s new generation of weapons。 It would be better to settle things here。
Breetai crossed his arms on his enormous chest。 〃I hardly think that's likely； since you would destroy all the monopole ore left in this region。 And none of you will ever get home to Earth； will you？ Nevertheless； if battle is what you seek； the Zentraedi will gladly acmodate you。 Breetai has never run from a fight。 e； then！〃
Renquist's throat worked as he swallowed laboriously； the bluff had failed； and both manders knew it。 In destroying the ore； Renquist would be sealing his own fate。 He tried to show determination； but it only came out as a weak bluster。 〃By god； we beat you devils once； and we'll beat you again！ If you don't surrender instantly； I'll give the order to launch！〃
Breetai nodded gravely。 〃Let us not keep our pilots waiting； modore。〃
What Renquist had said was undeniable： the Humans had defeated the giant warriors years before。 But this time Minmei wasn't there with her songs to turn Zentraedi against Zentraedi； and this time there was no SDF…1 with its final Barrier Shield explosion。
Breetai thought of an expression he had heard Max Sterling use： We've got 'em over a barrel； and soon we'll have 'em in the barrel！ Only； who would be thus vanquished this time？
〃He's launching mecha； my lord；〃 a bridge tech said。
But not many of them…certainly not as many as the cruisers carried。 Perhaps it was a probe； or it might be that Edwards hadn't really spared as many of his Ghost Riders as it seemed at first。 And maybe there was another element in this situation。
〃Order forth our Battlepods；〃 Breetai said in his super…basso voice。 〃And order the gunners to fire at will at the mecha； but not at the cruisers； is that clear？〃
Alphas； Betas； and Logans rode trails of blue thruster fire across the eternal night； bearing down on the Valivarre。 The huge Battlepods of the Zentraedi came out to meet them。
The giants' mecha were like gargantuan headless ostriches…torsos suggesting alloy light bulbs mounted on two long reverse…articulated legs。 The chest plastrons were bristled with cannon and missile racks。 Officers' pods had； in addition； extra two…barrel gun mounts that they brandished as if they were huge derringers。
The Human fliers were Ghost Riders； loyal only to Edwards； more than willing to slay the giants who had been Humanity's staunch allies not so long ago。 They had been briefed on the pods' vulnerable spots and performance profiles； they swept in confidently。
One of the tactics that had given the Humans the upper hand in the Robotech War was developed when Miriya Sterling revealed a weakness in the pods' design。 Concentrated fire on a spot just aft the junction of the legs would disable the pods and leave them drifting and helpless。
The first surprise the Ghosts got was in discovering that the pods had been retrofitted to overe the Achilles' heel； and the second was that the pods' own weapons and accuracy were deadlier than ever。 Furthermore； Breetai's pilots had plenty of experience in fighting VTs； while the young Ghost fliers had been trained after the end of the Robotech War。 And these Zentraedi were among the very best。
The end result was that the first few moments of bat saw Ghosts exploding in fireballs and erupting in white…hot wreckage； as the outnumbered Battlepods took an immediate upper hand。 Once again； missiles lit the blackness； and beams of raging energy bickered back and forth。
Breetai watched a Logan e apart at the seams like a bursting melon； light and explosive force gushing from it。 〃We vowed to be your allies；〃 he muttered； 〃but never your slaves or your victims。〃
On the bridge of the Tokugawa； Renquist watched； mortified； as the Zentraedi drove off his first attack wave with heavy casualties； though the giants had taken a few hits themselves。 Operations and intel officers and their puters had a dozen poor excuses and supposed analyses； but he brushed them aside。 The Ghosts were simply being outflown。
A face appeared on one of the side screens； a young flying officer。 〃modore； with all due respect； I must protest！ We were given definite orders by the council to negotiate with Breetai before any direct action was taken！〃
Renquist narrowed his eyes； his jowls quivering。 〃Negotiate； hell！ How dare you？ One more word from you and I'll have you executed for mutiny！〃 At an angry gesture from the modore； the connection was broken。
But it reminded Renquist of another unfortunate aspect of his mission。 As Breetai had guessed； Edwards was too wary to strip REF Base Tirol and SDF…3 of the bulk of his Ghosts and leave himself at risk。 Therefore； nearly half the flying group assigned to Renquist was posed of elements drawn from the various other units remaining after the Skulls had been tapped for duty with the Sentinels。 And the Jokers； Diamondbacks； and the rest were less eager to follow this departure from council instructions。
But Renquist felt he had now seen the enemy's total strength。 After all； there were only slightly more than one hundred Zentraedi altogether！ All he had to do was to make sure the Human numerical advantage was absolute。
The Zentraedi had won in a limited matching； but even after the initial defeat； Renquist could double the odds without resorting to any but the Ghost Riders and surely overwhelm the giants。
He turned to a bridge officer。 〃Launch the rest of the Ghosts immediately and reform the survivors of the first attack wave。 This time we're going to crush those alien scum！〃
Breetai had expected no less。 The Alphas and Betas and Logans thronged at the Battlepods； driving them back or blowing them to smithereens； some of them breaking through and ing for the Valivarre。
The ore vessel's gun batteries and missile racks opened up； but she was a mining craft； not a warship； soon； shots threatened to penetrate her shields。 Breetai noticed that the Ghosts were being very deliberate； shooting for the engines and control sections； seeking to disable rather than destroy。
The pods could no longer protect the ore ship。 Breetai saw a badly damaged officer's mecha； beset by two Logans in Guardian mode； try to ram one of them。 But the Logan avoided the kamikaze run and the two Humans got the pod in a crossfire； turning it into a fireball。
Then they turned and； with others； formed up to add their firepower to the final assault on Valivarre。 Breetai watched them dive in at him； his face like a graven idol's。
CHAPTER FIVE
She was too brilliant not to see the ramifications of her act。 In taking half her race off on the pursuit of the Ultimate Invid Form and the New Optera； she would be forcing her husband to fend for himself in many ways…to confront certain things； to learn certain things。 Things that…it isn't inconceivable…could force deevolution to turn end for end。
One possible motive for this is that there was some love for him in her still。
Gitta Hopkins； Queen Bee： A Biography of the Invid Regis
A low； angry； chainsaw growl from the Hellcat made Cabell glance warily toward the thing； but Veidt seemed not to register its presence。 The Regent reached down to stroke his pet's head； enjoying Cabell's uneasiness。
Cabell had good reason to be wary of the Invid Inorganic mecha called Hellcats。 When the Invid first invaded Tirol； one had tried to tear him limb from limb。
Those sitting on their haunches to either side of the Regent's throne were even larger than the usual； and Hellcats were far bigger than any saber…tooth that ever lived。 They were a glassy indigo； their eyes gleaming like ruby lasers。 They were armed with razor…sharp claws； sword…edged shoulder horns and tail； and glittering fangs。 About their muscular throats were resplendent collars set with gems from many worlds。
Cabell found himself transfixed by the 'Cats' baleful glares； so it was Veidt； looking and sounding serene as he floated there； who spoke。 〃Mighty Regent！ Please accept our gratitude for granting us this moment of your attention。 We know what great demands are placed on your time。〃 He bowed solemnly。
〃You have no idea；〃 the Regent contradicted in his growling； gurgling voice； 〃none whatsoever！〃 His mantle flared and the four…fingered hands balled into fists