Free The Void War (Empire Rising Book 1) by D. J. Holmes

suspense,” James replied.
     
    “It appears that there are significant deposits of valstronium around the area of the equator we surveyed. Given what our passive sensors have also picked up, the computer is estimating that the pockets we know are there for sure, continue sporadically across the entire planet.”
     
    Gupta looked back to the commander to take in his reaction. The British discovery of valstronium on their second colony was the main reason Britain had been able to keep up with the other major world powers in the space race, which had, in turn, lead Gupta’s family to immigrate to Britain. Before that discovery, almost two hundred years ago now, the only source of the metal had been from mining asteroids that orbited Sol and other stars. Typically only those with wide orbits contained the metal and even those were rare. Britain’s discovery had meant that they could build as many spaceships as they needed and still export some of the almost priceless valstronium. This success and the overbearing weight of the Indian caste system had led Gupta’s family to Britain in the hope of a brighter future for their offspring.
     
    Gupta could hardly keep a grin from her face but as she watched the commander she controlled herself. As James read the details Fisher had sent to his display, his face didn’t move an inch. Scolding herself for wishing to be like her stuck up commander, Gupta turned back to her own terminal. The findings were indeed impressive. Since the founding of Britannia, the other space powers had discovered their own limited sources of valstronium. However, the sheer quantity of valstronium the sensors suggested were present on V2 would mean that the British would once again have a near monopoly, if they could exploit it.
     
    James eventually broke the silence that had encompassed the bridge. “Very good Fisher, I see the Admiralty is indeed going to be pleased with our discovery. What else have you found?”
     
    Surprised at the commander’s nonchalance over their discovery, Fisher had to look back at her console to recheck the other details. “The planet is 15% smaller than Earth. It is also closer to its sun so although the sun in this system omits less solar energy than Sol’s, the average temperature is 5 0 C higher. I’m not sure any settlers are going to want to live out in the open around the equator but the north and south hemispheres are perfectly habitable. The atmosphere is also similar to Earth’s with a slightly elevated oxygen count. The land mass is largely made up of small islands although there is a sizeable continent in the south that would make a good initial base.”
     
    “Interesting,” James replied, “I think we may want to suggest to the crew that they reinvest their prize money into this system. I can see V2 becoming the center of our expanding colonial empire for decades to come. Anything else of interest, how about plant and animal life?”
     
    Gupta had to hide a snarl at the commander’s comments as Fisher consulted her console again. It was well known that Commander Somerville came from an exceedingly rich family. Despite his current difficulties, it was hard to imagine the commander needing to think about how to invest a measly one million credits. When Gupta’s family had come to Britain they had had no choice but to scrape a living from nothing. Her parents had worked two jobs each and spent their meager life’s savings to send her to the RSN Lunar Academy. Now, as a Second Lieutenant, she was able to begin paying them back out of her wages and to help send her younger siblings to university as well.  She still held out hope of a command someday. That would allow her parents a level of luxury they could only dream of. Yet, Somerville’s promotion to commander had been a kick in the teeth and had left her father complaining to her over the datanet for weeks before Drake had left Earth’s orbit. 
     
    Gupta’s thoughts were broken as Fisher