Day 12: Space Dwarves

Callum set his pickaxe down on the counter. The metal ringing pleasantly as the solid weight settled itself. A sound which pleased any dwarf, but which humans had yet to learn to appreciate. Callum scowled at the humans across the counter as rubbed their ears. Not a good way to start asking for a favor.

“You can see why we’re seeking out some Alominimum,” The human captain said, motioning with his hands in a circle. “We know it is used in your best space drives.”

“No, it’s not,” Callum said. He drummed his fingers over the counter.

The captain blinked, drawing back slightly. “It’s not?”

“No, it’s not close.” Callum rolled his eyes. “The best ships we’ve got are the Firebirds.” No dwarf would be dumb enough to think we could contribute to those, he added to himself.

The captain opened his mouth but didn’t make any noise. He looked like nothing more than a leaky pipe so long ruptured that all the gas had escaped.

“W-we know that we can’t get our hands on Firebird technology,” the caption said and then rolled his jaw. Well, at least he was smart enough to pick his words carefully. “However, if we could get some Alominimum, we could work on the other engine technology.”

“Why would you want to do that?” Callum folded his arms across his broad chest and settled into a happy slouch. Why would a human want to do that? Didn’t they know space was no safe place? Sure, they’d managed to get out of their solar system. The Empress had even overridden others who had argued against it. Humans had made some progress into space and been allowed to begin discussions with them, but it didn’t mean they were ready for the rest.

“As I see it–”Callum didn’t get the chance to finish saying that because his comm system sounded.

Heaving a great, rumbling sigh, he held up a finger to the human captain and turned away from him. He didn’t need him overhearing this conversation. He slammed the heavy door closed behind him as he entered his office and turned on the comm system.

The screen flickered into life and Callum saw Nutmeg Iceswirl on the screen. She hovered close enough to the camera that her face seemed huge. Close for her still meant he could see most of her body as well. “Oh Callum! Her royal bigness and the other dude think the humans should have the Alo… Ali… the metal.”

“They want me to give… them Alominimum?” Callum paused on the word give as if the lucidity of him giving away any metal should be obvious even to one as chaotic as Nutmeg whose brain seemed loopier than normal. The change in her size seemed to have squished her brain.

She batted her hand in front of her face flinging ice crystals out which covered her camera leaving her a flittering form. Callum was glad he had not been in the same room with her. He’d probably have been hit by her ice. “Dwarves. So obstinate. Makeses a deal with them. I don’t care. Change them. Don’t charge them. Just follow the orders. She might eats you.”

“And why do the Empress and Emperor want me to give… no, barter with the humans?” Callum held up a finger as he changed give to the word barter.

“That’s their business. I’m just the messenger. I don’t questions the scaley butts.” She shrugged. Darted into a zipping circle in midair, Nutmeg pulled back from the camera and hit a button behind her closing the channel.

Callum heaved another rumbling sigh. They wanted him to give the humans the metal. Well, she had said that he could barter for whatever price he wanted. That was something at least.

Callum thumped his way back to the front room, still not pleased that he’d been instructed to make this deal. Still didn’t understand why he should. But what could a dwarf expect from a chaos creature from the dragon court?

Eh, he’d see just how much he could get out of the humans. “If you want Alominimum, it’s going to cost you.” He picked up his pickaxe and slung it over his shoulder with a grin. Perhaps this would prove useful and give the asteroid colony the boost it needed to compete again.