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raceful bridges were cratered and collapsed。 Airports； schools； hospitals； sports plexes； industrial and residential zones。。。reduced to rubble； unmarked graveyards all。
A fifteen…year period of peace…that tranquil prologue to the Masters' arrival…saw the resurrection of some of those things the twentieth century had all but taken for granted。 Cities had rebuilt themselves； new ones had grown up。 But humankind was now a different species from that which had originally raised those towering sculptures of stone。 Post…Cataclysmites； they were a feudal； warring breed； as distrustful of one another as they were of those stars their hopeful ancestors had once wished upon。 Perhaps； as some have claimed； Earth actually called in its second period of catastrophe； as if bent on adhering to some self…fulfilling prophecy of doom。 The Masters； too； for that matter： The two races met and engaged in an unspoken agreement for mutual annihilation…a paving of the way for what would follow。
Those who still wish to blame Protoculture trace the genesis of this back to Zor； Aquarian…age Prometheus； whose gift to the galaxy was a Pandora's box he willingly opened。 Displaced and repressed； the Flower of Life had rebelled。 And there were no chains； molecular or otherwise； capable of containing its power。 That Zor； resurrected by the Elders of his race for their dark purposes； should have been the one to free the Flower from its Matrix is now seen as part of Protoculture's equation。 Equally so； that that liberation should call forth the Invid to plete the circle。
They came without warning： a swarm of monsters and mecha folded across space and time by their leader/queen； the Regis； through an effort of pure psychic will。 They did not choose to announce themselves the way their former enemies had； nor did they delay their invasion to puzzle out humankind's strengths and weaknesses； quirks and foibles。 There was no need to determine whether Earth did or did not have what they sought； their Sensor Nebulae had already alerted them to the presence of the Flower。 It had found patible soil and climate on the blue and white world。 All that was required were the Pollinators； a missing element in the Robotech Masters' equations。
In any case； the Invid had already had dealings with Earthlings； having battled them on a dozen planets； including Tirol itself。 But as resilient as the Humans might have been on Haydon IV； Spheris； and the rest； they were a pathetic lot on their homeworld。
In less than a week the Invid conquered the planet； destroying the orbiting factory satellite…an ironic end for the Zentraedi aboard…laying to waste city after city； and dismissing with very little effort the vestiges of the Army of the Southern Cross。 Depleted of the Protoculture charges necessary to fuel their Robo…technological war machines； those warriors who had fought so valiantly against the Masters were forced to fall back on a small supply of nuclear weapons and conventional ordnance that was no match for the Invid's plasma and laser…array superiority。
Even if Protoculture had been available to the Southern Cross for their Hovertanks and Alpha Veritechs； there would have been gross problems to overe： the two years since the mutual annihilation of the Robotech Masters and Anatole Leonard's mand had seen civilization's unchecked slide into lawlessness and barbarism。 Cities became city…states and warred with one another； men and women rose quickly to positions of power only to fall even more swiftly in the face of greater military might。 Greed and butchery ruled； and what little remained of the northern hemisphere's dignity collapsed。
Though certain cities remained strong…Mannatan； for example （formerly New York City）…the centers of power shifted southward； into Brazilas especially （the former Zentraedi Control Zone）； where growth had been sure and steady since the SDF…1's return to devastated Earth and the founding of New Macross and its sister city； Monument。
Unlike the Zentraedi or the Tirol Masters； the Invid were not inclined to destroy the planet or exterminate humankind。 Quite the contrary： Not only had the Flower found favorable conditions for growth； the Invid had as well。 The Regis had learned enough in her campaign against the Tirolians and the so…called Sentinels to recognize the continuing need for technology。 Gone was the blissful tranquillity of Optera； but the experiment had to be carried forth to its conclusion nonetheless； and Earth was well suited for the purpose。
After disarming and occupying the planet； the Regis believed she was more than halfway toward her goal。 By utilizing a percentage of Humans to cultivate and harvest the Flowers； she was free to carry out her experiments uninterrupted。 The central hive； which came to be called Reflex Point； was to be the site of the Great Work； but secondary hives were soon in place across the planet to maintain control of the Human sectors of her empire。 The Regis was willing to let humankind survive until such time as the work neared pletion。 Then； she would rid herself of them。
There was； however； one thing she had not taken into account： the very warriors she had fought tooth and claw on those worlds once seeded by Zor。 Enslave a world she might； but take it for her own？
Never！
CHAPTER ONE
The armada of Robotech ships T。R。 Edwards had amassed for his planned invasion and conquest of Earth would be put to that very use years later when Admiral Hunter sent them against the Invid。 Adding irony to irony； it should be mentioned that the warships had serious design flaws which went unnoticed during their use on Tirol。 Assuming this would have been the case even if Edwards had managed to persevere； the invasion would have failed。 Destiny failed to deliver Edwards the crown he felt justified to wear and likewise failed to deliver Hunter the quick victory he felt justified to claim。
Selig Kahler； The Tirolian Campaign
A fleet of Robotech warships moved into attack formation above the Moon； a mixed school of gleaming predators； radiant where the distant sun touched their armored hulls and alloy fins。 Each carried in its belly a score or more of Veritech fighters； sleek； transform