“True,” Becker said. “So, they’re on their -way. Let’s fall back smartly, gang.” It had been necessary for them to transmit from the proper physical location to lend verisimilitude to their transmission, but the remote cameras located on the vine world and its moon would provide visuals of the Khieevi invasion. The Condor could detect the approach of the Khieevi from considerable distance, thanks to the bank of long-range scanners Becker normally employed for detecting ships in peril, recent disasters, and other juicy salvage situations. Once the Khieevi swarm was all focused on the vine world, the Condor could creep back into position for a ringside seat to the “the squishing,” as Becker colorfully referred to it.
Once the swarm approached, radio silence would have to be maintained. However, the Condor’s shuttle had been repaired and readied to act as a relay between the Moon of Opportunity and the Condor, to carry news of the mission’s progress. Once the Condor was in position on the far side of the vine world’s nearest planetary neighbor, their position was transmitted to headquarters on the moon.
The Condor lurked, waiting for the Khieevi to become carrion.
When the swarm’s vanguard arrived, Becker, who was on watch, let out a whoop. “-Mercy gracious, boys ‘n’ girls, the scanners look like Kezdet’s pleasure district on a Saturday night when the fleet’s just docked! My oh my oh my!”
Acorna and Aari joined him on the bridge. Mac was still monitoring Khieevi communications from the wrecked shuttle.
The vid screen came to life as the remote cameras switched themselves on to record the landing of the Khieevi fleet. A shark-like school of the mantis-shaped vessels circumnavigated the smallish vine world as if they were the rings of Saturn. From the innermost ring of ships, shuttles shot to the surface, after -which those ships spiraled away from the planet to be replaced by others with a fresh supply of shuttles and troops.
“We’re going to need something to destroy the ships too,” Becker whispered fiercely. Acorna knew why he was whispering. The attack was ferocious. She feared anew for the sapient vines. “If they don’t land, the sap can’t make contact.”
“Perhaps they will land to investigate and infect each other,” Acorna suggested.
But they did not.
The vines parted to permit the landing of the shuttles, each of -which disgorged an amazing number of ground troops.
At first the vines allowed the Khieevi to pass until it seemed there were as many Khieevi on the ground as there -were vines, all marching relentlessly upon the holo compounds.
Acorna trembled at the sight of multiples of herself, Aari, Neeva and the Balakiire’s crew, Aari’s family, Thariinye and Liriili, going blithely and peacefully about their business while endless lines of Khieevi, ever reinforced by more shuttles dropping through vine-world space in lines of their own, deposited reinforcements.
The staccato klacking of pincers and mandibles was louder than any -weapon’s fire.
“Why aren’t the plants closing on them?” Becker demanded.
“I don’t know, Captain,” Aari answered. “In the communications we had -with them, the mere scent of the Khieevi caused the vine-beings to shoot sap upon the offending objects.”
“They’re waiting,” Acorna said, excitement and awe in her voice. “We knew the plants were intelligent and they’re proving it! I think our -warnings about the Khieevi -were understood much better than -we had reason to hope. The plants actually have formed a plan. They -want to trap the largest possible number of Khieevi before they counterattack.”
“You’re kidding!” Becker said, and whistled.
RK leaped onto the console. His fur stuck straight out on his body so he appeared to be twice his normal size. His tail bristled and switched so fast it slammed Becker’s kaf cup to the floor -with one swipe, Aari’s with the next. A low growl from RK’s throat grew to a high-pitched caterwaul that made Becker cover his ears and Acorna lift the spiky creature into her arms to try to comfort him. He didn’t attack her, but neither did he calm down. There was nothing to heal in his response. It was natural and healthy for a Makahomian Temple Cat to go into battle mode under the circumstances. Acorna understood this and when the cat remained stiff and distinctly uncomforted, she set him down again where he stood with his tail lashing the air like a saber.