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growing from their foreheads, and have a long pointed tail. The depredations of this enemy are enormous. Until the Axia mounted effective defensive fleets, the Red-tails would attack entire solar systems with enormous fleets of ships that appear out of intergalactic transit tubes from their home galaxy of Hadeous. They destroy indiscriminately and thoroughly and herd humans and other warm-blooded mammals aboard large transport ships, abducting them for later consumption.”
    Delmar looked dubiously at Mr. Hassel then back at Trepp. He was sure the man was pulling his leg. “Aw, come on.”
    “It’s true,” Mr. Hassel said. The look in the old farmer’s eyes let Delmar know the subject they’d broached was serious indeed. He’d heard about the Red-tails, rumor and stories mostly but had never actually seen one. He’d heard they were terrible creatures but he’d always considered them to be stories his mother had told him to keep him quiet.
    “You bet your boots it’s true,” Trepp said. “And believe me, you don’t want to tangle with one. The Red-tails are fierce opponents in battle, and no quarter is given. Many attempts were made to deal reasonably with these invaders, but without exception the Axia negotiators were taken captive and eaten. Understandably, the Red-tails are both feared and loathed.”
    The three men walked through the large hanger until they came to a set of steel double doors. “You ready for this, son?” Kuba Trepp asked.
    “For what?” questioned Delmar.
    “To face our enemy,” the large man answered.
    “You mean you have a Red-tail here in this building?” the boy asked with a catch in his voice.
    Both Mr. Hassel and Kuba Trepp nodded. “Right here in this room.”
    Delmar swallowed hard, his throat had suddenly grown very dry. He wasn’t sure he wanted to see the thing they were describing. But he couldn’t chicken out either. What would Mr. Hassel and Trooper Trepp think of him if he showed how scared he was?
    “Ok,” he said. “I’m ready.”
    Trepp pulled one of the heavy doors open and Delmar looked inside the dark room. He heard what sounded like a growl come from the darkness. Mr. Hassel and Trepp stepped through the door. Trepp grabbed Delmar by the elbow and pulled him in as well and closed the door.
    Trepp turned loose of Delmar’s arm and he found himself alone in the dark room. The growl sounded again, this time very close to Delmar. He felt warm breath on his neck. A cold chill ran up his spine.
    “Mr. Hassel. Is that you?”
    Another growl spun the boy around on his heels and he tried to find his way back to the closed door, but couldn’t. Then something grabbed him from behind and spun him around. Delmar screamed and lashed out hard at the thing that had hold of him, connecting with his fist against the thing’s jaw. He felt the thing turn loose of him and he stumbled backward, falling hard on his backside on the floor. He scooted backward, desperately seeking any exit until he came to rest against a wall. He was trapped and the terrible creature was still loose in the room.
    “For cryin’ out loud!” someone said from the darkness. “That kid really whacked me good. Trepp, where are you?”
    All around him, men began to laugh. The lights came on and Delmar found himself facing over a dozen laughing men, Mr. Hassel and Mr. Trepp among them. Another man sat on the floor a dozen feet away. He held his jaw and looked stunned.
    “Trepp!” he yelled. “You’ve had it, buster! You never said nothin’ about this kid takin’ a swing at me.”
    “I’m sorry,” Delmar stammered. “I thought… I thought you were…”
    “Don’t sweat it, kid,” Trepp said, reaching down to give Delmar a lift up. “Old Junior here never could take a punch.”
    “Mr. Hassel?” Delmar asked, still stunned. “You were in on this?”
    “Yep. Set it up from home yesterday. Figured you’d like to meet some of the boys.”
    Trepp lifted Delmar to his feet and then