"Something came past here, eh?" Akagi echoed. The farmlands were supposed to be safe, but the Scorpion took care to look around a little more carefully, just in case.

"I and a few others had a run-in with a couple of reavers not far from here, about a week ago. Think there could be more of those around?"

Smiling gently, "just passing through," she reassured. "It could have been one of those giant centipedes you saw, or a young reaver. Sometimes the wild creatures wander closer at night to hunt, but it's the job of rangers such as myself to make sure they don't stay." Moriko reined Hana in so they could examine the gentle swaying, "if it was large, or recent, the motion would be more pronounced," the girl indicated a swaying motion with her hand, "no way to tell which without getting closer."

"Oh, I remember that giant centipede," Akagi said, nodding. "It seemed harmless enough." He relaxed a bit.

"I admire how familiar you are with the wilderness here, Shiba-san," he said. "The wild places of Asakaze seem so beautiful, but with many dangers, too. You and the other rangers are clearly doing a fine job of keeping the human settlements safe."

"How long do you think the wilds of Asakaze will remain untamed?" the Scorpion pondered. "The pattern I've seen on other worlds, most gradually cultivate and clear more and more of the wild areas. Some planets even become entirely urbanized; others just have a few domed settlements and leave the rest of the environment unclaimed."

"What do you think will happen here?"

There was a sense of unhappiness or disapproval as she answered, “the governor is quite set on pushing the wilds back further and further. There is so little landmass above sea level here, if we push our influence out any further, hundreds of native species will become extinct because he would take all this planet has to give with no regard for any life other than his own.” With rising anger, “he thinks he can claim what rightly belongs to the Fortunes.”

Akagi fell silent for a moment while he gathered his thoughts.

Finally, he said, "I've seen a lot of planets while traveling the star lanes. Some were just barren rocks, some were new frontier colonies. Some were fully developed, entirely covered by cities or factories. I've never seen a world as beautiful as Asakaze. It would be a great shame if the planet's natural beauty were lost."

"Do you think anything could be done?" Akagi asked.

"I hope so," Moriko touched her heels to Hana's sides to continue on their way, "even if I must dedicate my life to it." She looked over at the Scorpion, "I'm sure you'll find planets just as lovely as this one, in their own ways." With a wistful smile, "I suppose it might be too much to hope that you would write to me from time to time?"

This drew a small smile from Akagi. "I should like that very much," he said, bowing from the saddle as they continued riding.