Dome Monkeys (Published in Space Opera : Writer’s contest anthology. Fall 2016) Ralotarans appeared on the control room screens; slow and stupid and thinking they could simply demand surrender of the Xa'ethian space station. Lan'to Paun gave a derisive sniff before choking as the last of the shadows resolved. Humans. The Ralotarans had Humans. Lan'to Paun spun to her deputies. "Where did they obtain Humans?" Deputy Tu'lli Po stepped forward. "Be calm, Station Master. Human allies or not, they cannot enter the range of our defenses. The Humans are not magic, Station Master. They are flesh and can die." Lan'to Paun's other Deputy, Mi'ole Tula, an ancient crone with long teeth and more years of institutional memory than anyone else on Lan'to Paun's staff, shouldered Tu'lli Po aside. "We have Humans as well, Station Master." She turned