GALAXY AT WAR - Book 4 - A Dark Time

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE - April 2173 - Osolieus / Solaris

...Osolieus...

Zeb' Zeptre's dark mass was swirling like a mini hurricane, signifying his anger. He floated around the room, unable to keep still. "Damn those grelites!"

"I thought we were going to take them on ourselves, master?" said Tor' Thrum.

"We were and may have to. But we must remain behind the scenes for this initial stage to work. The tranchillions and the grelites both know about us. Our failings in both those places are a direct result of our failure to remain out of sight."

"We were not seen by either of them. We did not even go to Grelite."

"No. That human managed to convince the tranchillions of our existence which is the same as being seen. As for the grelites – our presence was known as soon as our contact was interrogated."

"What do we have to lose? Those grelites will decimate the colonel's forces by themselves."

"Not if they leave."

"They are not going to do that, master."

"They are here for me. If I leave, they will too."

"How do we maintain control if we leave?"

"I will have to adapt my plans. We will go directly to the palace."

"I thought you said that was not an option. We will be seen by the royals."

"They have heard rumours that we are here already."

"Those grelites again?"

"Yes," Zeb' Zeptre had stopped floating around the room. "I know how we will do it."

Tor' Thrum waited for his master to continue.

"You will entice the grelites away from the palace. Being seen is how this will work. Once you have drawn them away, I will take the palace. We will get our person in place and leave. The grelites will follow, leaving the remaining osolites defenceless. Yes. This will work. Go, Tor' Thrum. We will use Dowdneer's plan but execute it better."

"Finally, I get to show them how it is done," said Tor' Thrum as he left his master's side.

~

"I am getting board, commander," said Bash. "Those osolites are too easy to kill."

"I know, Bash. But we can only fight the enemy before us," said Pach.

"I find that offensive," said Iso'o'daesh as he approached them.

"It is the truth," said Pach.

"It is true that we are not meant for war, but we try our best."

"Which is clearly not good enough."

"Are you trying to provoke me? May I remind you that you are on my planet."

"I'm just telling it like it is. What would be the point of provoking you?"

"I'm trying to figure that out myself."

"I could squash you without any effort, but we are here to help."

"What is the real reason for your help?"

"I'm after that varsoomian. Helping you is the most logical way to bring him into the open."

"Really. I don't..." Iso'o'daesh was interrupted by Pach shoving him sideways before punching a large rock that had been heading for the osolite's head. The rock split in two before dropping harmlessly to the floor several feet back in the direction from which it came.