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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 faultless； so exquisite in appearance。
And yet nowhere a hint of instrumentality。
He understood； though； why the Regis would leave： there was no warmth to the world； no taste of life to its clear skies and reflective waters。 No； she would not have been at home here； he told himself。 It was a real world she required； one like the Optera of their past。 He refused to believe that his arrival could have forced her hand…certainly not after the gift he had sent her。 This； however； didn't stop him from plaining to his lieutenant once they had reached the tall spire's uppermost rooms and his throne had been positioned。
〃Decamped！〃 he sneered； hands stroking the gem…collared necks of his Hellcat pets。 〃She expects me to win the war while she's off flitting around the cosmos preening her tubercles and hatching plots against me…〃
〃M'lord；〃 a servant interrupted； bowing from the doorway。 〃We have the prisoner。〃
The Regent smiled as Rem was dragged in。 A lieutenant 〃persuaded〃 the Tiresian to assume a groveling posture。 But the Regent's smile began to fade as he studied Rem。 Great suns！ he thought。 He does wear the face of the seducer！
Two scientists had entered on the heels of the Zor…Clone； and the 'Cats were suddenly snarling； pacing； and sniffing the air。 〃What did she think of him？〃 the Regent asked； rising from his chair。
One of the scientists made a coughing sound。 〃Uh； she was。。。amused； Your Highness。〃
〃Yes； I can well imagine。 Did you record their sessions together？〃
The two Invid traded quick glances。 〃We did； my lord。〃
He turned to gaze at Rem。 〃I wish to view the results of their reunion。 I want to see her guilt； the sadness in her heart； before I grant her forgiveness。〃
〃But； Regent…〃
The Regent slammed a massive fist down on the throne's contoured seat。 〃Bring me the recordings…now！〃
There was silence on the bridge of the SDF…7 while Wolff and Vince waited for the ship's identification library to display its assessment。 Wolff folded his arms and leaned away from the console when the data appeared。
〃Well？〃
〃Signatures confirmed；〃 Wolff said flatly。 〃Invid troop carriers the Regent's flagship。 We're too late。〃
〃Are they scanning us？〃
Wolff exhaled loudly and swung to a peripheral monitor。 〃Affirmative。 But it's low…level； cursory。 Could be we're an unknown quantity。 God knows there are enough other ships docked out here。〃
Vince had to agree； he had never seen so many different types and classes of starship。 Haydon IV was obviously all that Veidt and Sarna had been telling everyone。
〃So what do we do； Captain…open a hailing frequency； tell them we're just in for liberty； a little R 'n' R？〃
Vince frowned and put a hand on the ship's address…system stud。。。
〃Haydon IV is an open world；〃 Veidt was explaining in the briefing room ten minutes later。 〃I thought I had already made myself clear on this point。 The planet has never been taken by force； its defenses are legendary。 There are； in the central records； references to an attempted invasion some two thousand Earth…standard years ago。 Several hundred vessels were destroyed in a matter of moments。〃
〃But the Invid…〃 Jack started to say。
〃The Invid did not engage Haydon IV's defenses；〃 Sarna picked up。 〃Any who e in peace are free to stay and trade。 The Invid came and insinuated themselves into positions of political authority； but they are quite tame here。 We may land in safety； but we will surely be taken into custody。〃
〃Then we can't go in under arms；〃 Crysta said。
Jack grunted。 〃Maybe you don't have the courage to try； but I do。〃
Lron glared at him from across the table。 〃You dare impugn her courage？ Perhaps you…〃
〃Stop this！〃 Jean interrupted。 〃Both of you。〃
〃Exactly what are these 'defenses；' Veidt？〃 Vince wanted to know。
〃I have never seen them。 As I stated； they have not been put to the test in two thousand of your years。〃
〃e on；〃 Jack said； looking around。 〃Then how do we know they're still functioning？〃
〃Do you hunger to challenge them？〃 Sarna asked