The tagging operation was far from complete—seven planets in the system and each had to be thoroughly investigated. Long-range investigation, of course. A tag ship rarely landed, and then only when the planet under consideration seemed extremely desirable for colonization, enough to warrant closer observation.
It didn't matter whether it had a breathable atmosphere or not, whether it was ice-bound or blazing hot. These were minor difficulties and engineering ingenuity could overcome them. There were other criteria, and it was for these that they were checked.
Alsint went out into the ship. There was a lot of activity, but much of it was invisible, electronic in nature, affecting only instruments. The ship had slipped into an orbit, the plane of which intersected the axis of planetary revolution at the most effective angle. The ship went around twice while the planet revolved three times. In that period the mineral resources were plotted and the approximate quantities of each were determined.
Larienne looked up as he came near. "This is a real find," she said cheerfully.
"I suppose you've located the heavy stuff," he said, knowing that it was a superfluous statement.
"What else would we look for?" She bent over the small torpedo shape she was working on. "Not just one, either. This is the second planet in the system with enough heavy elements to be worth settling."
"What's the gravity?" He didn't always share the enthusiasm others had for their discoveries.
"The first was 1.6. This is about 2.3. A little high for personal comfort, but with the mineral resources there, the settlers can manage."
"What about atmosphere?"
"The first hasn't much, frozen mostly. This one has chlorine in it." She grinned at him. "Your old theme, huh?"