At his quiet request the time flashed across the visor screen of his helmet. William had just returned from a scouting mission; he was tired, hungry, and generally worn out, but his sense of duty won over comfort. He had no intention of returning to his quarters until he had given his report.

Only a few more minutes and William could share the burden of his observations, then he could finally retire to his room for some much needed rest. It was difficult for him to keep his eyes open, and more than once he started to nod off. Only the stiff, unpliant, material of his flight suit kept the appearance of stoic patients. That and the nightmarish memory of his latest mission.

The Desterians were moving unusually. Great swarms of them amassing, feeding voraciously on whatever lesser life forms they could find, and then dissipating for no foreseeable reason. They were travelling outside of their own perceived territories, as well as venturing closer to human colonies with greater frequency. It was troubling to say the least, and only the start of it.