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y aroma elicited。
Memories of Earth before the wars。
Jack Baker appeared from the underbrush a few steps behind Rick…waved； and came up alongside。 Rick not only saw a bit of himself in the younger man but noticed the same wistful in Baker's green eyes。 He tracked Baker's gaze to Karen's backside。
〃What's on your mind； Captain？〃
Baker was red…faced when he turned around。 〃Begging the Admiral's pardon； sir。 I guess I was just daydreaming。〃
〃Daydreaminng； Baker？〃
〃Fantasizing； actually； sir。〃 He made a circular motion with his hand。 〃It's this place； Admiral。 It reminds me so much of where I was brought up。 North Carolina； sir？ before Dolza； I mean。〃
〃You're wondering what it would have been like if things had gone differently for Earth。〃
Jack looked at him searchingly。 〃That's it； sir。 I keep thinking this planet's trying to remind us of what we lost。〃
In a dark corner of the galaxy lost to the SDF…3； silhouetted against the swirling； malevolent backdrop of Ranaath's Star； floated the first nearly pleted products of Haydon's IV's mining and manufacturing efforts： ships璵assively proportioned…with featureless spherical hulls attended and ministered to by hundreds of labor drones。
Inside the Ark Angel； Vince； Cabell； Penn； and the Nichols team were fortifying themselves with strong caffie when an unexpected transmission was received from Haydon IV。
〃Veldt； is that you？〃 Vince asked in a rush； eyes riveted to the situation room's mo screen。 They had spent part of the Sentinels campaign together； but Vince had not seen the Haydonite in years。 Even so； save for the color of his forehead sensor； a certain warmth to his sendings； and definite swagger to his glide； Veidt was nearly identical to countless other 〃male〃 beings on Haydon IV。
A synthesized voice answered for Veidt。 〃Yes； mander。 It's good to see you again。〃
〃And you； too；〃 Vince said。 〃I only wish it could be under different circumstances。〃
Beneath the static of the signal； Veidt's expression conveyed a wry smile。 〃You discern my very thoughts。〃
For hours the Ark Angel had been hailing the Awareness without response。 The flagship of the Karbarran flotilla had been attempting the same and had finally issued the reconfigured artifact world with an ultimatum： Release all Karbarran prisoners by 1200 standard hours or suffer the consequences of a full assault。 Cabell had appealed to the Karbarran legation to rethink their position； but the threat stood as delivered。
〃You know about the ultimatum？〃 Vince asked。
〃I have only just learned about it； yes。 But you must convince the Karbarrans to rescind。〃
Cabell leaned toward the camera。 〃You leave them no alternative； Veidt。 〃
〃I will endeavor to explain；〃 the Haydonite said after a moment。 〃Be advised； however； that Vowad and I have undertaken munication with you at great personal risk。 Should my visage abruptly vanish from the screen； you will understand why。〃
〃Then save your thoughts；〃 Vince said。 〃We think we've got a fair idea of what's been going on。〃 Quickly； he summarized the scenario Louie and Cabell had arrived at。 Veidt listened in silence。 〃We just need to learn where these ships you're manufacturing are headed；〃 Vince concluded。 〃You have our word we won't interfere with the Awareness in any way。 We only want permission to tag along； if that's possible。 Veidt shook his head。 〃That is quite impossible； mander。 Your ship is inadequate for such a journey。〃
Vince glowered at the screen。 〃Try to understand our side of it； Veidt。 This may be our only shot at locating the SDF…3。 Think about Rick and Lisa and the crew。 They're our friends； Veidt； and they're in trouble。〃
Veidt's features betrayed little。 〃I might also ask that you appraise things from our vantage； mander。 To prehend after thousands of years that your sole purpose had been to function as caretakers for a race who； if they did not create you； then surely redirected you from your evolutionary process。〃 The Haydonite paused。 〃And now； even in the face of this realization； to be helpless。〃
Vince turned away from the camera to glance at Cabell and Penn。 〃Were sorry； Veidt。 But all this doesn't mean we can stand by and do nothing。〃
The Haydonite's shoulders seemed to shrug under his robe。 〃The Awareness must be persuaded to release all offworlders…immediately。〃
Awareness is no longer responding to us； mander；〃 Veidt sent with a touch of impatience。 〃We are responding to it。 In any case； all offworlders will be released in due course。 In the meantime； everyone is being well cared for。 Exadore and the Sterlings are in good health： I have even seen to it that they have been equipped with a monitoring device linked to the Awareness itself。〃
Louie put a hand down on the munication console's interrupt stud and turned his back to the optical pickup。 〃Ask him if he can put us on…line with Exedore。〃
Vince studied Louie's face for a moment； then reactivated the system's audio feed。 〃Listen； Veidt； can't you at least allow us to get in touch with Exedore and Max； just so we know they're all right？〃
Veidt puted the feasibility。 〃I can so arrange；〃 he said； at last。
His back still turned to the screen； Louie smiled。 〃That may be all we need；〃 he whispered。
Exedore； Max； Miriya； and the Sterling daughters listener attentively while Cabell brought them up to date on current events and the speculative history of Haydon IV。 The five of them were huddled around the monitor； hands gripping on another's arms in contained excitement。
〃Yes； yes； it all fits precisely with the facts；〃 Exedore was telling the old sage。 〃The experiment shaped by Haydon has finally succeeded。 The Invid have exited the continuum and opened a breach to a new realm。 And the SDF…3 is trapped there。〃 He shook his head in astonishment。 〃This could account for all the irregularities； Cabell…this tightening of the cosmic fabric。〃
〃We think so；〃 Cabell said。 〃The creation of that breach as you call it； has possibly doomed the world we know to ultimate collapse。 It is as though Haydon's ‘success' has rendered all evolving life in this Quadrant obsolete。 Only one was needed to achieve that passage。〃 The Tiresian shook his head。 〃For the rest of us； a pat on the back and an accelerated heat death。〃
〃Jeez； you guys；〃 Dana cut in； 〃try not to sound so cheerful about it； huh。〃
〃Tough break； but they're right about it； Lieutenant；〃 Louie said； his goggled； smiling face on…screen all at once。 〃Louie！〃 Dana yelled。
〃Hey； Dana。 Told you you'd see me again before long。〃 Dana recalled the send…off party Louie's gang had thrown for the 15th aboard Wolff's ship。 The memory stirred thought of Jonathan and their last night together。 〃So where'd you spend the occupation； mechie？〃 she asked。
Louie grinned。 〃No time to go into that now； Dana。〃 He looked to Exedore。 〃We need to know whether the device Veidt gave you can access the Awareness。〃
The Zentraedi scratched at his thatch of barn…red hair。 〃Only in the most limited of capacities。〃
〃But you can get in？〃 Louie pressed。
〃Yes； but I don't see…〃
〃We're going to find out where Haydon's headed by hook or by crook； Exedore。 The Karbarrans； God help them； are finalizing the