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s storm came two lone Veritechs； returned from a final reconnaissance flight。 Rick tuned into the mand freak； only to have his worst fears confirmed： there wasn't a safe region to be found anywhere on the planet。
The Alphas whooshed in overhead； reconfigured； and maneuvered into the open maw of the GMU's ordnance bay。 The Hovertanks and the Skull's VTs were already aboard； only two mecha remained outside…the VTs Rick and Max would pilot up once Vince Grant gave the go signal。
Rick dug his toes into the ground and pleted the climb； out of breath when he reached the rim of the chute the Sentinels had blown open in the roof of the cave。 The front end of the GMU overhung the rim； elevated now by the hundreds of orbs that had streamed from the cave after the chute had been opened。 It was Cabell's idea； and Veidt's peculiar talents； that made the plan workable。
As a last resort the Sentinels had decided to enlarge the diameter of the cave's internal passageways to acmodate the huge creatures stuck for want of an egress suited to their size。 That way； Cabell reasoned； they could at least raise a few more Alphas before the planet blew itself to smithereens…providing of course that the orbs could be made to understand that the Sentinels weren't trying to destroy them； as they had those spiderlike monstrosities。 And assuming for the time being that Wolff and Janice； or someone； would be ing to their rescue。
Rick couldn't recall just who had pointed out that some of the larger orbs were still going to face difficulties reaching the entrance； but it was Veidt who proposed boring an artificial chimney through the roof of the cave。 Additionally； the Haydonite maintained； the Sentinels were wasting their time airlifting individual mecha； when the increased supply of globe…beings would allow them to raise the entire GMU…if the mobile base could be positioned in such a way that the orbs could get underneath。 （Even with its one…hundred…foot tires； the thing was still too low to acmodate the largest of the orbs。） Vince； Rick； Lisa； and some of the others had determined that the GMU could sustain itself in orbit for a limited time； thanks to the modifications the landcrawler had undergone during its stint with the Farrago。 It would mean a dangerously unfortable existence for as long as Praxis held together； but even weightlessness and privation were preferable to the death they were bound to suffer on the surface。
So after Veidt had relayed the details of the scheme to the orbs （who were in his words 〃thankful〃 and more than willing to reciprocate）； and firepower had opened the chute； the GMU was repositioned at the rim of the opening to catch the creatures as they levitated from the cave。
As Rick regarded the all…but…floating vehicle now； he decided it was the most bizarre sight he had ever seen： the GMU looked as though it were sitting atop a mountain of unburstable bubbles。 Veidt was hovering nearby directing the flow。 And in spite of the scale and the incredible size of some of the orbs； the end result of the Sentinels' partnership with the creatures had rendered the GMU almost toy…like in appearance。
Rick continued to watch in amazement as more and more orbs attached themselves to the cluster。 The GMU's massive wheels were fully off the ground now； and Rick was anticipating Vince Grant's words even before they issued through the helmet speakers。
〃The ride's starting； Rick。 You better get the Alphas up。〃 Grant's tone was one of excited disbelief。
Rick turned in time to see Veidt give him a knowing nod； signaling that he had 〃heard〃 Grant's message。 When the Haydonite began to move off in the direction of Max's Alpha； elevating some as he hovered along the rim of the chute； Rick chinned Bela's frequency。
〃A moment more；〃 the Praxian told him。 〃Teal is with us。〃
〃What's she doing down there？〃 Rick asked； surprised。 〃Everyone was supposed to be aboard by now。〃
〃You will hear it from her own mouth；〃 Bela told him shortly。
Rick understood that it had something to do with Baldan's death； and thought better than to press for details。 〃All right；〃 he said。 〃Tell Kami and Learna they'll be riding with Max and Veidt。 You and Teal will go up with me。〃
Bela acknowledged； and Rick hurried off to the Guardian…mode Alpha； which was sitting at the edge of the GMU's bubble mountain like some diminutive bird…of…prey。 He threw himself up into the cockpit and brought the mecha's engines to life。 Beside him the mountain was lifting off； while Praxis continued to rumble its ominous farewells。
In Fantomaspace； meanwhile； the pirated shuttle carrying Wolff and pany from the SDF…3 was closing fast on the anchored dreadnought Lang had been instrumental in procuring。
〃They're warning us to e about and return to the fortress；〃 Janice told Wolff from the mand seat。 〃Scanners show two gunships on our tail。〃
Wolff leaned forward to study a monitor； straining against the chair's harness。 Elsewhere in the small mand cabin； Sarna and Burak were similarly strapped in。 Too large for any two of the shuttle's acceleration couches； Tesla was in the cargo hold； shackled but free…floating。
〃Any word from the cruiser？〃 Wolff asked in a determined voice。
〃Negative。 They're not even responding to the SDF…3 bridge。〃
〃Good。 Now if we can just get there in time。。。〃
A blaring sound began to wail from the control station's external speakers； and Janice swung to an adjacent console。 〃We're being targeted。〃
〃Ignore it；〃 Wolff snapped。 〃The first one will be a warning shot。 With a little luck we'll be too close to the cruiser for them to risk a second。〃
〃Steady。。。〃 Janice cautioned； and a split second later a bolt of angry light strobed into the cabinspace through the forward viewports。 A second burst followed； singeing the shuttle's radome。 Displays and monitors winked out； then revived。
Wolff showed the others a roguish grin。 〃Now we couldn't answer them if we wanted to。〃
〃Cruiser's docking bay is opening。 The bridge is patching into our guidance system。 The SDF…3 thinks they're assisting in our capture。〃
〃Let them take us in；〃 Wolff ordered。 He turned his head to take a final look at the SDF…3； suppressing a wis