Lane said: "I don't see why we just don't let 'em roar on in close and then use Plan One on them."
"Wouldn't work that way. They are too numerous. Before Plan One is efficient, we must give them a tough fight. Otherwise they will not understand that we mean business. We'll win only after we convince the Loard-vogh that we are worthy opponents in their own type of fighting. Otherwise they will wipe us out by sheer weight of numbers despite Plan One."
"I know," grumbled Lane. "We've been through all that."
"Well, then you know that Plan One will work only after a certain number of them have reason to fear our arms."
"O.K., Billy, we're coming in."
"No—not yet. Head in for Procyon IV and wait for them there. Give them as good a fight as you can."
Inward swept the grand fleet of the Loard-vogh. The other six planets of Procyon were push-overs; the Loard-vogh hit the planetary defenses, knocked them down by outnumbering them, and landed. The colonial population headed for the hills and hid out. And as the mop-up squads beat the bush, many of them did not come back. Yet it was futility, for Vorgan's vicious minions held the planets eventually.
But on Procyon IV, they had trouble.
The fleet came down in a multiple line and encircled IV. Terran forces fought back.