<span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;">Lord Ver'Slek had a dilema on his hands.  He was bound to his lord to deliver as many humans as he could, while his collegues wanted to attack.  the humans were mostly defenseless, and his warriors would not face a problem until they got aboard.  He turned in his throne to look behind him at Krask.  The strange creature looked like a Terboc, a creature that lurked under the waters and snatched prey passing by.  He was a critic of the Emperor's decision to include them on this expedition, but knew a direct order when he heard it.  The Emperor had his reasons, and thus Ver'Slek obeyed.<br/><br/>&lt;Small and squishy to your kind, perhaps, but I was given a text translated from one of their ancient warriors.  Sun Tzu, his name was.  His insight into battle is quite impressive, and the text has been around for many, many revolutions.  Do not underestimate them, or you'll return home sealed in a tube.&gt;<br/><br/>Lord Ver'Slek stood, towering over the two.  His age meant he was more than strong enough to take on the two single handed.  The younger crew were much smaller, and not nearly a threat for even WarCat.  With age came new strength, size, power, and most importantly, wisdom.  &lt;Do we have the translation software ready?&gt;<br/><br/>One of the crewmen answered in GS, "Yes, Lord Ver'Slek.  We are ready for your command."<br/><br/>&lt;Connect me with the homo sapient vessel.&gt;<br/><br/>The message was broadcast.  "Pac na ump to no lob con resh tee nak por.  Kep fav bo no Berlork pak na lin se na Ver'Slek.  Mak no me besh int co pan se mo ba ress ne pon.  Vak ne tu Bask'na ren." and was translated, &lt;Vessel of Homo Sapient origin.  We are the Berlork, and I am Lord Ver'Slek.  Surrender your vessel and accept a life of servitude in peace, or fight, and watch our warriors destroy your vessel and take those we do not immediately slay into bondage.  You have one Bask'na* to decide.&gt;<br/><br/>The screen was replaced with a timer, counting down.<br/><br/><tt class="bbc_tt">2:00:00<br/>1:63:63<br/>1:63:62<br/>1:63:61...</tt></span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 8pt;">*note: The Berlork measure time in terms of Bask, with subdivisions measured as such.  A Bask're is half a Bask, and a Bask'na is one quarter of a Bask.  The smallest measure of time is a Ces'd, which is approximately half a second.  64 Ces'd make up a Tel'nu, and 64 Tel'nu make up a Bask'po, or an eighth of a Bask.</span>