>"We have two heavily damaged freightors, and we took some really bad hits.
>The other teams made it back with about 6 captives."
"Casualties?" she asked, looking around and doing a quick mental tally.
(resp?)
"Damn," she cursed. It was more than she had anticipated, but still not as
bad as it could have been. First encounters were the worst. Now they
would know what to expect and train for it. "Make sure the prisoners are
tended to."
(resp?)
She checked on the team members in the bay, then went to see the wounded.
She told them how well they fought and how proud their empires were of
them. Then she found the ranking Caitian and went to the security
observation room to watch the prisoners and listen to what they were saying
to one another. <[They speak something like our language,]> she said.
<[They must be another offshoot of the Kzinti, like we are. The Preservers
were busier than we thought.]>
The major nodded. <[That may change things.]>
Kit shook her head. <[No, not really. We fought the Kzinti when they
attacked the Federation, and we will fight this enemy if they continue on
their course. I don't like it, but I will not side with slavers and
tyrants, no matter how much they look like us. Their fur may be the same
color, but their hearts are filled with conquest, and that is not the
Caitian or the Mikan way.]>
The major nodded slowly, realizing the truth of the words. The Mikan way
was to protect, not to conquer. And the Kzinti had taught them that not
all felinids were alike. But it would be hard to convince everyone of
that. The Kzinti war had caused serious political and social unrest at
home; this had the potential to do the same.
They sat down in the monitor room to see what they could learn from the
captives.
(resp?)
--------------------------------------------------------------
DETROIT RED WINGS
2002 STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS
Lord Stanley has come home to Hockeytown!
