Spheris presented a plicated skein of problems unlike those of any other Invid…held planet on the Sentinels' hit list。
〃We can't take any Protoculture weapons down there；〃 Teal explained at a strategy meeting。 〃To do so would mean disaster。〃
〃What're we supposed to fight 'em with； spit？〃 somebody groused from the sidelines。
Teal looked around toward the source of the voice； her eerie transparent eyes flashing。 〃Spheris is a planet of crystal structures；〃 she snapped。 〃Protoculture…weapons emissions evoke certain harmonics from the very texture of my homeworld。 Fire a beam and you're very likely to find that it will e back to hit you。 Or it could sunder some of the delicate latticework that makes up the planet； and cause great death and destruction among my people。〃
〃Hold； hold；〃 Lron grumbled。 〃How then do the rattering Invid operate？ Do they not use mecha？〃
Teal nodded。 〃As I said in the intel debriefing； Protoculture…based mecha do no damage； because they're not as focused； as concentrated； as a weapons beam。 But even the Invid dare not use weapons actuated by Protoculture； and so they employ a variety of conventional armaments。 But those armaments are very effective。〃
〃So are ours；〃 Bela put in； casually flicking her thumb across the razor edge of her shortsword。 She was also wearing a Badger assault pistol and a few grenades to plement her Praxian arms。
Others seconded what she had said： the Karbarrans with their pneumatic long…guns； the Garudans who had taken so quickly to REF conventional infantry weapons； Jack and Karen； who had seen for themselves that Invid could be hurt or stopped with projectile firearms if those firearms were used just right。
〃You're not listening！〃 Teal barked。 〃The Invid will have the advantage in firepower。 So； we must exploit our advantages to the fullest。 And the Sentinels' main advantage is my and Baldan's access to the Crystal Highways。〃
With this Teal put her hand on the shoulder of her son； Baldan II。 He sat by her side； gazing around at the Sentinels gathered at the meeting table and standing in ranks around it。
In mere weeks； he had grown until he was nearly his mother's height； a broad…shouldered； lean…waisted； post…adolescent wearing a loincloth。 People had simply taken to calling him by his father's name； leaving out the numerical。 Talking to him； Lisa had found； was uncannily like talking to the original Baldan at times； but at others it was like conversing with a newborn。
〃But you won't be going in blind；〃 Teal said。 〃My son and I will descend first； to scout the way and ferret out our enemy's weaknesses。〃
There were some low…decibel remarks when the gathering heard that。 Teal had never been very enthusiastic about the Sentinels' war…had stayed out of most of the fighting with a demeanor that had won her the nickname 〃Permafrost Princess。〃
But here was the Permafrost Princess； in the wake of Baldan's death and a motherhood she had detested at first； ready to take her son down on a first…in team op。 Ready to lay her life and her son's； most emphatically； on that well…known line。
Rick rose now； in the midst of a lot of murmured debate among those present。 〃We have to apply everything we've learned to beat the Invid； because they've had us outgunned and outnumbered at every turn。 Now； the subject populations of the planets we've liberated have always worked in our favor； and they've tipped the balance at least twice； maybe three times。 So our most important trump cards here are Teal and Baldan。
〃They will be delivered to the surface of Spheris by a stealth…insertion drop capsule and employ their innate skills to merge with the Crystal Highways。 They will gather information and attempt to raise popular resistance； while we hold station and wait。？
〃They will municate the results to us and coordinate our assault。 If anyone has objections to this general outline； I want to hear them now。〃
Moments passed'； while the Sentinels looked at one another and at Teal and Baldan II。 But no one spoke。
Baldan； for his part； looked over to where Karen Penn was sitting with some of the younger REF turks along the sidelines。 He had already heard of her deeds； his mother was rather taken with them。 Karen was talking with Gnea and another young amazon。 She suddenly looked up to meet Baldan's gaze； and he turned his face away； a radiance rising in his cheeks for no reason he could understand。
Rick Hunter was still speaking。
〃You all know the tactical importance of this planetary objective。 The Invid have found a way to mass…synthesize their nutrient fluid here…the best they have。 Apparently； it's like high…octane to them。 If we can cut off that supply； we'll be nailing the lid on their coffin。〃
He looked over to where Burak sat； at the edge of the shadows。 The thing that was Tesla； the thing that made every Sentinel uneasy no matter how it protested its faith to their cause； had failed to appear for the planning session。
〃And so at last we will have crippled their sources of new mecha〃…Rick ticked off on his fingers…〃their sources of new technology； their shipyards and their life…support supply line。 We'll be set up for the campaign on Peryton。〃
Burak looked up suddenly at the mention of his home…world； like a thief surprised in the act。 Rick met his gaze and wished he knew what was going on in the young buck's head。
One thing was apparent to everyone。 Armageddon lay ahead； and not too far off。
There was almost a firefight between the REF factions。
Edwards was determined to have a face…to…face with Lang； but the security people at Lang's enormous plex refused entry to the convoy of limos； armored vehicles； and troop carriers。 The Ghost Veritechs flying high cover were warned away on pain of getting their tails shot off； and no one was inclined to test the perimeter defenses of the Robotech sorcerer。
It was an open secret among Humans； and Tiresians as well； that battle lines were being drawn for a contest of wills and/or a power play in the REF。 The surviving Ghost Riders and quite a few others beside were rallying to Edwards's banner； but as many and more were standing by Lang and the council members who were in accord with him。
In addition to Lang's own security force there were Jokers and Diamondbacks； people from the technical and support units； Destroid types from the Old Ironsides and Walking Steel squadrons； and infantry doggies like the men and women from Hell's Hoplites。
Many were still straddling the fence； though； and Edwards's forces were organized； highly disciplined and motivated； and loyal to him alone。 He and his opposition had one another in an uneasy stalemate； but everyone knew it couldn't last for long。
So； the request for a meeting with Lang； in Lang's own stronghold； had e as something of a surprise。 The obvious lessons of the Trojan Horse gave the scientist pause； but the off chance that a power struggle could be averted made him agree to the confrontation in the end。
Edwards's VTs veered off in pliance with the warnings； and the general himself stepped forth from his armored limo once it was inside a garage…bunker。 Edwards looked around warily before exiting the car； he had begun sensing some troubling and lethal presence near him in recent days…a menacing shadow he could never quite see out of the corner of his eye。 Sometimes he thought it was a phantom image brought on by his brain…boost； and other times he was sure that there was somebody poised in the darkness； waiting to kill him。
But he had no qualms about going into Lang's den； really； fools like the good doctor always played by the rules； which was why they were always fated to lose。
Soon； the two were closeted together in Lang's inner sanctum； an alchemist's lair of bizarre experimental Robotech equipment； glowing retorts； and weird holographic displays of flora and fauna from that galactic region。
〃We're wasting time and resources with all this bickering。〃 Edwards got around to his pitch quickly。 〃I only want what's best for the REF！ For Earth and the Human race！〃
All the while； he was monitoring the sensors that had been built into his skullpiece； reading the alphanumerics and indicators that were projected onto the inside of