“Sir,” said Corporal Simm.

“Yes?” replied Captain Cormitz.

“I’ve just had another one of those stupid scrambled messages.”

“Oh, they’re getting really annoying.”

“I know Sir, but they’re the only messages we’re getting at the moment. Do you think there’s something wrong?”

“No, it’ll just be the reception. I get this at home all the time. I’ve sent someone out onto the roof to adjust the antennae. It’ll be fine soon.”

They sat in silence for a minute, the only sounds being Simm’s nervous rustling. He wasn’t convinced, there had to be something up.”

“Sir, don’t you think it’s time we flew out to help the war effort?” he suggested. At least that way they could have a look and see what was going on.

“Why’s that son?”

“It’s ‘cos we’re losing.”

The war didn’t appear to be going well for Flight Squadron Rearguard Beagles. It had been a couple of days since their spaceships had started disappearing. One by one, they were disappearing from the radars and contact was being lost. They were down to about half of their original army now. The remaining Beagles had of course held their own – they were the best fighters in the Outer Galaxies by a long way – but due to sheer numbers they were getting driven backwards, back towards Flight Cruiser Lexonus. If the Crawkling ships got close enough to be able to shoot down Flight Cruiser Lexonus, they would quickly evaporate the entire defences of the Beagles home planet.

“Well, young Simm, that’s exactly why we’re not going out to help. If we’re losing, don’t you think that the Crawkling’s will be expecting us to panic and jump in to try and rescue the whole mission?”

“Well, yes Sir.”

“So don’t you think that that is a foolish and completely see-through battle plan?”

“Yes, I guess so,” said Corporal Simm.

“We’d be much better waiting until we’re winning and then we can storm in and help. They’ll never expect that.”

“I wonder what the Simeon would do?” thought Corporal Simm, out loud. The Simeon had been supposed to return from his holiday three days ago now, and Corporal Simm was starting to get worried.

“He would do exactly the same, you idiot!” yelled Captain Cormitz, who was beginning to crack under the pressure. “Now shut up, and go and make some tea.”

Corporal Simm wandered off obediently, his tail between his legs.