Johnny goes back to help and begins firing on the Bug. But Kitten is ripped in half, his upper flung several feet into the air, landing next to Johnny. Johnny opens up with his pulse cannon. The cameraman foolishly tries to film the bug too close and is impaled through the chest. Johnny continues firing, finally putting the Bug down. He's about to turn and join the others but the Bug is not dead and attacks Johnny. It puts a claw right through Johnny's thigh.

Johnny AAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Johnny manages to yank the claw out and collapses to the ground. Johnny looks down at the terrible hole in his leg where bright arterial blood gushes. Another Warrior bug charges Johnny, he fires away at it, blowing it away. But another Bug charges him. Crushing jaws close around him.

Johnny AAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Our view fades to black.

From the Federal Net: 100,000 dead in one hour! Actual pictures of the battlefield, man and insect lying dead together on the blood drenched plains of Klendathu.

Official Voice: Crisis for Humankind. Fleet officials admit they underestimated the Arachnid's defensive capability. . . . . Accepting responsibility for Klendathu, Sky Marshall Dienes resigns.

Retiring Sky Marshall Dienes salutes incoming Sky Marshall Tehat Meru, 75, before a gathering of the Federal Council.

Official Voice: His successor, Sky Marshall Tahat Meru, outlines her new strategy.

Sky Marshall Meru: To fight the Bug, we must understand the Bug. We can ill afford another Klendathu.

From the Federal Net: Would you like to know more? . . . . Bugs that think?

Official Voice: Federal Scientists struggle to explain the intelligent military actions of the Arachnids.

Female Scientist: When a colony reaches a certain size, 300 generations or something, it gets smart.

Male Scientist: Insects with intelligence? Have you ever met one? I can't believe I am hearing this nonsense.

Female Scientist: Just wait a moment. . . .

Male Scientist: This is the most ridiculous conversation I have ever had.

Female Scientist: Maybe there is some kind of Bug that we haven't seen yet. A leadership caste of hive brains.

Male Scientist: Brain Bugs? Frankly, I find the idea of a Bug that thinks offensive!

Fleet Battle Station Ticonderoga: the Rodger Young limps to port, a huge chunk ripped out of its mid-section.

Carmen: Ticonderoga, this is Rodger Young requesting approach vector.

Ticonderoga C&C on radio: Affirmative, Rodger Young...one zero zero niner five two... welcome back.

Rodger Young - Command and Control: Zander and Carmen stare at the battle-scarred starships and burnt-out hulks that line the docks of Ticonderoga.

Zander: My God. How could this happen?

Carmen: We thought we were smarter than the bugsYou know, we're lucky to be alive.

A bloody gash crosses over Carmen's eyebrow.

Rodger Young - gangway: Zander and Carmen make their way up the companionway.

Battle Station Ticonderoga - Common Area: Zander and Carmen walk through the crowded common area where dead bodies compete for space with wounded awaiting triage.

Injured Trooper: It hurts!

Nurse: A-positive! We're gonna need two liters! . . . Be right with you.

Injured Trooper (groaning): Help me.

Survivors watch casualty lists scroll by on a Federal Net terminal.

Carmen: God! . . . It's strange. There's almost no wounded at all.

Zander: Bugs don't take prisoners.

Carmen looks at the words at the Net terminal: She enters Johnny's name. In an instant, she has the news: RICO, JOHN D. - KIA.

Carmen: Oh no.

Tears fill her eyes.

Zander: Carmen. . .

She rushes away. Zander looks at Johnny's name on the screen.

Stasis Tank Cycle: Johnny's body floats, suspended in fluid, his skin white as death. Johnny's wounds are now mostly scars except for his leg where delicate robotic arms culture layers of new tissue. Ace and Dizzy approach the tanks.

Ace: Heh-heh. There he is. Let's wake him up.

Dizzy (chuckling): Hey, Johnny! Hey!

Ace: Hey, Rico!

Dizzy (pounding glass): Hey, Johnny! Wake up! How you doin', fish boy?

The low underwater knocking wakes him. He opens his eyes and sees Ace and Dizzy outside the tank.

Ace: Hey, look! You're dead!

Ace holds up a KIA sheet, pointing at Johnny's name, laughing: Rico, John V - KIA. Their voices are distant and garbled.

Dizzy: Killed in action! Three more days and you're out.

Ace: Three days.

Johnny gives a weak thumbs up.

Ace: Good as new. See ya later.

Dizzy: Bye.

Dizzy turns to leave then returns to plant a kiss on the glass.

Space - AQZ: A battle group consisting of starships, their tender, Freighters and other Supply Craft.

Troop Transport - M.I. Quarters: Johnny stows his gear along with Ace and Dizzy. Across the room, a collection of battle-hardened vets check out the newcomers.

Johnny: So, what do you hear about our new unit?

Dizzy: Roughnecks killed more Bugs than any other outfit on Big K.

Ace: Yeah, well, I hear their lieutenant is a real nut-buster.

They size up the Roughnecks. There are scars, power prosthetics, and Sugar Watkins, 26, wears a bug claw on a chain around his neck.

Johnny (to Roughnecks): You top kick?

Sugar: You want the job, huh?

Johnny: I wouldn't mind.

Corporal Birdie, 24, turns, gives Johnny the once over. Not too big, but she's tough.

Birdie: I would.

Johnny: Just doin' my part.

Birdie: Orders.

Johnny hands her the orders.

Birdie (to Dizzy): Yours?

Dizzy: Where you been besides Big K?

Birdie: Outer rings. Zegema Beach.

Johnny: Zegema Beach. I always wanted to go to there.

Sugar: Good luck. It's not there anymore.

Ace: So, I hear your lieutenant is a real nut-buster

Birdie belts him, and Ace goes down.

Birdie: No one talks about the Lieutenant that way. He saved my life!

Sugar: Mine, too.

Other Roughnecks: Same for me. Me, too.

Ace: Well, sounds like he is quite a guy.

Birdie (to Johnny): Who do you think saved your ass?

Sergeant Gillespie, 28, steps into the room.

Gillespie: Stand by. . . Attention on deck.