Part 15:

"It may have been easier if we had attacked earlier. Now we know what we face." General Godzilla stated in what the translator rendered as a flat tone, sentences as broken as when originally uttered. "The biological modifications are extensive. Human base. Add on believed to be harvester. Parasitical nature nearly proven. Interesting ideas abound. Most make my head hurt." Godzilla grinned a toothy lizard grin, and sheepishly admitted "Most scientists make my head hurt."

"Your analysis of the assault's potential?" Kane queried.

"New data gives better chance. Chance still good. Not much change. Worried about troops. What if parasites lose host. Get new host?" The translator beeped, indicating translation failure, and re-rendered the last three sentences. "I'm worried about the possibility that the harvester parasites may attempt to take control of Sakkra troops after their human hosts are destroyed."

"That is unlikely. Apparently they are very much linked to their host. While the human structure survives more or less intact, autopsies indicate that the parasites fuse their exoskeleton directly to the human skeletal system. The also seem to merge their nervous system directly to the human, so that rather than interfacing directly to a separate human nervous system, they simply take over and merge them as one. This explains the reaction time, and the extensive neurological changes. Most importantly, it explains their need to rend, maim, and destroy. It doesn't originate solely from the parasite unit, but rather from the changes the parasite unit creates in the host's biosystem. To-" Coughing at Kane's glare, Mictian mumbled "Er, sorry. This isn't my specialty, but that's what the medics told me."

"Head hurt worse. Thought you were scientist. You're doctor. Doesn't make sense. Think troops not in danger." Godzilla's translator again beeped, "I though you were a scientist, but now you're a doctor. I think you said the troops aren't in danger."

"General, please ready your troops. Take all precautions, but I want that ship intact. Take prisoners if possible. Good, luck, and you're dismissed." Kane waited until after Godzilla thumped his fist against his chest in salute. Wincing, as always, at the force involved, Kane wondered how the Sakkra had evolved such strong scales. Stronger than normal steel, the material was extremely tough for a biological compound, yet it could bend and unbend itself in a manner more reminiscent of human skin than metal. They'd need the armoring.

"Now, onto the next problem." Kane continued. He wished that more of his duties could be consolidated this way. Dealing with major command decisions at the same time as his weekly operations meetings helped cut down on the time it took to do his job. Noticing the next item on his list, Kane gave a smile-a rarity these days-and chuckled. "Welcome aboard Major Mcguillity. I see you've been promoted since the last time I saw you. I'll arrange a party soon. Have your subordinates managed to track down the galley thief yet?"

Major Mcguillity smiled at the greeting, and with a little laugh said "Yes, actually, they have. Seamen Recruit Montana, cook's assistant, will be at the next Captain's Mast."

"Great. The help was nibbling..."

**********

Having stripped the craft of its armor, the beam ships veered off to allow the specially designed assault shuttles to do their job. Roaring in, the assault shuttles pierced the sheet metal and swiftly disgorged their payloads of four heavily armed marines each. The marines swiftly ran through the corridors, looking for resistance. To their surprise, there was none. They swiftly took control of the areas surrounding the points of entry, one near the bridge, another near the engine room, and the last near an unidentified space that had the spooks curious. Spreading out, they discovered no signs of the Ithkul presence. The brightly lit corridors almost glowed under the lights. "Pretty metals. Me want take home." One marine muttered, only to be smacked by his sergeant. "Keep head on fight, not meal. Metal pretty, but look close." The sergeants tone was harsh, "That not just metal. That slime. Probably Ithkul waste." "Oh, me no want eat that! Me not touch pretty metals. Look tasty though."

Having secured the bridge and engine room, the Sakkra attempted to secure the third target. However, they couldn't figure out how to reach it. All the corridors seemed to lead away from it. Then, all hell broke loose as a massive bulkhead was blasted open, squashing several marines against a far bulkhead. Paused in shock, the nearby marines still managed to survive the Ithkul advance long enough to call for help. By the time the help arrived, all that was left of the squad was a few scales here and there. Or rather, pieces of scales that had been bitten in two. There was no sign of the opening the Ithkul had used.

Elsewhere, another bulkhead blasted open, but this time it missed its targets. The Sakkra marines swiftly marched through the new opening, relaying their position and status just moments before that opening also vanished - and them with it.

At this point, general Godzilla was getting angry. "Get more troops! Flood area, find Ithkul!" he growled, "Stay together! Work in platoons. Each platoon keep three other in sight. Even dispersion. Don't bunch up. Go!" Glancing into a cabin, he roared "And no eating pretty rocks!" at several marines that had found the Ithkul's rock garden. Or at least, what looked like a rock garden. Unfortunately, that command came a moment too late and one of the Sakkra bit down on the 'rock.' Several legs split out of it, and grasped the poor marines face before others jammed down its throat and began the merging process. The new entity was burned to nothing by its former fellows in seconds.