Free Warblegrub and the Forbidden Planet by Andrew Barlow

planets of outstanding natural beauty, including their own.'
    'Anyone encountering humans outside a designated ‘Human Settlement Camp’ should avoid contact and notify the proper authorities immediately (see ‘Journal of Intergalactic Law’, Case File 5,440,345,893-C). Humans reading this article outside a designated settlement camp should report to the proper authorities immediately (see ‘Journal of Intergalactic Law’, Appendix 13,745 ‘Control and Eradication of Pestilent Species’).’
    Feeling distinctly uncomfortable, Alex scrolled on down.
    ‘Sub-section 5. Organisation: As individuals or in small groups humans are mostly harmless but the species is capable of collaborating in much larger and more damaging units (see Appendix 1a. ‘Tribes’, b. ‘Empires’, c. ‘Nations’, d. ‘Corporations’, e. ‘Religions’) formed for the purpose of exploiting resources, hunting for food, oppressing and exploiting other species and oppressing and exploiting each other (see Special Study Sections; ‘The First Roman Empire’, ‘The Third German Reich’, ‘The Kola-Dizney-Mak Corporation’).’
    She put the book down and picked up the Antiques Guide again.
    *
    As swiftly as it had started, the rain ceased. The storm passed away and moonlight came streaming through the ragged clouds. A marble statue, still largely free of ivy, marked the end of the long road – an old man riding two harnessed dolphins. In one hand he gripped the reins and in the other he held a trident pointing towards the sea.
    The soldiers passed the old man by, jumped down from the end of the line of vehicles and plunged into a sea of scrub grass and brambles. The loading bays of red-brick warehouses stood open before them but their way was barred by a thick hedge, several metres high. First to reach it, Peter hacked through the foliage with his machete and exposed a wire fence which bowed under the weight as he and his comrades scrambled over. Coming up behind them, 395 and Sergeant 236 urged them on, and at the sound of gunfire, they glanced back and saw Fardelbear pouncing cat-like on another victim. Just ahead, Private 856 stumbled but the Sergeant caught his arm and they hurried inside the nearest warehouse.
    Moonlight shimmered in pools of rainwater, spiders’ webs sparkled like diamond nets and the tall, roofless chamber echoed with their pounding feet as they hurdled fallen beams, crates and drums. At the back of the loading bay they entered a short passage which ended in a locked door. When they heard Fardelbear’s drumming feet behind them, they broke the door down and stumbled out into an alley between the rows of warehouses. Several other survivors emerged from neighbouring buildings and the company regrouped in a loading bay in the next row. Immediately the Sergeant saw who was missing.
    “Where’s the Colonel?” She was met with blank faces and quickly tried the radio. “Are you receiving me, Colonel?”
    “Receiving you….”
    The Colonel’s voice was drowned out by gunfire, and flames flickered inside the warehouse they had just left. An explosion hurled a shower of debris into the alley and through the swirling dust and smoke they saw Private 207 and the Colonel stagger through the door, just as Fardelbear sprang out after them. A burst from 207’s Redeemer hurled the monster back and he crashed into a wall, which collapsed on top of him. Bellowing with rage, he struggled to shake off the huge pile of bricks and girders, and the Colonel and 207 hastily re-joined the company.
    The next row of warehouses proved to be the last and they found themselves at the perimeter of the naval base. Beyond the fence was a moonlit wasteland of tarmac and concrete, thinly covered with weeds and brambles, then long lines of workshops, and beyond those were rusted cranes and the silent grey warships at anchor.
    Hearing a growl behind them, Peter and the Sergeant snatched grenades from their belts and held them ready, and when