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Things always seemed to be well with the big； burly ex…soldier when he was on the road； riding in his beloved all…terrain truck。 Taking one look at Lunk； it was easy to jump to the conclusion that there wasn't much going on upstairs。 His low forehead and the thick sideburns that curled around and up under his eyes made him look like a ic…strip caveman。
But anyone who had talked to him； or looked closely into those soulful eyes； or seen him do the things Rook had seen him do； understood why conventional wisdom counsels against drawing quick conclusions。
As for Rook； she still found it strange to be riding with a gang again； even though Scott insisted on calling it a team； and everybody else kept insisting that they had their own agenda and that the alliance was temporary。 She still wasn't sure how she had teamed up with them。 It was too easy to say that she had shared danger； hardship； triumph； and defeat with them； she had done that with others before。 She kept looking toward the time when she could ride as a loner once again。
Of course； there was Rand。。。
Screw Rand！ she snarled to herself。
From their places in the shadows of the great trees； the Invid Shock Trooper mecha kept watch； making sure the Humans were moving the right way。 So far； the Troopers noted； these life…forms hadn't needed any herding。
The location of the nearest Genesis Pit was logical； situated along the easiest passageway through the mountains。 The Entrapments were well deployed； the routine specimen collection was going well。 The mecha floated along quietly and slowly； their thrusters muted as they awaited their moment。
〃Heads up； Annie！〃 Rand's voice sounded a bit tinny through his helmet's external speaker。 〃Scott's right on schedule； of course。〃
Of course； what else？ Would Scott Bernard； the rules…and…regs sole survivor of the massacre of his squadron be even a few seconds off？
Annie leaned out from the Cyclone and saw Scott's Alpha settling in the clearing。 She pulled the bill of her trademark baseball cap； with its huge emblem that read E。T。； lower 〃Um…hmm。〃
She tried not to let her relief sound in her voice。 Although she had insisted on taking a turn at riding point； she was much more at ease riding next to Lunk in the truck （or APC； as Lunk insisted on calling it； since it was Armored and was indisputably a Carrier of Personnel）。 Annie wasn't even armed。 Weapons made her a little queasy。
But now she didn't have； to worry； because everything was going well。 The Alpha had switched to Guardian mode for the VTOL landing。
The cockpit canopy slid back。 Scott； armored in Robotechnology； stepped out； walked out to the forward edge of the swing…wing's fixed glove； and hopped down。
Annie looked around at the trees and the darkness they shed in the waning light； as Rand pulled up next to Scott in a spray of sand and gravel； some of it rattling and hissing off Scott's armor。 〃I guess this means we're staying here； huh？〃 She was tough despite her age； but she had done most of her surviving in settlements and cities。 The wilds unnerved her。
Scott had gone around to the rear of the Guardian's portside leg to open a hidden partment。 〃I'll get my Cyclone and we'll run a security sweep of the area before the others get here。〃
He pulled forth and activated the pact package that turned into his Cyclone； unfolding and reconfiguring。 He thought about ordering Annie to wait in the cockpit of the fighter； but she had a special gift for getting into trouble； and so he discarded the notion。 〃Let's go。〃
Scott and Rand sped away； following the dry streambed； looking for an opportunity to leave it and move cross…country。 Scouts seldom learn anything worth knowing on the main road； except when it's too late。
Acting as a scout for its unit just as Scott had done for his； an Invid Shock Trooper closed in on its target。
Normally the Invid were slow to detect Humans unless the prey had been specifically targeted； or there had been a sizable expenditure of Protoculture。 This time； however； the Regis's fearsome war machines had been sent to guard a specific area and herd specimens into the Genesis Pit。 The Humans had e into their territory。 By some oversight； there were no specific orders of any kind concerning Humans； and so the Troopers simply evaluated； the interlopers as they would any other life…form； and decided they too would be worthwhile subjects of experimentation。
The Trooper kept its distance from the Humans； but some trick of the last filtering light of sunset piercing the dense trees betrayed it。 Or perhaps Scott Bernard just had a feeling that they were being followed。
Scott slid to a side…on stop； ready to trigger and image the change that would meld his Cyclone and his armor into a Robotech killing machine。 Rand stopped； too； Annie clinging close； white…faced。 〃What's wrong； Scott？〃 Rand's voice came over the tac net。
Scott shook his head slowly。 〃I'm sure I saw something moving。 Back there。〃
But how could it be an Invid？ Scout or Shock Trooper； their instant reaction was to attack。
〃Don't tell me we're being watched！〃 Annie snapped at Scott； her lower lip trembling。 〃The Invid can't be everywhere！〃 She tried to get her arms all the way around Rand's armored midsection。
Contrary to its genetic programming； the Shock Trooper drew back…in accordance with the special instructions given to the sentinels of the Genesis Pits。 Here were more samples from present…day life…forms to interact with the Regis's replicated marvels。
And an Entrapment intake waited near。
〃Calm down； Mint；〃 Scott was saying in that strangely relaxed tone he took on when other people's neck hair was standing on end。 He had used Annie's team nickname…〃Mint；〃 from her ongoing affair with peppermint candy…to calm her。
〃We've got to make sure the area's safe before the others get here。 Or d'you want to see them ride into an ambush？ No？ Good。 Rand； stay close。 And cover me on the left。〃
The Cycs moved out； Protoculture engines gunning。
The Trooper floated back； almost delicately； close to the ground but leaving no print。 As it circled it left its prey a clear path。 All through this area； the Entrapments； a living part of the Genesis Pits； were growing in profusion； waiting to gulp down specimens。
Scott suddenly wondered if they should pull back； if he should send Annie and Rand hurrying for safety and cover their retreat with a barrage of Cyclone firepower。
But he realized that he and his panions had been led off to one side。 Time had passed and Rook； Lancer； and Lunk were already near。 It would be better to warn them first and then carefully withdraw。
He couldn't raise the other three over the tactical munication net； though； and couldn't tell if it was his position among the terrain features or whether the Invid were jamming the system。 He spied a spot of high ground ahead and headed towards it； hoping for a clear mo link。
Then a shadow seemed to move across the hilltop…a shadow much larger than a bear or anything else that walked Earth's surface。 It was going the other way； apparently oblivious to the scouts…heading for a point that would intersect Lancer and the others。
Ambush！ Scott had no doubt。