Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Thatcher of the 14th Space Guardians Reconnaissance Squadron walked down the long hallway of the alien outpost as medics carried some of his personnel out. The floor was littered with the wreckage of android sentinels. Captain Stockworth had been correct in letting the military handle this facility; it had fought back hard.
He emerged into a control room.
"Inform the Admiral that the base is secure," he told his aid.
"Yes, Sir."
"So, Bob, what have you found for me?"
"Colonel, this equipment is an interface to the nerve center of the outpost," said Lieutenant Robert Forsyth.
"Have you been able to connect to it yet?"
"No, the alien language isn't one that we are familiar with."
"I am familiar with your language," said a voice.
