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The set birred for her attention。 She picked up the handset。 In seconds she had word of the New Portland raid from Vanessa and was hurrying for the door。
Sunset had e； and a freezing rain； as the Zentraedi ransacked New Portland。 They had cut a swath of destruction from the diminished Lake Oswego to the once great Columbia River。
The pods fired and devastated without mercy。 Local militia and police were victims just like the civilians； in the first hours of their rampage； the alien malcontents slew over four hundred men and women of assorted constabularies； police departments； and guard units。
They set buildings afire with a mere brush of their plastron cannon； they trod houses and people flat underneath their pods' huge； hooflike feet。
Now they loomed； three abreast； in the center of New Portland as black smoke roiled around them and the screams of the dying echoed through the rain…washed streets。 Blood ran in the gutters。
Down from the night swooped the VTs of Skull Team under Ransom's mand。 Robotechnology made them all…weather fighters； as dangerous in blackness as they were in light。
〃Nobody fires unless they have a confirmed target； there're civilians down there；〃 Ransom said。
Just then New Portland came into view； burning like a skillet of molten metal； smoke funneling up from it to form thickening layers that threw back red light。
Bobby Bell began； 〃My God！ This is horrible…〃
〃Shut up； Sergeant；〃 Ransom cut him off。 〃All VTs form up on me。 Let's get down there and stop this thing。 And watch your fare！〃
Jeanette LeClair and her best friend； Sonya Poulson； ran through the rain…slick streets of New Portland hand in hand； shivering in the frigid rain； crying for the loved ones who had died； pulses hammering because death was at their heels。 Jeanette's birthday a month before had made her eight years old； Sonya's； four days later； had brought them even。
Behind them； a Zentraedi Battlepod stumped around the corner； kicking a traffic light through a brick wall and snapping power lines； then turned its guns on them。
Jeanette fell； and Sonya wanted to keep running but found that she couldn't。 She dashed back to her friend； trying to help her up； but she fell instead； and the two of them sprawled on the rain…washed cobblestone street as a huge round metal hoof came down at them。 They wept； held each other close； and waited to die。
The pod paused in the act of trampling yet more victims。 The armored； lightbulb…shaped torso turned； as if listening to something。 Jeanette and Sonya could hardly know that it was receiving an urgent message from one of its fellows。
〃Warning！ Warning！ Enemy fightercraft approaching！ Form up to take defensive action！〃
The two little girls looked up at the ridges and features of the huge hoof and realized it was pulling away。 In moments； the pod had turned and grasshoppered off for some destination they couldn't even guess at； riding its foot thrusters。
Moments later； thunder came down through the sky as Skull Team VTs arrived at full throttle。 The two girls helped each other up。 Buildings shook and windows broke to the sonic boom as the RDF fighters swept in vengefully。
The girls' voices were very small in the middle of all that； but they cheered nonetheless。
The pods chose straightforward battle； charging out in a group； firing the primary and secondary cannon mounted on their armored chest plastrons。
That suited Skull Team just fine； they flew down through the intense ground fire in Guardian mode； like eagles for the kill； gripping their chain…guns。
〃Let's hit 'em；〃 Ransom said。
〃Sure； but we've gotta lead 'em away from the city！〃 Bobby Bell yelled。
He was right； and the formation split even while it exchanged fire with the rampaging pods。 The Guardians turned back； and the pods； firing with every gun； rocketed and kangaroo…hopped after。
CHAPTER TWENTY…FIVE
For the Zentraedi； peaceful life and a disengagement from their warlike culture was； after all； a profound struggle； a sort of sublimating battle into； which they could hurl themselves。 For a time they were content with it； as they were content with any other conflict。
Is it any wonder； though； that with the battle won； so many of them began to fall prey to a frustrated restlessness？ The fight for peace can be a noble one； but as history and legend tell us； the warrior…born should beware the disaster of total victory。
And so should those about him。
Zeitgeist； Alien Psychology
In the foothills at the outskirts of New Portland； the VTs stopped running and the mecha clashed in earnest。
Almost by instinct； the pods came abreast to set up a firing line。 The Guardians dove at them； and the bluewhite lances of energy beams jousted against streams of high…density slugs lit by tracers。
A concentrated salvo of alien cannon fire took off the left arm of Ransom's Guardian。 〃These dudes really wanna fight；〃 he said grimly。 He looped； trying to manage the damage； and unleashed a spread of Stilettos at them。
No more tromping on little girls； bozos！ Let's see you pick on somebody your own size！
〃This could be defined as dereliction of duty； mander；〃 Lisa's voice said in Rick's ear。
〃What're you talking about？〃
〃Where were you？〃 she said icily。
〃Uh； on recon。〃 Guilt made him snappish。 〃It's within mission guidelines。 Why； any objections？〃
Back in the mand center； she looked down at the latest satnet locater profiles of military aircraft。 He had been grounded at the edge of。 Granite City。 No surprise。
〃I object when you jeopardize the lives of the men under your mand； Hunter。〃
He couldn't help it； the accumulated experiences of the day just made him lose control as no cool； petent bat flier is supposed to。 〃What's your goddamn problem； Lisa？〃
〃Your men are in bat； and you're supposed to be leading them； you unutterable moron！〃 she yelled into the mike； then snapped it off。
Well； there。 They had had a grand argument over a mand mo net about everything except what was really driving them apart。 What satisfaction。
She stalked away from the mo console。 〃Oh； that man。〃
〃Take cover； take cover；〃 chanted Vanessa in a whisper to the rest of the