Torian Reclamation 3: Test of Fortitude by Andy Kasch Read Free Book Online Page B

calendar, and are beginning to see success.”
    “Very interesting,” Olut6 said. “Where is your ship’s territory?”
    Shaldan activated his lightpad-like device and showed them all a screen with a galactic map that placed Tora at the near side. The Measure had been operating in a section of the sphere between Tora and the outer edge.
    “Have you noticed any concentrated pockets of resistance to your efforts?” Olut6 asked.
    “Only at the far points,” Trodenjo replied. “As those worlds are more isolated, we assume it is natural for them to shy away from interstellar trade relations. But not all. Dirg was receptive to us. We learned of your close friendship with them there.”
    Brandon could see the wheels spinning above the High General’s head.
    “Tell him about HD28,” Mip7 said.
    Olut6’s brow furled and he leaned forward over the table.
    “We first stopped there on our initial route outward several months ago,” Trodenjo said. “We found the natives to be an advanced and intelligent race who have voluntarily regressed to a more rural existence. Their dominant industrial interest is in producing mining and excavation equipment for locating springs of mineral water deep within the rocks. The water rich in a mineral known as magnas.pz and consumption of it has remarkable restorative powers.”
    “There are no actual natives on that dwarf world,” Olut6 said. “They’re a colonized race.”
    “Correct, General.” Trodenjo took the tablet from Shaldan and swirled his fingers around on it, then turned it around to show an image of two aliens. They had a blue-gray skin color, long horizontal eyes, and sideways-placed ears.
    “They call themselves Sulienites,” Trodenjo continued, “and refer to their world, which we call Hydro Dwarf Planet 28, as Sulien. It’s an obvious adaptation of the name of their original home world, Salom. The Salomites colonized HD28 several generations ago before losing interest in interstellar travel themselves, so the colonists have no contact with the mother world.”
    “I don’t imagine such a society having much interest in foreign trade, either,” Brandon said.
    Trodenjo nodded. “Except for better mining equipment. We entered an agreement to locate more advanced beam-borers for them in exchange for their mineral water. The water is extraordinary, so we knew we could find a market for it.”
    “Did you?” Olut6 asked.
    “Yes, several—but most significantly at Bolkos. The Bolkans have suffered from malnourishment in recent times due to a depletion of natural resources, so were extremely enthusiastic about the mineral in the Sulien water. Their beam-borers are advanced, as they must now dig deep into their own ground looking for nutrients. We arranged an initial trade that included a Bolkan shipment of borers.”
    “Tell them what happened when you came back,” Mip7 said.
    “Right.” Trodenjo looked around the room. “It had been several months, as we were visiting worlds along the outer edge, mostly unsuccessfully. But then we sealed the Bolkan deal and came back to HD28 to let them know. When we were at Dirg we learned the story of the Latian capitulation, so we first stopped at the fourth planet to have a look at their surrendered fleet. It’s quite a spectacle.”
    “How did it look?” Olut6 asked.
    “All in place, as far as we could tell. But then as we approached HD28 we came across an area of wreckage.”
    “How much wreckage?”
    “Not much. Could have been from several small ships, or one large one.”
    Olut6 leaned back in his chair. “It’s possible someone circumvented the initial security system on one of the Latian transport vessels. But without the knowledge for full removal, they would have detonated the first time they cooled the dag drive. HD28 figures to be the first natural target a thief would make a trial run at. Poor fools. I’ll send a team by to do a count of the Latian fleet soon. Thanks for the information.” He stood up