The People
By John McGondel

"Reporting to base, reporting to base. Please come in, base."
"Base to #4011. Your position and situation, please."
"I am at the extent of our boundaries, as requested of me. I am reporting rival troop movements, at an elevated level. Please advise as to what I should do next."
"#4011, we have received similar messages from groups #9 and #7. We are aware of the current situation. You are advised to remain inconspicuous and unobtrusive. Please repeat."
"I am to remain inconspicuous and unobtrusive. Any other orders?"
"No further orders at this time. Please be available and ready to assist backup forces which are on the way."
"Understood, base. Repeat, understood, base."

First the fighters were sent out to head off the approaching troops. The infantry, while taking longer to get there, would back up both the fighters and the scouts. It was going to be a legendary battle, as happened every year. Every soldier was prepared to self-sacrifice in order to protect the queen and the community.

The fighting was bloody and horrific, but the queen’s army was able to repel the enemy, although at great costs in suffering and deaths. The fallen heroes were carried home.

"Hey dad, what is that noise?” Little Tommee asked his fairly distracted father."

"That? Just a bunch of bees. They appear to be swarming. Let’s go someplace else until they argue it out amongst themselves, ok?"

"Sure, dad. They really sound angry. Do they have a reason to do what they are doing? Or is it just an instinctive reflexive response?"

The father chuckled. "Son, they are just stupid insects, they do not have the capability to think."

And the bees, which had existed as a species far longer than man or even mammals, defended their territory. And waited, as they had for eons...