"What are we planning on doing with the captives?"

Yosip sighs in response to Mos Bruen's question. He raises one hand before Han can speak. The vengeful look upon the youth's face informs all of his intentions with the captured miners.

"We need to contact Kalibern," he answers slowly. "Or, failing that, Honus. None of us are acting under proper authorization."

Bruen clearly disagrees but does not speak. Somner Zek looks as though she wishes to, but a gesture from the general silences her.

"We can no keep 'em," asserts Don Gelly. "But it's a high crime to kill prisoners that can no defend themselves."

The captured miners are outside the stone building, tied together and under watch by three soldiers. He's correct that they have as yet been very compliant. They are, however, starting to complain of hunger. All fifteen of them.

"We at least get to keep their stuff, right?"

"Yeah, some of it, Han," answers the Supply-Master. "But first we need to contact someone with the authority to make that kind of decision. The Imperium will want their share of the goods."

Because of the warped nature of the interior of this installation, normal communication methods lose coherence upon entering or exiting the modified space. If we wish to contact anyone outside the sphere, we'll have to use one of the ships in orbit around us.

"There are only two of us here that can get outside to send a message, and I'm not letting Han go," Yosip declares. He turns to address the Tserri directly. "If there are more of them waiting outside, you'd be too easy of a target, Han."

"If your leaders decree the captives to be of no worth to you," proposes Bruen suddenly, "then my own leaders would wish them to be brought to the Empire."

He sounds sincere, though it goes against long tradition. Outsiders are too easily turned to the enemy's side to be trusted. This wisdom is often repeated by the ruling caste. Only races that prove resistant to the mental leashing the tribal chieftains employ are worth taking any risk with.

"That could be arranged," Yosip concedes, "but I have to warn you." At this he pauses and looks over at the unit on Han's back housing me. "They're a bunch of primitives. Hunters that never developed beyond stone tools."

"That would explain why we've never encountered them before," muses Zek. "The tribals tend to focus on cultures that are more advanced."

"Just around the level where they can leave their home worlds," I add. "Though the Tserri were taken from their home by an unknown power."

Yosip stands and walks over to where the spears are leaning by the empty doorway. "I'll try to be quick." He grabs one of the weapons and leaves the small shelter.

"I'm still surprised that you're even here, Mos," I state. "There have been no signs of tribal activity in this area."

Bruen squirms uncomfortably where he stands. He picks up his birpa and takes a drink. Before he can answer, Gelly speaks.

"He's here to bring me back home." He laughs before continuing. "Least they could do after takin' me ship and armor."

"Your ship? Why would the Empire need a ship?"

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"Mos Gol decided to utilize it for long range attacks against tribal settlements," answers Zek cheerfully.

Gol. She and I share in our unorthodox methods of leadership. One of the few of my own caste that I had ever felt any connection to. "It's good to hear that she has not yet been retired. She served under me, once, when she was new from the academy."

Bruen coughs, clearly disturbed by the shed hair the Tserri leave everywhere. I hope he isn't allergic.

"How old are ye? That one was ancient," Gelly says disbelievingly.

"Old," answers Bruen quietly.

"I served the Empire for a lot longer than most," I confess. "Long enough to watch our caste weaken due to attrition. Fighting the tribals as well as consolidating the hold out cities was killing all of our best. The fools that survived long enough to become teachers had little experience besides avoiding conflict while those like me fought and died keeping the Empire secure."

Gelly nods his bulbous head, crest bobbing at the motion. "Some of them we met seemed a bit off."

"I..." Bruen cannot finish whatever thought he wishes to express. The dander is too much for him. He coughs, then wipes his eyes with his tendrils. "I have to go," he says when he can speak once more.

He hastily slides through the doorway, his dust eater trailing behind him. Han and Gelly exchange a look before getting up as well.

"I could use yer help settin' up the capacitors, if yer not busy."

Han agrees and we head to the array of batteries that he's attempting to integrate into the ungainly circuitry spread throughout the sphere.

"I still find it odd that he hasn't yet returned to receive new orders," I muse while the two work. Lacking manipulative appendages, I have little else to do. "It isn't like him to shirk his duty."

"I do no think he is," answers Gelly, arms deep inside a hollow within the stone. "He said somethin' about gettin' odd orders, but told me no more than that. Hand me another length o' wire, Han."

"Sure."

Gelly adds the wire to his project. I can hear his knuckles hitting the stone, and at one point something much more yielding. He makes a face of disgust before pulling out a rancid hunk of meat. Shards of yellow crystal dot the horrid lump.

A bucket nearby holds more of the same, and Han brings it over for the older male. Gelly tosses it in and it lands with a wet smacking sound. The unique structures of the crystals might be worth the effort, but we won't know until they can be given to proper researchers.

"I think he's to set up a base here abouts," continues Gelly after a short time. "Did ye know he's got some of the soldiers diggin' out a pond. It might be deep enough to swim in by now."

"No thanks!"

"Can no say I like the water meself, Han, but the Squivers love it. The city they brought me to was half under water. Right on the coast, too."

He describes the hive city to the young Tserri as they work, comparing the stately, rounded structures he had seen to his own people's architectural styles. They way that the tide fills the streets each morning and recedes slowly as the day progresses, leaving behind creatures to be harvested by dedicated workers. Gelly doesn't know that the workers he describes are young Sha, bringing home the raw materials needed to build with. The shells make excellent building material, once cleaned and ground into powder for processing.

The flesh of the creatures is simply a perk of their profession, which they sometimes trade for favors from other castes. I miss the thick stews made from fresh crusinia Bruen had often brought back in exchange for the gleanings of our composter worms.

"That should work," announces Gelly, stepping back from the stone. Wires lead into a deep alcove, connecting the hidden batteries to the rest of the power network. "Once we get it charged up, we can stop worryin' about when the heat'll run out."

Only the size of the place prevents the greedy vacuum from stealing all the warmth within the sphere. In truth, the process would be very slow, and asphyxiation is a greater concern. We have not located the processors keeping the air breathable yet and may have to bring equipment from the station or perhaps attempt to trade with Gelen's people. If they don't attack us first.

"Hey, guess what I found!" Yosip shouts as he jogs up, a clear container in his hands. For once his scowl is gone. In its place is a rare smile. "Gor grubs on feeder plants! There's a bunch more on the scrapper they rode in on."

"Did ye talk to the Matron?"

Yosip sets the sealed container down. I can see the grubs inside crawling across young grass.

"No, but I spoke with Eva," answers Yosip, frown once again conquering his face. "I wished her good luck with the station and let her know what we found here. I didn't mention you, Gelly. Figured you'd want it to be a surprise. They'll be sending over a survey team to take a look at the ships outside. After that, we'll be informed how much they'll let us keep."

He wipes his hand across his metal jaw before looking right at me. "And they want to have a look at you, as well."