“They will be firing ballistic systems from the northern regions and from the sea. Few of them can even be targeted on this area and most will be destroyed by oolt Po’osol. So all of them are targeted on a relatively small area. Given that most of the blast will be trapped by these accursed hills, we should take minimal casualties. They intend to land in this area forward of the original defenses, where ‘Mountain City’ once stood. Their fire will only fill that gap in the mountains and the immediate areas of the pass.”

“So we’ll lose less than two oolt’ondai,” Tulo’stenaloor nodded. “That is fine. But we need a response, a ‘counter-attack’ as the humans would use. Prepare one of the elite oolt’ondai and all the remaining tenaral for an assault upon them as soon as they are on the ground. And two oolt’pos.”

“We are almost out of trained forces,” the S-2 pointed out.

“I’m aware of that,” Tulo’stenaloor said dryly. “But if we can’t keep this pass open until others are breached, it will all be for nothing. We need to crush these metal threshkreen before they can get dug in or we’ll be trying to kill them two days from now. Have the oolt’ondar move immediately to the hills above the landing zone, in this gap where they will be out of danger from the heavy fire. Tell them to wait to attack until the unit lands and is in the process of unloading.”

“The humans are in two groups, estanaar. They have two ‘resupply’ shuttles filled with antimatter following them.”

“That should be an interesting target,” Tulo’stenaloor said with a rise of his crest. “Have the oolt’ondai wait until those shuttles land in particular, but ensure that they are struck. That is most important.”

“Very well, estanaar,” the officer replied. “What shall we tell Orostan?”

“Nothing for now,” Tulo’stenaloor said. “He has his own problems. And more than enough forces at the moment; it is when he hits resistance that he will need those passing through right now. Get the oolt’ondar moving immediately; ensure they are heavily weaponed. As the humans would say, they must ‘load for bear.’ ”