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Teal went over to stand by her son proudly。 A wisecrack of Jack Baker's came back to her； and she decided this was a good time to use it。 Putting her arm around her son's strong young shoulders； she fixed Tiffa with her gaze。
〃Maybe we're not much to look at； but we're all you've got。〃
〃From here we go to the Great Geode； to ask for aid there；〃 Baldan announced。 〃Follow us； any who are willing； or carry the word to other sanctuaries。〃 He hesitated； unsure if the last thing he wanted to say was fair； but the impulse was too strong to deny。
His voice dropped an octave and became the voice of Baldan I； a different look came into his eyes。 Through him； his father said； 〃It is good to see you this one last time。 I love you all。〃
Baldan II vibrated a little； ing back to himself； then turned to merge with the spar of agate。 A moment later； Teal was gone too。
The Spherisians looked at one another； the sanctuary resonating with the hurrahs of some； the doubts of others。 There were troubled glances everywhere。
That was when Tiffa stepped to the outcropping where her grandson and daughter…in…law had disappeared。 She spread her arms like a high…diver； leaned slowly； and melded with the stuff of Spheris。
In another few seconds； people were thronging to the walls of the place； or lying flat to dissolve into the very floor。 Those who doubted or had other reservations found themselves in a dwindling minority。 Many remained behind； but now the sanctuary was a hollow…sounding； mostly deserted place of more silence than sound； more emptiness than life。
Out along the Crystal Highways the folk of Spheris flew； energized by a force before which piezoelectricity and Protoculture and logic itself must bow。 Toward a thousand destinations on the planet's crust and under it they went； to free their homeworld。
CHAPTER TWENTY…ONE
This may sound strange； ing from me； but I want to take a moment here to speak in defense of the Ghost Riders…a unit with a long and proud history going back to United States naval aviation…until those events on the SDF…3 mission。
I believe that some of those men and women were swayed by Edwards's Faustian lure…there are bad apples in every barrel。 But I've reviewed the citations and decorations of the Ghosts； going back decades； and I'm convinced that some force beyond mere human fallibility had enslaved them to their general by that night。
It would be a stain on the memory of brave and selfless service members not to point this out： Edwards's greatest crime； among his many； was in making us Banners fight our own。
Justice Justine Huxley； I've Been to a Marvelous Party
The man whose name tag read Isle； L。 knew from the start that Edwards's breakout would be unstoppable at its source。
Hundreds of Inorganic bipeds had flung open the doors of the Royal Hall's underground warren and poured forth； inflicting terrible casualties； in response to the general's silent mand。 It was only good luck that an officious security QIC had insisted that the Plenipotentiary Council evacuate the building after Edwards's escape…she had practically been forced to wrestle some of the council members into armored vehicles。
She was exonerated a few minutes later； when the Crann； Scrim； and Odeon boiled up from their catabs； spreading death。 Justine Huxley； gazing at it in horror through the rear viewslit of an APC； wrote later； 〃Words will not serve to describe the carnage there。 I do not think the REF had a darker moment。〃
A few loyalist VTs brought down death from the skies within minutes； but Edwards's army was already on the move。 Now Flight Officer Isle watched them e toward the REF HQ plex； as he knew they would。
Poor rebuilt Tiresia was being razed again； in a grotesque Mardi Gras of Robotech warfare。 Excaliber Mark IXs and Crann whirled； fighting hand…to…hand in the streets； Spartans and Scrim stood flat…footed and shot it out at point…blank range in alleys； Battloids and Odeon rolled； locked in mortal bat； crumbling buildings and tearing each other to shreds。
What Ghost VTs there were were primarily occupied keeping Lang's security fliers busy。 The conflict was pretty much a ground battle。
The man released the nametag he had ripped from his flight suit。 It fluttered down on the wind as he watched the battle move his way。 Edwards was using his Invid troops cleverly； feinting and redeploying； subtly opening an avenue of attack on the HQ。 REF mand wouldn't consider HQ much of an objective for Edwards； Flight Officer Isle knew； mand would consider it a dead end； and would be watching for an assault on the spaceport。 They didn't know that the most precious thing in the universe was in the headquarters building。
No； mand was busy dealing with diversionary strikes by Edwards's loyal Ghost Riders and shoring up its faltering ready…reaction groups in the western and southern parts of Tiresia。 Edwards was one up on them。
The council acted quickly on Lang's plea to secure SDF…3 against mutiny。 But what they weren't prepared for was a mass desertion by Ghost elements then on the super…dimensional fortress。 And while there were sufficient loyal troops to hold the bridge； power section； and other vital points against assault； there weren't nearly enough to stop Edwards's people from decamping。
Some of the Ghosts headed for the surface of Tirol； to provide air support for their general's escape。 But the bulk of them drove directly toward the new SDF…7 ship； sister to the Tokugawa and the Jutland； that was just nearing pletion。 Since Edwards had to take flight； he meant to do so in a ship with its superluminal drive in place。
Inorganics were already breaking through onto the huge square outside the rocketlike HQ building。 The man who had called himself Isle for so long drew a deep breath and leapt from the parapet on which he stood。
Ten feet below； he touched down soundlessly on the tiles of a balcony； eased himself onto a ledge that ran round the building； and sidled along it； back to the wall。 He negotiated the corner and saw the mecha he had seen fifteen or thirty seconds before： a Scrim lumbering in behind the first wave of Inorganics to assault the doors of the HQ。
He swung hims