MACMAINE WAS WAITING in his cabin when General Hokotan brought the news that the planet was secured.
“They are ours,” the HQ spy said with a superior smile. “The sniveling animals didn’t even seem to want to defend themselves. They don’t even know how to fight a hand-to-hand battle. How could such things have ever evolved intelligence enough to conquer space?” Hokotan enjoyed making such remarks to MacMaine’s face, knowing that since MacMaine was technically a Kerothi he couldn’t show any emotion when the enemy was insulted.
MacMaine showed none. “Got them all, eh?” he said.
“All but a few who scattered into the hills and forests. But not many of them had the guts to leave the security of their cities, even though we were occupying them.”
“How many are left alive?”
“An estimated hundr
