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But not here； not today…if 〃today〃 meant anything in what the humans were calling newspace。 She wasn't free to throw her life away in splendid battle anymore； had obligations and priorities above even military glory…a child to protect。
Thus； she was a hundred times more dangerous than the Kazianna of old。
With the fifteen Zentraedi mecha behind her； there was an even division of eight powered armor suits and eight Battlepods。 Eight males； eight females； even Exedore could not say why the suit…configuration mecha responded so much better to women； the pods to men。 It was simply so。 They descended in frontal…assault formation to the planet that had appeared from nowhere。
The humans and some of the others might rhapsodize over the place and its forests and seas； but it was just another alien world to her； with none of the perilous grandeur of Fantoma or the austere dignity of Tirol。 Perhaps there was something in newspace that liked the giants less than it did the rest。
If so； let that something beware； its foe was Kazianna Hesh； mate of mighty Breetai and mother of his son。
The Zentraedi squadron homed in on Rick Hunter's beacon； and Kazianna established contact over his tactical freq。 At his direction； the giants dropped in for a landing on and around the high ground where the first party's Battloids had posted a guard。
Groundside； Kazianna and her spitfires remained sealed in their suits； but the pods opened to permit debarkation of the Sentinels' personnel： Baldan； Kami and Learna； Lron and Crysta； and several of the Praxian Amazons。 None of them seemed any the worse for the ride。
Kazianna had taken a shine to the warrior women； had hound a spiritual kinship with them； as soon as she met them。 Indeed； the former Quadronos and the Praxians had done a trtde radely drinking in SDF…3's split…level rec club。
Now； though； the Praxians were distraught； almost unsoldierly。 Kazianna supposed it was understandable what with Gnea； their leader and one of the great heroines of the war； missing。 When one was spoiling for a fight； it always made discipline secondary。 No doubt they would settle down as soon as blood began to flow。
Now the only problem was to find someone to fight。 Down below； at the level of Kazianna's lower shins； Rick Hunter was finding out just how determined the Praxian furies could get。
〃As you were！〃 He bellowed it with veins standing out in his temple and neck； it finally shut them up。 〃I didn't bring you down here so you could go charging off in all directions and end up missing； too！ You're here to observe and advise； so anybody who can't follow orders is going back upstairs in a pod！〃
That quieted them。 Brudda； their section leader； drew a deep breath and saluted。 〃Understood； sir。 We place ourselves at your mand。〃
Rick forced himself to calm down； too。 〃Thank you。 Lron； Baldin； over here； please。〃 There was no point going over the whole business twice。 〃Kazianna； let me know if you can't hear me。〃
Zentraedi and Sentinels gathered before him； Jack； Karen； and the rest of the remaining recon party formed a semicircle behind。 The mecha； weapons ready； took up a circle around the group； keeping watch in all directions。
〃You know the main facts。〃 Rick pointed out the route his recon party had followed。 〃We were advancing through a densely wooded area about a mile and one…half along that valley； with Sergeant Dante on point。 Gnea moved up to walk the slack position； some six yards or so behind him。
〃As we entered an open grassy area； both the sergeant and Gnea were enveloped by what appeared to be a somewhat different version of the luminous phenomena that…〃
Jeez。 Been talking bureaucratese in the TIC too long； Rick！ He started in again。 〃From what we could see； this hail璼torm of light swirled down on them； and we lost them from sight。 At the same time； sensors picked up an enormous life reading； but there were no large organisms in sight。
〃The light was gone in a couple of seconds； and so were Angie and Gnea。 We searched the area…no trapdoors； camouflaged openings； or other clues。 We even blew open the ground and lasered down nearby trees； they were solid。
〃I'm splitting you into search units。 Battlepods and Quadronos will deploy on the ground； Battloids will fly recon and cover。 I'm hoping the Garudans' extended senses； the Karbarrans' hunting and tracking skills； or the Praxians' scouting procedures turn up something we missed。〃
He looked to Baldan。 〃And I was thinking…maybe if there's some equivalent of the Crystal Highways here 。 。 。〃 Baldan nodded his gleaming head。 〃I'll do what I can do； Admiral。〃
Rick began calling off assignments。 The mixed contingents sorted themselves out to move back into the target zone。
〃Aw； sca…rew！〃
Angelo Dante knelt with the stock of his rifle pressed to his cheek； swinging the muzzle this way and that in the milkwhite mist。 Not that there were any targets around； it was just something to do while he tried to sort things out。 〃Not again；〃 he grated。
Like most of the younger Amazons； Gnea had developed a preference for modern； high…firepower weapons over the traditional arms of her Sisterhood。 Now； though； for reasons she could not quite pin down； she reslung her submachine gun and took her halberd in hand； giving it a preparatory spin； the long curved blade leaving a silver trail in the air。 〃You mean you've encountered this phenomenon before； Sergeant？〃 Like his； her voice brought no echoes。 She wondered if they were outdoors。
〃Naw。 It's just…weird stuff like this； ma'am。 It simply ain't military。〃
And it always sounded so goddamn lame in an after…action report。 Like when Angie and the other ATACs went through all that crap in the Masters' spade…shaped mother ship。 Living energy nexuses and mindmusic and alien horticulture。 Try writing those up without having some G…staff chairborne mando laughing at you！
It was all too involved to explain to some dame from another planet。
Gnea pivoted； spinning her polearm to hold it at high port； and kept watch in the opposite direction。 〃What's the last thing you remember？〃
〃Uh 。。。 We were moving through that open area； and I felt something kinda strange； li