"I am responsible for this portion of the, training," she continued, "and therefore stand ready to answer for any transgression which may have transpired."
"Face the Warriors," I said.
She hesitated, then turned and stepped to the edge of the walkway.
I raised my voice to address the entire bay.
"It has been brought to my attention that the progress in training I have viewed today has been falsified. If this had not been discovered, had I been allowed to think you were more prepared than you are, I might have committed you to battle before you were actually ready. If that situation would have occurred, you would have been soundly defeated. The Empire's campaign against the Ants would have failed, and we would have been too depleted in numbers to mount another attack."
I pointed to the trainer.
"This Warrior was responsible for your current phase of training. Her neglect of duty does not constitute a difference of opinion or an affront to any individual, group, or caste. It is a direct threat to the Empire."
I signaled to Zur. His alter-mace came off his harness and struck in one smooth blur of motion. The trainer's body hurtled off the walkway and crashed limply on the floor below.
"She dies not as a Tzen and a Warrior in a duel or in service to the Empire, but as an Enemy and a threat to our existence."
I turned and continued my review, my staff accompanying me.
As we entered the next training bay, we could hear behind us the cautious sounds of the Warriors resuming their training.
CHAPTER FIVE
"...the earlier possibilities of the Ant's utilizing either poison gas or an acid spray have been discarded. While these devices are within the grasp of their technology, there have been no indications to date of their use or development."
Of all my duties, I found these briefings with representatives of the Scientists' caste the most distasteful. The briefing was particularly uncomfortable as I was without Zur's counsel. He was justifiably preoccupied working with his reserve force. Unfortunately, this left me to deal with the Scientists alone.
"We are still working on a means of disrupting the Ants' communications, but at this time it seems unlikely an adequate counter will be perfected prior to your departure. Effective countermeasures have been developed, however, to deal with the stun rays."
She indicated a small flat mechanism on the table at the side of the room.
"They are worn strapped to the chest, and field tests have proved they will nullify the effect of a stun ray. The Technicians are currently producing them for issue in the near future."
"Has the exact range of a stun ray been defined yet?" I interrupted.
"No," the Scientist answered. "It seems to vary according to the amount of energy fed into the projector."
I made a mental note to require all transport crew members to wear these units. Having the Planet-side Warriors immune to the stun rays would be of limited merit if the Ants could succeed in using them against the orbiting transports.
"We have continued monitoring the indirect surveillance of the spacecraft housed in the anthills," the Scientist continued. "There have been no sounds or other indications of work or modifications being performed. Therefore, it is assumed the Ants are still utilizing the primitive craft originally given them by the First Ones. The armed shuttlecraft should be sufficient to insure no Ants will escape once the final assault begins."
"Do the Ants' spacecraft utilize the same power source as their weapons?" I asked.
"That is correct."
"Then won't the Energy-Drain units perfected by the Technicians negate the use of the spacecraft?"
"The Energy-Drain units were developed independently by the Technicians," the Scientist pointed out "Until the principle has been tested and confirmed by the Scientists' caste, I would be hesitant to comment as to its reliability."
"Will those confirmation tests be performed prior to my force's departure?"
"I am not familiar with that project's priority rating, Commander. I will investigate and inform you immediately."
"Very well. What is the next item for review?"
"That completes the agenda for this briefing, Commander. Do you have any questions?"
I thought carefully for several minutes before replying.
"Would it be permissible to ask a question not related to this mission? One of a nonmilitary nature?"
"Certainly, Commander. I have been assigned to supply you with information. There have been no instructions limiting the scope of that information."
I considered my question carefully before verbalizing it.
"Could you comment as to whether or not the non-active time now available to the individual is having an adverse effect on the Empire?"
The Scientist cocked her head, her tail twitched minutely.
"Could you clarify your question, Commander?"
I began to pace restlessly. I was unaccustomed to expressing my thoughts to Scientists.
"Since returning from my last mission, I have become increasingly aware of certain changes in the Empire. For the most part, I ignored them, as they had no direct bearing on me or the performance of my duties. Recently, however, an incident occurred which I could not ignore for its potential implications."
"What incident was that?" she asked.
"The details are unimportant. It involved a deliberate deception."
"A deception? That doesn't seem logical."
"My staff discovered it in my presence," I reiterated. "A premeditated falsification of training progress. My question is is this a widespread problem throughout the Empire or was it an isolated case?'
I waited as the Scientist pondered my question.
"No other such incidents have been reported to the Scientists, Commander," she said at last, "though I cannot say whether this is because no similar incidents have occurred or if they were simply deemed unimportant."
"Unimportant?" Despite my self-pledged control, I felt my head begin to lower. "Such a falsification can only be interpreted as a direct threat to the Empire."
"I find your logic unclear, Commander."
"If I had believed the deception, I might have committed my force prematurely."
"But would you have?"
My tail began to lash slightly.
"Clarify your question?" I requested.
"Your exact words were that you might have committed your force," the Scientist replied. "I was inquiring as to whether or not you actually would have. If the deception had gone undetected, if you had believed everything you saw, would you have immediately reported to the High Command that your force was ready for combat?"
"Certainly not," I responded. "The force's training is far from complete. There is considerable time remaining before our scheduled departure, and it is my duty and that of my staff to be sure that time is utilized to best advantage."
"Then by your own admission, the incident was of no importance."
"You have missed the point entirely," I said.
"Perhaps, Commander. Could you clarify your position?"
I paused to organize my thoughts.
"As a Commander of the Warriors' caste, I must be sensitive to the implications of an event beyond the immediate. I must concern myself with potentials, not just confirmed realities."
"Commander, are you attempting to explain the necessity of considering potentials to a member of the Scientists' caste?"
I lapsed into silence realizing both the truth of her observation and the futility of my efforts. The break in the conversation lengthened as I cast about for a new way to phrase my question.
"Commander," the Scientist said at last, "might I ask a question?"
"Certainly," I replied.
"How many Hatchings have you survived?"
I cocked my head.
"Clarify?" I requested.
"How many Hatchlings have there been since your own?"
"I have no accurate knowledge of that," I admitted. "My career began when the Empire was still in the Black Swamps. During those times the number and frequency of the Hatchings were kept secret, particularly from line Warriors such as I."