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sight elicited a sense of vertigo he had never experienced before； it was difficult for him to prehend a planet with so much water； a liquid world that offered so little surface。。。but Scott was quick to catch himself。
〃Mars Division attack wing；〃 he said over the net； 〃let's do it！〃
The Veritech lurched somewhat as the bin conveyers began to move the fighters toward the forward bay。 Scott saw that the grappler pylons that would convey the mecha from belt to vacuum had already attached themselves。 He readied himself at the controls； urging his body to relax； his mind to meld with the VT systems。 In a moment he felt the grapplers release； the fighter drifting weightlessly； before he engaged the thrusters that bore it away from the transport carrier。
〃All right； look alive；〃 Scott said as his wingmen came alongside to signal their readiness。 〃Once we join up with the main formation； I want eyes open and hands on the trigger。〃 Earthspace was filled with mecha now； some two thousand Veritechs in a slow descent over a silent world。 Scott heard mander Gardner's voice over the net。
〃All wing manders maintain loose battle formation。。。prepare to break off for individual bat at the first sign of enemy hostility。 It shouldn't be long in ing。。。〃
It is unlikely that many of the men and women who made up the Mars Division （so named by Dr。 Lang to convey a sense of attachment to Earth and its brethren worlds） recognized the uniqueness of their position： Their invasion represented humankind's first deliberate offensive against an XT force。 Up to that point Earth had always been on the defensive； counterstriking first the Zentraedi； then those giants' Tirolian Masters； and lastly （and unsuccessfully） the Invid themselves。 In this sense the day was a red…letter event； if not the turning point Hunter and numerous others had all hoped it would be。。。
Scott was one of the first to see the enemy ship； it was below him at nine o'clock； surfacing through Earth's atmosphere at an alarming rate。 An Invid troop carrier； one of the so…called Mollusk Carriers。
〃Here they are；〃 Scott said to his wingmen； gesturing with his hand at the same time。 The clamshell…shaped fortress was yawning now； revealing an arena array of Invid Shock Trooper mecha。 〃Fall in on my signal。〃
When Scott looked again a split second later； an Invid column launched itself and was locked in on an ascent to engage； the ships' crablike hulls and pincer arms a gleaming golden…brown in Sol's intense light。 〃Yeah； I think we're gonna see signs of hostility；〃 Scott muttered to himself as his squadron dropped in to meet the enemy at the edge of space。
At Scott's mand the pilots of the Twenty…first thumbed off flocks of heat…seeker missiles； which streaked into the ascending column。 Short…lived explosions of violent fight blossomed against Earth's blue and white backdrop。 The VTs continued their silent descents； loosing second and third salvos of red…tipped demons against that horde which had overwhelmed their world。 And countless Invid mecha flamed out and fried； but not enough to matter。 For every one taken out there were three that survived； and those which broke through the line of fire began to strike back。 Scott knew there were creatures inside each of those ships…huge bipedal mockeries of the Human form； with massive arms and heads that resembled elongated snouts。
Unlike the enemy forces of the First and Second Robotech Wars； the Invid relied on numbers rather than firepower。 True； the Zentraedi had a seemingly endless supply of Battlepods and an armada of ships four million strong； but by and large the war was fought in conventional terms。 Up against the Masters this was even more the case； with the number of mecha on both sides substantially reduced。 With the Invid； however； humankind encountered a horde mentality to rival any that nature had produced。 And true to form； whether army ants or swarms of killer bees； the Invid carried a sting。
As Scott and the others knew from their previous encounters； initial fusillades were what counted most。 Once separated from its column； the individual Invid ship was blindingly maneuverable and often unstoppable。 In close it favored two approaches： ripping open mecha with its alloy pincer claws and embracing a ship and literally shocking it to death with charges delivered by the ships' Protoculture systems。 Scott saw both variations of this occurring while he did his best to keep his own fighter out of reach。
Veritech and crabship were going at it across the field； Mars Division troops and Invid mecha in deadly pursuits and dogfights； crisscrossing in the upper reaches of the stratosphere amidst tracer rounds； missile tracks； and laser…array fire from the mand ships。 Scott saw one of his team taken out by a claw swipe that opened the Veritech tail to nose； precious atmosphere sucked from the fractured canopy； the pilot flailing for life inside。 In another part of nearby space； several Veritechs floated derelict after loveless Invid embraces。
Scott realized the hopelessness of their situation and ordered his squadron to reconfigure to Battloid mode。
Mechamorphosis； or mode selection； was still controlled by a three…position cockpit lever； along with the pilot's mecha will； which interfaced with the fighter's Protoculture…governed systems。 But where all parts of the first…generation Veritechs participated in reconfiguration； the augmentation packs and energy generators of the Armored Alphas （essential for the space and ground missions that typified the Expeditionary Force） remained intact during the process。 The forward portion of the craft telescoped to acplish this； arms unfolding from behind the canopy while radome and cockpit rotated up through a 180…degree arc； now allowing the underbelly laser turret to bee the Battloid's head； and the underbelly rifle/cannon to bee the weapon that was grasped in the mecha's right hand。
Thus transformed； Scott's squadron fell in to reengage the Invid； blue thrusters bright in Earth's dark side。
Meanwhile； a second wave of Veritechs was launched from the transports to respond to another column of Invid approaching swiftly from Delta sector。
Scott's displays flashed coordinates and signatures of the second Mollusk Carrier even before he had visual contact。 He ordered his team to form up on his lead and throw themselves against the column。 Once again heatseekers found their marks and took out scores of Invid ships； and once again orange hell…flowers blossomed。 But reinforced； the Invid launched a frenzied counterstrike。 Shock vessels broke through the front lines and went for the transports themselves in suicide runs and massed charges。 Particle beams； disgorged from bow guns； swept like insecticide through their ranks； annihilating ship after ship。
Scott's team regrouped and gave chase to any that survived； blasts from the VTs' chain…guns blowing pincers to debris and holing carapaces。 Still； Scott could hear the death screams of the unlucky ones piercing the tac net's cacophony of mands and reactions。 VTs and Invid ships drifted from the arena； locked in bizarre postures； obscene embraces。 Here； an Invid pincer was apparently caught in the canopy of the ship it had ensnared； there； another held a VT to itself； exchanging lightning flashes of death。
Scott； sweat beading up across his forehead； was in pursuit of two Invid ships that were closing in on mander Gardner's transport； he had heard Marlene's terror…stricken call for help only a moment before and had one of the enemy ships bracketed in the chain…gun's sights now。 He fired once； shooting a hole through its groin； and smiled devilishly as it disintegrated in a brief burst of crimson light。 The second Invid； its pincers raised for action； was moving toward the bridge viewports。 But fire from Scott's cannon demissioned it before it attained striking distance。
〃Saw two； swatted same；〃 Scott told Marlene over the net； a confident tone returned to his voice。 The Invid were falling back on all sides。
〃Good job； mander；〃 Gardner congratulated him before Marlene had a chance to speak。 〃Signal your team to begin their atmospheric approach。 Our thermal energy shields are already seriously drained。〃
〃Roger；〃