Taken from the 〃Imminent Immaterial〃 column of Psycho…physics Digest
Garuda。 Kami and Learna had told them what to expect。 A mostly cold and barren world of steppes and tundra； with vast frozen regions and glaciated mountain ranges。 What little there was in the way of flora and fauna was principally confined to a narrow band of equatorial forestland of evergreen analogues。 There were two seasons； wet and dry； Garuda was in the latter now； and that； Kami explained； would account for the differences in fur coloration the Sentinels would notice among members of his and Learna's tribe。 The Garudans； who numbered in the thousands； were not； generally speaking； offworlders。 Some； however； had volunteered for mining work on Rhestad…system moons after the arrival of the Zentraedi generations ago； and later on； the Masters' clones。 But most Garudans feared the thought of having to leave the planet； and had little tolerance for the breathing harnesses life anywhere else would require。 Their society was a simple one； organized along the lines of any hunter…gatherer group； however； they were anything but nomadic； and kept domesticated animals and raised some crops。 Religion was of a decidedly individual variety； with each clan answering to a different totem； and each member his or her own shaman。 Oddly enough； neither Kami nor Learna had the slightest knowledge of history in the sense that most of the Sentinels； including Burak and Lron； understood the term。 Unlike the Karbarrans； or Praxians for that matter； the Garudans seemed to live entirely in the present。 This is not to say that they were a placent group…they were certainly devoted to securing a free future for their world…but at the same time； they could supply no answers to questions concerning their racial past。
This enigma had bee something of a preoccupation with Cabell during the four months the Sentinels had remained grounded on Praxis。 Cabell was different than the Masters in this regard。 Those who had ousted the Tirolian regime after the Great Transition were more interested in expansion and conquest than in the accumulation of knowledge； to the Elders and their subordinate Triumvirates； knowledge of the past presented something of an impediment to change。 They had their gaze fixed on the day after tomorrow； on issues of uncontested rule； ultimate power； and selective immortality。
The rest of the Sentinels； though； saw Garuda more in terms of its tangible challenges； and foremost among these was its very atmosphere： though Earthlike in position； it was essentially toxic to all but the planet's indigenous life…forms。 There were one or two exceptions to this； but only Veidt and Sarna among the Sentinels qualified。 Surface scans verified the presence of dozens of varieties of airborne spores and microorganisms whose chemistry Jean Grant likened to certain laboratory…produced psychotropic drugs。 According to Cabell…based on what he had gleaned from Zor's notes…the vulpine beings' mental processes were linked to the planet itself in a kind of submolecular partnership。 Life…forms incapable of entering into this long…established microcosmic symbiosis were not； however； simply ignored or exempted； rather； they were sensed as potentially disturbing to the ecological balance and consequently counterattacked by those same microorganisms responsible for the Garudans' nonordinary psychic states。
It had therefore fallen upon the med group to outfit the landing party with transpirators and resp canisters。 But if logistics was about to hamper the operation's effectiveness； the Sentinels could take some fort in the fact that the Invid had also fallen prey to the planet's proprietary nature。 In fact； their presence on Garuda was essentially restricted to the hemispherically shaped hives they had erected in those areas where Zor's Flower of Life seedlings had taken root。 The crop was a mutant but bountiful one； and it was believed that Garuda provided largely defoliated Optera with much of its needed supply of nutrient。 With Karbarra liberated； the Regent had lost his mecha factories； now the Sentinels meant to strike him at the gut level； destroying as many of Garuda's orchards and 〃farms〃 as they could。
Rick； Lisa； Cabell； Rem； Jack； Karen； Burak； Kami； Learna； Gnea； Lron； and Crysta made up the drop group； with members of the Skull and Wolff Pack escorting the shuttle down。 The SDF…7 would remain in orbit to deal with Invid transport vessels； known to make frequent runs between Garuda and Optera。 Wolff and Grant shared the fortress mand。 Janice would be keeping an eye on Tesla。 Veidt and Sarna had elected to stay behind； and Bela was apparently determined to help Teal with the infant Baldan。
The landing party was certain that the SDF…7's arrival in Garudaspace had not gone undetected by the Invid； the shuttle landing would probably be monitored as well。 So rather than risk immediate engagement or present any of the hives with an easy target； they opted to put down in the relatively unpoliced tribal sectors； close to Kami and Learna's village。 Unexpectedly； they found themselves encircled by battle…ready troops nevertheless…even before the shuttle's landing gear made contact with the surface。
Kami had neglected to mention that some of Garuda's protectors were Tirolian Bioroids。
Kami and Learna consequently made certain they were the first to deplane； figuring their mere appearance would defuse the situation。 It did so…and more。 Within minutes； half of Kami's tribe had emerged from the trees to surround the shuttle and celebrate the return of their friends。 The air was suddenly charged with joyous sounds…excited barking to Rick's ears…and Kami and Learna were embraced； jostled； and hoisted up on countless shoulders。 With elaborate ritual； the two returnees threw off their breathing gear and pranced about； engaging in impromptu dances； shamanic steps of power。
Rick radioed the Skull and Wolff contingents to put down along the perimeter of the shuttle's rough strip； checked the integrity of his environment suit and transpirator； and followed Lisa out of the pilots' cabin to take part in the merriment。 An hour later； he and the rest of the landing party were in the village's wooden longhouse powwowing with the leaders of Kami's tribe。 Severed heads of Hellcats； Scrim； and Odeon Inorganics dangled from the roof tie…beams。
Also present were a number of the Bioroid pilot clones…androgynous…looking shaggy…haired humanoids with pointed features and exotic eyes。 One of the clones…these Tiresian lost boys…was explaining to Cabell in a nasal； almost synthesized voice how they had e to ally themselves with the Garudan cause。 They wore no breathing gear； and were apparently immune to the spores。
〃The Masters left us here to police this world。 But when the Invid arrived； munication with Tirol and the clone…masters became impossible。 Our Hoverships destroyed； all ties with Tirol cut； we began to understand the concept of freedom； the loneliness that springs from abandonment。。。〃
〃So you joined the Garudans in their fight；〃 Cabell finished； astonished。
〃We thirst for freedom； just as they do。〃
〃Remarkable；〃 the old man mused； his own voice distorted by the mask's filters。 〃Absolutely remarkable。〃 He hadn't been so astounded since learning from Lang that Miriya Parino had borne a child； and the revelation gave him some hope that the Masters' clones were actually capable of revolt。
Rick took advantage of a momentary silence to motion to the trophy heads。 〃What's the situation here？ Do the Invid run patrols through this sector？〃
The tribal chief answered him。 〃Their Inorganics patrol； but only when they wish to intimidate us； or gather up laborers for the farms。 They don't seem to regard us as a threat…even with the firepower our rades supply；〃 he added； indicating the clones； 〃but I assure you that all Garuda is ripe for rebellion。〃
〃You mean； they're using your people on the farms？〃
〃Lately； yes。 And in the labor camps near them。〃
Lron and Crystal grunted； alarming some of the Garudans present。 They were keeping a wide circle around the ursine XTs； and a wider one yet around Burak； whose mask only added to an already demonic aspect。
Rick could see that the news came as a shock to Kami and Learna also。
〃So much for surgical strikes from the ship；〃 Max said。
Rick regarded the chief for a moment。 He found that he was not yet accustomed to seeing Garudans without then…breathers； omnivores they might be； but there was a ferocity to their muzzles he wasn't all that fortable with。 Outwardly； the chief resembled Kami； but there was a solemnness to his aspect that was absent in the younger Garudan。
〃What about mecha？〃 Lisa wanted to know。 〃Scouts； Shock Troopers？〃
〃Only when their transport ships arrive；〃 the chief told her。 〃They patrol near the farms to protect the nutrient shipment while it is being loaded。 Rarely do they venture into tribal sectors。〃
Rick watched the chief gnaw at a hunk of meat one of the women had offered him。 〃Is there any regularity to the shipments？〃
The chief exchanged a few sentences with Kami in the Garudan tongue。 The Sentinel translated。 〃Approximately every three standard months。〃 This was changed every so often in an attempt to foil what was an extensive underground network at work on Garuda。 But the Invid never managed to keep anything secret for very long。
〃And when did the last shipment leave？〃
〃One month ago。〃
Rick grinned beneath his transpirator mask。 〃That means we're in the clear for the moment。 Even if they've already municated with their fleet； reinforcements could take weeks to get here。〃
〃The closest farm is about one hundred miles from here；〃 Learna said； without being asked。 〃Kami and I know that area well。〃
〃An aerial recon；〃 Max suggested。
〃No；〃 Rick said。 〃I don't think we should tip our hand just yet。 We'll go in on Hovercycles first。 Take a quick look around before we plan an assault。 Just because mecha haven't been observed doesn't mean they're not in there。〃
〃I agree；〃 Rick heard Jack say behind him。
Karen nudged Jack with her elbow for butting in。 〃Sir？〃 she then said to Lisa； hoping Jack would learn by example。
〃Go ahead； Karen。〃
〃I was just wondering what exactly happened to the first Invid troops that landed here…before the hives were built； I mean。〃
Again； Kami and the chief exchanged a few words。
〃They went mad；〃 the Garudan leader said evenly。 〃Then they died。〃
The recon team…Rick； Lisa； Jack； Karen； Rem； and Kami as scout…left the village shortly before dawn； sticking close to the northern fringe of Garuda's preternaturally quiet forest。 They had traveled seventy…five miles by the time Rhestad rose…a massive oblate field of crimson that did little to warm the land。 The two villages they passed en route had already been informed of the mission。 Worried about attracting any undue attention to themselves； Rick had requested that the Garudans simply go about their business； but there was obviously too much excitement in the air for that。 For sometimes miles at a stretch； Rick would see them crouched along the paths the Hovercycles cut through the woods； silent and feral； vulpine eyes aglow in the eerie morning light。
At mile eighty…five the team encountered i