"Hiss, hiss. Captain Krauk, you're absolutely right."
Gorpious spoke approvingly, looking at the human who seemed so small among the assembled aliens.
Krauk Lee was a human Gorpious liked very much. His words were always music to an insect's ears.
Over the past few years, he had done a great deal for the Community Security Fleet. Despite objections from the M'tok, Greger, Gorpious had promoted him to captain of a corvette.
Now that Krauk had stepped forward to speak up for him, Gorpious was naturally delighted.
But Grugulum, the Federation's Criminal Enterprise supervisor, was furious. He snarled, "Alien! With your standing, how dare you speak to me like that?"
"Then with your standing, how dare you insult our leader, Gorpious?" Krauk stood and shot back without a trace of fear.
"That's enough, Krauk. Sit down. This no longer concerns you."
Gorpious hissed softly, a hint of amusement in his voice, then turned toward the furious Grugulum.
"Surely someone of your standing wouldn't quibble with one of my captains?"
True to the temperament of the Stone People, Grugulum raged, "Fine, fine, fine! So the two of you are ganging up on me? I'll report every last detail to Lord Perkin Asland!"
"Suit yourself."
Gorpious answered with complete indifference.
A posturing clown who doesn't know his place. From what he knew of Perkin Asland, the man would not do anything to him over this.
Grugulum stormed out of the conference room, heading who knew where. Gorpious paid him no mind, instead patting Krauk's shoulder gently with a long feeler.
"Good lad. You humans may be frail and tiny, but you really are a likable species. You weave intelligence into your words, unlike these utterly boorish Stone People."
Gorpious was generous with his praise. He admired Krauk immensely.
"Hey, Gor," his second-in-command, Greger,