In the first and second round of fighting, thousands of people had already died!
The pirates suffered the brunt of the casualties. Almost their entire garrisons at the outer vaults had died. The Larkinson infantrymen didn't have the time or leisure to take too many captives.
More pirates died at the main stronghold. Many of the destructive weapon systems that the Dry Snakes brought to bear against the Larkinsons were crewed by specially-trained pirates.
When the weapons they operated got struck by massive overpowering lasers or a tactical nuclear missile, the people around them usually died as well!
Screams echoed throughout several locations on the moon-sized asteroid as they became awash with destructive heat and energy.
Fortunately for the pirates, they built their critical base areas deeper underground. Most of the superweapons failed to threaten Ulimo Citadel proper.
