by S. H. Jucha
Laid low and dazed, Uggert shook his head to clear it. With effort, he coiled and regarded Simlan from a short height.
“Have we reached an agreement?” Simlan asked. “If you don’t try to bite me, I won’t put you on the deck.”
“At some time, I’ll catch you unawares,” Uggert promised. “There are ten of us and only one of you. We’ll have our opportunity.”
“Possibly,” Simlan admitted, “and next time I might not use the back of my hand.” He displayed the sharp black nails of his hand. As he exited the cell, he said, over his shoulder, “Now, come along.”
29: Holo-Training
Uggert followed Simlan into the corridor. The other Usaanans were already assembled, and Uggert was dismayed to see that the Dischnya outnumbered them.
Furthermore, several Usaanans, including Usslert, the Lemgart-based serpent, were shaking their heads and weaving slightly. Apparently, none of them had been successful in scoring strikes on their trainers.
“Now be good little snakes and proceed this way,” Hessan directed from his end of the corridor.
The Dischnya watched the Usaanans rise. Anger sharpened even the minds of those who had felt the warriors’ hands.
“We’re not snakes,” Usslert hissed. “We’re serpents.”
“My apologies,” Hessan replied courteously. “You see why it’s important to get to know each other.”
“Omnian implants,” Uggert, the leader, hissed in warning to the other Usaanans. He recognized that the Dischnya who had spoken had used the same phrase as the individual in his cell.
Serpents regarded Uggert and Usslert, and the warrior’s implants tracked the motions, identifying the prisoners’ ringleaders.
The Dischnya had yet to determine how the social dynamics of the prisoner group worked. Observing the attitudes of most of the serpents, it seemed that their association was disconnected.
As Hessan led the collection of warriors and serpents to the holo-training deck, he sent to Simlan,
When the training location was reached, Simlan assembled the Usaanans in a tight circle, and the Dischnya ringed them. The formation, which would be used regularly, limited the serpents’ ability to mount a concerted attack, and it maximized the room for each warrior to move and evade a strike.
“Allow me to explain why you’re here,” Simlan began. “It’s obvious that you’re aggressive and aren’t afraid to kill. That’s good. We can use that.”
“Use it how?” Uggert demanded.
“Against the Colony, of course,” Hessan replied, as if it were obvious. “Eventually, you’ll fight the insectoids with us. If you focus on the training and what we teach you, you’ll increase the chances of staying alive longer.”
The serpents’ small heads turned to regard Uggert and Usslert. They tilted, and it was obvious to the warriors that they wished to ask questions and demand answers.
A warrior chortled and sent,
The other warriors chortled, and tongues lolled at the mention of a great Dischnya wasat. Pussiro was now mate to Queen Nyslara, patriarch of Neffess, and adopter of Nata.
A serpent rose to mid-height, and Usslert and Uggert hissed at him. “That is not to be our fates,” the serpent with the snapped fang stated. “The Colony hasn’t attacked our home world or dome, and we maintain access to every gate.”
“This isn’t a matter of whether the Usaanan directorate believes its citizens should join the Resistance,” Simlan replied. “Obviously, the directorate doesn’t think that. No, this is a matter of punishments for crimes committed by you. Our outpost commander has decided that this is how you can best redeem yourselves for your misdeeds.”
Another serpent rose to mid-height, but Simlan waved his question away. “Enough discussion for now. We must start your training. We could receive orders to sail at any time. Take advantage of every hour of our teaching. Against the insectoids, you’ll need every skill to stay alive.”
“Come,” Hessan directed, waving the Usaanans forward.
There was hesitation and furtive glances between the serpents. Usslert and Uggert remained coiled where they sat. Then one by one a serpent followed Hessan. Still the two leaders failed to uncoil.
“Knock them out,” Simlan ordered the two warriors who had remained behind.
“Wait,” Uggert hissed, when he saw the gleaming eyes of the Dischnya guards, who had raised their hands. “We will participate but with objections.”
“It doesn’t matter to us how you participate,” Simlan replied, with a chuff of derision. “We’re giving you an opportunity to survive combat with the insectoids. You can take advantage of it or not, but you will take part in the training. Now move.”
Hessan stood before the assembled group. Three crates were stacked behind him. “We’ve tried different weapons against the Colony,” he explained. “Each has its use at different times. The weapon that you will employ is a modified Loopah. Its recognition software can detect the various troops of the Resistance, preventing its firing. It expels a compressed gas dart that bursts on contact. The expanding gas can disable or kill a red or a gray.”
“Are there live insectoids in this training?” a serpent inquired.
“No, too dangerous,” Hessan replied. “These Loopah weapons are training versions. The entire deck is holo-vid linked. From behind walls, from out of the ground, or from behind virtual shrubs, the insectoids will attack you. We’ll record your actions and help you learn to survive.”
“Our energy weapons would be more effective,” Usslert pointed out.
Simlan ignored the statement. “When we clear a planet, we hunt with shadows,” he said. “But they aren’t one hundred percent effective in detecting and destroying. The result is that we’re often surprised by the insectoids. These sentient reds and grays have gotten clever in devising ambushes and traps.”
Hessan opened a case and handed a Loopah weapon to the half-fanged Usaanan. “Hold this,” he said.
The serpent took the weapon. With his short arms, the weapon hung across his body.
Hessan signaled Miriam, who had been waiting in the dark corner of the deck’s periphery.
The SADE took the weapon from the Usaanan.
Half-fang saw his opportunity to strike. The individual was partially turned away from him.
“You’re foolish,” Miriam said to Half-fang. She tightly held the serpent just behind the head. “You’ve remained on your home world, dealing with your trading partners. You participate in the Tsargit but ignore the Resistance. That means you’re ignorant of the dangers you face and who we are. Did you know that I just saved you from losing another fang? I’m a SADE.”
The serpent’s eyes widened.
“That’s right,” Miriam said. “You’d have marred my synth skin, but you’d have snapped off both of your fangs at their roots when they met my metal alloy exoskeleton.” She threw the serpent to the floor and asked, “Is there a more cooperative individual among you?”
Another serpent rose, and he hissed, “What would you like me to do?”
“You’re without prominent shoulders, and your arms are short. Those are deficits with this weapon design,” Miriam explained. “I’ll modify these weapons to enable you to use them effectively.”
Miriam had the serpent hold the Loopah in various manners. When she finished, a serpent sprang into existence as a holo-vid image. He held a shortened Loopah in both hands. It was extended at arm’s length and had an oversized magnification sight.
“That will do nicely,” Miriam commented. She retrieved the weapo
n, handed it to Hessan, and disappeared into the shadows.
“Then you don’t mean to sacrifice us to the Colony?” the serpent who had cooperated with Miriam asked.
“That’s not our way,” Hessan replied. “Your crimes aren’t forgiven. If you survive the conflicts with the Colony, you might earn your freedom.”
“Incidentally,” Simlan interjected, “you’ll be taking the same risks that we do. The only difference is that we’re veterans of this war, which is why I suggest you pay careful attention to your training.”
Simlan signaled a holo-vid display. The deck contained a seamless network of holo-vids, which were embedded below the floor level and hung from the overhead.
A city center of tightly spaced buildings appeared. The pathways were deserted, and, here and there, small personal items were discarded. The untidiness and emptiness were eerie.
Simlan tasked a warrior to demonstrate the training process.
The warrior picked up the training Loopah, which used a laser to target the enemy.
“Begin,” Simlan instructed the warrior, activating the routine.
The Dischnya and the Usaanans observed the warrior advance between the buildings. Open doorways invited the warrior’s entry, and he frequently disappeared from view.
Above Simlan, a monitor displayed the warrior’s implant, which relayed the action as seen through his eyes.
Reds, grays, and juveniles ambushed the warrior from countless hiding places. Oftentimes the giant insectoids attacked singly. Sometimes the warrior had to anticipate that the structure allowed multiple places for the insectoids to hide, and he had to prepare for simultaneous assaults.
The warrior’s laser flashed against the virtual enemies. He used his weapon and his body by rolling away from closing pincers. At times, he stomped with his great clawed feet on juveniles.
The Dischnya guarding the Usaanans watched them carefully. They could see divisions in the levels of interest, and they made room for those who edged closer to the monitor to witness the warrior’s actions.
When the warrior finished the course, he returned to the starting point, and Simlan signaled the holo-vid server for the score.
The monitor flashed: Reds-eight, Grays-twelve, and Juveniles-twenty-one. Then it posted information that brought hisses issuing from the prisoners. It read: Undetected Reds-nine, Undetected Grays-eighteen, and Undetected Juveniles-zero.
“Why are so many insectoids still hidden?” the cooperative serpent inquired.
“We’re fighting sentients,” Simlan explained. “Some see an enemy and attack. Others choose to wait for a better opportunity to win an encounter. You might better wonder why some of your companions are interested in the training and others are resistant.”
“The aggressor did not shoot the young,” a second serpent noted.
“The young are small and quick, which makes them difficult targets,” Hessan explained. “The juveniles are hungry, which makes them likely to swarm. You should know that we see indications that the young don’t develop a level of sentience until they’re about a meter in length.”
“Who wants to try?” Simlan asked. “You won’t have a weapon until the SADEs develop one for you, but you can experience the rate and intensity of insectoid attacks.”
Several serpents rose, and Usslert and Uggert hissed stridently at them. Their actions earned them cuffs from the nearest Dischnya. When the two serpents turned and hissed at their abusers, the warriors chortled at the impotent threats.
Despite the Usaanan leaders’ warnings, some serpents took on the tasks of running the holo-vid course. At its conclusion, they often appeared dazed and uttered such phrases as “They’re fast, there’s so many, and it’s difficult to compete.”
Simlan’s response was to point out that the survival rates of troopers were extraordinarily high due to the use of shadows. He told them that losses often occurred at the domes as the insectoids escalated their tactics.
* * * * *
“Three groups,” Lucia commented to the individuals who had intensely watched the holo-vid deck’s action.
“Four, two, and four,” Julien noted. “Usslert and Uggert appear to be the ones briefed by the directorate’s plan. I would presume the other eight are ignorant of the plot.”
“Agreed,” Alex added. “The first four act like they’d like to survive the encounters with the insectoids and probably have thoughts of winning their freedom.” He’d regarded Jess, as he spoke, but the commander was intently watching Homsaff.
“What do you think?” Jess asked Homsaff.
“I’m impressed with how my warriors are handling the serpents,” the queen replied. “They’re exercising caution, and yet, they’re not tolerating attempts by the leaders to obstruct the training. However, this isn’t my greater concern.”
“Which is what?” Lucia asked.
“I don’t want my warriors distracted,” Homsaff replied. “Monitoring the serpents takes their attention from the danger around them.”
Jess eyed the monitor displaying Hessan’s view, who stood near the group’s rear. “What if we were the ones to choose the hunting formation?” he asked Homsaff.
The queen’s eyes brightened, and she tipped a muzzle toward Jess. It was a request for further details.
“We divide the three different interest groups — the four, two, and four — and assign them to each squad,” Jess supplied. “The active training participants are separated, the two undecided are split apart, and the leaders with the security individuals are in different squads.”
“That would limit the leaders’ interactions and would be a start,” Homsaff replied, not appearing completely satisfied.
“I agree with Homsaff,” Lucia said. “I don’t want to see her warriors placed in harm’s way for the sake of solving this outpost’s political problem.” She might have said more, but she hesitated.
“Speak your mind, Admiral,” Alex encouraged.
“I’ve an idea, but it might sound cold,” Lucia said.
Renée noted that when Lucia had spoken, she’d glanced quickly at Jess. He was the individual whom she feared would think less of her for what she was about to say.
“Maybe cold is what we need,” Jess said to Lucia. “This problem won’t be solved easily.”
Lucia let her breath out slowly. “Well,” she started, “it seems like we’re trying to save every Usaanan and we’re doing so at the risk of the Dischnya warriors. That seems wrong to me. We can see that there’s division in the serpent ranks. I don’t care how or why that’s happened. I like Jess’s idea of separating the three groups. My idea is to place the serpent leader in each squad at the forefront of the action.”
“That would be tantamount to sacrificing them,” Alex pointed out.
“True,” Lucia replied, eyeing him evenly.
“It would also reduce the strain on my warriors,” Homsaff interjected. “Go on, Admiral.”
“There are two Usaanans who seem undecided about what to do,” Lucia continued. “They can’t make up their minds whether to follow the four who are participating in the training or to listen to the two leaders who forbid taking part.”
“Place the leaders and their security toward the front but allow the warriors to give them a modicum of protection,” Jess said, “and the others can be stationed slightly rearward of the leaders.”
“Yes,” Lucia replied. “In the case of the other six, they’ll still be between the insectoids and the warriors.”
Silence fell on the group. The suggestions were contradictions in the ways that Omnians treated sentients, but the Usaanan prisoners presented a unique challenge for the outpost.
Renée replied. Amusement accompanied her thoughts.
Alex teased.
While the Omnian and the outpost leaders talked, Miriam worked with a design team to reshape the Loopah weapons. With the capabilities of the outpost and Hector’s fleet, everything they could have needed was readily available.
In addition, Miriam set about analyzing the shadows’ ID programs. They contained myriad shapes of sentient races to ensure that they were never targeted. When she added the Usaanans, the programs had trouble differentiating the serpents from mid-sized juveniles. This was especially true when only a portion of each sentient was visible.
Refinements in the shadow programs allowed the hunting devices to recognize the difference in the species’ markings. Previously the SADEs’ designs had focused on the races’ silhouettes.
