For all a general’s individual strength, his primary purpose among the Tsavitee was to act as the military strategist behind the rest.
Because of that, he was the most dangerous person in the room. The others might be vicious and savage, but ultimately, they were dumb. Left on their own, they'd probably have killed off their species.
It was only when the general and those above directed them in battle, they became a true threat.
It’s what made the hierarchy of the Tsavitee horde so interesting. They weren't just one species but many.
There were several theories on how that occurred. Some thought they'd integrated conquered races into their horde, while others believed the Tsavitee high forms had engineered the lower forms to fit their specific purposes and roles.
The last argument was supported by the fact the DNA between all forms except the generals was strikingly similar. It pointed to a common origin.
Which theory was true didn't really matter. The end result was the same—a military force capable of breeding soldiers with enhanced combat skills faster than humans could keep up.
Kira knew some on the human side toyed with the notion of developing their own enhanced soldiers, bred specifically to fight the Tsavitee. There were rumors they'd started testing their theories.
All that stopped once the treaties with the Haldeel and the Tuann were signed. The treaties made it clear any further genetic modification for the purposes of war was forbidden and would result in full-on war with both.
"Cannon fodder," Kira said, taking in the array of Tsavitee as they moved closer.
Humans called them that because they were more numerous than the other species. They were usually sent directly at the enemy, overwhelming them with superior numbers and a single-minded intensity.
The lowest of the lower forms. Cannon fodder or puppets, as some called them, were little more than feral cannibals. They had no conscience and little intelligence from what Kira had seen. They'd crawl over the still-warm corpses of their brethren if it meant a chance at human flesh.
She also spotted a mantis, its long lean form towering over the puppets beside it, and a telepath. The telepath looked sickly and gray, its limbs spindly as it stared at the room with a blank gaze.
Kira stepped back, moving so she wasn't in the general's line of sight.
"Put them in with the rest," the general ordered.
The Tsavitee swarmed the two women, herding them toward the light cage the rest of them were trapped in.
The Tuann pressed close to the front, eager for a chance to act once the Tsavitee dropped the light field to force Liara and Alma in.
Kira knew better than to get her hopes up. This wasn’t her first time on the wrong side of one of these cages.
She let the others push their way forward, as she drifted to the rear of the cage. The cloaked strangers helped, stepping in front of her, their larger forms blocking her fully from sight.
She had a bit of a reputation among the Tsavitee. If they caught sight of her, things would probably not go well for her.
Roderick and another of his men dragged Liara to the cage, settling her on the ground not far from Kira. Liara's face was waxy, her eyes glazed with pain, her lips sealed tight against her whimpers, and blood coated her right shoulder.
"Your shoulder is severely damaged," one of the cloaked men said, kneeling by Liara’s side. He pressed a bandage against her shoulder, ignoring her flinch and low moan. "We need to stop the bleeding so your body can put itself into a restive state and start to heal."
"Get away from her," Roderick spat, reaching for the man to jerk him away.
Kira got there first, knocking his hand away. "Stop being an ass. Take a look around; your enemy isn't in here."
Roderick snarled at her, his face a mask of rage. "You're wrong. Maybe my enemy is standing right in front of me. This started when you released the humans."
Graydon's people voiced their anger as the cloaked men kept their silence. Kira noticed Silas as he shifted closer, a hand disappearing into his cloak.
Violence threatened. Again.
You'd think the great Tuann would be smarter than this.
Kira sighed and glanced down.
Roderick's lips twisted in a smug smile.
