Ollusian War. 2596. Stories.

[BagaturKhan]

"The Eldric Chronicles."
 
Recording by Eldric von Prokopovich, commander of the Coalition's psi-units.
The current date is September 25, 2596, Earth calendar.
 
Audiogram 1. Day One. Siege of the Colony.
 
"Their ships arrived suddenly. We still can't figure out why... What was the purpose of besieging Tsavan? It's just a developing colony, small in numbers. There's nothing of value here. Did they really think they'd settle here? Settle here... on this lost planet, deprived of oxygen? But they came... And they came in full force... A fleet of at least 45 ships has been detected. Clearly warships. Identification is still unclear. Who is this... What is this... And why have these unknown aliens even come to our galaxy? What do they want here? As if other problems weren't enough...
The day before, I had a vision... A strange one. Thousands upon thousands of ships are flooding the stars... This isn't just a coincidence. It's an omen. A harbinger of great sorrow."
Pause. "Admiral Vitalius sent word. He says there are too many unknown ships. Not 45 anymore, but 80. I quickly ran them through the Thutmerhar. She analyzed all the incoming data. These are the Ollusians. Ollus-Ektray. portugaling crabs. But how can this be if these creatures were destroyed 10 thousand years before the Coalition.... Although no, not 10 thousand. 10 thousand years before the Coalition they were already considered extinct. They talked about them in Doctor Collins's textbooks. Now the neural network says that these are the Ollusians. The Thutmerhar can't be wrong. It has never been wrong. That's why they use it, both in the army and in the navy. Ollus-Ektray. A race of arthropods that once destroyed half the galaxy. If this is really so... It's scary to imagine what could happen. A new invasion is clearly not "Beyond the mountains...I saw more than just a dream...."
 
Audiogram 2. Day two. Attack.
 
"I analyzed the data received from Vitaly. Well, what can I say... I guessed it. Tsavan is under attack. Thousands of landing craft hit the surface. Some strange monkey-like creatures crawled out along with walking armored vehicles. Armed with something apparently similar to our blasters. The defense forces were unable to hold them back. Neither the SPM, nor the Coalition troops. They chopped them all down into cabbage... These macaques did not stand on ceremony with anyone. You shoot them in the legs, and they still continue to advance, crawl, tear with their teeth, hands, whatever they have. The only thing that worked against them was shooting at the bags. Bags of oxygen, or whatever they breathe. Without air, they immediately fell and suffocated... But the rest continued the attack. Following them were the drones... Walkers. Either robots or tanks, damn it Who knows... Maybe there are pilots inside, but these designs reminded me of our mechs. The unmanned ones, Elf'urr-made. Fire from the walkers directly at the macaques and ours. These macaques are clearly not simple soldiers. For the Ollusians, they are slaves... Well, that's what I think, and Vitaly agrees. Only slaves are discarded... That's if you think like the Ollusians. The ancient sources clearly mentioned what they did to the slaves. Pumped them full of stimulants and threw them into battle. Now it's the same thing. That's why they behave like berserkers. Cut off both their arms, and they'll start kicking you... Damn crabs. Why do they do this... I feel sorry for the macaques already."
 
Audiogram 3. Day three. Tsavan captured.
 
"Tsavan was captured in two days. Unthinkable... Vitaly couldn't do anything. He had to withdraw the flotilla. Ollusian drones smashed fifteen cruisers! Fifteen defense vessels! Simply destroyed. And ours couldn't even respond. The reports are disappointing. Only two Ollusian ships were hit. Fifteen were destroyed in two salvos, and those were ours. A heavy defeat. The evacuation from Tsavan was carried out through a portal. It's lucky there weren't that many guys there. The gate had to be blown up so that the macaques wouldn't dare pursue. Nothing fell into the hands of the enemy. No coordinates, no information, no data... All of that was destroyed before the retreat. But Tsavan... A colony in which trillions of denarii were invested. Tens of trillions... Now it doesn't exist. Even the explosion of the generator didn't stop the avalanche. The Ollusians kept coming and coming. Their drones and countless Hordes of macaques... They never showed up. Cowardly bastards. They did the same back then, in the old days. They never liked to personally go into battle. Only to command. To lead. All for the sake of their inflated egos... wanting to control, destroy, and annihilate. No wonder one sage from Earth said that the ego is the end of everything. Let it develop, and it will never stop."
 
Audiogram 4. Day four. Nahortenk evacuated.
 
"Governor Salieri evacuated Nahortenk. A thriving colony, yet another... But it won't repeat Tsavan's fate. The Coalition won't allow it. The Coalition won't hand over all its colonies to the bastards on a silver platter! No... It will be a surprise. A very nasty and unpleasant one. The city is empty. The Ollusians will undoubtedly send an army there. We'll see what they find there..."
Pause. "Oh yeah... I got the data five minutes ago. The city exploded. As soon as the Ollusians entered, everything went to hell! That's how it should be... At least there wasn't a single living creature there. Well, a couple of our robots... We don't know how many Ollusians died, but I have a feeling they were slaves. It's a shame we couldn't catch a single real Ollusian. These crabs are only used to commanding. War is a dirty business for them. 'Let the slaves howl... And we'll sit and wait'... But at least it's something. At least they did some damage. It's just a shame they sacrificed an entire colony. It was beautiful...
I remember I was there... About five years ago, before the war. It was awesome... And I don't even want to remember it now. Tears come to my eyes..."
 
Audiogram 5. Day Five. Meeting at the Binary System.

"The Marbhan System. Everything revolves around a binary star.... It is here, in this place, that the battle will take place. Vitaly has led an armada of a hundred ships. There will be a great battle. I will also participate, but from a distance. We are in reserve."
Pause.
"A Pyrrhic victory, so to speak. Almost 60 ships were reduced to dust. And those were ours. Cruisers, dreadnoughts, frigates, corvettes... The Ollusian drones simply filled them with lead. But we didn't let them bully us either. Vitaly and Elena Miriam particularly distinguished themselves. They destroyed the flagship destroyer. Round, like a huge shell. After that, the Ollusians wavered. Demoralization - God level. Seeing what had happened to their leaders, these creatures immediately took to their heels. Space was painted bright blue. Flashes. Hyperspace jumps. Well, of course, having lost the flagship, where else can you go... If your commanders are already in hell. At least fifty enemy machines were scrapped. In some places, boarding actions occurred. Three of our ships almost lost control. Captain Elena was saying the macaques had already reached her bridge. They were infesting every deck... And then bam... The bastards' flagship was blown to pieces. And those creatures immediately retreated... The terror in their eyes was beyond words.
Apparently, the Aranian tactics are working against them. They're like insectoids. Take out the queen, and the whole hive will fall apart."
 
Audiogram 6. Day Six. SPM Reinforcements.

"The SPM sent reinforcements. I personally called Vice President Lorraine... I might as well have called those same monkeys... That pompous peacock decided that dealing with the Gambra terrorists was far more serious than the alien offensive. I knew he was an idiot. But to that extent... Apparently, he just doesn't know how hard things are for us here. Of course, he sits in his capital, sipping wine... He's always been like that. He only loved money and fame. I don't know why they even promoted him to power. I wouldn't let people like that anywhere near. I wouldn't trust him with a mop.
We were lucky that the SPM command came to our aid. They brought armored vehicles, walkers, thousands of drones and "scarabs." This entire armada will be used for the next attacks on the Ollusians. Vitaly's coalition fleet has been reinforced with ships from other systems. They will guard our remaining colonies. That's good news. I think I'll have a drink too... Just not wine, but Amphoran tea. You can't drink on the job, after all. They'll fire you, for portugal's sake."
Pause.
"The Arthropods launched an attack on Yasnogorsk Prime. But the defense stations repelled the attack. They destroyed at least twenty ships. I can just imagine the faces of the Ollusian leaders... Although, can those faces really be called faces? No... I guess not.
Yasnogorsk has been retaken. This time, no casualties among our own. Lucky! Very lucky!"
 
Audiogram 7. Day Seven. Intelligence Data.

"We're strengthening the defenses of the border worlds. Lorraine has declared martial law and mobilization in several sectors. Force all the boys into the army? Well... Maybe that will be useful. The Ollusians won't wait, after all. The more fighters we have, the better the chance we have of driving this nasty thing back to another galaxy... Or wherever they came from... Black holes?"
Pause.
"The intelligence data is disappointing. Over thirty thousand ships are currently heading towards Bartemi. It's one of the most important star systems. The Defendarius training center. The naval academy is also there. Amazing... So Yasnogorsk Prime was a diversion... These creatures don't spare their own. They simply destroyed a dozen ships for a reconnaissance mission. Okay... Well... And we have an answer. Thirty thousand ships? Well, no... We definitely don't have that kind of armada. Not even close."
Pause.
"Another thirty thousand ships are heading towards Yasnogorsk Prime. Yes, absolutely... What happened before was reconnaissance. Simply... Purely to gather data and that's it. But if their reconnaissance has battered us badly... Yeah, there's no way to put it politely. We'll fight. And then we'll see how it goes. In any case, we have no other option."
Pause.
"Another twenty thousand ships. In the Lacrima area. They're clearly planning to attack us... Yeah... Great news. And all in one day. Well... It's been worse... No, it's never been worse.
 
Okay, I have nothing more to say. This is Prokopovich... This was Eldric Prokopovich, Colonel of the Coalition's psionic forces. I don't know why I'm writing this down, though... Well, just so we can remember it for posterity. If there are any left after all this crap."
 
Audiogram 8. Day Eight. Offensive.

"Another ten thousand ships are approaching Bartemi. Among them is some gigantic thing. According to Elena, a flagship super-ship. At least the size of... one of Bartemi's moons. What a thing. A ship the size of a moon. So... Are we going to fight? Where else would we go?... Vitaly is already leading the armada into battle. We'll see how this all ends.
 
I'm in reserve. I'll come to the rescue on special orders. If, of course, there's someone to give it to... I'm definitely not going to retreat.... For me to... Run? No... 'Not on my watch,' as Captain Owen used to say. 'Not on my watch.'
Pause.
"The battle has been going on for a couple of hours now. I've never seen such an armada in my life. We're trying to keep them away from Bartemi... All of space is on fire. Thousands of ships were reduced to dust, both ours and the enemy's. The monkeys captured fifteen of our ships, and our own guns were turned against us... Bastards... I sense my ship will have to join the battle too. Awaiting the Admiral's order."
Pause.
"The Admiral is dead. Vitaly was blown up. Those bastards... They incinerated his flagship. Just one drone... Destroyed the bridge. And then a dozen more hit the engines. That's it... The Admiral is gone... Eternal memory to him."
Pause.
"We're fighting against superior enemy forces. It's tough. Shields are already at their limit... A direct hit on the gun deck... Dead... Thirty-two. Hundreds of wounded... Medics have been dispatched.... Three more ships are directly ahead.... And that damn shell the size of the moon.... It's already close.... I...."
Pause.
"I...."
Pause.
"- Let's get out of here! On my command! Can you hear me...?"- Sir! A hundred drones are flying towards us! They'll tear us to pieces!
- Let's get out! Launch quickly! Jump!
- Yes, sir... Acknowledged... Your..."
 
Audiogram 9. Day Nine. Oppenheimer's Legacy.

"Thank God... He survived. Lucky, really lucky. I just didn't have time to record... We were almost torn to pieces... Only Elena had a plan: nuclear weapons. She took command of the flotilla. Vitaly and all the officers were killed... And she's gone. The order came from Lorraine – do not use WMD. Bastard... How could we not use them, with such a horde coming...
Nuclear warheads are to be used only as a last resort... That's the law. Agreed. But we were in that very last resort! Either we strike, or Bartemi is lost and three billion dead. So the answer is already clear.
The strike hit the crab flagship. The explosion was so loud it almost burned my eyes out... Luckily, we jumped straight to Bartemi's orbit before the strike. But even from there, everything was bright... Monstrously bright... We blew that bastard up. The flagship was pulverized.
The Oppenheimer Protocol worked. But we used up all our damn ammunition. Then came the good news. Retreat. The Ollusians are starting to chatter. You can't imagine how happy we all were... Tens of thousands of ships just started diving... Disappearing into space. Because without commanders, they're complete crap.
I think I'll have a drink today... And probably not just one. The story doesn't end here. It's just beginning...
Well then.... Eldric Prokopovich here. Over and out...
Oh yeah, I forgot.... Lorraine's a bastard. Now that's for sure....over and out...".

[BagaturKhan]

Lore information you can find in this section.

https://exilian.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=7160.0

Also:
SPM - means, Elfurr Additional helpers forces. Also known as Forces of the Joined Worlds.

[BagaturKhan]

Mole.
(Animation film scenario)
 
Scene 1.
 
Colonel Eldric von Prokopovich's command room has always been renowned for its luxury. It has always been spacious. In the center is a round table with several chairs crafted by Amphoran masters. Nearby is an elegant sofa, clearly from the planet Nargon. The furniture is also not made of ordinary materials. Those entering here can't help but feel as if they've entered the abode of some king or prince.
Eldric, of course, is not of royal blood, but he is a prominent aristocrat, and his lineage is as ancient as that of many of the Elf-urr captains serving under the Coalition banner.
 
The command room is quite crowded today. Besides the colonel himself, a handsome, long-haired officer with a light stubble, dressed in a blue uniform with epaulettes, present are the psi squad leader, Lando Sarovitch, a half-human, half-farrukh with violet eyes and dark, curly hair, and Lieutenant George Kalinovich, the blond commander of the ship's unmanned systems. Both are wearing pressed blue uniforms and scarlet trousers.
 
Ser-Tekk, a representative of the Draconian reptilian race, sits in the far corner, clad in a gray armored suit. Also in the room are First Officer Teller and Communications Officer Vinkers, in dark green uniforms.
 
Eldric (to everyone present):
"Thank you for coming, gentlemen."
 
Sarovitch:
"Well, you did declare Code Alpha."
 
Lando recalls that Code Alpha isn't just a "muster." That means something very serious has happened. No wonder the colonel is gathering so many officers in his wheelhouse.
 
Eldric (nodding):
- True.
 
George:
- Ready to hear you out, sir.
 
Sarovitch and his companion are standing on the deck, unlike the ship's other officers, who have already taken comfortable seats.
 
Eldric (towards Lando):
- Sit down.
 
The dark-haired officer sits down on the luxurious seat. George follows suit.
 
Eldric (with a heavy gaze):
- So, our situation is unenviable. We've got a mole.
 
George (shuddering):
- What? But...
 
Sarovitch (sharply, towards George):
- Shut up and listen.
 
Eldric (continuing):
- It's a fact. We have a spy. And he's digging hard. Over the past few days, he's leaked literally every bit of information about our fleet, about Commander Miriam's ship, and, of course, about our vessel to the Ollusians. We don't know who it is. But it could be anyone. It just so happens that 90% of the crew on our ship are humans. The very idea that our kind could be working for the arthropods threatening our galaxy is mind-boggling. But it is...
 
Sarovich:
- I understand. Only... Who could do this? Humans...
 
Eldric (shaking his head):
- We don't know. We have humans all over the place, except perhaps Ser-Tekk. Humans collaborating with crabs? It's truly strange. And unnatural. Never before has anything like this been observed in the entire history of our war with the Ollus-Ektrai invasion fleets. As we know, these crabs are merciless to anyone not of their own race.
 
George:
- But sir... Who would need this?
 
Eldric:
- We don't know. The information came from one of the captured Howlers, an Ollusian slave of the St'lankar race. I scanned him. He overheard a conversation with the invasion commanders. The mole is on our ship.
 
Everyone is silent. The air is thick with tension.
 
Eldric (continuing):
- That's true. And if he's here now... I'll tell you right away, it's better to confess.
 
George (barely audible):
- What nonsense.
 
Sarovitch (worried):
- Definitely on our ship? What if Captain Elena has spies too?
 
Eldric (shaking his head):
- The mole is on OUR ship. Specifically, on our ship! That's what I saw. As you know, I'm psionically trained. I've been working in this field for years. When someone's lying, I can tell right away. But this situation is beyond my control. Personally, I've spoken with many crew members... Everyone turned out to be clean. No suspicions.
 
Sarovitch:
- Understood, sir. Then he'll be looking for him.
 
Eldric:
- God willing, luck is on our side. If there's a mole among us... He'll try his best to act like us. To literally live up to our standards. So be careful.
 
Lando notices George's darkening. It's clear from his gaze that the situation is truly serious.
 
--
Scene 2.
 
Sarovitch and George in the ship's mess hall. An hour had passed since their conversation with the colonel. Both officers decided to grab a bite to eat. Due to the tension on board, they ate everything in ten minutes, not even enjoying the food. All that remained on the table were a couple of half-empty glasses of Amphoran buffalo milk.
 
Sarovitch (to George):
- What were you mumbling all the time? Didn't anyone teach you that when the colonel talks, you have to...
 
The other officer stares into space. The recent information has left an indelible mark on him. He doesn't even think about touching the milk.
 
George (without looking at his friend):
- Sorry. You know, bro, this information is really bad. There's a mole on a ship made up entirely of humans. And we don't know who he is.
 
Sarovitch:
- What complicates things is that everyone on this ship has been tested. And more than once.
 
Lando sighs at his last words.
 
George:
- There's no point in double-checking.
 
Sarovitch (nodding):
- That's exactly what I'm saying.
 
George:
- Then we'll look. Keep a close eye.
 
Sarovitch (sarcastically):
- Otherwise, he'll give himself away.
 
He looks at his friend, but his gaze reflects only bitterness and confusion.
 
George:
- Of course...
 
Sarovitch:
- Colonel Eldric is a psionicist. He knows everyone on this ship by name. If he couldn't find out...
 
George (casting an awkward glance at his comrade):
- I just wonder how that's even possible. Is he sure the data from the howler is accurate?
 
Sarovitch (irritated):
- No, damn it, the colonel was just joking... Of course, they're loyal. If he saw it, he saw it. Let's think about it a little.
 
George:
- What's there to think about... Will that help?
 
Sarovitch:
- Yes, let's outline the situation in detail.
 
Lando immediately pulls a dataslate from his bosom and turns it on.
 —-

Scene 3.
 
The holo-projector displays the star system in which Prokopovich's ship and its escort fleet are located. The ships themselves are highlighted by blinking red dots.
 
Lando expands the image, and the entire star sector appears before the two comrades. The blue dots indicate key planets and systems where heavy fighting with the Ollusians recently took place.
 
Sarovitch (gestures at the star map):
- Here, look. We repelled the enemy at Bartemi. At Yasnogorsk too. But three days ago, we almost got hit in the horns near Heliogabalus. There, the Ollusians struck directly at the Pathfinder's engines. They knew where everything was. They also attacked our hangar deck, then the gunnery deck. They destroyed eight fighters. They tried to board us... They also knew where everything was. And then Miriam's ship...
 
George:
- Elena... Of course... Yeah, and she's supposedly dating Eldric... Love and all that...
 
Sarovich (sharply):
- We're not talking about that now. We're talking about the mole. So, her ship was hit by a torpedo. The bridge there isn't in the bow, but in what's called the "summit spire." You know that. It looks like a ship's decoration. SPMs love that kind of thing. The scenery, the beauties... And that's exactly where the torpedo struck. The shields dropped to 90. A little more, and Elena would have been dead. Someone knew everything in detail. And told our enemy.
 
The holo-projector shows Elena's ship in detail, focusing on the captain's bridge.
 
George (shaking his head):
- Nonsense. The ravings of an old Cossatian!
 
Sarovitch:
- Are you implying that the Colonel has lost his mind?
 
George:
- I just don't know who came up with the idea of ��leaking information to the Ollusians.
 
Sarovitch:
- That's not all... What I told you. Remember one thing... Three days ago, the enemy tried to board us. We repelled the Howlers and took one prisoner. They tried to interrogate him for a long time, but after we started having problems, Eldric decided to deal with the bastard. He climbed into his brain... And saw everything. That scary macaque wasn't a rank-and-file. She had at least the rank of lieutenant. He commanded the invasion forces, along with a huge woodlouse. Eldric wouldn't say anything. He's a psi-adept.
 
George (with a heavy look):
- What if the macaque simply misled us?
 
Sarovitch:
- No... The Colonel wouldn't have fallen for it. He can perfectly distinguish lies from truth.
 
George:
- Let's ask the Howler. We'll do it now.
 
Sarovitch:
- Without the Colonel? The Howler can't answer in human language. They can only scream.
 
George:
- But you're a psi-user too.
 
Sarovitch (waves his hand dismissively):
- I can't climb into a brain like the Colonel. I specialize in other things.
 
George:
- Well, have you tried?
 
--
 
continuation will be....
 

[BagaturKhan]

---
Scene 4.

Sarovich and George are walking toward the detention area. But the atmosphere is different than usual; there is commotion everywhere. The guards are agitated. Even the head of security is present—a stern Draconian named Ser-Tekk.

Sarovich (to Ser-Tekk):
- Chief?

The reptilian turns toward the arrivals. He looks menacing; his teeth are bared, and his eyes are bloodshot.

Ser-Tekk (with grim displeasure):
- Why are you barging in here? Haven't you heard?

George:
- Has something happened?

Ser-Tekk:
- Howler is dead.

Sarovich starts in surprise. He clearly remembers that the ape was under strict surveillance. Security here is tight; not even a flea could slip through.

Ser-Tekk (continuing):
- He's dead... The medics scanned him. A brain rupture.

Sarovich (sternly):
- Are you serious?

Ser-Tekk (irritably):
- Listen, Commander! Howler is dead! Do you think I'm making up fairy tales?

George (anxiously):
- How did you let this happen?

Ser-Tekk:
- I don't know. He was alive half an hour ago. Now he's kicked the bucket.

Sarovich (thoughtfully):
- It looks like there really is a spy on the ship...

Ser-Tekk:
- The Colonel doesn't talk nonsense. If there's a spy on the ship, then he's here. The question is, who is it...

Lando wants to ask the same question, but his comrade beats him to it.

George:
- So how did he kill the Howler?

Ser-Tekk (in a softer voice):
- Either he died of natural causes... or someone took him out remotely. Because the cameras show nothing. No one went in to see him. He was just sitting in his isolation cell, then he started shaking and dropped dead.

Sarovich:
- And that's no coincidence.

---

Scene 5.

Sarovich and George are on the ship's bridge. The colonel dismisses the communications officer, then turns his gaze to the new arrivals. He has clearly already been briefed on the situation in the brig.

Sarovich (to Eldric):
- That's the situation, sir. Alien monkey is dead.

Eldric (thoughtfully):
- Yeah... And to think, he just... collapsed.

Sarovich:
- Yes, sir.

Eldric (repeating himself):
- I saw the readings. It's true... He just collapsed.

George:
- What if it was an accident?

Prokopovich looks at his colleague in bewilderment.

Eldric (shaking his head):
- No... Not an accident. It's a mole. Definitely a mole.

George:
- Wait, sir—have you checked Ser-Tekk?

The colonel clearly dislikes this question. His face flushes.

Eldric (irritably):
- Five background checks! Plus, his service on the *Ouroboros*. That's their race's flagship. Admiral Ser-Terazim personally commended his service. Just because he's a Reptiloid, does that automatically make him an enemy? Is that it? Is that what you're saying?

George:
- He's unfriendly. Always grumbling... perpetually dissatisfied. I don't like him.

The colonel is struggling to keep his composure. He is trying not to give in to a burst of anger.

Eldric:
- Maybe that's because he lost his family in one of the battles of the last war? Don't be so quick to judge... You're a drone commander. An experienced man, yet you're spouting nonsense—if you'll pardon me saying so. Let's pretend I didn't hear that.

George (apologetically):
- Sorry.

Sarovich (to the colonel):
- How did he kill the Howler? A mental bite?

Eldric (nodding):
- Possibly... But one thing is certain: he wasn't in the cell. He must have acted remotely.

Sarovich:
- I see.

Eldric:
- Stay alert.

George:
- Yes, sir. As always.

Eldric (with a nervous smirk):
- As always? No, guys... Nothing is ever "as always" for us. Things are actually very unusual around here.

---

Scene 6.

Sarovich and George are in the armory. George is diligently practicing his aim on holographic targets. Lando sits at a nearby table, carefully studying a data pad. He double-checks the data, confirming his conclusion: there is simply no way any member of the crew could be collaborating with the enemy.

Sarovich (to George):
- Obviously, we aren't going to find him right away.

George (continuing to fire at the target):
- Who the hell knows.

He soon finishes and places his blaster on the table next to Lando; he's out of ammo.

George (turning to his friend):
- I don't know how we're supposed to look for him. Everyone here has been vetted.

Sarovich:
- I was going over the data on the pad. And you know what I found?

George (surprised):
- Yeah... What?

Sarovich:
- That it's impossible for us to have a mole.

George:
- Ah... You mean because everyone's been vetted? That's exactly what I'm saying!

Sarovich:
- None of us has any sort of... history... except for Ser-Tekk. I mean, if there were a mole, it would imply they had a reason to collaborate with the enemy. But none of us do. We all come from good families. Hardly anyone has faced real tragedy—the kind that breaks a person. No one has lost anyone... except the Lizard. And he has no reason to... He's devoted to the Coalition, heart and soul. He's clean... Absolutely.

George:
- But what if the Lizard is the mole?

Lando feels a flame igniting deep within him.

Sarovich (irritably):
- You're such a pain in the ass! He's straight from Ser-Terasim, man! He's got no reason to collaborate with the enemy! None! Just... no, get it? Do I need to explain it to you in Elf-Urrish or something?

George (persisting):
- But he's broken... He lost his family and all that...

Sarovich:
- And that's grounds for treason, right? Don't talk nonsense!

George (looking away from his friend):
- Fine. It's just... I don't really like those... reptiles.

Sarovich:
- That doesn't give you the right to suspect them. Seriously, drop it.

George looks at a small glass filled with water. Without a second thought, he picks it up and downs it in one gulp. Then, he puts the glass back.

George (with a heavy sigh):
- Sorry. It's probably just the anxiety... Yeah, damn nerves. In and out... In and out...

Sarovich:
- Don't let them control you. You're their master, not the other way around.

----

Scene 7.

Sarovich and George are strolling along the artillery deck. Meanwhile, the robots have finished repairing the damage from the recent battle. It's lucky these machines are of Elf-Urrish origin; they do everything to perfection. Nanoparticles work wonders. Now, there isn't even a trace left of the recent skirmish with the aliens.

Sarovich (to George):
- Everyone's clean. That's actually the scary part. The fact that there's no one to suspect.

George (thoughtfully):
- I ran the numbers too. All our guys—they're mostly human. Only Ser-Tekk is an alien... But...

Lando suppresses another surge of anger.

Sarovich (displeased):
- I'm mad at your racism! Ser-Tekk isn't the enemy!

George:
- Fine, fine! But then why did the Roarer die in the territory under his control? Did you ever think about that?

Sarovich (shakes his head):
- Because it was killed from the outside. That's it. Remember the story Owen told about the Nicomedian? It's the same thing here. A mental bite.

George:
- What if... what if the Lizard did it? You know, slipped something into the food. They were feeding it there, after all.

Sarovich:
- Medical examiner's data. No poisons in the blood. You think I'm an idiot, right? That I didn't find anything out?

George:
- What about the medics themselves? Oh, right... They've been vetted. They couldn't be spies.

Lando stops. His comrade follows suit.

Sarovich:
- You know the funny thing? The Ollusians are crabs. And they hate all other forms of life. They use apes for war... They keep them as slaves and nothing more. Those arthropods consider themselves the Crown of the Universe. That's why they call themselves "Ollus-Ektrai, Ollus-Jemin." Like, the Precious Universal Gem. To them, everything else is trash. And a human collaborating with them—that's just nonsense. You know, if a colonel hadn't told me this—if it had been, say... Vinkers... I'd have thought he was high. Or had too much to drink.

George (nods):
- Crazy... I agree.

Sarovich:
- That's exactly why we're in this mess. We've got a mole, but we haven't got a damn clue who it is. Because the whole thing is just insane... Someone collaborating with a race of aggressive arthropods that are destroying everything in sight.

George:
- You're echoing my words.

Sarovich:
- Sometimes I think the Colonel has really lost his mind...

George:
- Wait... What did you say?

Sarovich (waving it off):
- Forget it...

---


Scene 8.

George and Sarovich enter a secluded area containing an ammunition depot. The room is empty, save for two small spider-like drones performing diagnostics.

Sarovich (to George):
- I don't know, it sounds crazy, but... What if the Colonel actually saw what the Ollusians wanted to show? I have no right to suspect him, of course, but... What if it's a trap?

George (in astonishment):
- But you were the one who said it was impossible...

Sarovich:
- If it's a deception. An Ollusian maneuver.

George:
- I can't believe it... First you were holding me back, and now you're repeating yourself. It's impossible. The Colonel is a seasoned psionic. He wouldn't... You told me that yourself. And now you're starting up with the same thing. Where's the logic, man?

Sarovich:
- But you thought the same thing, didn't you?

George:
- And you were the one who explained to me that he can distinguish lies from the truth.

Sarovich (thoughtfully):
- But what if... What if this time he... was caught off guard...

George:
- Well... Contact with Ollus-Ektrai could certainly have played a nasty trick... But... No... I don't buy it. Colonel Eldrik is an experienced adept.

Sarovich:
- But what if...

George:
- He only made contact with a Howler... not an Ollusian. You know, they don't have a mental connection. Howlers obey the Ollusians because they perceive them as strong. Their brains are smaller than an Earth monkey's. The crabs just take advantage of that. There's no telepathic contact involved. Standard Darwinism.

Sarovich (nodding):
- Yeah, I read about their biology too. The connection exists between the crabs themselves, not between slaves and their masters. Only Ollusians can be telepaths. The Howlers don't count. They're just expendable fodder.

George:
- So... He couldn't have fallen under Ollusian influence.

Sarovich:
- Right. He couldn't have.

George (clapping his friend on the shoulder):
- You're exhausted. I get it. But we don't have time to rest. Not until we find the mole.

Sarovich:
- Yeah... Sorry. Sorry... I'm talking nonsense. You've got it hard enough as it is. You were nearly torn apart during that boarding action. Back at Yasnogorsk. By the way... that crab that attacked you...

Sarovich recalls the skirmish in detail. It had happened a week ago, on Yasnogorsk-Prime. Before Heliogabalus. An Ollusian boarding party had tried to break into the Colonel's ship. They'd used a "breaching drill" packed with those creatures. And among them was a crab. For some reason, the Ollusian commander had decided to lead the assault alongside the Howlers.

George:
- It nearly killed me... Lucky you saved me.

Lando remembers saving George. Another moment, and his comrade would have vanished into the clutches of that hideous creature. But Sarovich arrived just in time and shot the crab at point-blank range. It released the unfortunate lieutenant. George was saved... and he'd barely been injured. Nothing... not a drop of blood.

Sarovich:
- But... You didn't have a single scratch on you... Just bruises.

George (smiling):
- I'm just lucky... My mom used to say I was born under a lucky star.

---

Scene 9.

The two friends are about to leave the room. George heads toward the exit—a small, square door. But Sarovich suddenly stops. He notices a strange blue mark on his friend's neck, right over the spinal cord. At first, Sarovich thinks it's an optical illusion, but then he realizes the truth: the mark is real. It looks like the result of a minor bruise.

Sarovich (to George):
- Stop!

His friend stops and turns around.

Sarovich:
- What's that on your neck? Right there... just below the base of your skull...

George flinches. He clearly dislikes the question. His face goes pale, and his lips begin to tremble nervously.

Sarovich (continuing):
- Did you take a fall or something? I don't remember that bruise... When I pulled you out of that crab's clutches a week ago... you didn't seem to have any injuries. Maybe a couple of bruises, sure... but I don't recall anything on your back. Maybe Heliogabalus? No, wait... you were commanding drones there; you didn't fight hand-to-hand.

George (anxiously):
- I... I don't remember... Maybe I did fall. Let's not talk about it. I don't want to. I almost died. You know, I thought that giant crab was just going to drag me off and... that would be it. You understand? That might have been worse than death.

Sarovich:
- Turn around.

George follows his friend's command and turns around. There is no mark. His neck is completely clear.

Sarovich (thoughtfully):
- Strange... I could have sworn I saw it. You saw it, didn't you...

The lieutenant turns around. He literally pierces his comrade with his gaze.

George:
- So now you suspect me, too? Huh? Just great...

Sarovich (shaking his head):
- Hell, no... Sorry. I guess...

For a split second, George's right eye flares with blue light. It lasts barely half a second. Then the effect vanishes.

Sarovich (staring intently at his friend):
- George?

George (displeased):
- Enough. Stop spouting nonsense. At this rate, you could accuse anyone here of collaborating with the enemy. Look, that's just not realistic. Now, that scaly guy—that's a different story. What if... what if *he* leaked the info? Maybe he got pissed off at the Coalition. Or did it out of desperation... I don't know, those creatures often have something wrong in their heads. But just look closely. The Howler was in his brig... In his, Lando!

Sarovich:
- I already said he's innocent. I presented the evidence.

George (sharply):
- You're just not listening to me! He's the only suspect here! See for yourself! The Howler was on his turf. And then it suddenly dropped dead. By the way, where was Ser-Tek when they tried to storm us? Where? Nobody saw him... Not then, and not then... This isn't about racism, bro. It's logic.

Sarovich (irritated):
- He was defending the bridge! And he captured the Howler alongside the colonel!

George:
- Yeah, but what if that's exactly where the catch is?

Sarovich:
- What catch? What reason would he have to betray us? Cut out the racism already!

George:
- The tricky part is getting a Howler onto the ship. After all, it was the Howler that convinced the Colonel to enter the monster's mind. He did just that. And got the information. You get the picture, right?

---

Scene 10.

Sarovich notices that the diagnostic robots have left the room. Now he and George are alone in the warehouse. But something about his friend's behavior strikes him as odd. He has changed too much. Especially that fierce, racist hatred he harbors toward the Draconid.

Sarovich (to George):
- You're at it again! We settled this matter! Ser-Tekk is innocent!

George (shaking his head):
- Then how do you explain the fact that a Howler died on his territory? Yes, the very same Howler who could have revealed so much more to us!

Sarovich (shouting):
- Ser-Tekk is innocent!

George steps away from his friend. His eyes betray deep agitation mixed with bewilderment.

George (trying to lower his voice):
- Listen... But there are no other suspects. Who else could it have been?

Sarovich stares intently at his comrade. He recalls the details of the battle once more—the Battle of Yasnogorsk. Heliogabal doesn't count, since George was on the bridge at the time.

Sarovich (to George):
- I saved you from the crab... But you've changed...

George (dismissively):
- Forget it. Stop talking nonsense.

Sarovich:
- No... Something happened.

For a moment, George's eyes flash with a blue glow.

George:
- Something happened to you, Lando. You're not yourself... Maybe you should get checked out? Suspecting your best friend... I can see what's going on inside you.

Sarovich carefully places his hand on his blaster pistol holster. He notices his comrade doing the same.

 George (in a quieter voice):
- Oh, come on... Don't do it... You wouldn't really do it, would you?

Sarovich (menacingly):
- You knew the ship's layout... And you'd been with me to see Captain Elena. After Yasnogorsk... After your miraculous rescue. Yes, I remember now. We even discussed the layout of her bridge... That crab... It didn't try to board our ship for no reason. And it didn't take you hostage for nothing, either...

George hurriedly draws his pistol from its holster, preparing to fire. But Lando is far faster than his comrade. In less than two seconds, he empties his entire magazine into his former best friend. His comrade collapses onto the deck, his chest riddled with horrific, scorched wounds. His body convulses a few times before going still.
A terrified Sarovich rushes to his friend in horror and stares at the corpse. Something resembling a black woodlouse crawls out of the ear canal. The creature tries to escape but fails; Lando's heavy boot crushes the beast into a foul-smelling yellow fluid.

Sarovich (looking at his slain comrade):
- Damn it... Damn it, George! What have you done... What have you done...

Tears well up rapidly in Lando's eyes.

----

Scene 11.

Eldric and Sarovich are in the command cabin. Both look deeply dejected. The Colonel already knows what happened and is doing his best to support his comrade, though he realizes it won't be easy. He and George had been friends for at least five years—they had been through so much together.

Eldric (to Sarovich):
- Thank you for completing the mission.

Sarovich (grimly):
- I try my best, sir.

Eldric:
- Experts have examined George Kalinovich's body. Our enemies sent in a "Bloodhound." It was well-disguised—which is why the scanners didn't pick it up earlier. I missed it, too; it fooled even me. Yasnogorsk was the key. It had taken up residence in George's body back then, and spent the whole week leaking information to our enemies. It possesses a psionic gift. Telepathy.

Sarovich:
- It's not your fault, sir. I'm a psionic too, and I didn't spot it either.

Eldric:
- It's difficult to detect. But at least now we know what the Ollusians are capable of. The Bloodhound had burrowed deep into George's brain... and literally devoured it. Just like... well, it's like a parasitic louse that eats a fish's tongue. The same thing happened here. And by the looks of it, George isn't the last "agent" of this kind.

Sarovich:
- We'll find the others. We'll screen everyone on our ship.

Eldric (nodding):
- I don't think that's necessary, given that George has already been exposed... but a little caution never hurts.

Sarovich (sadly):
- Always happy to serve the Coalition, sir.

Eldric:
- Don't worry. Your friend's body will be sent to his family. He fell in battle against an alien boarding party—fell fighting bravely. What happened afterward... that wasn't George anymore. I hope you understand.

Sarovich:
- Yes, sir.

Eldric (clapping his comrade on the shoulder):
- Hang in there. We will crush this vermin and cast them out of our galaxy. Just you wait and see.

Sarovich (saluting the commander):
- Yes, sir. I have no doubt of it.

Lando walks away. The conversation with the colonel is over. Yet, the operation to root out the enemy is far from finished. Eldric understands better than anyone that it is all just beginning.
It will be a long time yet before the Ollusians are finally driven out of the Milky Way.

The End.