Citadel of Lost Ships

"Citadel of Lost Ships" by Leigh Brackett is a science fiction story that paints a picture of a Solar System in decline, where Roy Campbell, a man running from his past, finds himself caught up in the struggle for survival of the Kraylens, a vanishing tribe on Venus. It's a tale of freedom versus oppression, highlighting the way powerful groups can crush smaller cultures in the name of progress. Campbell, seeking safety with the Kraylens, discovers they are about to be destroyed by the Coalition, who want to move them off their land. After deeply connecting with the Kraylens and their old traditions, he decides to help them, traveling to Romany, a refuge for endangered peoples, to ask for help. There, he uncovers a dangerous plot involving Romany's leader, Tredrick, who is secretly working with the Coalition. In a desperate act to save the Kraylens, Campbell gives up his own freedom, showing the tough choices people face when deciding between their own needs and the good of others.