se of mirrors； a sound…and…light show that no non…Spherisian would ever be able to prehend。
There were thousands upon thousands of his father's people there； contemplating eternity and the Universe in small nichelike chambers； or muning with one another； or working to enlarge the boundaries of their sanctuary。 Some looked around in surprise at the arrival of newers。
One in particular dropped a caving tool that rang like a bell on the vitreous floor of the place。 〃Baldan！〃
It was an elderly female of his race； Baldan II could see。 Before she had taken two more steps； her posture and the aura she emitted changed。 Joy and disbelief gave way to uncertainty。 〃But…you're not Baldan； are you？〃
〃I'm his son。〃 On Spheris； it went without saying that a great deal of the parent was born again in the child。 〃Baldan is dead。 I am Baldan II。〃
〃My son is dead；〃 the old one said as if the words were inprehensible。 〃But then…who shaped you？〃
Teal stepped forward。 〃I knew you would want to meet the boy； Tiffa。〃
〃You！〃 Everyone knew the story： how a flighty female of no discernible talent or promise had coincidentally been taken prisoner with Baldan； a champion of his species。
Tiff a struggled for words； plainly displeased at having a new in…law thrust upon her； and one who enjoyed no great prestige or status at that。
〃Do try to conceal your joy；〃 Teal said dryly。
By now； there were a lot of other Spherisians looking on and listening in。 They saw in Baldan II the image of their fallen resistance leader and hero。
Teal faced them。 〃We might as well get all this out in the open right away。 This is Baldan's son； Baldan II。 I Shaped him。 I didn't ask for the obligation； but we don't always get to choose the Shapings of the Protoculture； do we？ I want it known that I'm proud of this boy and I love him very much。
〃Now； we've e back with allies； to free Spheris from the Invid。 I know a lot of you would prefer to sit down here in safety and fort and wait for them to go away rather than fight them； but I say to you that the Invid won't go away。〃
That had people murmuring to one another。 They had hidden in the bosom of Spheris…a defense that had never failed them…but many were growing restive。 No invader had ever been as tenacious as the Regent's hordes。
〃The Sentinels have already removed the Invid from Karbarra； Garuda； and Haydon IV；〃 Teal went on。 〃And we mean to do the same here。 We're not asking your permission； because this war will be fought to the death whether Spherisians throw in their lot with us or not。 But the oute lies in the balance； and your help could make all the difference。〃
Tiffa was looking at Teal with a troubled expression。 Wasn't this the frivolous； whimsical girl who had been the despair of her parents and who； most had agreed； would e to a bad and probably meaningless end？
Who are these 〃Sentinels；〃 Tiffa wondered； that their panionship should bring Teal home so vested with wisdom and purpose？ Perhaps the Invid had met their match at last。
But there were voices from the crowd now。 〃Leave us in peace and go！〃 〃We want no war！〃 〃We're not fighters！〃
〃Yes； you are。〃
Teal had been about to try to shout the doubters down； but Baldan spoke first。 Now he took three steps forward； so that they could all get a good look at him。
〃Yes； you are；〃 he repeated。 〃The memories that Baldan gave me tell me that。 These nice safe strongholds in the planetary womb are no protection anymore； the Invid will crack this world apart with their Protoculture devices if it es to that。
〃Spherisians have fought before； long in our past。 Now it's time to fight again…that； or kneel and wait for the hammer to fall on our naked necks。〃
He walked a few steps to one side； to where a spar of shimmering agate stood out from the wall of the sanctuary。 〃I mean to raise rebellion。 I mean to rally every Spherisian who remembers how to fight or is willing to learn。 I mean to throw the Invid off this world or die trying。〃
Teal went over to stand by her son proudly。 A wisecrack of Jack Baker's came back to her； and she decided this was a good time to use it。 Putting her arm around her son's strong young shoulders； she fixed Tiffa with her gaze。
〃Maybe we're not much to look at； but we're all you've got。〃
〃From here we go to the Great Geode； to ask for aid there；〃 Baldan announced。 〃Follow us； any who are willing； or carry the word to other sanctuaries。〃 He hesitated； unsure if the last thing he wanted to say was fair； but the impulse was too strong to deny。
His voice dropped an octave and became the voice of Baldan I； a different look came into his eyes。 Through him； his father said； 〃It is good to see you this one last time。 I love you all。〃
Baldan II vibrated a little； ing back to himself； then turned to merge with the spar of agate。 A moment later； Teal was gone too。
The Spherisians looked at one another； the sanctuary resonating with the hurrahs of some； the doubts of others。 There were troubled glances everywhere。
That was when Tiffa stepped to the outcropping where her grandson and daughter…in…law had disappeared。 She spread her arms like a high…diver； leaned slowly； and melded with the stuff of Spheris。
In another few seconds； people were thronging to the walls of the place； or lying flat to dissolve into the very floor。 Those who doubted or had other reservations found themselves in a dwindling minority。 Many remained behind； but now the sanctuary was a hollow…sounding； mostly deserted place of more silence than sound； more emptiness than life。
Out along the Crystal Highways the folk of Spheris flew； energized by a force before which piezoelectricity and Protoculture and logic itself must bow。 Toward a thousand destinations on the planet's crust and under it they went； to free their homeworld。
CHAPTER TWENTY…ONE
This may sound strange； ing from me； but I want to take a moment here to speak in defense of the Ghost Riders…a unit with a long and proud history going back to United States naval aviation…until those events on the SDF…3 mission。
I believe that some of those men and women were swayed by Edwards's Faustian lure…there are bad apples in every barrel。 But I've reviewed the citations and decorations of the Ghosts； going back decades； and I'm convinced that some force beyond mere human fallibility had enslaved them to their general by that night。
It would be a stain on the memory of brave and selfless service members not to point this out： Edwards's greatest crime； among his many； was in making us Banners fight our own。
Justice Justine Huxley； I've Been to a Marvelous Party
The man whose name tag read Isle； L。 knew from the start that Edwards's breakout would be unstoppable at its source。
Hundreds of Inorganic bipeds had flung open the doors of the Royal Hall's underground warren and poured forth； inflicting terrible casualties； in response to the general's silent mand。 It was only good luck that an officious security QIC had insisted that the Plenipotentiary Council evacuate the building after Edwards's escape…she had practically been forced to wrestle some of the council members into armored vehicles。
She was exonerated a few minutes later； when the Crann； Scrim； and Odeon boiled up from their catabs； spreading death。 Justine Huxley； gazing at it in horror through the rear viewslit of an APC； wrote later； 〃Words will not serve to describe the carnage there。 I do not think the REF had a darker moment。〃
A few loyalist VTs brought down death from the skies within minutes； but Edwards's army was already on the move。 Now Flight Officer Isle watched them e toward the REF HQ plex； as he knew they would。
Poor rebuilt Tiresia was being razed again； in a grotesque Mardi Gras of Robotech warfare。 Excaliber Mark IXs and Crann whirled； fighting hand…to…hand in the streets； Spartans and Scrim stood flat…footed and shot it out at point…blank range in alleys； Battloids and Odeon rolled； locked in mortal bat； crumbling buildings and tearing each other to shreds。
What Ghost VTs there were were primarily occupied keeping Lang's security fliers busy。 The conflict was pretty much a ground battle。
The man released the nametag he had ripped from his flight suit。 It flut