The Demon Breed

Nile's thoughts blunced in shock as she saw the beings below her in the trees.

Parahuans....

She stared at the bulky amphibious creatures. The bluish-gray torsos and powerful arms were enclosed by webbings of straps, holding tools and weapons. The bulging eyes on the big round heads were double-lensed....

Some seventy years ago the Parahuans had come out of space to launch simultaneous attacks against a dozen worlds of the Hub. They'd done considerable damage, but in the end their forces were pulled back; and it was believed that only insignificant remnants had survived to return to their undiscovered home worlds.

And we became careless, Nile thought. We felt we were so big no one would dare attack again. . ..