Yeah, I know.  Been a while.  To the two or three people that I think 
still read this on the list, I thank you.

Previous chapters are at http://templar.anifics.com/

Disclaimer: The characters within belong to Pioneer, Harmony Gold, and a
couple to Palladium books. No profit was made from this work of fiction

No Need For Protoculture: The Sentinels
By Andrew Wilson

Chapter 6: Fate of One, Fate of All

Farrago left the Fantoma system April 1st, 2021.  Several 'April Fools' 
pranks were recorded, but did not impede the mission.  One in particular 
was grafitti on the SDF-3's flight deck reading "Protoculture: Real 
Flower Power."  A lieutenant in Doctor Lang's test group denied all 
involvement, despite the paint cans being found in his quarters.

Tenchi spent the trip out-system in the brig, studying the pathetic 
prisoner in there.  Tesla looked no worse for wear after the weeks of 
study by Washu.  On the other hand, Tenchi was improving when it came to 
reading the Creature's body language.  Tesla was decidedly uncomfortable 
with the fact that Washu had accompanied the Sentinels.  He was calmer 
now, mostly because Tenchi was the only one in the room.  The guards 
definitely did not like that, but Tenchi was more than capable of taking 
care of himself.  Besides, he doubted that his line of questioning would 
be appreciated by the Carbonarites.

"Is there anything you need?" Tenchi began.

"Need?" Tesla scoffed. "No, I suppose not.  Unless you humans will see 
fit to release me."

"Can't do that," Tenchi replied.  He proceeded to drag a chair across 
the cell.  The chair stopped on the edge of Tesla's maximum reach.  
Tenchi sank into the seat and studied the Invid. "So how did the wars 
start?"

"What?" Tesla asked incredulously.

"Oh, we have Zentradi records, Tirolean records, even a few older than 
that.  But what we don't have is any indication of what your people 
think about things.  None of your comrade survived to talk."

"They would not have," Tesla snarled. "Those 'comrades' you refer to are 
little more than drones, barely sentient enough to follow orders."

Tenchi nodded. "We noticed that in most .  But that doesn't answer the 
question."

Tesla drew into himself.  Tenchi had the impression that only a force of 
will was allowing the scientist to speak. "It was started with the 
near-genocide of my people.  You precious Zentradi friends destroyed 
ninety percent of my world's biosphere.  Oceans evaporated, what little 
standing water was left became toxic sludge pits.  Mountains crumbled 
under bombardment, and the plains are still blasted wastelands.  Every 
grub, when he is evolves to a sentient stage, is show the betrayal."

"You're not talking a video," Tenchi commented.  Something in Tesla's 
voice almost suggested a personal account.

"Very good, human," Tesla replied. "No, the Mother shows us your 
benefactor's sin.  Mind to mind, and soul to soul, we see."

Tenchi snorted. "Our benefactor?  In case you were not told, we came to 
Tirol to confront the Masters.  The Zentradi tried to destroy our world 
as they destroyed yours."

Tesla's eyes held an odd sort of fire as he glared at Tenchi. "I speak 
of the Supreme Robotech Master, Zor.  The one who destroyed our world, 
and whose craft your own flagship was modeled on."

*******

"Interesting," was all Jean Grant remarked after Tenchi related his 
encounter with Tesla.  The Hunters were in another meeting with the 
Sentinels council, deciding the strategy that people like Tenchi, Vince, 
and the Sterlings would have to implement.

"Yeah," Tenchi sighed. "I had hoped that we would be able to find a way 
around this."

"But we're facing fanatics," Max observed from the couch he and Miriya 
shared.

"In a sense," Tenchi allowed.  He shook his head and turned to study the 
swirl of hyperspace outside the small office's solitary viewport.

"I hope you're not getting sympathetic," Vince warned.

Tenchi snorted. "Vince, any sympathy I might have doesn't stand a chance 
when I imagine what will happen if the Invid reach Earth."

"There must be another way," Max muttered.

"I certainly wish there was," Jean replied.

"There is one other important thing I got out of the talk," Tenchi 
remarked. "The name Zor, especially connected to the Masters.  I don't 
know about the rest of you, but between Lang's research, the Zentradi, 
the Tirolean records, and now the Invid, I'm getting an odd picture of 
this Zor guy.  It's almost like he was four different people."

"We could ask Cabel," Max said.

Miriya shook her head. "You won't find out much more.  Lord Breetai and 
Minister Exodore were the only ones still alive that knew Zor.  He is as 
much an enigma to us as this Haydon person I've heard the Sentinels talk 
about."

"We're dealing with myth more than history," Jean observed.

*******

Farrago arrived in the Carborna system a week after departing Tirol.  
The jump was off slightly, leaving them in a close orbit.  This did not 
surprise the older members of the REF crew, who were used to hyperspace 
inaccuracies.  What did surprise them was defolding inside the Invid 
fleet formation.

"Sound alert!" L'ron bellowed from the wheel.

"Range to nearest Invid vessel is fifteen kilometers!" Rick called out. 
"It's a cruiser.  Ten carriers are within one hundred kilometers."

"No targeting sensors, of course," Lisa breathed. "Are they firing?"

"Negative," Veidt replied. "They are hailing us, asking why we have 
returned so soon."

"Do not reply," Lisa ordered.  By consent of the council, she had been 
put in tactical command of the Sentinels.  This was by virtue of the 
other races not having as much experience with space combat as the REF. 
"Are their shields up?"

"No."

Lisa nodded. "Target that cruiser with all batteries.  Get the destroids 
on deck and launch fighters."

Farrago was not well armed, as warships went.  A rule of space combat in 
the Protoculture age was that ranges were either very long, or very, 
very short.  Longer ranges were the domain of the onboard mecha groups, 
especially as Farrago had no long-range weapons.  Defense was better, 
due to REF designed point-defense lasers and destroid support.  The REF 
and its predecessor the RDF had become very good at missile 
interdiction, and their designs showed that proficiency.

Short range was another story.  Farrago boasted over a dozen short-range 
Zentradi-designed (and human-improved) beam turrets.  The emplacements 
were placed strategically across the irregular hull, meaning that no 
less than four could be brought to bear on any target, no matter the 
angle of attack.  The only drawback was that the capacitor's were 
limited to a handful of shots each.

The Invid command cruiser was directly ahead of Farrago.  Six beams 
converged on its hull and sliced through the power core.  The resulting 
explosion blinded all sensors (even Invid Protoculture sensors) 
briefly.  That window was put to use by the REF as four squadrons of 
Veritechs screamed out of their hangers.  Destroids were slower to exit 
the mecha-sized hatches along the hull, but soon Farrago had a second 
skin of mobile gun turrets.

Tenchi's wing divided into four fighter elements and raced at the Invid 
carriers.  The metal clams were just beginning to crack as the ship 
killer missiles dropped from the Beta fighters' wings.  The missiles 
streaked into the mecha bays even as the Veritechs pulled out of their 
attack run.  Six of the carriers were ripped apart and their mecha 
complements immolated by reflex explosions.  Three managed to launch 
some of their swarm before meeting the same fate.  One carrier managed 
to avoid heavy damage long enough for its entire group to launch.

Six hundred scouts and troopers flew towards the converted freighter.  
Lisa's eyes danced over the various displays on the bridge.  The 
Veritechs wove their way through defensive fire from Farrago.  The 
squadrons were more concerned with setting up shots for the Destroids 
than individual kill totals.

"Anything from the planet?" Lisa asked.

"Nothing yet," Rick reported. "No change at all in the chatter we can 
detect.  Looks like ships blowing up in orbit is an everyday thing."

"Let's hope it stays that way," Lisa murmered as she turned back to the 
battle.  The Invid were resorting to suicide tactics in order to 
penetrate Farrago's shield.  A few made it to the shield's boundary and 
shattered against the barrier, but most were picked off by the 
Destroids.  Some tried to open the range enough to regroup and were torn 
apart by the Veritechs.

*******

"Losses?" Lisa asked the assembled staff and leadership.

"Just ammunition," Tenchi replied. "I've got a team working with Tesla.  
We need more information there."

"A team?" Lisa asked.

"Isn't that a little out of your jurisdiction?" Rick added.

"Not this team," Tenchi answered calmly. "Don't worry, Jean is 
overseeing the procedure."

*******

Washu smiled broadly as she tugged on her gloves. "Now, we don't want 
any trouble.  Right, Ryoko?"

Ryoko smiled as she calmly floated over the deck.  One hand was near 
Washu's instruments, while the other was extended.  Electricity crackled 
above her open palm as she smiled at Tesla.  Jean Grant busied herself 
with a bank of equipment closer to the hatch.

"You're such a nice guinea pig," Washu chortled.

*******

Lisa suppressed a shiver and turned to the Carbonarites. "I'm guessing 
that orbital bombardment is out."

L'ron nodded slowly. "The time is not right for an assault.  We must 
attempt contact with the groups on-planet."

"Won't work," Rick remarked.  He then brought up a schematic of the 
planetary defenses above the table. "We're talking at least five major 
hive complexes located near population centers."

Crysta stuck a claw into the wire holograph just over one of the hive 
markers. "This is the central intelligence.  If we take out this hive, 
the other Invid will be trapped in stasis, or unable to coordinate."

Lisa nodded. "Well, if we use energy weapons and kinetic warheads, we 
should be able to destroy the hive with minimal damage to the 
surrounding area."

"No!" L'ron growled.  The huge ursine alien stood slowly.  Tenchi could 
see his claws digging into the table. "Any casualties at the camps 
surrounding the hives is unacceptable."

Rick frowned at the statement, and Tenchi saw him type something into 
his consol.  Tenchi noted something in the burly being's demeanor.  Not 
the usual anger that was directed at the Invid.  The was more like 
fear.  But what could the Carbonarites be afraid of?

Or rather, what were they afraid *for*?

"We could try a ground team," Tenchi suggested.  If nothing else, he 
needed to buy time for Rick to finish his task. "At least to scout the 
defensive emplacements.  We might also consider using such teams to 
sneak a bomb inside.  Mecha and reflex bombs can't be used because of 
the protoculture sensors the invid seem to use, but an old-fashioned 
nuclear warhead would do the job."

Tenchi was amazed that he managed to sound so calm.  The other humans at 
the table seemed equally shocked.  Little remained of the Tenchi Masaki 
stole his grandfather's keys for a look in the forbidden cave.  For 
someone from Japan to suggest using a nuclear weapon within a populated 
area was ironic to say the least.

Rick's eyes widened a moment later.  He keyed in a command and caused 
Tenchi's consol to flash silently.  He brought up the message, seeing 
that it was also sent to Lisa, Max, and Vince.  The message showed a 
series of images from Farrago's external cameras.  The ones in question 
were used to examine targets thousands of kilometers away, so with a 
little work were also able to produce blurred images of planet-side objects.

"Children," Lisa whispered. "Your children.  Why didn't you say something?"

"We could not," Crysta rumbled.

"That doesn't change much," Vince remarked. "It's not like we were going 
to try negotiating.  The big problem is their shields.  Bombardment is 
out, and there are too many for a conventional assault."

"Perhaps we should use Tesla," Veidt suggested.

"The Invid will not aid us," one of the Sphersian representatives stated 
calmly.

"He will not have a choice," Sarna replied.

*******

In the end, Tesla played the part of the Invid scientist.  He convinced 
the brain controlling the planetary forces that he was still in command 
of Farrago.  He then spun a story about a fleet of Carbonarite ships 
attempting to break the blockade.  He was very convincing.  Enough that 
Farrago was allowed to land within the inner defense perimeter.  As luck 
would have it, the shuttle containing a small sabotage team for the 
prison camps went unnoticed.

Tenchi had no doubt that Tesla would have been able to explain that 
away.  He was very charismatic for an Invid.

Of course, the five kilograms of high explosives wrapped around his neck 
had something to do with it.  Tenchi shook his head as he recalled the 
look on Tesla's face when Lisa had explained what his new neck ornament 
contained.  He liked to believe that Lisa would not detonate it 
casually.  Contrary to his original assessment some time back, Tesla 
indicated something more to the Invid than originally observed.  Perhaps 
a solution short of annihilation would be possible.

The rumble of atmosphere against Farrago's hull brought Tenchi's mind 
back to the present.  His Alpha was located in one of the primary 
Destroid airlocks.  Hurricane, Wolf Pack, Alpha Strikers and Mustang 
squadrons were crammed into the lock's large staging area.  The 
Destroids normally occupying the space had been moved to the lower cargo 
hatches.  Lisa had planned for Tesla to show off his new aquisitions to 
the ranking Invid on the planet.  With any luck, the free-thinkers will 
be assembled so that the Destroids could destroy them.  If not, things 
would get interesting.  Which was why the other Veritech squadrons were 
occupying half the dorsal egress points, with the usual mix of Destroids 
in their normal points.  It was also why Tenchi's Alpha had a cable 
sneaking out of its index finger and connected to Farrago's internal 
communication system.  The Invid were not known to track radio signals, 
but there was no need to get sloppy.

"Strike leader," Rick said over the internal line, "looks like they're 
not buying it.  Tesla is being told to have the Destroid disarm and the 
pilots exit."

"Right," Tenchi replied. "Sound the klaxons and open the inner locks."

A loud, blaring alarm informed anyone with ears that the chamber was 
about to become filled with whatever was outside the hull.  If that was 
not enough, the flashing red lights told anyone not protected against 
hostile environments that now would be a good time to exit, before the 
bulkheads closed.  Tenchi detached the com cable and moved his Guardian 
to the inner Hatch.

"Warm them up," he said over the Alpha's loudspeakers.  He immediately 
activated the Veritech's thrusters.  Within moments every fighter in the 
chamber was hovering a meter above the deck.  A single shift of posture 
would send them rocketing out the hatch.

The hatch itself was a good fifteen meters square.  The gaping hole was 
required for the monstrous MACIII Destroids to pass through.  Four 
segments of hardened hull plate trembled as locking mechanisms 
disengaged.  Tenchi's hand tightened on the throttle hatch began to 
slide open.

"Scramble!" he called over the tactical channel.  He slammed the 
throttle to full at the same moment that his Guardian's thrusters tilted 
back.  His Alpha shot through the hatch with the doors only halfway 
retracted.  He immediately boosted his altitude and scanned for targets.

There was no shortage there.  Tenchi saw that the initial destroid 
volley had succeeded.  The entrance to the hive complex was a shattered 
ruin.  The edges were still glowing from the barrage of fire that had 
punched deep into the hive's very core.  A pair of Gladiators ran 
through the sporatic fire with bundles under their arms.  Tenchi 
recognized the plasma charges that the MACs carried at the same time 
that he saw a line of troopers attempting to interdict.

"Hurricane on me," Tenchi ordered. "Rest of you pick you targets and 
stay together."

The first Gladiator spun like an ancient discus thrower.  The plasma 
bomb flew out of its hand and down the hole.  Tenchi's Alpha shifted to 
Battleoid and opened up with his gunpod.  The line of troopers broke 
under the combined assault.  Tenchi was about to redirect Hurricane when 
his Alpha lurched and the Battleoid's optic sensor's died.  He stole a 
look at the damage control display and saw that the Veritech's entire 
head was gone.

"Snipers!" he called over the radio.  He immediately took His Veritech 
airborne.  Four more energy blasts rocked the mecha before the combat 
chatter indicated a cleared area and he felt he could safely 
mechamorph.  Once in Guardian he took a moment to survey the area again. 
Twelve locations around the courtyard's perimeter were smoking ruins.  
The second Gladiator was down, but the first had already retrieved the 
plasma charge and was hurling it into the hive.

Tenchi's Alpha lurched again.  His canopy shattered as it was ripped 
off.  Apparently he took too long a moment.  He quickly rolled to 
present the mecha's underside to the remaining sniper and made a drive 
for Farrago.

"This one's good," he remarked over the radio.  His estimation was 
confirmed as his starboard engine was destroyed. "Will someone shoot him 
already!"

The ground was spinning up towards Tenchi as he fought to balance the 
mecha.  He finally did, and was rewarded with the left leg of his Alpha 
being blown off at the knee.  The Veritech dropped the last few meters 
to land with a bone-jarring crash.  Tenchi's stunned mind retained 
enough sense to duck below the cockpit's armor.  A crashing roar in the 
distance signaled the detonation of the plasma bombs.  Tenchi looked up 
and saw a scout pause in its maneuvering.  It hung in mid-air until a 
burst of laser fire shattered it.

*The brain is gone,* Tenchi thought.  His ears were ringing a bit from 
the crash.  From the sounds of things, the battle was almost over.  
Tenchi noticed that the feed from the Alpha's radio to his helmet had 
been severed when his canopy shattered.  Normally the feed also carried 
information from the sensors to a display on his visor, but they had 
gone dead when the Alpha's head had been destroyed.  Almost thirty 
seconds had passed since the last sniper shot.  Tenchi grabbed his 
emergency radio and vaulted out of the cockpit. *Looks like they got him.*

A blue beam of energy lanced through the air and connected with the 
Alpha's nose half a meter from his head.  Tenchi traced the beam's path 
and spotted the blue and white, humanoid Invid that Intelligence was 
calling an Enforcer.  The standard rifle and shield armament had been 
replaced by a larger rifle.  As Tenchi watched he could see the row of 
capacitor's on the rifle charging.

*Or he was reloading,* Tenchi thought bitterly. *Stupid!  Now, wait 
until just before he fires to dodge, or he'll be able to compensate.*

A long moment passed as the Enforcer took aim.  Tenchi felt the Master 
Key pressing against his hip.  He had a plan there, as well.  The 
sword's blade could likely deflect the blast.  Judging by the damage 
done to his Veritech, his battle armor would be less than useless in 
this situation.

Tenchi's hand shot to his hip and drew his sword even as he threw 
himself to the side.  The rifle never fired.  Tenchi looked towards the 
Enforcer to see a knife hilt jutting out from under the Invid's 
shoulder.  Green fluid leaked out even as a furry form snaked around the 
Enforcer's armor and drove a second blade through the single eye.  The 
Enforcer shuddered once and fell backward.

The furry form turned to face Tenchi with a feral smile on his fox-like 
face. "Sloppy, Commodore."

"Kami!" Tenchi laughed. "I'm glad to see you.  I thought you were with 
the advance group.  What happened to your fur?"

The garudan hissed a laugh and patted one of the charred patches that 
dotted his body. "An imperfect solution to a security field.  I got caught."

Tenchi clapped the alien on the shoulder and nodded. "Come on, let's get 
away from here before my missiles decide to explode."

Kami laughed as the pair dashed towards Farrago's main hatch.

End Chapter 6

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