The Bug Wars by Robert Asprin

I turned back to Kor, my tail lashing angrily despite my efforts to control it.

“Kor, I have a direct order for you. Even though you are without question the most efficient fighter on the team, I will not have the unit’s safety jeopardized by independent action. In the future, if you contact the Enemy, you are to so inform the team immediately. If you do not, it will be considered a direct breach of orders.”

There was a rumbling crash, and the meager light in the cavern disappeared. The cave was sealed. I turned and raised my voice in the darkness.

“Now use your narrow beams to open a tunnel to the surface. I want it to be just large enough to allow us passage one at a time on all fours.”

There was a moment of silence.

“That will be impossible, Commander.”

“Explain.”

“The power-source has just stopped broadcasting.”

CHAPTER FOUR

We were effectively buried alive. I considered the problem carefully.

“Did anyone bring a glow-bulb in their personal gear?”

“I did, Commander.” Ahk’s voice came out of the blackness.

“I feel it would be in the team’s best interests if you lit it now.”

“Agreed. It is still in my flyer, so if I could get a sound fix from either of the two who were at the flyers when the cave was sealed-“

“Ssah here. Your flyer is about four feet to my left. Would you like me to keep talking to serve as a beacon, or do you have the location?”

“I have it. I’ll fetch the bulb now, Commander.”

I heard a faint scratching as he moved past me. Even though nothing could be seen in this total absence of light, I knew clearly enough what he was doing to visualize it in my mind’s eye. He was edging slowly sideways across the cavern, one hand sweeping the area in front of his head and shoulders, his tail probing for obstacles in the path of his feet and legs. It was not the first time Tzen had had to operate in a total absence of light. The probability of his stumbling was practically nonexistent.