"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.
"That is true, Commander, but investigative expeditions such as this are a relatively new venture. Stun rays could have been discarded and forgotten before the need for these missions was known."
"Possibly. Proceed with your report."
"The examination described by Kor indicates prior knowledge of Tzen anatomy. This means the Ants have either obtained data from our earlier campaigns here, or that we have finally discovered what happened to Sirk. In either case, it shows the Ants are also capable of investigative study. They are both aware of the Tzen, and eager for additional data. This last is demonstrated by the fact they were willing to risk attempting to capture live and armed Tzen to obtain subjects for study. We will have to assume if they are intelligent enough to do that, they are intelligent enough to use what they learn."
I waited for a moment to be sure he had completed. his report.
"Mahz!" I beamed.
"Here, Commander."
"Resume reporting updates directly to me."
"Confirmed, Commander."
"Zur, report and analyze."
"There are currently three groups of Insects in the immediate vicinity. From their position and actions, they are all aware of our presence, and preparing for attack. There are two groups of Leapers, apparently under the command of Ants, located southeast and north of the fortification. There is another group, composed entirely of Ants, directly west of us. All groups are currently stationary, apparently waiting for some signal or occurrence before they begin their attack.