They instead seek to crush all opposing religions and aid their patron, the Empire of Nak Drakas, in continental conquest. Saving the planet from Nordarken exploitation is not their concern. The Paleowrights want his secrets for themselves. But other forces conspire against the team, not least of which are the Paleowrights, a Dianis religious sect intensely interested in Achelous's activities. Led by Achelous they plot, under the high-risk principal of Ultimate Cause, to thwart the supposed exploitation plans of Nordarken Mining. Moral ambiguity inflicts other members of the IDB team. As Dianis provincials, Marisa and Boyd cannot be extricated from the planet. The thought of leaving Marisa and Boyd behind in the IDB exodus is unbearable as is violating his oath to protect primitive worlds. His fear is acute as he has fallen in illicit love with Marisa, a Dianis provincial, which is strictly forbidden by ULUP. Achelous, a trained cultural anthropologist, is exceedingly concerned as to what will happen should the IDB leave Dianis and expose it to the plundering of galactic corsairs.

Protected by ULUP, the Universal Law of Unclaimed Planets, worlds such as Dianis are strictly off limits for resource extraction and societal interference. The recent finding of a critical resource on Dianis, a gem crucial to the Turboii War effort, is suspiciously coincidental. Achelous struggles with his paranoia of what could happen versus what will happen. Chief Inspector Achelous Forushen begins his battle with Nordarken Mining, the most powerful conglomerate in the galaxy, the portion that has survived Turboii decimation.Assigned to protect the primitive planet of Dianis from extrasolar incursions, Achelous learns he and the entire Interspecies Development Branch have been reassigned, under questionable circumstances, to a world far away. The long-anticipated launch of the Dianis, A World In Turmoil series is here.

The Foundry by Frank Dravis