“Raht, second call.”
“Second anthill. Borer units extended. Queen’s chamber and one egg chamber breached. Fifty-four percent casualties so far.”
“Tur-Kam, second call!”
There was no reply.
“Rahm to fourth anthill flyer leader.”
“Here, Commander.”
“Status report on your strike force.”
There was a pause before the reply came.
“Unknown, Commander. We have not been contacted by our leader since the Borer units landed and are currently unable to establish communication.”
“Acknowledged.”
I turned to Zur.
“Your target is the fourth anthill. Brief your team as they drop.”
“In what force shall we attack, Commander?”
“Full force. Anticipated resistance is unknown.”
“At once, Commander.”
I returned to the View Screens without watching him depart.
CHAPTER NINE
“Kah-Tu, Commander. Rain commencing at third anthill.”
“Acknowledged.”
We had known of the potential bad weather conditions when we commenced the assaults, but we were required to proceed to insure coordination with the other Planetary assaults. If anything, we were fortunate to only experience adverse weather at one of the five anthills. Rain would severely limit the effectiveness of the flyer support and could make the eventual withdrawal and pickup more hazardous.
“Mir-Zat, Commander. Assuming command at first anthill.”
“Acknowledged.”
First anthill! Zah-Rah was dead. The first…no possibly the second casualty among the strike team leaders.
“Zur!”
“Yes, Commander.”
“Status report!”
“Fourth anthill, Commander. Ordered flyers to drop all Surface Thumpers in an effort to maximize disruption of defenses.”