Solbidyum Wars Saga 9: At What Price Read Free Page B

exciting.  I glanced over the information quickly and called him into my office.  Marranalis now had his own office, which was adjacent to mine and connected by a secured door.  Outside his office was a larger administrative center, where aides reported to him from various desks and stations.  Although the staff was technically mine, I considered them to be his team, as I rarely communicated with them directly.  Their work and reports went directly to Marranalis and he prioritized and related the information to me personally, after which he filed the data appropriately for my reference.  This saved me an enormous amount of time.  I trusted Marranalis completely.  Only a few people communicated with me directly without going through Marranalis and Admiral Wabussie was one of them.
    “You wished to see me, Admiral?” asked Marranalis as he entered my office.
    “Yes.  You were correct in your guess that Wabussie's message would be news I wished to hear.  It appears the FSO has gained new intelligence regarding Ming’s movements that might lead us to his location.”
    “So we know where he is?”
    “Not exactly, but apparently someone on Tombosem does.”
    “Tombosem!  That’s a strange place for someone to have information about the Brotherhood,” said Marranalis in a confused tone.
    “Why is that?” I asked, as I knew nothing about Tombosem.
    “It’s a small, Federation-aligned world – a low-density moon, whose gravity is less than half that of Megelleon.  I forget exactly which planet it orbits… the gas giant Laxaco, I think.  Anyway, the life forms there have weak exoskeletons and they injure easily, so they rarely leave their world.  When they do need to travel, they require special compartments that simulate their normal gravitational environment.”
    “What happens to them if they’re exposed to gravity levels?” I asked.
    “Their exoskeletons fracture and they are virtually crippled until their next shedding cycle, when they grow a new shell.”
    “I’m gathering from your description; they’re not even close to being humanoid,” I replied.
    “No, sir.  You can display an image of them on your vid screen, if you like,” he replied.
    I fiddled with the console until an image appeared of a creature that resembled the giant coconut crab of Earth.  I had seen coconut crabs during my time in the Earths Navy, when we docked for a short time at Tasmania on our return to San Francisco from the Persian Gulf.  Those creatures, however, had tough thick, dark-colored shells, whereas the Tombosemites’ light, firebrick red exoskeletons appeared to be extremely brittle and nearly paper thin.
    “How did the Federation ever get connected with the Tombosemites?” I asked.  “I don’t see what they could have that would be considered valuable or trade-worthy to the Federation.” 
    While I was asking this question, I continued reading on the screen.  “Oh, never mind,” I said as I came across my answer.  “It says here that the planet is known for its high-grade pharmaceuticals and health facilities.  Apparently, people with certain health problems benefit from the lower gravity as a means of therapy and the Tombosemites are excellent surgeons.  Hm... I thought most operations were done robotically throughout the Federation.”
    “Most are, but certain conditions are not part of the robotic programming or if the required surgery involves other complications, then a sentient surgeon is required.  The Tombosemites make superior surgeons because of their multiple appendages and very fine dexterity.  We may think they’re ugly, but they’re good at what they do.  In fact, their surgical skills and their pharmaceutical production capabilities have become valuable enough that the Federation agreed to protect them with a minor military outpost and a small contingent of troops who patrol the surface,” replied Marranalis.
    “So how would one of these Tombosemites obtain information