Emperor Dadaeus was presiding over a meeting of the chief imperial ministers when a secretary entered the hall with a missive: Chief Scientist Joya of the Ant Federation was requesting an urgent audience with the emperor.

‘Let her wait. I’ll speak with her after my meeting,’ said Dadaeus with a dismissive wave of his claws.

The secretary lolloped out of the room but was back again within moments. ‘She says it’s a matter of utmost importance. She insists on seeing Your Majesty immediately, and she requests that the interior minister, the science minister and the commander-in-chief of the imperial army be in attendance as well.’

‘The cheek of her!’ spat Dadaeus, spraying the hapless secretary with foul-smelling spittle. ‘They’ve got no manners, these bitsy bugs. She can wait or she can get lost.’

‘But she…’ The secretary surreptitiously wiped at his face, glanced at the assembled ministers, then, with caution, leant close to the emperor’s ear and whispered, ‘She claims she has defected from the Ant Federation.’

The interior minister interrupted. ‘Joya is a key figure in ant leadership circles. Her way of thinking is very different from that of other ants. Her coming to us like this may well signify something of urgent importance.’

‘Very well,’ said Dadaeus wearily. ‘Bring her in, if you must.’

A couple of minutes later, Joya was standing on the smooth wooden plain of the conference table and addressing the mountainous dinosaurs encircling her. ‘I have come to save Earth,’ she began. A translator device converted her pheromone speech into the dinosaurs’ language, broadcasting her words from a hidden speaker.

Dadaeus gave a scornful laugh. ‘Such arrogance! Earth is doing just fine, as it happens.’

‘You will change your mind about that shortly, sir,’ responded Joya. ‘But first I would like you all to answer one question: what are “Luna” and “Leviathan”?’

This immediately put the dinosaurs on edge. They exchanged wary glances with each other but kept their jaws firmly shut. Not a peep came out of them. After a long pause, Dadaeus said, ‘And why should we tell you that?’

‘Your Majesty, if they are what I think they are, I will reveal to you a highly classified secret that relates to the survival of the dinosaur world. You will find it a fair trade.’

‘And if they aren’t what you think they are?’ Dadaeus asked darkly.

‘Then I will not tell you my secret. You can kill me or keep me here forever to protect your secret. In any case, you have nothing to lose.’

Dadaeus was quiet for several seconds. Then he nodded to the science minister, who was seated on the left side of the table. ‘Tell her.’

*