breed SDFs…4 through 8…the Valivarre was only lightly armed and somewhat slow by galactic standards； but unlike those fortresses the ship was equipped with Protoculture/Reflex drives that enabled it to astrogate near…instantaneous folds throughout 〃local space。〃
The transport was in stationary orbit over Tirol just now； off…loading the latest of Fantoma's riches to cargo shuttles； which were making runs both to the SDF…3 and to the moon's surface。
On the Valivarre's bridge； Breetai was informed that one of the returning shuttles was bringing up two passengers。 He arrived in the busy docking bay just as Dr。 Lang and Exedore were descending the shuttle ramp。
Lang took a look around。 Under the watchful gaze of four Ghost Squadron Battloids； a dozen Zentraedi were loading the last of the monopole ore into a second shuttle。 There was more noise than Human ears were meant to withstand； so he donned a pair of silencer muffs； and went on the amplibox to municate with Breetai。
〃It appears that everything is in order； mander；〃 he said； trying to sound businesslike。 〃But I have some matters to discuss with you regarding the transfer schedule。 Is there somewhere we can talk？〃
Breetai led them out of the hold and into a small cabin…space outfitted with a Micronian mo balcony。
〃This area is secure；〃 Breetai told them after he had dogged the hatch。
Lang got right to the point。 〃You'll never get away with this； Breetai。 What do you take us for？〃
The Zentraedi grinned。 〃The fool's ore。。。It wasn't my intention to trick you； Lang。 Only Edwards's men。 As far as they are concerned； we are off…loading the monopole。〃
〃But； mander；〃 Exedore said； 〃what are you trying to acplish？ You're aware that Lang and I will have to report this。〃
〃And I fully expect you to。 I ask only that you delay your report for three hours。〃
〃You're leaving！〃 Lang said； excited。 〃I knew it。〃
Breetai folded his arms across his chest and nodded。 〃That's right； Doctor。 We're leaving。 And we're taking the monopole with us。〃
Lang was shaking his head。 〃It's a mad scheme； Breetai。 Edwards will hunt you down。〃
〃Perhaps。 But he'll think twice about firing on us while we have the ore aboard。 Not when he learns that Fantoma's yield is exhausted； I'm relying on you to make this clear to him。〃
〃mander； may we enquire…〃
〃To search for Admiral Hunter； Exedore。 I don't accept that the Sentinels have bee outlaws any more than I believe the Invid Regent is dead。 We know that enemy； Exedore； we engaged them throughout this sector。 If he had been assassinated； his queen's troops would have already massed against Tirol and atomized it。〃 Breetai leaned closer to the balcony railing to regard his Micronized friend。 〃We are free of all imperatives now； Exedore。 The Zentraedi will follow none but their own。 Will you join us？〃
Exedore bowed his head。 〃mander； you honor me。 But I； too； have an inner imperative。〃
Breetai mulled it over； then nodded。 〃I understand； my friend。〃
Lang looked at the two Zentraedi； suddenly aware of the import the moment held。 A surge of misgiving washed through him； a shaping charge he could barely sustain。 His voice cracked when he spoke。 〃To Praxis； Breetai？ Garuda？ Spheris？ The ship you seek is small enough as to be insignificant。〃
Breetai fixed his eye on Lang。 〃I don't believe that； Doctor。 Nor do you。〃
Lang rasped； 〃Haydon IV。〃 She is there； something told him。
Exedore stretched out a hand。 〃Doctor…〃
〃Don't ask me to explain。〃 Was it Janice； he wondered； or some other she？ It was a presence the Shaping had alerted him to； a power unlike anything he had experienced。。。
Breetai regarded him for a moment。 〃I will begin my search there。〃
Lang nodded； weakly； wondering whether he would ever see the Zentraedi again。
On Garuda； the Sentinels grouped together in the long…house to discuss their options and priorities； which meant that it was back to transpirators for almost everyone involved。 Vince； Max； and Jack were so certain of where they stood that they had already had Rick； Lisa； and Karen brought up to the SDF…7。 Under Wolff's and Janice's supervision； Tesla and the two Invid scientists had also been moved to the ship； along with Miriya…who was still too weak to take part in the meeting…and Teal and the Spherisian infant。
Most of Garuda was celebrating…the grieving would e later…and the wild sounds of song and dance made it all the more difficult for the group to e to any agreement concerning the Haydon IV option。 They did find themselves united； however； on the issue of Garuda。 With the Optera tree orchards in ruins； it wasn't likely that the Invid were going to have much use for the planet…especially not when their initial campaign against Garuda's inherent defenses had ended in so many deaths。 But just in case the Regent decided to think along the lines of reprisals…which； Cabell maintained； was highly unlikely given the disastrous defeats the Invid leader had been suffering in other quarters…the Sentinels were prepared to leave most of their forces 〃onworld to plement the strength of the remaining Bioroid clones。 The one Invid hive that had e through the battle reasonably intact would serve as their base。 Vince and Veidt were in favor of this even though it would significantly reduce the Sentinels' firepower。 Haydon IV； though； was not be thought of in terms of a military campaign； they were undertaking the journey for the sake of Rick； Lisa； Karen； and Rem。
Once again； as someone pointed out。
But the Karbarrans and Praxians； in any case； chose to disregard Vince's statement。 They likewise ignored Veidt and Sarna's claim that the planet had not been adversely affected by the Invid presence。 Haydon IV had Invid； therefore； Haydon IV needed to be liberated。
Kami and Learna were reluctant to leave； reluctant to abandon the hin and to have to reattach themselves to life…support systems； but they agreed to see things through to their pletion after Lron and Crysta reminded them of how they had left their son； Dardo； behind on Karbarra。
The Sentinels were back to the core group。
And they were also back to unknowns。
It was possible they might beat the Regent's fleet to Haydon IV； get in and out without incident。 But it was just as likely that things would continue in the same unpredictable fashion they had grown accustomed to。
Ten Earth…standard hours later； the SDF…7 left orbit and jumped。
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
While it was true the Invid had been existing on the very same fruits and flowers that were rapidly turning Tesla into something not…quite or more…than Invid； it must be pointed out that the liquified plant…stuff which reached Optera was of a 〃pasteurized〃 variety； and was principally utilized as nutrient bath for the soldiers' battle mecha…Scouts； Shock Troopers； Pincer Ships； and such。 By forcing himself to subsist on the pure （or the impure； in actuality）； Tesla was receiving megadoses of the same stuff that years earlier had sent the Zentraedi Khyron clear over the edge of the Imperative； and into undreamed…of states of metanoia。
History of the Second Robotech War； volume XXXVI 〃Tirol〃
〃I demand to know where she is！〃 The Regent bawled as he and his eleven…trooper elite stormed across one of Haydon IV's ice…blue plazas； the splendors of the city lost on them。
The planet's indigenous beings paid the Invid little mind； and went about their mysterious business； hovering in groups of two or three in and out of Glike's spirelike buildings； across graceful bridges； and through parks too perfect to believe。 But visitors； guests； and merchants from other worlds stopped to gaze upon the one whose race had most recently changed the face of the Fourth Quadrant。 A few Karbarrans even had to be restrained from running forward to mock the Regent with reminders of their recent victory。 〃Sentinels！ Sentinels！〃 they chanted； and succeeded for a moment in bringing the Regent around to confront them。 No one； however； dared make a violent move； for beneath those very same plazas and parks lurked surprises of a decidedly punishing nature。 Haydon IV had rules for citizens and strangers alike； and it enforced them without bias。
The Invid squad mander whispered as much to the Regent； while the ursine Karbarrans continued to hurl insults and imprecations。 And at the same moment one of the Regis's servants approached； offering a brief and unconvincing genuflection。
〃Your Highness；〃 the servant said； with a condescending tone。
The Regent raised a fist。 〃How dare she refuse to honor my arrival！〃
〃Perhaps； my lord；〃 the Regent's own lieutenant suggested； 〃she trembles in terror at the mere thought of your blinding presence。〃
〃Grovel on your own time；〃 the Regent snarled。 He fixed his wife's servant with a gimlet stare。 〃Where is my shameful wife？ Explain this breach of protocol； worm； before I find a place for you in the Pits。〃
The servant lifted its head。 〃She is gone； Regent。〃
The Regent knew as much already； and bristled at the servant's impertinence。 〃I'm aware that she is gone…her flagship has left orbit。 But I want to know where。〃
〃She left no word； m'lord。 Save to say that she is not expected to return。〃
〃Which explains your laxity。〃 The Regent raised himself to his full height； and looked down his snout on the Regis's creature。 〃Perhaps I will make an example of you； grub。 Now； lead me to our chambers before I forget myself。。。See that my pets are cared for；〃 he said to his lieutenant as an afterthought； 〃and have the Sentinel prisoner brought before me。〃
Several other servants appeared to usher the Regent and his retinue to the same rooms his queen had occupied and abandoned； and along the way he could not help but take note of some of Haydon IV's wonders。 The planet was unlike anything he had ever seen； and yet there was a sense of familiarity everywhere he looked。 Here； a structure that was reminiscent of Tiresia； there； a patch of forest seemingly lifted from Garuda。 Spherisian crystal palaces； Karbarran factories without the dirt or stench； Praxian arabesque carvings； totems； statues； pillars； and pedestals…even some things which could only have e from Optera itself： fields of Flowers and rows of Fruit…bearing trees； all sterile to be sure； but so fault