Fourteen

Ekur-Tkalal, a Carryx subjugator-librarian, oversees the conquest of the world Ayayeh and its indigenous Eelie species, but discovers the population is a manufactured trap set by a mysterious enemy. As enemy ships arrive through rifts in space, the Carryx suffer devastating losses in a prolonged conflict, and Ekur-Tkalal receives orders from higher command to extract captured enemy specimens and sacrifice the remaining dactyl forces to gather intelligence.

Ekur-Tkalal, subjugator-librarian of the sixteenth dactyl, prepares for the conquest of Ayayeh and its hexapod inhabitants, the Eelie. The initial invasion proceeds with Carryx and allied forces descending on the planet, but casualties mount unexpectedly. The prime commander discovers the Eelie are manufactured life-forms designed as a trap. As Ekur-Tkalal searches the system, three rifts open and approximately thirty enemy ships emerge. The librarian immediately orders withdrawal and begins seven days of isolated command while waiting for orders from higher imperial authorities. Over three weeks of conflict, the Carryx suffer mounting losses, including the destruction of one ship whose escaping enemy personnel are captured. The enemy proves highly resistant and suicidal rather than surrender. When a message casing finally arrives from the empire's center, it reveals the battle is part of a larger war and instructs the dactyl to conduct specific engagements designed to provoke enemy responses and gather tactical data. Ekur-Tkalal interprets this as orders to sacrifice the remaining forces for intelligence gathering. The librarian directs the prime to prepare coordinated actions against the enemy while captured enemy specimens are transferred to Ekur-Tkalal's ship. The prime questions whether they are still attempting to win, expressing distress at the revelation that their purpose is now to observe how they die. Ekur-Tkalal's ship departs the system toward asymmetric space with the captives while the remnants of the dactyl continue their delaying engagements.