The next morning the scientist and his daughter took the party in the hut, which was equipped with a slow gravitic drive, to a remote location where, it was promised, an explanation of the situation on the planet would be forthcoming.
The journey took about an hour, taking the party over lush green woods and grassland. The scientist explained that the plants on this planet are similar to those found on many worlds but are different in important ways. No seeds from earth-like worlds will grow in the soil on this planet but there are many plants that have the same function. A husk of a large seed can be ground down to flour for bread, and there are leafy vegetables and tubers that can be eaten by all intelligent races.
He surmised that the reason that the planet has been more or less ignored is that the people who wish to take advantage of lush green planets want to do so to grow their crops to make them money, not to have alien crops that are not commercially viable.
Upon arriving at the destination, some of the party noticed a crashed space ship, mostly covered in mosses and creeping plants. This, Dr Astor explained, was the slave ship that the founding members of the colony arrived in. What happened is not clear, but the Aslan crew were dead and a large number of slaves emerged from their low berths to start a colony on this new world.
The slaves had been bred by the Aslan to be physically strong and attractive, but mentally quite slow. A ratio of 1 male to 10 females was also bred into the slave stock as this reduced the amount of testosterone and therefore the anger and violence decreased. The founding fathers did know enough to spread out and start taking advantage of the benevolent planet they found themselves on. This was just over 100 years ago. Since then, the population has grown but has been more or less centred on this crash site.
Taking the party back to the settlement Dr Astor told that from time to time a particularly clever person would be born. These originally were killed, in case the Aslan returned, but more recently they have been given more and more elevated positions in society. Dr Astor's wife was one such person. And when she died he and his daughter swore to rectify the genetic imbalance on the people of this planet.
Talk turned to whether the scientist would help Lady Yemar. Dr Astor agreed that he would do what he could, coming with the party to see her. He was concerned that in his absence shortages might arise that would impact his daughter's work. Also there would be nobody overseeing the inhabitants and advising them. The party undertook to deliver goods to Fantasy from time to time, and to ensure that all was well.
Arriving back at the settlement the party decided to take the ship that the scientist arrived in and return to the starport. How to approach the angry Aslan and the crew of the second ship was discussed but Dr Astor was adamant that no lies be told, and that come what may the two other ships should leave the planet and its inhabitants alone.
Arriving at the starport Slayed spoke to the second crew, admitting that the scientist was with them but that they had their ship back and would be given a sum of money by Dr Astor to compensate them for their trouble and their time.
At that point Klowaaar arrived and stormed up to the hatch and roared for justice. Slayed stood there and shouted back NO!!!. To everyone's astonishment (including Klowaaar) he immediately stopped, cowed down and acquiesced.
In the three days that everyone would need to refine the fuel, the party talked to the second crew. They were just adventuring around this region of space and had no other work. Slayed suggested that they might take on some work from the party, namely delivering goods to Fantasy and other locations, and be based out of Drinax. Rachando, Slayed's good friend the merchant, would be able to manage their activities.
So with the scientist on board, and everyone ready to go, the party jumped to Paal.
TO BE CONTINUED
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