The Adventures of Bart Davidson, Planetary Prospector

Bart Davidson jumped to hyperspace, with a course set for the Cereus system, a region of the galaxy where he had been. He was looking for planets, moons, and asteroids that had significant deposits of valuable elements. The Cereus system was large and untapped for such elements. Davidson made his living by identifying deposits of elements and selling that information to mining companies. He also dabbled in smuggling from time to time, which inevitably got him into trouble with the Outer Rim authorities. He had been successful at bribing his way out of those predicaments.

As he entered the Cereus system from hyperspace, Davidson pored over his maps. He noted planets and other bodies that he had prospected in, paying attention to those that had been profitable. Planet C4567 loomed ahead of him. The planet gave off a faint red glow, illuminated by the enormous sun of this system. The planet also had a set of colored rings around its equator. It reminded him of Mars back home. A large, rocky planet with a breathable atmosphere, C4567 was an exceptional source of rare elements for Davidson. Other prospectors had also been to this planet for the same reason: large profits and low risk. Once a prospector found a new deposit, they would make a claim that would then be entered into the mining database. Conflicts were rare among prospectors. A small number of prospectors had been allowed access to the Cereus system, so there were opportunities for all. Gaining access depended on whom you knew in the Outer Rim government. An occasional bribe helped, too. Conflicts did occur among prospectors, and sometimes these turned deadly. Just last month, one prospector had sabotaged a competitor’s ship, leading to a massive explosion just after takeoff. Davidson was well aware of the risks.

As he entered orbit around the planet, Davidson focused his attention on one of the planets larger valley systems. He surmised that this would be a worthwhile location to hunt for rare elements. Davidson began his descent to the planet’s surface, firing the landing rockets to slow the approach. The ship shuddered and gently touched down on a flat area near a low cliff. Davidson swung open the door. The stifling heat swept over him as he caught his breath. C4567 was a hot, dry planet, unforgiving to those who may not be prepared. He grabbed a jug of water and took a long, lingering drink. Then he scooped up his sensors, laser rifle, and rock hammer and walked toward the cliff. Suddenly, an explosion lifted him off his feet and tossed him up away from the base of the cliff.

When he came to, Bart was staring up at a familiar face. It was Jason Smedley, one of his prospector friends that he had known for a half a dozen years. “Damn, Bart, are you okay?” Jason asked. “What are you doing here, Jason?” “I am as surprised to see you! I had set a charge to expose some minerals in the cliff. Glad you aren’t hurt, or are you?” “I think I am in one piece,” replied Davidson. He stood up stiffly. “What have you found here so far?” “Not much, Bart. I just got here about an hour ago. I set the charge before you landed. Really sorry that I almost killed you!” “No real harm done! Hey, maybe we can work this site together, since we both ended up in the same place at the same time. What do you think?” “Sure, Bart. Let’s do that. We can take a look now and see what the blast opened up in this cliff.”