nd fried； but not enough to matter。 For every one taken out there were three that survived； and those which broke through the line of fire began to strike back。 Scott knew there were creatures inside each of those ships…huge bipedal mockeries of the Human form； with massive arms and heads that resembled elongated snouts。
Unlike the enemy forces of the First and Second Robotech Wars； the Invid relied on numbers rather than firepower。 True； the Zentraedi had a seemingly endless supply of Battlepods and an armada of ships four million strong； but by and large the war was fought in conventional terms。 Up against the Masters this was even more the case； with the number of mecha on both sides substantially reduced。 With the Invid； however； humankind encountered a horde mentality to rival any that nature had produced。 And true to form； whether army ants or swarms of killer bees； the Invid carried a sting。
As Scott and the others knew from their previous encounters； initial fusillades were what counted most。 Once separated from its column； the individual Invid ship was blindingly maneuverable and often unstoppable。 In close it favored two approaches： ripping open mecha with its alloy pincer claws and embracing a ship and literally shocking it to death with charges delivered by the ships' Protoculture systems。 Scott saw both variations of this occurring while he did his best to keep his own fighter out of reach。
Veritech and crabship were going at it across the field； Mars Division troops and Invid mecha in deadly pursuits and dogfights； crisscrossing in the upper reaches of the stratosphere amidst tracer rounds； missile tracks； and laser…array fire from the mand ships。 Scott saw one of his team taken out by a claw swipe that opened the Veritech tail to nose； precious atmosphere sucked from the fractured canopy； the pilot flailing for life inside。 In another part of nearby space； several Veritechs floated derelict after loveless Invid embraces。
Scott realized the hopelessness of their situation and ordered his squadron to reconfigure to Battloid mode。
Mechamorphosis； or mode selection； was still controlled by a three…position cockpit lever； along with the pilot's mecha will； which interfaced with the fighter's Protoculture…governed systems。 But where all parts of the first…generation Veritechs participated in reconfiguration； the augmentation packs and energy generators of the Armored Alphas （essential for the space and ground missions that typified the Expeditionary Force） remained intact during the process。 The forward portion of the craft telescoped to acplish this； arms unfolding from behind the canopy while radome and cockpit rotated up through a 180…degree arc； now allowing the underbelly laser turret to bee the Battloid's head； and the underbelly rifle/cannon to bee the weapon that was grasped in the mecha's right hand。
Thus transformed； Scott's squadron fell in to reengage the Invid； blue thrusters bright in Earth's dark side。
Meanwhile； a second wave of Veritechs was launched from the transports to respond to another column of Invid approaching swiftly from Delta sector。
Scott's displays flashed coordinates and signatures of the second Mollusk Carrier even before he had visual contact。 He ordered his team to form up on his lead and throw themselves against the column。 Once again heatseekers found their marks and took out scores of Invid ships； and once again orange hell…flowers blossomed。 But reinforced； the Invid launched a frenzied counterstrike。 Shock vessels broke through the front lines and went for the transports themselves in suicide runs and massed charges。 Particle beams； disgorged from bow guns； swept like insecticide through their ranks； annihilating ship after ship。
Scott's team regrouped and gave chase to any that survived； blasts from the VTs' chain…guns blowing pincers to debris and holing carapaces。 Still； Scott could hear the death screams of the unlucky ones piercing the tac net's cacophony of mands and reactions。 VTs and Invid ships drifted from the arena； locked in bizarre postures； obscene embraces。 Here； an Invid pincer was apparently caught in the canopy of the ship it had ensnared； there； another held a VT to itself； exchanging lightning flashes of death。
Scott； sweat beading up across his forehead； was in pursuit of two Invid ships that were closing in on mander Gardner's transport； he had heard Marlene's terror…stricken call for help only a moment before and had one of the enemy ships bracketed in the chain…gun's sights now。 He fired once； shooting a hole through its groin； and smiled devilishly as it disintegrated in a brief burst of crimson light。 The second Invid； its pincers raised for action； was moving toward the bridge viewports。 But fire from Scott's cannon demissioned it before it attained striking distance。
〃Saw two； swatted same；〃 Scott told Marlene over the net； a confident tone returned to his voice。 The Invid were falling back on all sides。
〃Good job； mander；〃 Gardner congratulated him before Marlene had a chance to speak。 〃Signal your team to begin their atmospheric approach。 Our thermal energy shields are already seriously drained。〃
〃Roger；〃 said Scott； at the same time waving the chain…gun to signal his wingmen。 〃We'll escort you through。〃
Scott saw the transport's thrusters fire a three…second burst； realigning the ship for its slow descent。 He sat back and punched up orbital entry calculations inn the data screen； fed these over to the autopilot； and returned his attention to wide…range radar。 Suddenly Marlene was on the net again； alerting him to a unit of bandits moving against him at four o'clock。 He glanced over his shoulder and glimpsed them even as their signatures were registering on the mecha's radar screen。
〃I see them；〃 he answered her calmly。
Scott permitted the half dozen Invid to close in； enabling his onboard targeting puter to get a fix on all of them。 It was a calculated risk but one that paid off a moment later when the Battloid's deltoid partments opened and each launched a missile that homed in on its target。 Scott boostered himself away from the silent fireworks and rechecked the screen： There was no sign of enemy activity。
〃We're all clear； mander；〃 he reported； easing up the thinking cap's faceshield。
Gardner's face now flashed into view on the cockpit's small mo screen。 〃Scott！ We must try to slip through and hit Reflex Point before the Regis's drones have a chance to regroup。 Understood？〃
〃Roger mander；〃 Scott returned。 At a signal from the HUD； he dropped the faceshield； the inside surface of which was displaying approach vectors and numerical data。 He opened the tac net。 〃Our entrance azimuth is one…two…one…one。。。Reconfiguring for orbital deviation。〃
Scott armed the Veritech's shield after it had shifted mode and brought the fighter alongside Gardner's descending transport。 The hull temperature of his own ship was reaching critical levels； and he reasoned that the same thing had to be occurring on the larger ship。 A glance told him he was correct and more。 The underside of the mand vessel was radiating an intense glow that suggested an improper angle of approach。 Scott waited for the vessel to correct itself； and when it didn't； he went on the net。
〃Remend you recalculate entry horizon； mander。 The ship appears to be entering too quickly。〃
〃It can't be helped； Scott。 We've got to put down。 Our shields will never see us through another attack。〃
〃Sir； you'll never live to see another attack if you don't readjust your course heading；〃 Scott said more firmly。 〃That ship wasn't built for this kind of gravitational pull。 You're going to tear her apart！〃
Scott tried to suppress a mounting feeling of panic。 He heard Marlene tell Gardner that the reserve thermal energy shields were now pletely exhausted。 Gardner ordered her to engage the retros。
Scott craned his neck to see if the retros were having any effect； his guts like a knot pressing against his diaphragm。 He saw something break free from the tail section of the transport； glow； and burn out。 He was trying to maintain proximity with the ship； but as a result his own displays were suddenly flashing warnings as well。 I'd better slow down myself if I don't want to be decorating a big part of the landscape。
Scott pulled the mode selector to G position and stepped out of his fear temporarily to think the Veritech through to Guardian mode。 As the legs of the mecha dropped； reverse…articulating； he engaged the foot thrusters； substantially cutting his speed。 At the same time； Gardner's transport was roaring past him in an uncontrolled plunge。
〃mander； pull out！〃 he cried into the net。 Marlene！
Caught between self…sacrifice and desperation； Scott could do little more than bear witness to the agonizingly slow deterioration of the mand ship…the end of all he held dear in the world。 The transport was a glowing ember now； slagging off fragments of itself into the void。 The intense heat would have already boiled the blood of those inside。。。
Marlene！
His mind tried to save him from the horror by denying the events； cocooning him in much the same way the Veritech did。 But averting his gaze only worsened matters。 Everywhere he looked ships…of…the…