The UN-444 and its three support ships met up with the ten other ships Yan’wal had dispatched to the Silean system, and then they all set off immediately shadowing the Humans, following the beacon set by the agent on Counselor Deslor’s shuttle. It became obvious right away that they were headed for the New Regian system. But when the shuttle sped past the planet and continued further out into the system, their new destination soon focused on the mining world of Zylim-4.
Yan’wal called an impromptu meeting of this senior staff, including the newly-arrived agent, Zoluoff Ransin. The Overlord eyed the diminutive being, watching the creature subtly change color to match the walls of the conference room. He had seen these creatures before, and each time, he felt a slight uneasiness. He wished he could command the thing to stop changing colors, but he knew Ransin had no control over the chemical reactions in his skin.
He broke his attention from the Holacon. “What do we know of this planet?”
Giodol activated a monitor at the far end of the table. “It’s a mining colony, primarily for uranium. Not more than 20,000 beings inhabit the various settlements located underground. The planet has become a disposal dump for spent fuel rods and other nuclear waste material for the sector. It’s quite hot in that regard.”
Yan’wal nodded. “It would make a perfect hiding place for another base.”
Fleet Commander Siegor had arrived from the battle scene off Dimloe and sat to Yan’wal’s left. “Commander, prepare a landing force of Guards-only. Have them on stand-by for the moment we learn of the Human’s destination on the planet. Also position your fleet in the event there is another strike force. I do not want a repeat of your last encounter with the Humans. I would prefer to face them on the surface, and not in space.”
Siegor felt no intimation from Yan’wal’s tone that he was being critical of Siegor’s prior actions. The Overlord was experienced enough to know that facing the Humans for the first time had been a learning experience. And he chose to learn from the near-disaster at Dimloe. After studying the encounter over the past few days, he could find no fault in Siegor’s battle plan; the Humans had just been more proficient than anticipated. Until the Juireans could learn more of their capabilities in space, he would prefer a straight-up land battle, pitting his elite Juirean Guards against the flesh and blood Humans.
He then turned to the agent. “Your name is Ransin, is this correct?”
“Yes, My Lord,” Ransin answered, taken by surprise by the Overlord’s sudden attention. “I want you to accompany the landing force to the surface.”
“But My Lord, I am not a military being.”
“I understand that. I would like you to use your unique skills to infiltrate the facility we find and track down the Humans who are leading us there. They are an enigma. They do not appear to be part of this larger group, yet they always seem to know where to find them. I want you to make sure they do not slip through our hands again.”
“Yes, My Lord. I will do my best.”
Then Yan’wal stood. “Prepare your forces. We will be arriving off Zylim-4 in approximately seven hours.”