'It is a former Klikiss world, and all Klikiss worlds are ours.' Sirix studied the screen, pinpointing the bright star and the mottled brown, green, and blue planet in orbit around it. Though diminished, his battle group was more than sufficient to crush the unwanted human presence below and take possession of Wollamor.

This was a near-forgotten outpost from ancient times, former home of a subhive whose breedex had been slaughtered in the interminable Klikiss wars. Sirix himself had been persecuted on Wollamor thousands of years ago. This time, though, his arrival would be far different.

Soldier compies working the key bridge stations alerted him to an incoming transmission. The extended sensors of the colony's satellite network had picked up the group of ships. 'EDF, where have you been? We've waited six months for relief supplies!'

A second voice came on the comm. 'We've been cut off here - no news, no green priests. What's happening out there in the rest of the Spiral Arm? We thought you'd written us off.'

Sirix contemplated various fictions he could disseminate. Using snippets from stored log recordings, he could compile a convincing conversation and dupe these anxious colonists. But why bother? I decided that the benefits of such a ruse would not justify the effort necessary to convey veracity. 'Maintain communications silence.'

Sirix sent a group of Manta cruisers forward to attack. He observed through external imagers while the cruisers plunged down like broad spearpoints, tearing through wispy clouds on their way to the rugged and cracked landscape. He easily spotted the primary colony settlement the humans had built around the old Klikiss ruins and the transportal gateway.

After deciphering how the ancient technology functioned, these human vermin had rushed through transportals, spreading like pernicious weeds across numerous pristine worlds. Klikiss worlds. Planets that by right belonged to Sirix and the black robots.

Sweeping low over the clustered buildings, the first group of Mantas readied their jazer banks and explosive-projectile batteries. They had plenty of firepower. In the streets below, emerging from colourful prefabricated buildings, the Wollamor colonists waved at the ships overhead, welcoming them, cheering for the chain-of-stars logo of the Earth Defence Forces.

'Commence firing.'

EDF weapons spat out projectiles and energy bolts, raining destruction on the colony. Nearly half of the people were annihilated before the rest realized what was happening. The frantic survivors scattered in all directions, running to find shelter.

Mantas set croplands on fire, exploded cisterns and grain silos. The bright polymer huts turned into puddles and smoking ash. People dropped like flaming matchsticks. Diligent Soldier compies blasted a crater twenty metres in diameter simply to obliterate one panicked fugitive. They were very thorough.

'Do not damage any original Klikiss structures. Those are ours.'

Beside him, Ilkot said, That will require a more cautious attack to complete our objective.'

'A more personal attack,' Sirix agreed, flexing his sharp pincers as he remembered the kinesthetic experience of killing Louis Colicos. 'I will go down myself to take charge.'