they'd use those right from the start to try to cut off our communications. That's certainly what they did against the survey ships."
"Book Lesson Number One," Thrr-mezaz said. "The enemy will seldom accommodate your preconceptions of him. Stay alert; the ground commander could launch his attack anytime."
The words were barely out of his mouth when an Elder appeared. "They're coming, Commander," he said. "Three aircraft approaching from the southwest. Treetop height; range approximately fifteen thoustrides."
"Have someone keep watch on them," Thrr-mezaz ordered. "Are the warriors at the south and west jump points ready?"
The Elder vanished, reappearing a few beats later. "All three teams are ready," he reported.
"Tell them to stand quiet," Thrr-mezaz said. "They're not to attack without orders unless they're in immediate danger. Detail two Elders to run liaison and communication for each team; the rest will maintain surveillance."
"I obey," the Elder said, and again vanished.
"Alert the ground defense stations," Thrr-mezaz ordered the warrior at the appropriate monitor. "Prepare to repulse enemy aircraft."
"I obey, Commander."
"You're expecting them to send ground warriors in behind the aircraft?" Klnn-vavgi asked.
"I think there's a good chance they will," Thrr-gilag said. "That's why I ordered the perimeter warriors to stand quiet. No point in blatantly giving away their positions by firing on the aircraft."
"Especially since they probably wouldn't hit them anyway," Klnn-vavgi agreed. "I wonder how they were able to move those aircraft that far from the mountains without the encirclement warships spotting them."
"Slowly and carefully, no doubt," Thrr-gilag said. "Now that we know they can do that, we'll have to watch for it."
"Commander, laser scan has picked up the aircraft," one of the warriors spoke up. "Defenses ranging on them."
"They've veered off," someone else said. "Cutting back around-" He threw Thrr-mezaz a sharp look. "Heading directly for the southern pyramid."
"All ground defenses open fire," Thrr-mezaz ordered. "Communicator: probable air attack on southern pyramid. Order guards there to fire at will on enemy aircraft."
"I obey," one of the Elders said, and vanished.
"Everyone keep sharp," Thrr-mezaz warned the others, his eyes skipping across the monitors. "They've got something else under their tongues. Bet on it."
An Elder appeared. "Southern-pyramid guards have opened fire on the enemy aircraft. No apparent damage."
"The pyramid itself?"
"The aircraft don't seem to be firing." The Elder disappeared, was back three beats later. "Enemy aircraft have passed over the pyramid and left. Still without firing."
"Keep close watch," Klnn-vavgi said. "They may be back."
"I obey, Second Commander."
The Elder vanished; and as he did so, another popped into view. "Five enemy ground warriors have been spotted, Commander," he said, his tone edged with apprehension. "Two thoustrides northeast of the northern pyramid."
"Show me," Thrr-mezaz ordered, stepping over to a monitor that showed an aerial view of the village and surrounding terrain.
"Here," the Elder said, pointing a transparent tongue at a low ridge that ran roughly east to west a few thoustrides north of the village. "They're following behind this ridge," he added, tracing out a westward line.
"Heading for the pyramid, you think?" Klnn-vavgi suggested.
"Or else trying to use that ridge and those others as cover for an approach on the village." Thrr-mezaz frowned at the overview monitor, flicking his tongue out thoughtfully. "Or else..."
"Signal from Supreme Ship Commander Dkll-kumvit," one of the warriors called. "The Human-Conquerors have launched a group of fighter warcraft away from the battle, heading toward the planet surface."
"How far away are they?" Thrr-mezaz asked, crossing to him.
"Approximately eight thousand thoustrides," the warrior said. He indicated them on his monitor, a somewhat jumpy picture obviously being fed
"Book Lesson Number One," Thrr-mezaz said. "The enemy will seldom accommodate your preconceptions of him. Stay alert; the ground commander could launch his attack anytime."
The words were barely out of his mouth when an Elder appeared. "They're coming, Commander," he said. "Three aircraft approaching from the southwest. Treetop height; range approximately fifteen thoustrides."
"Have someone keep watch on them," Thrr-mezaz ordered. "Are the warriors at the south and west jump points ready?"
The Elder vanished, reappearing a few beats later. "All three teams are ready," he reported.
"Tell them to stand quiet," Thrr-mezaz said. "They're not to attack without orders unless they're in immediate danger. Detail two Elders to run liaison and communication for each team; the rest will maintain surveillance."
"I obey," the Elder said, and again vanished.
"Alert the ground defense stations," Thrr-mezaz ordered the warrior at the appropriate monitor. "Prepare to repulse enemy aircraft."
"I obey, Commander."
"You're expecting them to send ground warriors in behind the aircraft?" Klnn-vavgi asked.
"I think there's a good chance they will," Thrr-gilag said. "That's why I ordered the perimeter warriors to stand quiet. No point in blatantly giving away their positions by firing on the aircraft."
"Especially since they probably wouldn't hit them anyway," Klnn-vavgi agreed. "I wonder how they were able to move those aircraft that far from the mountains without the encirclement warships spotting them."
"Slowly and carefully, no doubt," Thrr-gilag said. "Now that we know they can do that, we'll have to watch for it."
"Commander, laser scan has picked up the aircraft," one of the warriors spoke up. "Defenses ranging on them."
"They've veered off," someone else said. "Cutting back around-" He threw Thrr-mezaz a sharp look. "Heading directly for the southern pyramid."
"All ground defenses open fire," Thrr-mezaz ordered. "Communicator: probable air attack on southern pyramid. Order guards there to fire at will on enemy aircraft."
"I obey," one of the Elders said, and vanished.
"Everyone keep sharp," Thrr-mezaz warned the others, his eyes skipping across the monitors. "They've got something else under their tongues. Bet on it."
An Elder appeared. "Southern-pyramid guards have opened fire on the enemy aircraft. No apparent damage."
"The pyramid itself?"
"The aircraft don't seem to be firing." The Elder disappeared, was back three beats later. "Enemy aircraft have passed over the pyramid and left. Still without firing."
"Keep close watch," Klnn-vavgi said. "They may be back."
"I obey, Second Commander."
The Elder vanished; and as he did so, another popped into view. "Five enemy ground warriors have been spotted, Commander," he said, his tone edged with apprehension. "Two thoustrides northeast of the northern pyramid."
"Show me," Thrr-mezaz ordered, stepping over to a monitor that showed an aerial view of the village and surrounding terrain.
"Here," the Elder said, pointing a transparent tongue at a low ridge that ran roughly east to west a few thoustrides north of the village. "They're following behind this ridge," he added, tracing out a westward line.
"Heading for the pyramid, you think?" Klnn-vavgi suggested.
"Or else trying to use that ridge and those others as cover for an approach on the village." Thrr-mezaz frowned at the overview monitor, flicking his tongue out thoughtfully. "Or else..."
"Signal from Supreme Ship Commander Dkll-kumvit," one of the warriors called. "The Human-Conquerors have launched a group of fighter warcraft away from the battle, heading toward the planet surface."
"How far away are they?" Thrr-mezaz asked, crossing to him.
"Approximately eight thousand thoustrides," the warrior said. He indicated them on his monitor, a somewhat jumpy picture obviously being fed
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