosphere almost smashed the two ships into each other； but Jack and Kami fought their controls； imaged through their thinking caps； and managed to get clear。
The fighters fought a terrible battle against the cocooning energy fields…like chicks trying to break through their shells。 The ships strained to mechamorphose； to follow that central and perhaps most amazing trait of Robotechnology。
e on； e on； Jack urged his mecha silently。 And at last there was the sliding of ponents as the Alpha began folding and reconfiguring； its shields following suit。
All at once the blazing inferno burst away from the Alpha in all directions like an outlashing nova。 The VT had bee a Battloid； Humaniform； like a knight in armor； fists cocked； riding ribbons of thruster fire。
Jack gasped； trying to catch his breath。 He checked around and saw Kami's Beta； and Janice's Alpha； with Lron's Beta close…by。 All were in Battloid； shimmering with heat waves but still intact and under control。
Jack spotted Learna…a little rocky but apparently getting things under control。 But。。。
〃Crysta！〃
He heard the ursine growling of the female Karbarran； more angry than afraid； as her Beta whirled and tumbled groundward。 It was still in fighter mode； its power failing。 Jack imaged his systemry and went after her like a high…diver。
Something came into his field of vision and he realized that Janice Em was nearby； her Alpha in Battloid； too； plummeting alongside him for the seemingly doomed effort to save the falling Beta。
〃Don't touch it unless your shields are up！〃 Jack yelled； Crysta's mecha was still aglow with the energy 〃antibodies。〃 He took a deep breath； and imaged his mand to his Battloid。 It reached out and seized the Beta。
It was like trying to bulldog a whirlwind。 The heavier Beta spun and tumbled； nearly shaking the Alpha loose； the Alpha's amazing Robotech strength notwithstanding。
But Jack clung and； bracing his feet against the fuselage； began prying at the wings； straining to help it go into mechamorphosis。 At least； to his relief； the Haydon antib