“Welcome to Dirt,” Trissk said to Klis as she stepped from the main hatchway of the large pinnace Conquest had provided. “That’s what the Apes call their planet. This part of it is named Australia.” He gestured at the green hills surrounding the spaceport just outside of a rebuilt Sydney.
“Thank you, my love.” Klis hooked her claws into Trissk’s mane and nuzzled him.
“Why did you arrive on such a large boat?” Trissk asked, eyeing the spacecraft.
“Funny you should ask,” Klis replied, and gestured with a come here motion toward the top of the ramp. From the opening strode five young males, some with prosthetic limbs. They paused, blinking in the bright sunlight while shading their eyes, and then resumed their walk down the gangway.
Behind them marched thirty females, each carrying some form of luggage. Trissk made a confused sound in his throat, almost a strangled yowl, and Klis cuffed her mate’s shoulder. “What did you expect them to do? Five paws of Ryss warriors died to seize the base on Io – their mates. Only these males survived, so badly wounded they were left behind in the assault, leaving many gravid widows. This all happened while you were off playing with your Ape friends. Now, since you have such a close relationship with the new Alpha of this place, you will find somewhere for them to settle and raise their kits – with my expert guidance, of course.”
Trissk’s whiskers and ears twitched in unison as he stared, then he turned to his mate. “Of course. You are wise. It is fitting. I will talk to Spectre and arrange for a suitable home.”
“Speaking of wisdom...you might want to accidentally forget to mention that all these females are pregnant.”
“The Apes will find out soon enough.”
“Soon enough will come when it comes. Let’s not remind them right now.”
Trissk thought for a moment as the Ryss milled around the ramp, watching as automated loaders lowered more possessions to the tarmac. “Do you really think it’s wise to settle here when the Scourge may overrun the planet within months? At least if we are aboard Conquest, we will either die with honor, or we will escape to fight again.”
“If that is what you decide, O mate-for-life. But at least give them time to lie in the grass under a warm yellow sun.”
Trissk smiled a closemouthed Ryss smile. “So be it.”