Mecjeghsorm scratched a scale on the back of his head with one claw as he looked at the data before him. He looked up at his xenologist who trembled slightly as he stood at attention.
“You’re certain these numbers are correct?”
“Yes, sir. The humans have already started colonizing on Mars. It’s only a matter of time before they find us and I strongly recommend we not let that happen.”
“What if we left? There are other planets we could colonize. There’s no reason we have to stay here.”
The xenologist, whose name was E’leoicjelejfiel, shook his head. “We can only go so far from Eiksen before colonizing starts to mean stretching resources beyond what we can provide for ourselves. And the humans are expanding as well. Like I said, it’s only a matter of time before they find us and I strongly recommend we not let that happen.”
“What are the chances they’ll react violently if we approach them?”
“Judging by their popular media featuring species from other planets, at least 75 percent.”
“I don’t like those chances.”
“Neither do I, but if we surprise, the number gets much closer to 100 percent.”
Mecjeghsorm sighed. “So I’m sending my soldiers on a suicide mission.”
E’leoicjelejfiel made a subtle movement with his shoulders that told Mecjeghsorm he didn’t quite agree.
“What would you call this if not a suicide mission?”
“I would call a mission with a 100 percent chance of violence a suicide mission. Even if they react violently, there’s no guarantee they’ll succeed in killing our soldiers. They should stand a decent chance of making it back to us.”
“‘Should?’ ‘Decent chance?’ I don’t like any of the words you’re using, E’leoicjelejfiel.”
“Then you’re really not going to like what else I have to say.”
“What’s that?” Mecjeghsorm was so tired the question was more of an exhalation.
“The humans are very … curious creatures.”
“Of course they are. All intelligent species are curious.”
“I’m just saying, for whomever makes contact, death could be the least of their problems.”
“Oh no.”
“Oh yes.”
“You’re not suggesting –?”
“I most certainly am.”
“You expect me to send my soldiers to a planet full of hostile creatures to be killed and mutilated?”
“Not necessarily in that order.”
Mecjeghsorm swore. “Tell me again how this is a good idea?”
“Like I said, if we don’t make contact first, it’s only a matter of time before they find us. If that happens, whoever is unlucky enough to surprise them will almost certainly die. The chances of mutilation aren’t as high as death in that instance, but they’re still much higher than if we reach out to them.”
“All right. Leave me alone. I need to think about this.”
E’leoicjelejfiel nodded and left the room.
The next day Mecjeghsorm paced in front of his men as he explained the situation. He didn’t want to send anyone in without fully understanding what they were getting into. Having decided the only fair way to assign the mission was via lottery, Mecjeghsorm made his way down the line with a pawful of sticks. Some were of a certain length, while others were of a shorter length. Those who drew the short sticks would set out for Earth.
Mecjeghsorm would never forget the face of the first one to draw a short stick. He trembled as he took it from Mecjeghsorm’s paw and Mecjeghsorm thought the soldier was going to wet himself.
He didn’t. He gulped hard, then met his commander’s eyes and nodded.
Mecjeghsorm had never met a braver soul.
The end.