SECTION 17
Trinidad is the biggest troublespot of Ulnar’s Ninth Sector. Fifth planet of a Class F star, the planet’s highly eccentric orbit makes for extreme changes in climate and geography over the course of one of the planet’s long “years.” The human colonists planted on the world a decade ago were forced to settle under immense domes that protected them from the worst dangers of radically variable temperatures and dramatic changes in the level of the planet’s seas between summer and winter. Some dome cities are undersea complexes in the hottest months of periastron and isolated, land-bound outposts in the midst of a barren tundra when winter sets in.
The settlers were drawn to Trinidad by the discovery of great deposits of exploitable mineral wealth, easily mined during some portions of the year, because of the accelerated process of erosion which goes hand in hand with the harsh climate. Although the world is not heavily populated, it has drawn a fairly large influx of colonists pursuing golden opportunities. But the rapid expansion of the colony combined with the hostile environment to completely outstrip the progress of scouts and pioneers looking for possible threats to the community. As a result, the colonists are entangled in a strange and inexpiable war with a native intelligence whose very existence had been unsuspected.
These aliens, known as the Snow Devils among the humans, are a monstrous race of spiny bipeds who estivate throughout the periastron period of Trinidad’s orbit and emerge on the surface during the long, bitter winter. Despite the handicaps of spending significant portions of each year asleep, the Snow Devils have a sophisticated civilization. But the careless destruction of a sleeping vault and its slumbering occupants by human miners has earned their implacable hatred. As a result, for the duration of each winter period, Snow Devil attacks against human colony domes pose a serious threat to the settlers—and to the mining work. Diplomacy has failed totally, but a stubborn refusal by the League government to abandon the world has led to the continuation of the intermittent war.
A sizable force of League ships is maintained at Trinidad all year round. During winter they assist the colonists against Snow Devil attacks, and the summer is spent in efforts to locate Snow Devil lairs and so spot their probable bases for the next campaign. A proposal to neutralize these lairs has been blocked in the League Council as being nothing short of genocide.
Currently, it is the hot periastron summer period on Trinidad, which means that the ships can be spared from their duties there to serve with Ulnar’s fleet if the need arises.
Trinidad’s resources could make it an important strategic target. The Legion cannot discount the possibility that the Ka’slaq might seek some kind of alliance with the Snow Devils. Their fleet could well need the support of a technological civilization, and they could choose to support the Ka’slaq as the best weapon against the human interlopers who have so aroused their fury.
If Ulnar decides to order his ships to travel to Trinidad, go to section 25.
If Ulnar remains undecided and wishes to review his options further, go to section 8.