surgence of their memories； the ones the Robotech Masters were supposed to have submerged forever。 The grueling mining operations forced a reflowering of the Zentraedi innovative genius。
The Ghost Riders found themselves dogfighting with a swarm of fire…breathing viragoes whose powered armor gave them a distinct edge。 The REF mecha were driven back； or simply blown out of existence。 The Battlepods； bringing up the rear； mopped up for the Quadronos and flew cover。
Male Zentraedi had a good deal to ponder； Breetai saw with some satisfaction。
He had a mo channel opened to Renquist once again。 〃modore； I'll offer you the chance to withdraw your forces and let us go our way in peace。 You can't win； you see。〃
Renquist was visibly shaken； all color gone from his face。 The Ghost Riders had been nearly wiped out； and he wasn't at all sure that the remaining fliers would obey his orders。
But he knew what he could expect from Edwards if he went home in defeat。 〃You alien monster！ I'll see you in hell first！〃
〃Eventually； perhaps；〃 Breetai conceded； and transmitted a signal to Kazianna。
She darted right through the enemy interceptors and AA fire； as nimble as the legendary Miriya herself； to close in on the cruiser's bridge。 Too late； Renquist realized what was happening。 Before he could even give the order to clear the bridge； Kazianna let go a tremendous blast at point…blank range； penetrating the shields and bursting the vast curve of viewpane there。
Renquist and his trusted Ghost staff； and Edwards's personal security men； were scorched and blackened； whirled headlong by the outrushing atmosphere； the air flooding from their lungs in a mist despite their every effort to hold it in。
Kazianna had already flung herself away from the cruiser rather than follow up on her advantage。 Breetai had no wish to inflict more casualties than he had to。 Even as she did so； word came that the few surviving Ghost Riders were breaking contact。
Valivarre and the two cruisers stood motionless； at a face…off； while REF officers struggled with damage control and tried to reestablish a chain of mand。
At last Captain da Cruz； of the Tokugawa's sister ship； the Jutland； contacted Breetai。 He asked her； 〃Captain； will you accept my offer and part courses under a truce flag？〃
〃Sir； we will not；〃 da Cruz； a gangly woman with olive skin and iron…gray hah〃 gathered in a tight knot at her neck； responded。
〃I understand。〃 Breetai nodded。 〃My warriors and I await your pleasure。〃
〃Lord Breetai； you misunderstand。 It is my opinion； and that of most others in this contingent； that orders were violated when you were attacked。 I have had access to certain sealed instructions given modore Renquist by General Edwards； and it is my opinion that the Sentinels are now to be found on Haydon IV。
〃What I propose is that the Jutland…and the Tokugawa； as soon as emergency repairs can be made on her…acpany you there on your mission to find Rick and Lisa Hunter and the others。 We will render military aid as needed； and escort the admiral and his wife and the rest to REF Base Tirol so that they can make a fair answer to the charges against them。〃
Da Cruz permitted herself the raising of an eyebrow。 〃You see； many of us find it difficult to picture the Hunters as traitors； too。〃
The corners of Breetai's lips turned up。 〃Perhaps we can help with the repairs to the Tokugawa； madam。 You might say we've bee a bit inventive of late。〃
CHAPTER SEVEN
There are more enjoyable things in life than being a here。 Having shingles； for instance。
Jack Baker； Upwardly Mobile
The raiding party stared； aghast； at the thing that had been Janice Em。
Her skin had bee transparent； and the blood vessels and musculature of her face could be seen。 Her eyes emitted an eerie light； what there was of her expression seemed flat； unblinking and un…Human。
Jack found that he had instinctively raised his submachine gun。 〃Wh…what are you； a zombie？ He felt stupid even saying it。
Her voice； when it came； had much of Janice's tone and manner。 〃No； I am an Artificial Person； built in the Tokyo research megaplex。 I've acted as Dr。 Lang's eyes and ears on the Sentinels mission。〃
Lron's broad； thickly furred chest rumbled。 〃I don't like such things…androids running around pretending they are alive！〃
The AP was quick to answer； 〃Oh； but the Janice you know was unaware that she was an Artificial Person…an android； if you insist。 But I'm still Janice； with all the thoughts and memories of Janice。 Only； I'm aware of the other side of my personality at last…that which served Lang。 You might say I'm finally whole。〃
〃But why do you reveal this now？ Bela asked suspiciously。 She had rather liked Jan…admired her for being as quick and strong and skilled in battle as an amazon。 But Bela looked upon this being before her…a Wyrdling； as Praxians would call it…with wariness。
〃Because we mustn't follow the inertial trackers directly to Glike；〃 the AP answered。 〃The Awareness that oversees Haydon IV is near； and I think it's the key to our dilemma。 I saw that there was no other way to get you to detour； though； and if I'd merely slipped away； you'd have e searching for me and put yourselves in greater danger。 I understand friendship that well； you see。〃
She put one hand back to gather up her long lavender hair and hold it out from the nape of her neck。 〃And there is another reason to reveal myself。 To locate the source of this Awareness I must contact it directly； and to do that…I must speak to it。〃
She reached up with her free hand and pulled a patch of synthetic skin from her neck。 She turned to show them the input aperture that had been hidden there。 There was a concerted hiss from the two lesser Invid scientists； and Tesla's eyes bulged with fascination。 Burak slashed the air angrily with his horns and made a mystical sign of protection。
Jan let her hair fall back into place； and dipped into a pouch on her harness。 She came up with connector cord and several different sorts of adaptors。 〃According to my analysis； one of these will let me link up with this artificial sentience I've detected。〃
〃No！ She's not to be trusted；〃 Tesla objected。 〃An android？ How can we know what her real motive is？ Better that I were allowed to converse with this Awareness； my friends。〃
Jack looked Tesla over。 The Regent's onetime chief scientist no longer resembled a conventional upper…caste Invid； some time after the awful events on Garuda； he had undergone some kind of change that he still refused to explain。
He was now almost as tall as the Regent…over seventeen feet。 His snout was shorter； head more defined； hands and feet more humanoid than reptilian。 His hide was now a pale green； waxy and smooth。
But most troubling of all； he had grown a fifth digit； and his hands and his use of them looked quite Human。
Tesla had convinced the Sentinels that he could be of help on this mission； but Jack wasn't about to trust the scientist with the secrets of Haydon IV。 He moved the muzzle of his chattergun over to cover Tesla。 〃Forget it。 You stay away from the machinery down here unless I say otherwise。〃
Tesla radiated an unspeakable hatred； but said nothing。 Burak bridled； too； and moved to stand by the Invid。 Jack had long since noticed that there was something between the two； some secret they shared； but Burak's gesture was more on the order of a realignment of loyalties。
Burak had been growing a little unstable。 He resented it that his homeworld； Peryton； was far back on the timetable of Sentinels priorities。 Jack made a mental note to keep an eye on him； as well。
〃Okay； uh； Janice。〃 Jack decided that he might as well go on calling her that。 〃What d'you need？〃
〃First； a proper interface。〃 She led them off along the highway…wide catwalk； they automatically took up tactical positions and intervals。 They passed into a smaller side passageway； one the VTs would never have managed。 The other raiders were jumpy； expecting Haydon IV to e up with new horrors； but Jan seemed blithely confident that away from their Protoculture…powered mecha and weapons they would no longer be considered invaders。
Janice's theory might be correct； but Jack still thought longin