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en it was disintegrated by a flock of heat…seekers Wolff launched from the Battloid's shoulder racks。
On the ground； Scott was saying； 〃A traitor wouldn't handle an Alpha like that。〃 He and the others had followed the fight and were now in the arid heights west of the base escarpment。
Wolff came on the net a moment later。 〃Just thought I'd give you a few pointers； flyboy。〃
〃Be my guest！〃 Scott enthused。
Wolff kept the VT in Battloid configuration to take out the second Pincer ship before moving against the remaining Troopers。 He literally stomped one of these senseless by bringing the mecha down full force on the alien's head。 But the acrobatic act ended up costing him a precious few seconds： Wolff pivoted the Battloid in time to deal with the final Invid； but not before the Trooper succeeded in holing the techno…knight with an energy bolt that passed clear through it like a flaming spear。
Scott watched the crippled Battloid go down on one knee； then reconfigure to Guardian mode； seemingly of its own accord。
〃Colonel Wolff！〃 he yelled； running over to the fighter。 〃Are you all right？〃
The canopy went up； and Wolff managed to clamber out of the cockpit； one hand pressed to his side wound。 He lowered himself to the ground； collapsing into Scott's arms。 Gently； Scott laid Wolff on the ground； his own hands now awash in the colonel's blood。 〃You're bleeding； sir；〃 he told Wolff hurriedly。 〃We've got to get you back to the base。〃
Wolff reached up and removed his dark glasses。 〃Too late； Bernard；〃 he answered weakly； eyes closed。 〃Get yourselves out of here on the double。〃
〃I won't let you die like this；〃 Scott objected。 〃You're ing back with us！〃
Wolff forced his eyes open and looked hard into Scott's own。 〃I'm a traitor； mander…〃
〃Colonel…〃
〃And a traitor should be left to die out in the open。。。〃 Wolff shivered from a cold that began deep down in his guts。 〃When I think of the lives I traded to save my own skin。。。〃 Wolff screamed as something seemed to e loose inside him。 Scott watched him blanch and felt the dying man's grip tighten on his arm。
〃Colonel； hang on…〃
〃Catherine。。。Johnny。。。Minmei！〃 Wolff gasped； and died。
Scott shut the dead man's eyes； stood up； and saluted。 In the distance he could see Lunk and Annie bounding toward the Alpha in the van。 Alongside them rode Lancer on a Cyclone he had probably picked up at the base。
Scott looked over his shoulder at Rook and Rand； they looked back at him blankly； drained of emotion。 Scott wondered whether they felt the same confusion he did。 Gazing down at Wolff's body； gazing out at the smoldering remains of half a dozen Invid ships； he asked himself how this war could ever be won。
Or if indeed a war like this could ever have winners。
He thought about the long road ahead of them…his team； his family。 Would it be as bloodstained a journey as these past few months？ Marlene； he said to himself； reflexively reaching for the holo…locket around his neck。
To go through all this and yet never be able to win back your life！