thers。 At last he bounded into a clearing where hot； blinding light shone down on him。 He shielded his eyes with the flat of his hand and gazed up。
It was an alien mecha like nothing there had ever been before； anywhere。 The late morning sun glinted all around it； and reflected off enormously strong purple ponents and pink trim； making the machine…mountain difficult to see。
Lancer blocked the light with his hand； moving a little。
It must have landed while I was swimming； but…it didn't attack me！ It seems abandoned。 But how could that be？ According to all reports the drones are helpless eggs outside their mecha。
He heard a sound and sensed some movement。 The young woman stepped out from behind one of the machine's colossal legs。 He saw now that the color pattern of her bodysuit reiterated the colors of the alien Trooper。
He stared at her as she watched him silently。 〃Y…you can't be the pilot！ You're Human； not an Invid drone； where's the pilot； the alien？〃
Something galvanized her； she leapt； incredibly high； as the mecha bent toward her； the turret in its muzzle blossoming open to receive her。 Rather than the egg…nest described by Rand and Annie； the new Trooper's control nacelle was a padded cockpit pletely encased in armor。
Lancer was still yelling to her as the cockpit closed and the Trooper's back and foot thrusters fired up。 He was nearly blown from his feet and singed by the backwash； the invader lifted off； leaving the grass burned and smoldering where it had stood。
He blinked； coughing from the smoke and the sand she had kicked up。 By the time he opened his eyes again； the Trooper was a diminishing meteor racing to the east。
This is unbelievable！ She was the pilot of that mecha！ Does this mean Humans are fighting for the Invid？
Shaken by her encounter with Lancer； and unable to unravel the plex series of feelings and impulses that had assailed her； Sera rejoined Corg and the contingent of Shock Troopers。 But she made no mention of what had happened and that； too； confused her。
But Corg and the Troopers' sensors had detected Lunk's test activations； as he checked his repair job。 Sera had barely rejoined them when they assumed attack formation and rocketed toward the island where Humans had been sensed。
Rand eased himself into a frayed chaise longue next to Rook。 Scott threw himself down on all fours in the sand； resolving never to go swimming in a flight suit again。 As he hunched around to sit down； his hand happened to touch Marlene's shoulder。
She gasped as if she had been touched with a live wire； and seemed to go into shock。 〃Must've pinched some kinda nerve；〃 Rand diagnosed。
〃I tell you； I barely touched the woman！〃 Scott shot back angrily； face reddening at the thought of how he longed to caress her。
〃Su…uure； Scott；〃 Rook teased。 〃Probably just your sexual magnetism。〃 She looked to Marlene； who was gazing into empty air。 〃This might be a good sign； though； if she's having flashbacks or something； maybe it means her memory's returning。〃
〃I hope so；〃 Scott said； but he wondered if he really did； or if he would be sorry on the day that happened。
Marlene abruptly clutched at her hair。 〃I feel them ing closer！ They're here！〃
But the thunder of the attack had already made the Humans look up。 Down through the clouds plunged Corg and Sera； leading their Pincer Ships and Shock Troopers。 〃Invid squadron heading this way！〃 Rand hollered； bounding out of his beach chair。
〃Invid；〃 Marlene was moaning。 〃Reflex Point。。。Regis。。。〃
〃We're out of time； but I think we can still make a break for it；〃 Scott said； tight…lipped。 〃I'll run the boats。 Rand； Rook： suit up and make sure you're ready for my signal。〃
They snapped to it； fast as any Mars Division elite troops； sprinting away； feet throwing up sand。 Scott grabbed for Marlene's arm； but this time she showed no reaction to his touch。
The Invid pleted several sweeps of the island； preparing to go in closer。 Then they noticed the pair of PT boats moving out to sea at maximum speed。
Corg felt delighted at the chance to slay Humans。 With voice and arm signals； he ordered the attack。 Pincer Ships followed him for the first pass。 Scott； on shore； watched and did his best to evade the enemy's strafing runs； but the jury…rigged remote controls were slow in responding。
Rand and Rook rushed to get into their armor； dragging the camouflage nets off their VTs even while Lunk was working； with infuriating deliberateness； to finish the last of his repairs on Rook's Alpha。
Two passes had both PTs leaking smoke and had blown open the weather bridge on one。 Receiving no counterfire； the Invid dropped lower to recon。 They saw the boat's wheel moving with no living hand upon it； and noted the remote transmissions it was receiving。
The Regis's voice spoke from their puter/mo net。 〃Scanners reveal no Human units in target vessels。 Warning！ Possible strategic entrapment maneuver！〃
Scott figured he had played the possum hand for just about all it was worth。 Here we go； firing all missiles。
The team had loaded the PT boats' racks with surface…to…air missiles； since surface…to…surface bat was unlikely。 Now the launchers rose and traversed and targeted。 Guided by their radars； the racks emptied； and sixteen Tarpon heat…seekers came boiling and corkscrewing up at the Invid。 Caught by surprise； three of the Pincer Ships were blown to bits。 The rest went into evasive maneuvers。
Corg studied the situation。 The puter delivered its analysis in the Regis's voice。 〃Tracking sensors place origin of remote control transmissions at coordinates delta 6…5。 Presence of Human life…form at that location is also confirmed。 〃
Corg's optical sensor showed him another ocean craft； a bigger one； docked at a quay under a sheltering boatyard roof。 Corg dove toward it； with the Pincer Ships and； eventually； Sera failing in behind。
Scott watched as they neared the island。
Lancer charged into the clearing where the VTs were being readied for flight。 〃I just found out…something horrible；〃 he panted。
Rand was armored； helmet in hands。 〃What is it？ We just sprang the trap！〃
〃The repairs are all finished and it's time to scramble；〃 Rook added。 〃What's the problem now？〃
Lancer gave them a devastated look。 〃I just found out that the Invid are using Human pilots！〃
Scott sat behind the controls of the cutter's main gun battery； in the forward turret。 The pumped…laser cannon was outmoded by Mars Division standards； but it still delivered a terrific shot。
Corg and Sera； dodging the cannon blasts； homed in on the cutter like angry dragonflies。 Scott had already shot down one Pincer Ship； but these new mecha were frustratingly fast and maneuverable。 Their annihilation disc shots chopped up the water and the quay around the cutter； and Scott clenched his teeth。 C'mon Rand！ Rook； Lancer！ Don't let me down！
Then the VTs were on the scene； closing in on the oning Invid； both sides pitching with all the firepower they had。 The new…style mecha dodged； but two more Pincer Ships went down。 The aliens broke and evaded； scattering 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。
La