of the Awareness。 The planet shifted and reconformed in its most important mechamorphosis。
The Elders； encased on their thrones； found themselves no longer in their ship； it had been dismantled around them。 The Protoculture cap was whisked away； straight up into the air； by some outsize waldo apparatus they glimpsed only for an instant。
The thrones were set in a line； facing the same way； on a circular platform containing the equipment that ran and controlled their life support。 That disc sat in turn； now； in the middle of one of the Haydonite transport devices梬hat the humans had dubbed 〃flying carpets。〃
The claw must have drawn them back to the surface of Haydon IV itself。 At least they found themselves atop a high tower； seemingly a mile and more in the air。 How the planet retained its atmosphere and kept from freezing； they did not know。 Below them the landscape heaved and crept； glittered and digested itself。
The carpet lifted off the tower and flew out over mecha…morphosing terrain。 The Elders； hair whipping in the wind； were held immobile by the life supports grappled in place。 They could see other carpets； huge ones laden with thousands of Haydonites； converging。
Beams of light began to break from cracks in Haydon IV's surface； as if the Robotech landscape were a cracking coat of paint on a light bulb。 There were deep reverberations from the planet's core。 For the first time since their transmogrification to Elders； the three knew another emotion besides anger； fear； and the lust to conquer and rule。 Even in them； spirits hollowed by centuries of slavery to the Protoculture； mere was awe at the magnitude of what was taking place below。
Something climbed into prominence on the horizon immense even at that distance and altitude。 It had a curve to it； suggesting a cyclopean dome even bigger than the hives of the Invid。 But the curve swept in； too； as if it were a sphere。
There were more flying carpets； the whole of the remaining Haydonite race ing together to watch their world carry out the purpose for which it had been given form so long ago。 The Elders' carpet went into a descent； angling down toward the curve in the planet's surface。
It was not a dome but rather the open end of a curved； circular tube； as if an unimaginable horn of plenty had wound its way up from the heart of the world。 There was an impenetrable darkness within it。
The Elders' carpet continued to descend while the carpets of the Haydonites ranked themselves in rows all around the gargantuan aperture below like angels assembling for a heavenly choir。 The Elders strained against their confinement uselessly； then gave it up。
Their carpet was the only one to descend to the surface of the planet。 It came to a stop before the yawning opening； but there was no telling how far； the scale of things threw off any normal sense of perspective。
A long silent moment went by； except for the wind fluttering the Robotech Masters' hair。 Then； at the same instant； a light appeared far down the conduit from some source beyond its curve； and the Haydonites took up a single piercing； tentative note； a mental moan of ecstasy and holy dread。
The light grew brighter； and the note louder。 Then all at once brilliance leapt forth from the maw of the great conduit； and the Haydonites' note became a full…throated telepathic cry。 It was well that the Elders were connected and cathetered； they lost control of their bodily functions。
The light and sound grew until the planet shook。 The winds tore across the Robotech plain； yet the Haydonites' carpets somehow held position。
And； deep in the soul of the light； something moved。
It came toward them slowly； unhurriedly…regally。 Nimuul； Hepsis； and Fallagar； held fast； eyes threatening to start from their heads； watched spellbound。
The Haydonites' chorus swelled as if it would fill the universe as Haydon emerged from a sleep of eons。
〃You can't be serious；〃 Exedore said； though he had known Cabell long enough to be aware that no other possibility existed。
〃See for yourself；〃 the sage challenged； presenting the data caps with a flourish。 〃I've included the mathematics。〃 Ever since the two had returned to Tiresia； they had been busy around the clock； analyzing and collating their observations from events at Ranaath's Star。 Now Exedore fed the caps into a projector； it took only a cursory scan to show that Cabell was right； at least in terms of the implications。 The sphere ship's plunge into the black hole had revealed a new mathematical world； and one particular subfunction stood out glaringly。
I don't know why we didn't see this before； Exedore thought； a sure sign that the function he was looking at was valid。
Exedore looked back to Cabell but pointed to the equation in question。 〃This implies 。。。 Anti…Protoculture！〃
Cabell was nodding almost tiredly。 〃You're correct； dear fellow； we should have realized it long ago。 It's almost as if wed been blinded to this side of the mathematics。〃
Of course it was old hat； scientifically； that each particle had its mirror image…an antiparticle carrying an opposite electrical charge…and that pairs would annihilate each other in a supreme release of energy whenever they encountered each other。 But no one had ever supposed the yin/yang symmetry extended to this： a shadowy counterpart force to Protoculture itself； one whose first glimmerings implied apocalyptic mutual destruction should the two ever be brought together。
Exedore drew a breath and grabbed a calculator。 〃I suppose we had better get to it； my friend。 There is much to learn ago not very long to do it。〃
Cabell was still nodding。 〃We must penetrate this frightening new secret before anyone else does。〃
CHAPTER TWENTY…THREE
I figured maybe the SDFs needed some new kind of unit patch say； a spacefold drive with a red diagonal through it。
Jack Baker； Upwardly Mobile
Once； darting down into a danger zone in her powered armor like a giant Robotech hornet； Kazianna Hesh would have felt the urge to howl a Zentraedi battle cry。 Foeman； prepare to die！ The Quadronos e！
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 circl