f Garuda's orchards and 〃farms〃 as they could。
Rick； Lisa； Cabell； Rem； Jack； Karen； Burak； Kami； Learna； Gnea； Lron； and Crysta made up the drop group； with members of the Skull and Wolff Pack escorting the shuttle down。 The SDF…7 would remain in orbit to deal with Invid transport vessels； known to make frequent runs between Garuda and Optera。 Wolff and Grant shared the fortress mand。 Janice would be keeping an eye on Tesla。 Veidt and Sarna had elected to stay behind； and Bela was apparently determined to help Teal with the infant Baldan。
The landing party was certain that the SDF…7's arrival in Garudaspace had not gone undetected by the Invid； the shuttle landing would probably be monitored as well。 So rather than risk immediate engagement or present any of the hives with an easy target； they opted to put down in the relatively unpoliced tribal sectors； close to Kami and Learna's village。 Unexpectedly； they found themselves encircled by battle…ready troops nevertheless…even before the shuttle's landing gear made contact with the surface。
Kami had neglected to mention that some of Garuda's protectors were Tirolian Bioroids。
Kami and Learna consequently made certain they were the first to deplane； figuring their mere appearance would defuse the situation。 It did so…and more。 Within minutes； half of Kami's tribe had emerged from the trees to surround the shuttle and celebrate the return of their friends。 The air was suddenly charged with joyous sounds…excited barking to Rick's ears…and Kami and Learna were embraced； jostled； and hoisted up on countless shoulders。 With elaborate ritual； the two returnees threw off their breathing gear and pranced about； engaging in impromptu dances； shamanic steps of power。
Rick radioed the Skull and Wolff contingents to put down along the perimeter of the shuttle's rough strip； checked the integrity of his environment suit and transpirator； and followed Lisa out of the pilots' cabin to take part in the merriment。 An hour later； he and the rest of the landing party were in the village's wooden longhouse powwowing with the leaders of Kami's tribe。 Severed heads of Hellcats； Scrim； and Odeon Inorganics dangled from the roof tie…beams。
Also present were a number of the Bioroid pilot clones…androgynous…looking shaggy…haired humanoids with pointed features and exotic eyes。 One of the clones…these Tiresian lost boys…was explaining to Cabell in a nasal； almost synthesized voice how they had e to ally themselves with the Garudan cause。 They wore no breathing gear； and were apparently immune to the spores。
〃The Masters left us here to police this world。 But when the Invid arrived； munication with Tirol and the clone…masters became impossible。 Our Hoverships destroyed； all ties with Tirol cut； we began to understand the concept of freedom； the loneliness that springs from abandonment。。。〃
〃So you joined the Garudans in their fight；〃 Cabell finished； astonished。
〃We thirst for freedom； just as they do。〃
〃Remarkable；〃 the old man mused； his own voice distorted by the mask's filters。 〃Absolutely remarkable。〃 He hadn't been so astounded since learning from Lang that Miriya Parino had borne a child； and the revelation gave him some hope that the Masters' clones were actually capable of revolt。
Rick took advantage of a momentary silence to motion to the trophy heads。 〃What's the situation here？ Do the Invid run patrols through this sector？〃
The tribal chief answered him。 〃Their Inorganics patrol； but only when they wish to intimidate us； or gather up laborers for the farms。 They don't seem to regard us as a threat…even with the firepower our rades supply；〃 he added； indicating the clones； 〃but I assure you that all Garuda is ripe for rebellion。〃
〃You mean； they're using your people on the farms？〃
〃Lately； yes。 And in the labor camps near them。〃
Lron and Crystal grunted； alarming some of the Garudans present。 They were keeping a wide circle around the ursine XTs； and a wider one yet around Burak； whose mask only added to an already demonic aspect。
Rick could see that the news came as a shock to Kami and Learna also。
〃So much for surgical strikes from the ship；〃 Max said。
Rick regarded the chief for a moment。 He found that he was not yet accustomed to seeing Garudans without then…breathers； omnivores they might be； but there was a ferocity to their muzzles he wasn't all that fortable with。 Outwardly； the chief resembled Kami； but there was a solemnness to his aspect that was absent in the younger Garudan。
〃What about mecha？〃 Lisa wanted to know。 〃Scouts； Shock Troopers？〃
〃Only when their transport ships arrive；〃 the chief told her。 〃They patrol near the farms to protect the nutrient shipment while it is being loaded。 Rarely do they venture into tribal sectors。〃
Rick watched the chief gnaw at a hunk of meat one of the women had offered him。 〃Is there any regularity to the shipments？〃
The chief exchanged a few sentences with Kami in the Garudan tongue。 The Sentinel translated。 〃Approximately every three standard months。〃 This was changed every so often in an attempt to foil what was an extensive underground network at work on Garuda。 But the Invid never managed to keep anything secret for very long。
〃And when did the last shipment leave？〃
〃One month ago。〃
Rick grinned beneath his transpirator mask。 〃That means we're in the clear for the moment。 Even if they've already municated with their fleet； reinforcements could take weeks to get here。〃
〃The closest farm is about one hundred miles from here；〃 Learna said； without being asked。 〃Kami and I know that area well。〃
〃An aerial recon；〃 Max suggested。
〃No；〃 Rick said。 〃I don't think we should tip our hand just yet。 We'll go in on Hovercycles first。 Take a quick look around before we plan an assault。 Just because mecha haven't been observed doesn't mean they're not in there。〃
〃I agree；〃 Rick heard Jack say behind him。
Karen nudged Jack with her elbow for butting in。 〃Sir？〃 she then said to Lisa； hoping Jack would learn by example。
〃Go ahead； Karen。〃
〃I was just wondering what exactly happened to the first Invid troops that landed here…before the hives were built； I mean。〃
Again； Kami and the chief exchanged a few words。
〃They went mad；〃 the Garudan leader said evenly。 〃Then they died。〃
The recon team…Rick； Lisa； Jack； Karen； Rem； and Kami as scout…left the village shortly before dawn； sticking close to the northern fringe of Garuda's preternaturally quiet forest。 They had traveled seventy…five miles by the time Rhestad rose…a massive oblate field of crimson that did little to warm the land。 The two villages they passed en route had already been informed of the mission。 Worried about attracting any undue attention to themselves； Rick had requested that the Garudans simply go about their business； but there was obviously too much excitement in the air for that。 For sometimes miles at a stretch； Rick would see them crouched along the paths the Hovercycles cut through the woods； silent and feral； vulpine eyes aglow in the eerie morning light。
At mile eighty…five the team encountered its first Inorganic patrol…a pack of Hellcats a dozen strong； roaming the forest like some fiendish pride of saber…tooths。 Kami had spotted them and passed the word； the Hovercycles were shut down and concealed。 It was understood by now that the Inorganics were more than marauders or Robopolice units； they functioned as the remote eyes and ears for the Invid living puters； which in turn directed the scientists or mand troops。 Engagement； therefore； even if it ended in victory； would have only served to alert the hive to the team's position； so they lay as still as they could； pressed close to the chilled ground until the pack had moved through。
Rick and Lisa were on their stomachs； side…by…side； environmental suits adjusted to mimic the colors and textures of the area's fernlike ground cover。 Rick had his arm flung protectively across his wife's back； and was gazing at her through the helmet's bubble…shield。 Her eyes returned the wrinkled look his own were trying to convey。 It was the first time he and Lisa had been out together in a long while； and if this wasn't exactly anyone's idea of an ideal date or the 〃closeness〃 Lisa had in mind during their most recent heart…to…heart； at least they were together。 And somehow…though Rick would have been at a loss to explain it…he felt more assured with Lisa beside him。 At the same time her presence had a kind of calming effect； because no matter what they might have to face； he was freed from having to worry about where she was or what dangers she might have otherwise been facing alone。 Here； he had some measure of control over her situation…their situation。
Moving more cautiously after Kami gave the all…clear sign； the team took another hour to cover the last fifteen miles。 They had portions of the enormous hive in sight for five of those miles； but didn't get an unobstructed view of the thing until they were almost on top of it。 It sat in the center of an ancient impact crater； in a veritable forest of Optera trees； a dome…shaped structure with a base almost ten miles around； posed entirely of what appeared to be organic facets or geodesies； in fact； the hive had the look of something grown rather than erected。 Four mile…high cattaillike antenna towers were positioned at cardinal points around the hive's oddly 〃bubbled〃 base。
Through field glasses； Rick could discern Garudan slaves gathering mutated fruits from the trees。 Huge containers of these were being conveyed to the hive itself by Invid soldiers in specially outfitted suits； often piloting Hovercarts of various design。 Tracking the carts' movements ultimately enabled Rick to discover one of the hive's tunnellike transport corridors。
〃What happens later on？〃 Rick whispered to Kami； who had stooped down to ask for the binoculars。 〃Are the workers taken into the hive？〃
〃No；〃 he said； bringing his muzzle close to the helmet's audio pickups。 〃The labor camp lies about two miles from here。〃 Kami pointed out the direction。
〃Are you certain there are no Garudans inside the hive？〃
Kami shook his head。 〃Not certain。〃 The hives were the only places on the planet impervious to Garudan Sendings