Traders Risk

"Traders Risk" by Roger D. Aycock is a mid-20th century science fiction tale that dives into the complexities of galactic commerce and its unforeseen impacts, portraying the clashes between diverse civilizations. It follows a Ciriimian crew’s disastrous journey with a dangerous Zid creature, which they abandon on a planet thought to be lifeless, only to find intelligent beings already living there. As Jeff Aubray, an agent from Earth, faces his assignment of exploiting the planet’s resources, he wrestles with the morality of his mission and his growing responsibility to protect the native population. The plot intensifies as Aubray and a local woman named Jennifer are forced to battle the Zid, grappling with the repercussions of both their actions and a much bigger decision regarding trade and the right to self-govern in a vast galaxy.