[Lazamataz]

1. Sound travels well in water.

2 and 3. The ‘evil corporation’ is completely incidental to the story.

To be fair, a reader will be best suited to reading the first novel, though I intend this sequel to stand on its own.

Thanks for your thoughts!

[Deaf Smith]

Did not get to read this first story.

Martini and the Sprites were on the surface when he got his head bitten/crunched.

As for “stand alone”, I take Martini as an expendable expensive labor that hired on for a quick buck. He knew that there were risk, but did not take it seriously (series?) and I did expect him to die before I got to the end and of the read.

The corporation got verification that the minerals were present, though there should have been some sort of documentation (video? testing? sample data uploading?) rather than just this buffoon’s word by radio.

Oh well, they can just put out another ad on Craig’s List under Quick Bucks.