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“Finally we turn toward victory!” Second Forward Fusor One crowed to his comrades. “Only two more planetary cycles and we shall see the Humans broken.”
“We have been fortunate, and your leadership has been excellent,” Two said with no trace of obsequiousness.
“Yes, One. Your plans have been instrumental in our rise.” Three’s words, on the other hand, dripped sycophancy.
One knew that Three’s mood could change easily, but he appreciated Two’s steadiness under pressure. I could have a worse trium.
“We have an abundance of fuel,” Three crowed, stating the obvious.
The fact that One was about to say the same thing annoyed him. “We are well aware of our fuel state, Three. Keep your eye on your systems. We must maintain them at full readiness. The Humans are clever. It would be irony indeed to destroy their ability to resist, but for us to die in the doing, don’t you think?”
“Of course, One. I hear and obey.”
Two flung a few molecules at One that carried a combination of exasperation and condescension for Three’s flightiness. One slowly blinked his eyeball in acknowledgement.
“Because we have so little to do, we will follow the Close Combat trium readying their Pureling troops,” One said. Such magnanimity should pay off later, especially if Three whined about any hardship.
On their screens, Second Forward Fusor trium watched as Close Combat mustered rank upon rank of insect-like Purelings, fearsome monsters carrying simple energy weapons and cutting hand tools little different from those used to harvest plants on a planet. This combination had served them for millennia, and as unimaginative and specialized as Purelings were, simple weapons were always better.
Beside the groups of soldier bugs squatted the landing craft, hybrid Purelings with mechanical turrets grafted onto them. These would carry the close combat troops to their destinations, and support them with their heavier weapons.
“What about aerospace escort?” Three asked.
Two accessed another feed. “One grouping of stingships will accompany the assault.”
“Only one grouping?”
“Our resources are not infinite,” Two replied with more patience than One would have displayed. “It appears all of the enemy small craft have departed the moon’s base and wait for us up ahead.”
“They would have been wiser to use some to defend their valuable facilities,” Three opined.
“I believe you are correct,” One interjected. “Under my leadership, you seem to finally begin to grasp the basics of military operations. I commend you.” One Above All, could it be true? Could Three finally be gestating a mature mind beneath his stupid integument?
“We will crush them utterly,” Three continued. “They cannot win.”
“Of course not,” One replied, exchanging glances with Two again.
