The Bug Wars by Robert Asprin

“Kah-Tu.”

“Yes, Commander.”

“Split your flyers. Half are to abandon their efforts to seal the tunnels and instead provide cover fire for the Borer units. The other half are to coordinate their efforts and using Surface Thumpers attempt to seal the surface access tunnels at a lower point in the Network.”

“Acknowledged, Commander.”

This would be a true test of the force’s training and effectiveness under fire. It was one thing to drill and prepare to drop the Thumpers on a specific, preplanned target. It was another matter entirely to select a target from the tri-D maps, translate it to the actual field situation, set the Surface Thumpers, and successfully execute the maneuver, all while in the middle of a combat situation.

“Reserves standing by, Commander.”

I had not observed Zur’s entrance, but he was at my side again.

“Acknowledged.”

“Another view-input malfunction?” he asked, noticing the second blank View Screen.

“Flyer down,” I said. “Unconfirmed mechanical failure.

As I spoke, another View Screen went blank.

“Zah-Rah, Commander. Flyer down.”

“Report!”

“Reason unknown, Commander. Situation similar to first incident.”

Two flyers down at the same anthill!

“There is something wrong, Commander,” Zur interrupted. “It-is illogical that two flyers would suffer mechanical failure in the same area.”

Something in his assertion prompted a question in my mind.

“Zah-Rah. Was the second flyer downed in the same area as the first?”

There was a pause before the response came. Zah-Rah was with one of the Borer units, so the question and reply had to be relayed to the remaining flyers.