But What Will The Gods Eat Tomorrow?

You’d better watch your step down there though, Jonny, or you might end up jumping into orbit."

I looked at the readout. Vartherik II had a gravity of .7 SEG (10). FEDs stations and ships were kept at 1 SEG. It wouldn’t be too different from what I was used to.

I brought the Dragon in low and looked up into a dark blue sky, far darker than the sky of Earth, which I only remembered in hazy images of my youth. A course plotted itself on the vid screen and I hit the button that turned on the display in the cockpit’s viewports. Little yellow beacon points flared to life, and I aimed the Dragon toward the first, nimbly dodging several hilltops.

"Little low to the ground, aren’t we?" Tempest asked a bit nervously.

"Best way to avoid radar. See if we got any aerial shots of the base on our way in. It’ll take us a few minutes to get there, and I’d like to find a good place to hide the Dragon." Almost immediately an overhead view of the Cult’s complex appeared on the vid-screen. Tempest had even annotated the buildings, pointing out the ones he considered the most likely targets.

"None of them look like weapons factories to me."

I was forced to agree with his assessment. "Then why do they need all the trix?"

"Could be many things. Ransom money. Savings account. Fuel processing. Polym–"

"You made your point." Trix was used for a great many things. And more uses were developed every day. There could be a million legitimate reasons for the Cult of Timay to gather trix. "Then why does this place give me a bad feeling?" I asked rhetorically.

"I’m assuming that was a rhetorical question. Let me know if I’m wrong."

I found a good place to land on the outskirts of the base, deep under cover in a thick patch of vegetation. The plants of Vartherik II were tall and gangly, with thick, light green foliage. I brought the Dragon to the ground with only a slight jarring. "Atmospheric readings?"

"All variables within accepted limits," Tempest replied.

"Which standard?" I asked absently. "Stellar Fleet’s Acceptable Parameters for Interplanetary Landings and Off-ship Strategic Missions – 82nd Edition or the Interstellar Congress’ Doctrine on Desirable Planetary Conditions for Proper Human Continuance and Development?"

From within the console there came a confused and frantic rattle. "I’m not sure," Tempest admitted. "I wouldn’t run too fast out there though. The air’s a little thin for you."

I nodded, placed the radio receiver in my ear, and grabbed my Light-powered Attack Sidearm or Energy Rifle (Laser) (11). "I’ll keep in constant contact," I told Tempest. "Keep the scanners on alert, but the power on low. Let me know if you see anything out of the ordinary. And Tempest, if anyone approaches the Dragon…other than me…you’re authorized to dispatch them."

"Dispatch them?" Tempest laughed. "You Humans and your word games. Don’t you have guts enough to tell me to kill people, Jonny?"

"Alright!" I said, hitting the hatch release. "If anyone comes along while we’re on this planet…other thanme…you have my authorization to kill them." The cockpit cover pulled open with a hiss, and I took my first breath of fresh, on-planet air in a long time.

And immediately coughed it back up. On-planet air had more sulfur in it than I remembered. I could think of worse smells, but it still wasn’t pleasant. It really didn’t surprise me when I realized the smell was coming from the base.

I moved cautiously, testing the gravity. I’d been right; it wasn’t that bad. I hopped a few times, enjoying the slight floating sensation, then took off at a run and went a little farther than I intended.