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all connect to one main tunnel
system that spider webs around the planet like a giant planet-wide
city grid. Up there massive dump trucks ferry the materials back to
the loading bay here … where the main terminal is located. We can ascend several
of these shafts simultaneously using the prison’s own metal
emergency ladders attached to the walls of the shaft. General
Mwanga of the Schpleeftkorkii gang is running this operation for
us. He’ll use tens of thousands to do it too… Zorgs first, of
course, then Spleefs… climbing for miles up to this tunnel which
runs across the planet about a quarter mile below the surface—give
or take a few hundred feet. From this tunnel we’ll form a
bridgehead to supply the final assault on the main
terminal.”
    Architeuthis was intrigued. He remembered
vaguely, from years before when he was brought to the planet, how
the transport ship had descended below the surface several hundred
feet to a distribution center where he was off-loaded with the
other prisoners. This must be what Hicks was referring to. He asked
politely, “And then… how do we fight the security forces defending
the terminal and the transport tunnel?”
    Hicks looked right at him and grinned
viciously, “Bloody carnage, sir. And we’ll use weapons we’ve
captured off of their dead guards to fight ‘em.”
    The other Slarts from the planning committee
gasped and murmured to each other in their native Slartigifij,
mixed with some Galactic. It didn’t matter, Hicks could understand
them just fine. “I know gentlemen,” he said in a raised voice which
hushed the fidgeting squid-like Slarts. Then he said in an icy
determined voice, “It’s a tall order, but we’ve got explosive
charges we’ve used for many years to blast open mine cavities and
cut away rock to free giant crystals. We’ll get in eventually. They
can’t stop us for long.” He sneered menacingly while he replaced
the cap on the grease pencil. Perry, standing nearby, crossed his
arms and glared at the Slarts right along with his partner.
    The gravity of the situation was finally
hitting Architeuthis and sunk deep into his soul. Was he really
willing to sacrifice so much? Could he order such an attack and
endure the sorrowful loss of life that was bound to occur as a
result? Clearly, General Hicks was fully prepared to go forward
with this attack. Clearly, General Hicks was willing to risk the
lives of his gang members, his lover Perry, and for that matter,
even his own life. These Humans… these Earthers… did they really
have no fear at all? Or was Hicks really just insanely violent,
like Earthmen were often said to be. Architeuthis only knew one
thing, and that was this: he knew he’d chosen the right man for
this task.
    Architeuthis looked around the room and saw
the sad emotion-filled giant squid-like eyes of his fellow Slarts.
He looked back at the determined glare of General Hicks, and the
proud dedication of his life partner Perry. The Porkos would fight.
The Zorgs and Spleefs would fight. The Pumalars? Oh they’d rush
into battle headlong with the ferocity of jungle cats. All the
Nausties on the planet would sacrifice everything they had to
support their brethren in this epic battle. But oh, the cost!
Architeuthis thought for a moment. He needed to decide right now.
Only one being could make this decision to send thousands of other
fellow Nausties to their deaths, and only one intelligent life form
should take the responsibility for this, come what may.
    With a deep sigh, Architeuthis calmly said
in a gentle voice to the Earthman, “General Hicks… you may proceed.
Inform the planning committee of all your supply, equipment,
weapon, and manpower needs as well as your timetables. Communicate
with no one outside of this room about what we discussed tonight,
of course. We will convene again… in thirty Earth days.”

Chapter 5:
The Naustie Revolt
    Maintaining the upmost in secrecy, General
Hicks of the new “Naustie Planetary