"They must have. Our forces may have been overeager. An attacking force usually loses more than the defending force. Our fighter psychology is more battle-minded than theirs, for our soldiers are trained to think only in terms of battle. But even so, Vorgan, the tacticians and statisticians estimate that we could have lost no more than two to one. And granting that, it means a loss of eight and one half million men lost from the Solar Sector."
Vorgan thought that over. "They could ill afford to lose that many of their prime citizens."
"And knowing that, and knowing that they are of a high order of intelligence, I ask again: Why did they fight?"
"Could it have been sheer desperation?"
"There was calculated strategy in their battle plan. There was a purpose, I tell you. It is obscure to me, but there was a definite plan, and no plan is executed without a purpose."
"Could they have hoped to hold us off?"
"Never. They knew our strength. They knew our plan. They understood our purpose, and they recognized our determination. Does the weakling, knowing all factors, fight against his superior?"
"It might have been the determination—knowing they must lose—to take as many enemies with them as possible."
"The cornered rat technique?"