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CHAPTER THREE
That undisciplined showoff？ That wet…nosed civilian joystick pilot？ What a waste of time and effort！
Remark attributed to Lisa Hayes upon being informed that trainee Rick Hunter had qualified as a VT pilot 2009 A。D。
The pods fired away with the primary and secondary guns that protruded from their armored plastrons； but the blue bolts converged on utter vacuum。 Max's Battloid wasn't where it had been a split second before。
The Battloid had its autocannon in its metal fists； riding its backpack thrusters with the agility of a gymnast； darting like a dragonfly。 It whirled on one pod； opening up。
The chain…gun was loaded with depleted transuranic rounds； big as candlepins and much heavier…high…powered； extremely dense projectiles that delivered terrific amounts of kinetic energy。 The pod's armor flew like shredded paper； it exploded in an outlashing of energy and debris。
Max was still dodging with blinding speed； turning his sights on the second pod。 He riddled it before the enemy pilot could draw a bead on him； putting a tight shot group of holes in the center of the egglike alien mecha。 The pod became a brief fireball。
No system of manual or puter controls could have e up with such astounding maneuverability； such instantaneous responses and deadly shooting。 Only the 〃thinking cap；〃 the interface of mind and mecha； could work the seeming magic of the RDF。
Other VTs had already paired off against the foe。 The mecha swirled and pounced； their missiles corkscrewed and sizzled while energy bolts and powered gatling rounds lit the darkness。 But the pods had the advantage of numbers by more than two to one； enough to occupy every Veritech and leave more pods to go after the shuttle。
The shuttle pilot was taking evasive action and running for safety at full emergency power。 But there was no safety； the shuttle was no match for the pods' speed； and the Zentraedi closed in； firing。 The shuttle's light armaments and lack of maneuvering ability made it easy prey； but the shuttle skipper did his best； trying to evade。 He was hoping he could eventually make a dash for the tantalizingly nearby Earth； knowing that the UEDC would never allow any of its forces to intervene or otherwise risk turning the Zentraedi wrath on Earth itself。 He could hope for no help from that quarter。
A Zentraedi cannon burst stitched holes in the shuttle's port wing in a line of three； ringed by molten metal。 Lisa felt the ship rock in her armored cocoon； and gripped the padded armrests； waiting to see what the oute of the battle would be。
The attacking pod was a modified standard type； carrying augmentative particle…beam cannon for added firepower。 It turned to e back for the kill； but just then Max arrived； his Battloid diving headlong into the fight。 The Battloid knocked the pod aside like a football player； driving a huge； armored shoulder into it。
Then the Battloid that was Max Sterling flipped neatly on foot thrusters and fired。 The rain of armor…piercing slugs punched a dozen holes in the enemy； and it was driven back like some wounded living thing。 There was no secondary explosion…very unusual； since the enemy mecha's power systems usually turned them into firecrackers once their armor had been pierced。
Two more pods came in at him； one with extra missile racks and another with the strange rabbit ears of a Zentraedi signal…warfare ship。 Max went at them； juking and evading to stay out of their cross hairs； his Battloid firing short bursts from the autocannon。
One of the escort VTs had been lost； another damaged by the first onslaught。 Several more were still engaged in bat； but the rest； like Max； had e through their first duel and were taking on new opponents。 Some help arrived； and Max began to feel confident that he could keep the pods away from the damaged shuttle。
But just then； Elkins yelled over the tac net； 〃More pods！ We've got more pods ing at us…half a dozen！〃
Max's mouth became a thin line as he drove in to deal with his current opponents as quickly as he could。 He thought back with a certain pilot's superstition on what he had said to the men in the alley。 Perhaps the taboos were right and it was lethal bad luck to talk about not ing back。
〃The escorts are outnumbered；〃 Kim called over her shoulder without taking her eyes from her instruments。
〃More pods closing in on them！〃 Vanessa added。 〃Cutting off the shuttle's escape。〃
Gloval sat slumped in his mand chair with his cap visor pulled down low over his eyes。 A Veritech flight couldn't possibly get there in time； and he didn't have them to spare。 But。。。
〃How long would it take the armored Veritech prototype to make it there？〃
Sammie already had the figures。 〃Approximately four minutes from launch at max boost。〃
Claudia bit her lower lip； watching Gloval。 The captain's head came up。 〃Prepare it for launch！〃
Claudia relayed the order； sending up a silent prayer； while Sammie asked； 〃Who'll be flying it； sir？〃
〃Get Lieutenant Hunter to the hangar deck at once。 Tell him we don't know how much longer Sterling can hold out。〃
The ship's PA and a few seconds on a circuit had Rick on his way； anxious and very intense； in a mandeered jeep he flagged down in the middle of a Macross boulevard。 The enlisted driver was a capable man who liked having an excuse to break all traffic laws。
Rick suited up virtually on the run； and minutes later the aircraft elevator was lifting the humpbacked…looking armored VT to the flight deck。
〃Lieutenant； your destination is Lambda thirty…four；〃 Sammie told him over the mand net。
〃Lambda thirty…four？ What're you talking about？〃
On the bridge； Claudia turned to Sammie。 〃Didn't you see to it that all pilots had the new map…reference codes？〃
Sammie looked devastated。 〃I was so swamped…I didn't think he'd need one until he went on duty later。〃
Aircraft status was relayed； the armored VT was boxed and ready for launch。 Sammie gritted her teeth； ignoring the silent stares of the rest of the bridge watch； especially the ominous quiet from Gloval。 She couldn't let her mistake spell Lisa's death！
Sammie opened the mike again； concentrating； eyes shut； matching coordinate