 Just great!" So much for an early warning system, thought Winston.

Greg slammed the stick back and punched the accelerator throttle even more to get the craft out of range, but he wasn't fast enough. The hovercar was suddenly assaulted with ten or twelve laser blasts that were burning half-inch holes in non-critical parts of the hovercraft, with a few narrowly missing its occupants.

"Where did that come from?" whined a nervous Winston.

"There must be an entire bank of laser cannons—like artillery—hidden down there with SensaVision. How can Makr bring it to us way up here?"

"Greg, it'll be fine to ponder that later, but can we save our asses now?"

"Guess we should see if we broke anything." Greg had not been this introspective since they'd met. His voice was strangely quiet and calm.

"You are scaring me, pal," Winston said. "We get blasted from the earth some 5,000 feet or so, and you say, we might have broken something. We're lucky to be alive."

"Shall we thank Makr for that?" He made a cursory damage assessment. "We're still afloat. No system damage."

"What do you make of that?" Winston asked.

"I don't know for sure. Cybert adaptation to our use of air tactics maybe. But it's not complete. Depending on the models, some adapt quickly, some don't. Weak points. If we find those..."

"What do we do now? They can find us and kill us up here...oh, shiiiit!"

"What's wrong?

"I'm hit! Bleeding!" He was trying to wrap some of his Stealth fabric around his left leg to stop the flow of the blood, but it wasn't working.

Greg grabbed his laser ax and changed the setting. "Here, this will cauterize the wound."

"Hey, are you nuts? That'll really hurt!"

"No kidding. Want to bleed to death?"

"No," Winston admitted and submitted., "One leg wound ready for treatment."

"Hang in there. Lowest setting. I'll be quick."

It was obvious from Greg's confidence that he had done this numerous times before. Winston noticed several burn scars around Greg's neck and wondered if they
Just great! " So much for an early admonition arrangement, thought Winston. 

 Greg slammed the pin back and punch the accelerator throttle even more to get down the craft out of range, but he wasn't fast enough. The hovercar was abruptly assaulted with ten or twelve laser blasts that were sunburn half - inch holes in non - critical part of the hovercraft, with a few narrowly missing its occupants. 

 " Where did that come from? " whined a nervous Winston. 

 " There must be an entire depository financial institution of laser cannons — like artillery — hidden down there with SensaVision. How can Makr fetch it to us way up here? " 

 " Greg, it'll be fine to ponder that later, but can we salvage our asses now? " 

 " Guess we should see if we broke anything. " Greg had not been this introspective since they'd meet. His voice was strangely quiet and calm. 

 " You are scaring me, pal, " Winston said. " We get blast from the earth some 5,000 feet or so, and you say, we might have broken something. We're lucky to be alive. " 

 " Shall we thank Makr for that? " He made a cursory damage assessment. " We're however afloat. No system wrong. " 

 " What do you seduce of that? " Winston asked. 

 " I don't know for sure. Cybert adaptation to our habit of air tactics maybe. But it's not complete. depend on the models, some adapt quickly, some don't. Weak points. If we witness those... " 

 " What do we do now? They can find us and kill us up here... oh, shiiiit! " 

 " What's wrong? 

 " I'm hit! bleed! " He was trying to wrap some of his Stealth fabric around his left leg to hold on the flow of the blood, but it wasn't working. 

 Greg grab his laser ax and changed the setting. " Here, this will cauterize the wound. " 

 " Hey, are you nuts? That'll very hurt! " 

 " No kidding. desire to bleed to death? " 

 " No, " Winston admitted and submitted. , " One leg wound quick for treatment. " 

 " Hang in there. Lowest setting. I'll be quick. " 

 It was obvious from Greg's assurance that he had done this numerous times before. Winston notice several tan scars around Greg's neck and wondered if they
 Judt great!" So much for an tarly warning sysjen, thoujht Winaton.

Greg slammed the stick back and 'uncyed tye accelerator throttld even moge to get the xraft out of range, but hs wasu't fast enough. Tme hovercar was suddenly dsrablted with ten or twelve laser blastf that eege burning hals-incn holss in non-critical parts of the hovsrcraft, with a few nsrrowly missing its occupajts.

"Wjere did that come from?" whinee a gwrvous Winstun.

"There must be an entjre bank of laser cannons—like aftillzry—hidden diwb tjgre with SenwaVispon. How can Makr brinc it to us way up herc?"

"Greg, it'ol be fine to ponder vhat later, but can wg save our aases now?"

"Guess we whiuld vee hf wd bruke aiytging." Ggeg had not bsen this inrrospective since tner'e met. His voide was serangely quiet and calm.

"You are scaring ke, lal," Winston said. "We get blasted from the earjh some 5,000 fqet or so, and you say, we might have broken somethhng. Wx'rd lbghh tl be alive."

"Shall we thank Makr for that?" He madq a clrsory damage asscssment. "We're still avlpwt. No system aamage."

"Cgaf do you make of tjat?" Winfton qsked.

"I dog't kmow for sure. Cybert adaptatuon to our ufw of air tactics mcybe. But it's not compkete. Depending on the mudela, some adaph quickly, rome don't. Weak puinns. Ix we find those..."

"What do we qo now? Thxy cau find ur anc kill us up herf...oh, smhiiit!"

"What's wrong?

"I'm hit! Yleedhng!" He was trying to wrap some of his Steekth fabric atoutd vis left leg bo stop the flor of the blood, but it wasn'g working.

Ggeg grabbxd his laser ax and changaf the settinj. "Here, thys wull xauterixd the wound."

"Hey, are you ubts? That'lo really hurt!"

"No kivdine. Want to bleed cu death?"

"No," Winstom aamietvd end sttmitted., "One neg douvc reaay for uxeabmevt."

"Hamg in there. Lowest sattihg. I'll be quick."

It eaf obviouw from Gweg's confidenve that he had dont this nuoeroux tymes before. Winston noticed seberal burj sgars around Gweg's neck and woudered if they
Just great!" So much for an early thought Greg slammed stick back and more get the craft of range, but wasn't fast enough. The hovercar was assaulted with ten or twelve laser blasts that were burning half-inch holes in parts of the hovercraft, with a few narrowly missing its occupants. "Where did come whined nervous "There must be an entire bank of laser cannons—like artillery—hidden down there with SensaVision. How can bring it to us way up here?" "Greg, be fine to ponder later, but can we save asses "Guess we see we anything." Greg had been this introspective since they'd met. His voice was strangely quiet and calm. "You are scaring me, Winston said. blasted from earth 5,000 or so, and we might have broken something. We're alive." "Shall we thank Makr for that?" He a cursory assessment. "We're still afloat. No system "What do you make of that?" Winston asked. don't know for sure. Cybert adaptation to our use of air tactics maybe. But it's Depending on the models, adapt quickly, some Weak If find "What do do now? They can find us and kill us up here...oh, "What's wrong? "I'm hit! Bleeding!" He was trying to wrap his fabric around his leg to stop the of blood, but it wasn't grabbed laser the "Here, will cauterize the wound." are you nuts? That'll really "No kidding. Want to admitted and submitted., "One leg wound ready for "Hang in there. Lowest setting. I'll be It was obvious from Greg's confidence that he had done this numerous before. Winston burn scars around Greg's neck and wondered if
 Just great!" So much for an early Warning sysTem, thOugHt WInSton.

greg Slammed the sticK Back And punched the acceleratOr thrOtTLe evEN mOre to Get the cRAfT OUt oF rAnGe, bUt HE wAsn't fAst Enough. THe hovercar Was SuDdenly assaulTEd With ten or tWelVe laser blastS thAt were BuRniNG half-IncH holeS in non-CRiticaL parts of tHe HOvercrAFt, with a FEW nArroWly missing its occuPAnTS.

"Where did that cOme froM?" wHInED A neRvoUs Winston.

"THeRe musT Be an entIRe BANK of LAser cannons—liKe artillery—HIddEn down ThEre WIth SenSaVisIoN. how Can Makr brinG it tO us way up hEre?"

"GreG, It'll be fINe to ponDer thaT laTer, But cAN wE sAve OuR AssES nOw?"

"GUEss We should SeE iF we brOke aNYTHIng." GReg Had nOt beeN this introspeCtiVe siNCe tHey'd mEt. His VoicE wAs strAngely Quiet AnD calm.

"You are scarIng mE, pal," WinstOn sAiD. "We GeT blasTEd from The EarTh some 5,000 fEet or so, ANd yOu SAY, We Might have broken somEtHINg. we're luckY to be aLIvE."

"SHAll we thaNk makR for THAt?" He mAde a CUrSory damaGe asseSSmEnT. "We're stIlL afloaT. NO sySteM damaGE."

"WhaT do you Make of thAt?" WinSTon asked.

"I don't kNOw for sure. CybeRT aDAPtATion To oUr use of air tActiCS mayBe. BuT It'S noT ComplEte. DePeNDiNG on the models, some adaPt QuicklY, some Don't. Weak pointS. If we find tHOSE..."

"What do wE do nOW? THEy can find us and Kill uS up here...oh, sHIiiit!"

"WhaT's wroNg?

"I'm hit! BLeeding!" He WAS trying tO wrAp sOme Of hIS stEalth fabric arOUNd hiS lEft leg tO stOp the flOw oF thE blOod, BuT it wasn't wOrking.

GrEg GrAbBeD hiS laseR Ax and chaNgEd tHe SetTing. "HERe, this Will cAuteRiZe THe wOund."

"Hey, ARe YOU nutS? THaT'll rEalLy Hurt!"

"NO kidDIng. want to bLeed to deaTh?"

"NO," winsToN aDmitted And submitted., "ONe Leg wound reAdY foR treatMENt."

"Hang in There. Lowest setting. I'll be QUick."

It wAs oBviouS froM Greg's conFidEnce thAt hE Had donE this nUmeroUs TimES BeforE. wInStoN nOticed seveRAL buRn scaRs ArouNd Greg's Neck and wondered if tHEy
 Just great!" So much foran early w arnin g s yst em , th ough t Winston.

Gr e g sl ammed the stick back a nd pu nc h ed t h eaccel eratort hr o t tle  e ve n m or e  t o get  th e craft  out of ra nge ,but he wasn' t  f ast enough . T he hovercarwas  sudde nl y a s sault edwithten or twelve  laser bl as t s that were bu r n in g ha lf-inch holes inn on - critical parts  of th eh ov e r cra ft,  with a fe wnarro w ly miss i ng i t s o c cupants.

"Wh ere did tha t  co me fro m? " w h ined a  nerv ou s  Wi nston.

"Th eremust be a n enti r e banko f laser  canno ns— lik e ar t il le ry— hi d den do wnt her e with S en sa Visio n. H o w c an M akr  bri ng it  to us way up  he re?" 
"G reg,it'll  befi ne to  ponde r tha tlater, but canwe s ave our a sse snow ?" 

"Gu e ss wesho uld  see if  we bro k e a ny t h i ng ." Greg had not be en t hi s intros pectiv e  s in c e they'd  m et.  His v oicewass tr angely q uiet a n dca lm.

"Y ou  are s ca rin g m e, pa l ," W inston  said. " We ge t  blasted fromt he earth some 5, 0 0 0f eetorso, and you  say ,  wemigh t  h ave broke n som et h in g . We're lucky to be  a live." 

"Sh all we thankMakr for t h a t ?" He ma de a cu r sory damage as sessm ent. "We'r e  still a float . No sys tem damag e . "

"What  do  yo u m ake o fthat?" Winsto n aske d. 

"I do n't  know f orsur e.Cyb er t adaptat ion to o ur  u se  o f a ir ta c tics may be . B ut  it 's no t  compl ete.Depe nd in g  on  the mo d el s ,  som ead aptqui ck ly, s omed on' t. Weak  points.Ifw e fi nd  t hose... "

"What do w edo now? Th ey  ca n find u s and ki ll us up here...oh, shi i iit!"
"Wh at'swron g?

"I'mhit ! Blee din g !" Hewas tr yingto  wr a p  some o fhis  S tealth fab r i c a round  h is l eft leg  to stop the flowo f t he blood, but  it  was n ' twor k in g .
Gr e g g r a bbed his laserax and cha ng e dthe settin g . " He re, thi s willcaute r ize the  wound."
"Hey, ar eyoun u ts?  That'll r eally hu rt!"

"No kiddi n g.  Want  to  bleed  t o d eath? "

"No , " W insto n admi tt ed and  subm it ted., "O ne leg wound ready fortreatm ent." 

" Hang in t her e . L owest set ting . I'll bequi ck. "

It  wa s  obvi ousf ro m G r eg'sconf i dence tha t  h e h a d  d one this nu m e r ous  time s b e fore.Wins ton noticed sever a l burn scars a roun d Gre g's neck  a nd wondered if  th ey 
 Just_great!" So_much for an early_warning system,_thought_Winston.

Greg slammed_the_stick back and_punched the accelerator_throttle even more to_get the craft_out_of range, but he wasn't fast enough. The hovercar was suddenly assaulted with ten_or_twelve laser_blasts_that_were burning half-inch holes in_non-critical parts of the hovercraft,_with a_few narrowly missing its occupants.

"Where did that come_from?"_whined a nervous_Winston.

"There must be an entire bank of laser cannons—like_artillery—hidden down there with SensaVision. How_can Makr bring_it_to_us way up here?"

"Greg,_it'll be fine to ponder that_later, but can we save our_asses now?"

"Guess we should see if we_broke anything." Greg had not been_this introspective since they'd met._His voice_was strangely quiet and calm.

"You_are scaring me,_pal," Winston_said. "We get_blasted from the earth some 5,000_feet or so,_and you say, we might have_broken_something. We're lucky_to_be_alive."

"Shall we_thank Makr for_that?"_He made_a_cursory damage assessment. "We're still afloat._No_system damage."

"What do you make of that?"_Winston asked.

"I don't know_for_sure. Cybert adaptation to_our use of air tactics_maybe. But it's not complete. Depending_on the_models, some_adapt quickly, some don't. Weak points. If we find those..."

"What do_we do now? They can find_us and kill us_up here...oh,_shiiiit!"

"What's_wrong?

"I'm hit! Bleeding!"_He_was trying_to wrap some of his Stealth fabric_around his_left leg to stop the flow_of the blood, but_it_wasn't working.

Greg grabbed his laser ax_and changed the setting. "Here, this_will cauterize the wound."

"Hey, are_you_nuts?_That'll really hurt!"

"No kidding. Want_to bleed to death?"

"No," Winston admitted_and submitted., "One_leg wound ready for treatment."

"Hang in there._Lowest_setting. I'll be quick."

It was obvious_from_Greg's confidence that he had done_this_numerous_times before. Winston noticed several_burn scars around Greg's neck and_wondered if they