." ??? He shook his head.? "It doesn't matter."? ??? Everything having collapsed, she gatheredherself to make a run for it, buthe spoke up, saying, "...nd don't think about attempting toflee -- your purse is no longer in your desk, and your car isno longer in the parking lot." ??? "Please!? I-I...." ??? He leaned back and steepled hisfingers.? "But I must also think of thecollege's reputation.? We might avoid ascandal...IF you agree to betreated like the arrogant and treacherous tramp you really. Cabernet. Pinot. Oregon. French. Bordeaux. Burgundy. Coat Do Rain, or something like that. Italian. Barollo. Brunello. Ports. Tawny.” She only half followed. She did not know wine. Or liquor, really. Everclear punch and seltzer was all she had learned at college. And she was distracted. Too distracted to really pay attention to his man-splaining about his expensive stuff. Was she anxious that he would make a move, or excited by the prospect? “At last. Our mission. These are brandies. And …. If they join the southern forces, that will slow them down by another day or two while they reconsider their plans for us. We can expect the western forces in two days."Pointing down the road, Masterson said, "They aren't turning back. They're charging."Sid turned and looked at the troops running towards them. He couldn't believe his eyes. He shouted, "Those idiots are committing suicide!" Not if we keep standing here doing nothing," Masterson said.Turning, Sid grabbed the green flag and waved. Or posthumously.”“I’ll get on it,” I nodded as I called over Liovol. “Prepare to advance in formation. I want this wall cut down and we proceed in that direction looking for a way down.” I ordered him.“Yes, sir!”The wall was soon down and we set off in the same formation we’d used before, though with a lot more enthusiasm as the Troopers knew the ‘mincer’ worked. Finding ways down though wasn’t easy. The aliens used grav-tubes linked to what we thought was an AI and naturally they wouldn’t work.