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set…piece battle； but rather in striking the head from the monster…literally。 By killing Edwards。
But Wolff's timetable was changed as Exedore's voice came up over the tactical munications net。 〃Colonel！ We have Invid Terror Weapons rising from the Royal Hall！ Some are heading for immediate rendezvous with the SDF…7； but others are ing your way！〃
So； that was Edwards's other ace in the hole。 The Regent had left more than just troops and the Living puter behind in his haste to abandon Tirol。 The Invid Brain was no doubt on its way to safety already。
Even as Wolff was getting the bad news； the Inorganics began disengaging； pulling back to defensive positions； awaiting evacuation。 Soon； the way to the HQ was clear； but the building itself was alive with alien biped mecha putting out murderous； concentrated fire。
Within a minute； two of the bizarre…looking Invid drop…ships were descending toward the roof； acpanied by skirmish fliers。 With their increased fire superiority； the enemy craft drove back the few VTs the Humans still had in the air。 Inorganics were soon embarking for their escape。
Wolff saw that there was no way his force could stop them。 He switched to Edwards's mand frequency and broadcast in cleartext。 〃This doesn't end it； General！ I'm ing after you！ D'you hear me？〃
Unexpectedly； the static of on…line encrypted traffic broke； and Edwards's face appeared on a display screen on the tank's instrument panel。 He looked like he had been in a fistfight； but had apparently e out the winner； because he still radiated that cynical； superior air of his。 Wolff could see from the background that Edwards was already aboard a Terror ship。
〃That's fine with me； Colonel。 You were lucky I was too rushed to finish you back there in the Royal Hall。 I still have a score to settle with you。？
〃But until we meet again； here's someone else you might want to say good…bye to。〃 The camera pulled back； and Wolff swore helplessly。
Minmei stood there； eyes glazed…looking catatonic。 Wolff breathed her name。
〃Why； Minmei！〃 Edwards smiled at her。 〃Aren't you going to tell the big； bad Wolff how much you love him？ He's e home at long last to rescue you； after all。〃
She looked up at the screen in the dropship that displayed Wolff's face。 〃Love？ The man I love is dead。〃
〃Minmei； don't say that！ Just hang on； I'll save you； I swear it…〃
〃I don't want anything you have to offer； Jonathan。 The man I'll love forever is dead。〃
She wanted to be with Edwards so she could kill him as soon as she got the chance； not thrown back into the pany of the colonel who had abandoned her…as she regarded his going off with the Sentinels now…after she had begged him not to leave。 There was nothing Jonathan Wolff could do for her ever again。
But there was one thing she could do； to take some of the weight off her conscience and vent the bitterness she felt toward the whole world in the wake of Lynn…Kyle's death。 She could make the break clear and final。
〃Why don't you go back to your Sentinels buddies； Colonel？〃 she said； narrowing her eyes at him。 〃Or better yet； why don't you go home to your wife and kids？ Remember them； you two…timing pig！？She reached out and broke the connection herself。
Edwards exulted at this sudden turn of luck。 He had hoped that Minmei's grief and mental turmoil would make her rebuff Wolff…he had had nothing to lose by letting her and the colonel speak to each other once more。 But this was simply marvelous！ He vowed that he would make Minmei love him； as he had once before。 She would e around in time。
The dropships were rising over Tiresia； laying down suppressing fire to keep the REF's heads down。 The hijacked starship was swinging low for pickup； its bays opening。
Of course； it was a tragedy that Lang hadn't installed the new spacefold drive in the stolen starship yet； otherwise； Edwards could have had his ticket back to Earth； and a loyal army at his back。
No point mourning that now。 The Ghost officers aboard the ship were asking nervously what course they should set； to be ready for immediate departure。
〃Optera；〃 the general answered curtly； and broke the connection。 The Regent had already been of service； but that was nothing pared to how useful he was about to bee to Edwards's dream of conquest。
CHAPTER TWENTY…THREE
In summation； it is important to bear in mind how the 〃social insect〃 organization of the Invid renders them immune to certain politico…military strategems。 Among the things we CANNOT do to the Invid are：
1） Wreck their （nonexistent） monetary system
2） Establish an underground or resistance
3） Cause racial or religious friction
4） Employ propaganda techniques
5） Insert double agents
6） Subvert them with things like material wealth； freedom； erotic literature； or baseball。
7） Appeal to their better nature
from Limited Options： Warfare and the Invid Infrastructure； submitted to the REF Strategic Studies Group by Dr。 Boscoe Highwater
Lron； Rick Hunter； and others pointed out that in the wake of the ruse Tesla had used against the Invid garrison on Karbarra in the Sentinels' attack on that world； the enemy on Spheris wasn't very likely to roll out the red carpet for him。
〃That incident will be of no consequence here； because I am Evolved；〃 Tesla said grandly。 〃Nothing you Mortals can understand； but take my word for it： my people will recognize my divine right to mand。〃
One thing in his favor was the fact that Gnea and Jack Baker believed so strongly that Tesla could deliver what he was promising。 But Rick had his own suspicions about the two； they were too eager in their attitudes； too ready to back the Invid。
Another troubling factor was Burak。 The Perytonian had conceived a sort of jealousy toward Jack and Gnea…a proprietary air concerning Tesla。 He was also acting more and more messianic； as if Tesla was contagious。
But there was no derailing Tesla's plan now。 The leadership had agreed on it and the Spherisians were demanding that it at least be tried； in the hope that it would prevent needless carnage and damage on their world。
Much disagreement had arisen as to how Tesla should actually make his appearance on Spheris。 bat drops and ma