Free Relic Tech (Crax War Chronicles) by Terry W. Ervin II

slogan, ‘Come be a stallion on our range.’ Agent Vingee was attractive, but she wasn’t that tall or even blond. Maybe I’d travel out that way someday, if I ever won a share of the intra-colonial lottery.
    We struck Io’s thin atmosphere. The jarring brought me back to reality, but I continued my wandering line of thought. That is, if I ever won the lottery and survived the next twenty hours. Both registered equivalent odds. Right, must be an I-Tech thing. No, that little adventure was pretty near the bottom of my list should I survive the Cranaltar. I’d never spoken with anyone who’d actually visited the Celestial Palace. My limited social circle? I’d have bet that old Falshire Hawks had spent a little time there.
    “Ever been on Io?” I asked Agent Vingee.
    “No. Is this your first time?”
    “Yes. I hear it’s cold. Probably bad as Pluto or Charon. I was never out on the surface while assigned there. Even all geared up, still frigid. Is that correct Dr. Goldsen?”
    “Well,” said the doctor, “the moon’s surface certainly is inhospitably cold without proper equipment. Except for the few volcanic hot spots, of course. But, in the few surface complexes and large underground areas, they have tapped into the thermal vents to supplement the heating. More energy efficient. The surface radiation from Jupiter is more dangerous than the cold.” She paused during a bit of turbulence. “The Umbelgarri colony on Io, near my lab, keeps it very warm. They have set up immense towers to generate electricity from Jupiter’s magnetic field.”
    “You’ve been in there?” I asked. The Umbelgarri have always been very secretive. Isolationist in many ways. The amphibian aliens were rarely seen during the Silicate War. And since then almost never. Their crab-like thralls have always been more common, but still infrequently encountered. This line of conversation seemed to have caught everyone’s attention.
    “I really cannot say much,” said Dr. Goldsen. “But from time to time it has been necessary to consult with them on the project. They are not exactly what you would expect.”
    Dr. Goldsen’s statement ended the conversation. I guessed that everybody was content to ponder the mystery of the Umbelgarri until we landed. The touchdown was smooth and the landing pad immediately lowered the shuttle into the underground portion of the colony.
    The marines checked their gear and became attentive to everything about them. Fitch assisted everyone in freeing themselves before removing my retaining net and releasing my bed. Agent Vingee spoke briefly with the pilot and then asked, “Ready?”
    I nodded. The marines lowered the ramp and led the way. A number of shuttles and small interplanetary vessels sat silently in the cavernous hangar bay. My marine escorts’ boots echoed. The faint humming and calliope of other electronic support equipment provided the background music. One of the wheels on my bed had developed a squeak.
    We exited the hangar and took several turns down long corridors. Each appeared similar to the previous. Numbers identifying location were carved into the gray stone walls. The tunneled complex and lighting reminded me more of an ancient earth cave than a modern space colony. The place seemed deserted. I guessed we were following an ancient lava tube. I wondered how they kept the complex intact with the gravitational forces of the nearby gas giant, Jupiter.
    The marines escorted with automatic MP rifles held ready. Dr. Goldsen strove to keep pace. “Can we slow down just a little?” I asked.
    Sergeant Fitch nodded and slowed our march. Soon we entered a large freight elevator.
    “Normally,” said Dr. Goldsen, “we use electric carts to move about. But Captain Hollaway did not think it was wise. Not much further to my laboratory facilities.” She sounded a little winded, but more agitated by the silence. “This route is seldom used and more secure.”
    About fifty paces from the elevator