The Bug Wars by Robert Asprin

There was a moment of silence as we collected our shattered minds and bodies.

Tzu broke the silence.

“Commander,” she began hesitantly.

“We’ve crashed!” interrupted Ralik. The second of the two Scientists on board, he was of the new Hatching, color-sighted, and outspoken. “Trust the Technicians to-“

“That will be enough, Ralik,” Tzu said, to stop her subordinate’s tirade. “Your comments, Commander?”

Before I had time to answer, the hatch to the adjoining compartment opened and Ihr lurched into view. She was the junior member of the Technicians’ team, also of the new Hatching, also outspoken.

“You might be interested to know,” she informed us, “that according to the instruments, that was the softest landing this vehicle has achieved. If we had been allowed a bit more practice with the controls and time for a few polish modifications in design, we might have been able to set it down gently enough to conform to the delicate standards the other castes seem to require.”

“Actually,” I said before Rahk had a chance to respond, “the landing was well within our tolerance levels. Do not worry yourself about the Warriors’ ability to withstand hardship, or the Scientists’ either.”

“Worrying about the comfort of the other castes is not one of my duties, Commander.”

“lhr!”

Even from the next compartment there was no mistaking the rebuff in Horc’s voice.

“Horc asks,” Ihr continued hastily, “that you remain stationary while we settle the fortification.”

She disappeared before I could respond. Ihr was going to be a problem. Horc had warned me that his junior member did not like the other castes, and Warriors in particular, but I had not expected her feelings to be so obvious.