shadows moving and shaping within it, responding to a will that was fearful to contemplate.
They were all shocked to see each other, but where Annie was excited, Scott was angry; he threw off his "thinking cap," raised the canopy of the alpha, and hopped out, storming over to the two Cycloners.
"I thought I told you two to stay put," he began. "You're not soldiers!"
Rand marveled that the man could even be entertaining such thoughts given the circumstances.
"Well, since we're not soldiers, we don't have to follow your orders, do we?" Rook threw back at him, raising the faceshield of her helmet.
"Marlene led us to this place," Annie explained, climbing down from the APC.
Scott looked around uncomfortably. "She led all of us here, I guess."
Suddenly Rand was pointing up to the sphere; its interior was growing brighter by the second. The glow culminated in a flash of threatening light.
"Foolish Humans," an omnipresent deep but female voice began, "you have come here seeking to look upon the face of the Invid Regis...So be it. You shall see her."
Over the rainbow, indeed! Rand said to himself.
The next thing anyone knew, someone had pulled the plug, plunging the Regis's inner sanctum into darkness, except for the inner glow of that sphere, directed down on them now like stage light. Then a towering flame formed beneath the base of the sphere. It was similar to the one that had encompassed Marlene earlier, only this one was larger and more menacing. And within it they could discern a hairless humanoid figure, thirty feet high and dressed in a long red robe and strange gloves that dangled a kind of tail. "Behold, I am the Invid. I am the soul and the spirit. I have guided my people across the measureless cosmos, from a world that was lost to a world that was found. I have led my people in flight from the dark tide of the shadow that engulfed our world, one that threatens to engulf us even now. I am the power and the light. I am the embodiment of the life force, the
creator-protector. In the primitive terminology of your species, I am...the Mother!"
While she spoke they had views of nebulae and star systems, the journey the Invid had taken from Optera to Tirol and on to all the worlds that had led them eventually to Earth.
Light returned to the chamber, and they had a full view of the blue-eyed creature, the Invid mother.
"You are surprised...So were we, when we discovered that the planet to which we were led by the Flower of Life was inhabited by the very species who had destroyed our homeworld."
"I'd say 'inhabited,'" Rand started to say.
"That is of little consequence...Your species is nothing when weighed against the survival of my people...The Invid life force will not be denied... "
"No, that's not right!" a small voice rang out to argue with her. Everyone turned and saw Marlene enter the domed chamber from somewhere, just as they remembered her in her yellow jacket and blue denims.
Scott called to her.
"So, Ariel, it is true: you are a traitor. Was it you who led these children of the shadow into the hive?"
"They are not children of the shadow," Marlene contradicted her. "They have a life force almost as strong as our own."
"They are the enemies of our race."
"If they oppose us, it's because we are trying to do the same thing to them that was done to us so many years ago!" She turned to her friends now. "Scott, listen to me: Perhaps if we could begin again, we might be able to find a way for our two races to share this planet together, in peace."
Scott closed his eyes to her and shook his head. "I'm sorry," he told her. "But you must realize that's impossible."
"So you'd rather have the death and destruction continue?"
"That's right, Marlene," Lunk cut in. "To the bitter end if we have to!" Marlene made a stunned sound; she had not expected this.
"Lemme tell you something," Lunk continued. "Maybe you've forgotten that your species invaded our world-remember?!"
"I do remember," she said softly.
At the edge of Earthspace the third attack group was moving into position above Reflex Point, the Shadow Fighters that rode its wake dematerializing as the command was received for activation of the Protoculture cloaking device.
"There are still no signs of the SDF-3," the controller updated. "All other ships are present and accounted for."
"Jinxed!" Reinhardt muttered.
"Ground forces report successful penetration of the hive barrier shield, with heaviest losses sustained by the Veritech squadrons. Invid command is either unaware of our presence or unconcerned. My guess is that the cloaking device has been successful."
"All right," the commander said, turning to the forward viewports. "Signal the fleet to form up for final attack formation and prepare to engage." Reinhardt exhaled slowly, exhausted by the weight of his responsibility. His confidence had been bolstered by the controller's report, but he couldn't help but dwell on the possible consequences of failure. Hunter had called for the use of neutron bombs, which while sure to annihilate the Invid would also spell doom for much of the Earth's population.
Over the battlefield Corg was taking out ship after ship in an effort to offset Sera's betrayal. And now his sensors were indicating the presence of Robotech mecha inside the hive itself. He dealt out death to two more Veritechs and headed through the remnants of the shield into the heart of the hive.
In the inner sanctum, the alien the Humans knew as Marlene was still trying to get over Lunk's remarks. "But you've traveled with me," she was
telling him, the hurt evident in her voice. "I even thought that you liked me, or at least accepted me. I'm no different now than I was then, Lunk. So why have your feelings changed?"
"What d' ya mean, you haven't changed?" Lunk's face was red with rage beneath the lifted faceshield of his helmet. "You're an alien! You think we woulda taken you along if we knew that? You're a spy!"
"But the fact that I could travel among you as a friend should tell you something, Lunk. Isn't it possible that we're not so different, after all...your people and mine?"
The Regis had been following these exchanges with interest, and she learned more about the Humans in the past few minutes than she had in the past three years. But Ariel still had a lot to learn. "Look at these friends of yours," she said to Ariel and directly into the minds of the Humans. "Notice how they stare at you in fear and confusion-emotional states that in their species inevitably lead to hatred...and violence!"
"Yes, they're confused because they feel I betrayed them," she argued, "but they're not full of hatred."
"Your contact with them has blinded you to their true nature, my child. It is their genetic disposition to destroy whatever they cannot understand."
"Now just wait one damn minute, Dragon Lady!" Rand interrupted her, willing to risk a step forward. "I've had about enough of this! How do you know what we're thinking? I'm willing to take Marlene as she is-and I think Lunk feels the same underneath all that armor of his. I don't hate her. Especially now, knowing what she stands to lose by coming to our defense like this. But you are another matter. As far-"
No one saw the crimson paralyzing rays until it was too late; they seemed to bubble up out of her blue eyes like dye, and they knocked Rand off his feet-the proverbial look that could kill-but his battle armor saved him.
"It is natural to them," she explained to Marlene/Ariel, barely missing a beat. "As natural as breathing itself. Their entire history is a catalog of murder, conquest, and enslavement, all directed against others of their own
species."
"That's not true!" Sera now threw back, suddenly materializing in the chamber. "Ariel's right, Regis. Forgive me, please, but I too have begun to doubt whether we are any better than they are." She looked briefly at Lancer before continuing. "You say this species is guilty of murder and enslavement, but how is that any different from what we're doing to this planet?"
"So, Sera, you and your sister have been turned against us." Sera, Lancer thought to himsel
f, watching her.
Ariel was now gesturing toward the Humans. "Look at them, Regis. They're not...animals or barbarians. They are a brave and noble people trying to protect what is rightfully theirs, just as we tried to do." She offered Scott an imploring look, hoping he would understand and forgive her. Something in his eye told her he would.
Corg had by now joined them also, not in the flesh like Sera but via the instrumentality sphere, where his image appeared five times life size.
"Have all of you gone mad?" he shouted. "How did these Humans gain entrance to the hive?! Sera, remove them at once!"
Sera thrust out her chin. "I was not aware that I had to obey your orders, Corg."
He scowled at her. "Your contact with the rebels has made you weak and spineless."
"And it has made a monster out of you," she returned. "Consumed by vengeance and evil passions. You are a child of shadow, Corg, not the Humans."
"What are you saying?" he bellowed. "This pathetic species you've become so fond of cannot be allowed to stand in the way of our future. Have you forgotten what we have been called to do?"
"If you keep fighting, there won't be a future for any of us," Lancer said from the floor of the chamber.
Corg dismissed the threat without a word. "Enough. I am called to battle-where my duty lies!"
"I've got to stop that lunatic!" Scott yelled, ignoring Marlene's pleas for
him to wait and racing for the cockpit of his fighter.
The Alpha gave chase to the alien ship through that same netherworld of moving cells Rand and Rook had navigated earlier. I've got you now! Scott thought, training his weapons on Corg even before the two of them had left the hive. But the XT swung his craft around and loosed a stream of discs before Scott could get off his shot, and an instant later they were outside, dogfighting in the skies over those recently altered autumnal forests. Red-tipped heat-seekers and anni discs cut through the air as the two aces put their ships through their paces, dodging and juking, climbing and dropping against each other.
Views of the battle were displayed inside the chamber, where the rest of the freedom fighters were still gathered, along with Ariel and Sera.
"I don't like just standing around and watching this," Rand told Rook. "What do you say, do we stay here or go out there and help him?"
"I don't know anymore, Rand. I'm all confused... "
All at once the sphere's images de-rezzed, only to be replaced by space views of the approaching Expeditionary fleet.
The Regis's lapis eyes narrowed. "No! They have come! The dark tides of the shadow have come to engulf us again!"
"It's the rest of Hunter's fleet!"
"Wow! I didn't expect so many ships!"
"Well, that does it," Lancer said softly, filled up with a sudden despair. "Any hope of a peaceful settlement has just gone down the drain."
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Throw water on her! Throw water on her!
Remark attributed to Rand (unconfirmed) on seeing the Invid Regis for the first time
Most of Earth's population was unaware of the Expeditionary Fleet's arrival, let alone of the Olympian battle that was taking place in the skies above Reflex Point. But even as far off as the remote areas of the Southlands, people knew something was up. The Invid were suddenly taking their leave-from cities, towns, communications outposts, and Protoculture farms, a steady stream of Troopers and Pincer units, all headed north for some unknown purpose.
Meanwhile, in one small section of those embattled northern skies, a green and orange Invid command ship was going one on one with a Veritech, each oblivious to the ferocious fighting going on around them, as though these two had been chosen representative combatants. And in some ways they had...
For Corg, the alien prince, there was no thought of defeat, only the glory of victory. Showing a malicious grin, he raised the right cannon arm of his ship and loosed a bolt of red death at the approaching fighter.
But Scott was well prepared for it and already thinking the Beta through an avoidance roll; he returned two bursts to Corg's one, reconfiguring to Battloid mode as the VT came full circle.
Corg darted left and right, almost playfully, then threw his ship into a frontal assault, even as the Battloid's rifle/cannon continued to pour energy his way. The two crafts collided and grappled in midair, thrusters keeping them aloft while they flailed at each other with armored fists. Scott tried to bring the cannon down on the ship's crown, but Corg parried the blow and punished the VT with body blows. Scott twisted and hurled his opponent way; once again he brought the cannon into play, and once again Corg
seemed to laugh off the attempts.
The alien's voice seethed over the tac net: "Your pitiful attempts make your defeat at my hands all the more pleasurable!"
Scott snorted. "I'll be satisfied with boring you to death, then!"
The Battloid had the cannon in both hands now; the first volley missed, and the second impacted harmlessly against the command ship's crown. In response Corg loosed a flock of missiles from his ship's shoulder-mounted racks, and Scott met the stakes with an equal number of his own. The projectiles destroyed themselves in midair between the two ships, but Corg had followed his missiles in, emerging from the smoke and bringing the metalshod foot of his ship against the VT's control modules before Scott had an opportunity to take evasive action. Electrical discharges snapped around the inside of the Beta's cockpit like summer lightning as circuits fried and systems shorted out. Scott sat defenseless in the seat as shock poured through his armor and the displays cried out last warnings. Corg's ship was behind him now, cannon raised. Scott thought he would feel the final blow against the Battloid's back, but Corg played his hand for insult instead. He targeted and zapped the Beta's thrusters, incapacitating the ship.
The Battloid commenced a slow facedown descent, trailing thick smoke from its leg and neck...
Corg watched it for a moment, laughing out loud in his cockpit, then turned to deal with the half dozen fighters that had suddenly appeared to avenge their commander.
"How quaint," he sniggered to himself.
He positioned himself central to their assault and let them take their best shots, which he avoided with ease. Then, as they came in at him, he showed his teeth and counterattacked, taking out the first as it swooped past him, then a second, third, and fourth as they strived to ensnare him.
At the same time, Corg's Troopers were taking the battle to the edge of space. The so-called Mollusk Carriers and squadrons of Pincer units a thousand strong had moved in to engage the main fleet. Laser fire
crisscrossed and lined local space, spherical explosions blossoming like so many small novas.
Hundreds of Invid ships were annihilated by mecha they could not even see, let alone fight. Squadrons of Enforcers and Pincer ships were wiped out; Mollusk Carriers exploded before they could even release their brood. And yet they continued to come, more and more of them.
On the bridge of the fleet flagship, Reinhardt received the latest updates. "Estimate of Invid troop capability is coming in now, sir," Sparks reported.
"I want a full status report on the assault force entry into Reflex Point," he demanded.
"They're continuing to meet heavy resistance, sir."
Reinhardt studied the monitors and displays. "If push comes to shove we're going to be forced to use the neutron S missiles."
"But our troops..." said Sparks, alarmed.
"I'm aware of the consequences," Reinhardt answered him grimly. "But is there a choice? Either we eliminate them and reclaim the planet or give it all away. We can deal with the ethics later on."
"I understand," Sparks said softly.
"Shadow Fighter launch is complete," a female tech said over the comlink.
"This is it, then," said Reinhardt. "Wish them Godspeed for me, Lieutenant."
In the hive chamber, Lancer, Lunk, Annie, and Sera had their eyes fixed on the Protoculture globe as glimpses of the battle in space were relayed to the Regis'
s sanctum sanctorum. It was obvious to the Humans that the Regis was growing concerned now; she was no longer the omniscient being they had first met.
"All units regroup," she was telling her troops. "Repel the invaders at all costs!" As she swung around to face her small audience, her eyes found
Sera. "Your defection has cost us much, my child."
No one really understood what she meant by it, least of all Sera. It was true that she had stayed her hand when it had come to killing Lancer, but it was beyond her how her presence in the current battle could have affected things or altered the outcome any. "It can't be," she answered her Queen-Mother, knowing guilt for the first time.
Lancer was about to add something, when he saw one of the cells of the communication sphere black out. It was the third time he had seen it happen now, and it suddenly occurred to him that the sphere was tied in not only to the Regis in some direct way but to her offspring as well. He turned his attention to the battle images again: A squadron of Enforcers was being decimated by laser-array fire erupting from what seemed to be empty space; and as the last of the ships were destroyed, another cell faded and was gone. Annie noticed it, too.
"Hey, look at that!" she said, pointing to the dark patch on the underside of the globe.
"It loses power with each Invid loss," Lancer explained. "Isn't that right, Regis?"
The alien looked down at him imperiously. "You are perceptive, Human...And as you have observed, our entire race feels the loss when even one of our children ceases to exist."
The pain she must have known, Lancer found himself thinking. Even over the course of the past year, to mention nothing of what had happened before, with the Tirolian Masters, then Hunter and the so-called Sentinels... "Those Shadow Fighters are chewing them up!" Lunk enthused as more
and more Invid ships disappeared in fiery explosions and seemingly sourceless cross fires.
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