“There have been incidents, as happens in every conflict, but it is not their policy. You have seen the Kristang policies.”

“Then we are on the wrong side of this war. The Nazis did that shit, that’s the side we’re fighting on now.”

"You don't appear to be fight anyone right now."

"You know what I mean, smart ass."

"I wasn't joking. You are still thinking in terms of fighting, either fighting the Ruhar or the Kristang. The fighting is over for your Expeditionary Force. Your only concern should be the survival of humans on this planet, if you want my advice. Which you should, because I'm smarter than you can imagine."

"Bullshit. Not about you being smart, although so far all you've done is unlock a door. Bullshit that my only concern should be humans on this planet. I'm an Army officer, my concern is the security of my country back home. And all humans on Earth. Which I can't do a thing about from here. You say the fighting is over? I heard from a Ruhar, Bat, Bat something-" why in the hell couldn't I remember her name?

"Baturnah Logellia, the deputy planetary administrator. You called her the Burgermeister. She told you the Jeraptha ambushed a Thuranin battlegroup and destroyed it. She was telling the truth."

"Wait, how the hell do you know what she told me?"

"I have access to all communications, all information storage systems, on or around this planet. Yours was one of many conversations I intercepted at that time. It was one of the more interesting conversations, since I knew you were being flown to this base. Before you landed, I caused a power overload in the area the Ruhar planned to put the four of you, which forced them to use alternate locations as temporary cells. My hope was one of you would be put in here, or an adjoining room."

"And your bad luck is that it was me?" I asked skeptically.

"No, I was pleased when they put you in there. Your three companions are in another building."

"You are pleased because I'm the ranking officer?"

"You have got to be kidding me. Why would I care that you're the alpha in your band of lice-infested monkeys? No, I am pleased because, of the four of you, your service records indicate you have the lowest IQ, as measured by your militaries."

I felt like stomping his beer can flat on the floor. "So, you want the dumbest of the dumb monkeys?"

"You're all equally dumb to me. My point is that, although you have the lowest IQ, you have been remarkably adaptable and successful, Joe. There are many ways to measure intelligence, written tests don't cover all parameters. I need someone who can get things done in the real world, and you have."