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to re…form and change their tactics。
Scott knew they would be back shortly though。 He pulled himself from the turret as Annie； Marlene； and Lunk hurried over。 Lunk tossed his tool cases in the direction of the little stern chopper pad； where his trusty truck was hidden…covered with a tarp in preparation for the voyage。
Scott assured Annie that he was all right and Lunk apologized for the repairs' having taken longer than he expected。 Scott gave the big ex…soldier's shoulder a squeeze。 〃Save your breath； you worked miracles for us； Lunk。〃
As per plan； Lunk assumed mand of the cutter while Scott ran off to get his VT into the air。 Just as Annie and Marlene were preparing to help free up the berthing lines； a growling in the air made Lunk look out to sea。
The Pincer Ship Scott had winged； its portside claw missing； trailing smoke and fire； had e around for a suicide run。 It was aimed straight for the cutter。
Lunk sent Marlene and Annie to seek shelter； then dove into the forward gun turret and began pounding away at the alien with the pumped…laser cannon。 Because the Pincer Ship's aerodynamics had been changed by the damage it had suffered； it bucked and was buffeted by the air； evading Lunk's fire more effectively than it could have if it had been whole。
The alien filled his targeting scope。 A moment later the world went dark。
CHAPTER TWENTY…THREE
By this time； the Mars and Venus Divisions should be well engaged in their battle with the Invid； and building toward the final blow at Reflex Point。
Air and ground forces of the Human race； we salute you and send you our best wishes！ We know that； in your overwhelming numbers； and with the undeniable power of Human Robotechnology behind you； you will triumph！
Morale twix from Colonel Ackerman （GI staff…SDF…3） to Earth relief strikeforce （never received）
So far the three VTs were winning the air battle。 Pincer Ships were no match for VTs in one…on…one dogfights。 But the new enemy mecha had been hanging back； studying their opponents； Rand wasn't sure what would happen if they decided to jump in with both feet and a roundhouse swing。
Lancer had taken the Beta up。 The purple…and…pink monster machine he had seen on the island came up fast and its back pods gushed forth a torrent of missiles。 Lancer went into a ballistic climb； cutting in all his jamming gear； side…slipping； and weaving。 Warheads detonated behind him and missiles fizzled past in near misses。
Then Annie's voice came up over the tac net。 〃Lancer！ e in！〃
〃I'm right here； Annie。 What's up？〃
〃I can't raise Scott。 We're on the ship and we're in trouble。 Lunk's been hit！〃
〃Annie； this is Scott。 I just got to my Alpha； I heard your last transmission。〃
〃Scott； this is Lancer。 Hook up our fighters and take the Beta。 I'm taking over for Lunk。〃
It only made sense； aside from Lunk； Lancer was the only one with any real experience at the helm of a large vessel。 〃I copy； Lancer。 Meet you at the cutter。〃
Seconds later； the Beta settled in on its blasts and lowered the bottom half of its cockpit like a dinosaur opening its mouth。 As the pilot's seat was lowered； Lancer yelled over the tac net to Scott； 〃It's all yours； pal！ Go get 'em！〃 Then he jumped to the ground and got clear。
The Beta shifted ponents slightly； preparing for interlock。 Scott's Alpha backed in at its nose； tailerons folding； and a plex joining took place in seconds； with a clanging of superhard alloy。 The latched fighters formed a single ship that sprang away into the sky at incredible boost。
Lancer ran for the cutter。
Scott scattered the remaining Pincer Ships and the new enemy mecha； intimidating them with the bined fighters' speed and the volume of fire they could spew。 Corg and Sera broke in different directions； cautious； deciding to feel out their enemy's strengths and weaknesses…if any。
〃Follow me； you guys；〃 Scott radioed to his wingmates。 〃We'll try to lead them in front of the gunboat…in range for a knockout。〃 He cut in full thrust； rushing to catch up with Rand and Rook。 Corg and the two surviving Pincer Ships climbed after； but Sera's mecha poised in midair； as she listened to her puter and the Regis's voice。
〃Scanner confirms Human life…forms now aboard third flotation target mecha。〃 Far below； the cutter was underway； racing for the open sea。
Lunk eased his arm in its sling and grated his teeth against the agony of the burns and what he figured was probably a hairline fracture。 There were painkiller ampules in the med supplies； but he wanted a clear head for battle。
〃Sorry about getting you into this； Lancer。〃 He was crowded into the bridge with Marlene and Annie； all of them doing their best to give Lancer room to man the wheel。
Lancer； helmet cast aside； spared one gauntleted hand from the wheel for a moment； to give a blithe wave。 〃You did great； Lunk。 The cutter's still in one piece； isn't she？ I got no plaints。〃
Indeed。 The kamikaze Invid had taken a hit at the last instant and broken up in the water just in front of the cutter's bow； showering it with flaming wreckage。 A chunk of it had hit the optical pickup for the pumpedlaser's scope； blowing it up in Lunk's face。 A major piece had hit the turret； throwing the unbelted Lunk out of the gunner's saddle and giving him some considerable lumps and burns…and damaging the main battery beyond repair。
Scott's voice came over the net。 〃Lancer； Lunk！ Heads up！ We're going to try to draw the enemy down to you！〃
Lancer had barely gotten finished acknowledging and begun preparing for a make…or…break shootout； when something enormous blocked out the sky。 Everyone on the bridge cringed； seeing the immense tower of Robotechnology that was Sera's mecha。 Lancer tried to reverse…all； hoping he wouldn't blow every bearing in the power train or tear apart a propeller shaft。
It did no good； the alien advanced at what was for it a slow approach…speed； with something like a deliberate vindictiveness。 Rather than fire； it drew back one titanic fist； bracing to put it right through the bridge。 The freedom fighters could only steel themselves； and dread the impact。
In her cockpit； Sera made an animal snarling； her teeth locked； eyes like red coals of anger fixed on the cutter。 So many Pincer drones had died！ So many conflicting emotions had interfered with her devotion to her Queen/Mother； the Regis！ Now it was time to thrust aside confusion and prosecute the war these Humans seemed determined to fight。
And breaking this toylike water…vessel to bits with her mecha's hands； sending it and its crew to the bottom； was the ideal place to start。
She drew back her mecha's hand； wrapped in a fist the size of an oldtime tank。 She could see； through her mecha's eyes； the terrified looks on the faces of the Humans。 Three of them dropped to the deck； the fourth clung to the wheel despite the swells set up by her machine's back thrusters。
Sera drew a quick； almost whistling breath。 The one at the wheel was him； the one with the purple hair who had made those strange； seductive； achingly beautiful sounds。
Her mecha answered her thought…images； it drew back； hanging there on thrusterfire。 Although her mecha was nearly as big as the cu