He was amazed to see that the sides of the square held by the Terrans were advancing, closing down that barrier of fire that bordered the square. The east side, which should have advanced slowly, was rocketing forward at a dizzy pace.
The wave of hatred diminished, and so did the swift advance. The battle settled down to a continuous roar.
Hamilton's group returned and as the sector commander landed to report, his command roared through the skies above the embattled defenders of the planet and poured destruction down upon them. Hamilton came in and told Guy: "We did it, but what a cost!"
"Bad?"
"Terrible. They hacked at us all the way there and all the way back—and when we got there, that place was defended like Sahara Base itself."
"But you got the target?"
"We did."
"Good. Can you get the target in sector L-14 now?"
"If my command holds out."
"Go ahead then—and we'll meet you at Area 2. Don't return here at all."