d the bridge in the midst of the briefing； whispering her apologies and seating herself at her duty station。
〃Admiral Hunter has entrusted us to spearhead a vast military operation to invade and reclaim our homeworld；〃 said Gardner。 〃And I know that I can count on every one of you to stand firm behind the admiral's conviction that we can lay the foundations for his second wave。〃 He inclined his head。 〃May God have mercy on our souls。〃
A brief silence was broken by the navigator's update：
〃Earth orbit in three minutes； mander。 Placing visual display on the monitor； sir。〃
Everyone turned to face the forward screen。 Orbital schematics de…rezzed and were replaced by a full view of the Earth。 They had all seen photos and video images galore； but the sight inspired awe nevertheless。
〃It's beautiful；〃 someone said。 And pared to Fantoma or Tirol； it most certainly was： snow…white pole； blue oceans； and variegated land masses； the whole of it patterned by swirling clouds。
A puter…generated grid assembled itself over the image as the mand ship continued to close。 At her station； Marlene said； 〃So that's what Earth looks like。。。I'd almost forgotten。〃
The mander called for scanning to be initiated； and in a moment the grid was highlighting an area located in one of the northern continents。 Data readouts scrolled across an adjacent display screen。
〃Full magnification and color enhancement；〃 Gardner barked。
Marlene leaned in to study her screen。 The forward monitor was displaying an angry red image； not softened in the least by Earth's inviting cloud cover。 She knew what this was but asked the puter to pare the present readings with those logged in its memory banks。 She sensed that Scott was peering over the top of her high…backed chair。
〃That's it； sir；〃 she said all at once； her screen strobing encouragement。 〃The central hive。 Designation。。。Reflex Point；〃 Marlene read from the data scroll。 〃Picking up energy flux readings and multiple radar contacts。。。waiting for signature。〃
Gardner glanced over at her briefly； then turned his attention forward once again。 〃I want visuals as soon as possible；〃 he instructed one of the techs。
〃Shock Trooper transport；〃 Marlene said at the same time。
Gardner's nostrils flared。 〃Prepare to repel。〃
Techs were already bending over the consoles tapping in mands； the bridge a veritable light show of flashing screens。
〃Two minutes to contact；〃 the navigator informed Gardner。
〃All sections standing by。。。〃
〃Auto…astrogator is off。。。Ship's shields raised。。。〃
Marlene flipped a series of switches。 〃Net is open。。。〃
〃All right；〃 Gardner said decisively。 〃Issue the go signal to all Veritechs。〃
〃One minute and counting； sir。〃
The mander turned to Scott。
〃It's up to your squads now； Lieutenant。 We've got to get through their lines and set these ships down。〃 Scott saluted； and Gardner returned it。 〃Good luck；〃 he added。
〃You can count on us。〃
Marlene had turned from her station； waiting for him to walk past。 As he leaned down to kiss her； she smiled and surprised him by placing a heart…shaped holo…locket into his hand。
〃Take this with you；〃 she said while he was regarding the thing。 〃It's my way of saying ‘good luck。'〃
Scott thanked her and leaned in to collect that kiss after all。 Resurfaced； he found Gardner and the techs smiling at him； he gave another crisp salute and rushed from the bridge。
〃‘Good…bye； sweetheart；'〃 one of the techs stationed behind Marlene mimicked not a moment after Scott left。 〃‘And here's a token of my undying love。'〃
Marlene poked her head around the side of the chair。 Marf and one who liked to be called Red were laughing。 〃Knock it off；〃 she told them。 She was used to the razzing…personal time was hard to e by aboard ship； and Scott's open displays of affection only added fuel to the fire…but in no mood for it right now。
〃What's the matter； Marlene？〃 Red said over his shoulder。 〃Don't you know that absence makes the heart grow fonder？〃
She swiveled about in the cushioned seat and hid her face in her hands。 〃I don't know how it could；〃 she managed； suddenly on the verge of tears。
〃Don't let them get to you； Marlene；〃 one of her supporters at the forward stations called out while Red laughed。
e back； Scott； she prayed。 I'd give my life to keep you safe。
Gardner's mand ship was actually one of the fleet's many transport vessels…delicate…looking ships that resembled swans in flight； with long； tapering necks and thin swept…back wings under each of which was affixed a boxcarlike Veritech carrier。
Scott； his body sheathed in lime…green armor； was strapping himself into one of the Veritechs now。 Fifteen years had seen only minor changes in armor and craft。 Lang's Robotech design team had maintained the 〃thinking caps〃 and sensor…studded mitts and boots that were so characteristic of the first…generation VT pilots。 Armor itself had bee somewhat bulky due to the fact that these third…generation warriors were involved in ground…assault missions as often as they were in space strikes； but there was none of the gladiatorial styling favored by Lang's counterparts in the Army of the Southern Cross。
〃The main engine and boosters are in top shape； sir；〃 a launch tech perched on the rim of the Veritech bin told Scott before he lowered the canopy。 〃Good luck and good hunting。〃
Scott flashed him a thumbs…up as the canopy sealed itself。 〃Thanks； pal；〃 he said over the externals。 〃I'll be seein' you Earthside。〃
Flashes of green and red light from the cockpit displays played across the tinted faceshield of Scott's helmet as he activated and engaged one after another of the Veritech's plex systems。 〃This is mander Bernard of the Twenty…first Armored Tactical Assault Squadron； Mars Division；〃 he announced over the net。 〃Condition is green； and we are go for launch。〃
〃The flight bay is open；〃 control radioed back to him。 〃You are cleared for launch； mander。〃
Scott gave a start as bay doors throughout the carrier retracted。 The cloud…studded deep…blue oceans of Earth filled his entire field of vision。 The sight elicited a sense of vertigo he had never experienced before； it was difficult for him to prehend a planet with so much water； a liquid world that offered so little surface。。。but Scott was quick to catch himself。
〃Mars Division attack wing；〃 he said over the net； 〃let's do it！〃
The Veritech lurched somewhat as the bin conveyers began to move the fighters toward the forward bay。 Scott saw that the grappler pylons that would convey the mecha from belt to vacuum had already attached themselves。 He readied himself at the controls； urging his body to relax； his mind to meld with the VT systems。 In a moment he felt the grapplers release； the fighter drifting weightlessly； before he engaged the thrusters that bore it away from the transport carrier。
〃All right； look alive；〃 Scott said as his wingmen came alongside to signal their readiness。 〃Once we join up with the main formation； I want eyes open and hands on the trigger。〃 Earthspace was filled with mecha now； some two thousand Veritechs in a slow descent over a silent world。 Scott heard mander Gardner's voice over the net。
〃All wing manders maintain loose battle formation。。。prepare to break off for individual bat at the first sign of enemy hostility。 It shouldn't be long in ing。。。〃
It is unlikely that many of the men and women who made up the Mars Division （so named by Dr。 Lang to convey a sense of attachment to Earth and its brethren worlds） recognized the uniqueness of their position： Their invasion represented humankind's first deliberate offensive against an XT force。 Up to that point Earth had always been on the defensive； counterstriking first the Zentraedi； then those giants' Tirolian Masters； and lastly （and unsuccessfully） the Invid themselves。 In this sense the day was a red…letter event； if not the turning point Hunter and numerous others had all hoped it would be。。。
Scott was one of the first to see the enemy ship； it was below him at nine o'clock； surfacing through Earth's atmosphere at an alarming rate。 An Invid troop carrier； one of the so…called Mollusk Carriers。
〃Here they are；〃 Scott said to his wingmen； gesturing with his hand at the same time。 The clamshell…shaped fortress was yawning now； revealing an arena array of Invid Shock Trooper mecha。 〃Fall in on my signal。〃
When Scott looked again a split second later； an Invid column launched itself and was locked in on an ascent to engage； the ships' crablike hulls and pincer arms a gleaming golden…brown in Sol's intense light。 〃Yeah； I think we're gonna see signs of hostility；〃 Scott muttered to himself as his squadron dropped in to meet the enemy at the edge of space。
At Scott's mand the pilots of the Twenty…first thumbed off flocks of heat…seeker missiles； which streaked into the ascending column。 Short…lived explosions of violent fight blossomed against Earth's blue and white backdrop。 The VTs continued their silent descents； loosing second and third salvos of red…tipped demons against that horde which had overwhelmed their world。 And countless Invid mecha flamed out and fried； but not enough to matter。 For every one taken out there were three that survived； and thos