WIP Wednesday – Clans of Kalquor 9: Alien Indiscretions

                Oiteil’s lips thinned. “Meanwhile, the Basma and Copeland continue to prey on our ships.  Confrontation with Bi’is should happen sooner rather than later.”

                Diltan regarded him with patient worry. “Do you really want to kill off the Empire?  We’re only four years out of our war with Earth.  We took a hell of a beating.  The only way we could possibly fight another war is to put younglings not even of clanning age on the front lines.”

                “The Earthers did it.”

                “And it was wrong,” Diltan insisted.  “No one with under five years of training and several years of being in the second and third waves should be among the first to attack.”

                He shook his head in disbelief. After all this time, the Dramok still couldn’t wrap his head around the fighting tactics of the former Earth military force. In the war’s aftermath, he’d read the reports that stated the average age of Earther soldiers who’d died was only twenty. Meanwhile, many of the most seasoned warriors of that race remained behind, directing the action from behind the battle lines. There were stories of victorious Nobeks screaming in horror at the sight of their young fallen foes. It was no wonder combat trauma was the chief complaint of the war’s veterans.

                Diltan said, “The majority were mere children. They were sent to lay their lives down for the decisions of their elders.  Not one of our military commanders would sign off on such madness unless there is no other choice.”

                “Not to mention fighting with the chance of glorious death is an honor to be earned as far as the Nobeks are concerned.” Oiteil sighed. “I do hate the idea of Bi’is getting away with such travesties as using our people as research animals.  They used to abduct us on a huge scale for their experiments.  It can’t be allowed to happen again.”

No release date set.