"Dumped on floor in room with dim lighting... We were examined...probed by their antennae...checked for sex...Knew what they were looking for...then piled together...Examining Ants withdrew...replaced by six guards...larger, heavier mandibles..."
"Finally gained control of motor nerves...Effects of stun beam wear off eventually...Examined chamber...Tzu said it was specifically a chamber for captives...one entrance, water supply...Particularly noted lighting...came from luminous rocks...not a natural formation...brought in...changed occasionally by guards... Light not necessary for Ants; must be for prisoners..."
"Examining Ants returned once we were conscious... Crowded first Tzu, then me toward Vahr...Tzu deduced they wanted us to breed...Vahr and I complied, Tzu would not... Warm-bloods brought and given to Vahr and me... Tzu prevented from eating...Pattern continued... Laid eggs, but would not let Ants near them... They did not insist... Suggested Tzu also comply...refused...Would not help Enemy learn about Tzen... "
"Began planning escape... Could approach entrance, but guards would not let us leave chamber...From entrance we could see another chamber across the tunnel...machines..."
"Commander!" came Mahz's voice into my mind.
"Rahm here."
"I have a report on the shuttlecraft "
"Delay report."
I focused my attention on Kor as she continued.
"Could not see entire chamber... There was a kind of View Screen...not full image like ours...stick figures on glowing screen... Display showed our fortification and the anthill...stick figures of Tzen around fortification... Number of Tzen changed from time to time...assumed showing defenses and patrols... Could not see controls or operators.
"Planned escape... Had noted speed of Ants while being carried on surface...used estimated speed and memorized turns taken carried in dark...Thought we could find our way out...Decided not to carry glow rocks...would pinpoint position... Vahr and I would provide fighting cover for Tzu's escape...get Scientist out..."
"Commander," came Mahz's voice again.
"Rahm here. "
"Intruders in the Network, Southeast."
"Identify. "
"Leapers. Twenty of them."
"Movement?"
"Holding position at seventy-five meters."
"Attack Alert," I called to the team. "Leapers massing. Seventy-five meters, Southeast."
I turned back to Kor.
"Continue your report."
"We made our escape attempt...Vahr began to act erratically...running back and forth...falling on floor...Finally ran to eggs and began smashing them with his feet."
"Three guards moved to subdue him... He fought... They seemed unwilling to hurt him... Killed one...Tzu and I made no move to escape...two of the remaining guards moved to assist...only one guard left on entrance..."
"There were several rocks in chamber...same size as my steel balls... Used one to kill entrance guard... We ran... Vahr broke loose and took position at entrance to slow pursuit..."
"Running blind in dark...Hit walls...Tunnels not patrolled...Ran into an Ant from behind...killed it... Ran into one head-on...caught me by arm... Tzu continued alone...Killed the Ant but lost the arm...kept running."
"Message beamed from Tzu...Encountered large number of Ants...blocking tunnel to surface... She ran down another tunnel...led them off..."
"I got to the surface without encountering another Ant...headed for fortification... Several Ants emerged and started after me, then turned back..."
"Commander!" came Mahz's voice, "More Leapers north, accompanied by several Ants!"
"Confirmed," I beamed.
"That concludes my report." Kor's voice was suddenly coherent again. "Special commendation recommended for Tzu. She died like a-"
Her body spasmed, and was still.
"Mahz," I beamed, "status report"
"No visual contact, but instruments still show the two groups. No activity since the last report. They seem to be waiting for something."
"Estimated arrival of shuttlecraft?"
"The transport is in a bad orbital position. If they send it out it won't have enough power to lift off again. Earliest possible arrival is just after sunset"
"Update status as conditions change, but report directly to Zur."
"Confirmed, Commander."
"Zome!" I called softly.
"Here, Commander."
"Examine Kor and stand by to report."
"Confirmed."
He moved to Kor's body.
"Ihr! Analysis of Kor's report."
There was no response.
"Ihr!"
"Yes, Commander. I...in a moment."
I started to press her, then realized she was taking Kor's death badly.
"Ignore it," I beamed to her. "Make your report. You are acting head of the Technicians.
"But Commander," she beamed back, "the last thing I said to Kor...before she was captured...I said I thought the Warriors-"
"Warrior or Technician, she was a Tzen. So are you. Now report."
"But-"
"She's dead...and the rest of us could be the same unless we learn from her report. Now give your analysis!"
"The Ant's technology is apparently inferior to our own. The View Screen described indicates two things. First, they have not yet mastered direct input methods. Stick figures as opposed to full visuals indicate a display of manually input statistics. It is possible that there are several input stations, and also the possibility of several viewing screens displaying common data. It seems unlikely, however, that they would content themselves with representative figures if full visuals were possible.
"Secondly, they are apparently unable to modify equipment." Her voice was strengthening as she continued. "The fact that our teammates could observe the screen from a distance would imply it was a light display. This feature is probably unnecessary to the dark-dwelling Ants. The fact they have not modified this to their own use, despite the fact they have had access to the First Ones' technology longer than we have, indicates a low technical ability."
"Could it be," I interrupted, "that they did not anticipate another species penetrating that far into their nests? That would make a modification for an unlighted display an unnecessary expenditure of time."
"Being familiar with the design of View Screens, I can definitely state that visual light displays are more difficult to build and operate. To a being with technical knowledge, an unlit display would be a simple modification, and one which would ease both construction and operation. As they have not made that modification, I feel it indicates they do not fully understand the principle of the machinery they are operating, and are simply imitating what has been done before."
"Understood. Proceed."
"The stun rays are another example of faulty technology. There are far more effective methods for an Insect to employ a weapon than slinging it under its body. Used in the current manner, it would be extremely difficult to aim on uneven terrain. What is more, to use it when firing from cover would mean the Ant would have to expose itself completely to the Enemy before its weapon could be brought into play."
"How would you explain the fact that they have a weapon not currently in our arsenal?"
"You would have to ask the Scientists, Commander. To the best of my knowledge, however, the Technicians have never been asked to construct one."
"Zome! Your comments and analyses?"
"Kor is dead, Commander."
"Yes, I assumed as much. Now your analysis."
"None of her injuries seem to be caused by any mechanical weapon. From this we can assume that unless specifically prepared for combat, the Ants rely upon their natural weapons."
"As to the stun ray, while the Scientists are not currently aware of such a weapon, it is logically a device such as would have been employed by the First Ones. It could have been passed over in their notes as being unsuitable to our purposes. Tzen will usually either kill an organism or leave it alone."
"It would be useful on missions such as this, when we are assigned to capture live specimens," I commented.