# IX explained — First Lensman > Chapter companion for First Lensman by E. E. Smith. ## What happens Virgil Samms and Roderick Kinnison discuss the rampant piracy and its connection to Spaceways, revealing that many disappearances are orchestrated to supply a hidden planet where a fleet is being built. Samms then embarks on a perilous mission to the planet Trenco to harvest leaves, facing extreme weather and spatial distortions. Later, Samms meets his daughter Jill in a crowded restaurant to discuss the true leaders of the criminal syndicate, concluding that Senator Morgan may be more powerful than previously thought. ## Themes in this chapter ### Truth and Deception Spaceways fakes pirate attacks and passenger disappearances to secretly build a fleet, deceiving the public and authorities. ### Corruption and Crime The Towne-Morgan-Isaacson gang is deeply involved in piracy, thionite, and organized crime, with politicians and executives complicit. ### Sacrifice and Duty Samms risks his life on the deadly planet Trenco to gather leaves, accepting the high casualty rate as part of his duty. ## Character check-ins ### Virgil Samms Discusses piracy with Kinnison, then leads a dangerous leaf-harvesting mission on Trenco. ### Roderick Kinnison Reports on Operation Boskone and the hidden fleet, and reveals Project Bennett. ### Jill Samms Meets her father in a restaurant and analyzes the criminal hierarchy, pointing to Senator Morgan as the likely real boss. ### Senator Morgan Identified as a possible prime mover in the piracy and drug syndicate, contrary to his public image. ### Captain Willoughby Briefs Samms on the dangers of Trenco and gives orders for the leaf-harvesting mission. ### George Olmstead Mentioned as Fourth Officer with authority to enforce orders during the Trenco mission. ## Key lines > Murgatroyd was simply a Captain Kidd of space; and even if he were actually connected with Galactic Spaceways, that fact would not be surprising. Murgatroyd is just a space pirate, and it wouldn't be shocking if he worked for Galactic Spaceways. _Establishes the link between piracy and the corporation._ > It means just that. And finding out 'where' will run into a project. There are over two thousand million suns in this galaxy... Exactly. Locating the hidden planet will be a huge undertaking given the vast number of stars in the galaxy. _Highlights the scale of the search for the secret base._ > Next to Arisia, it's the God damndest planet in space. I've never been any closer to it than this, and I never will, so I don't know anything about it except what I hear; but there's something about it that kills men or drives them crazy. Trenco is one of the worst planets, second only to Arisia, and it kills or drives men insane. _Describes the extreme danger of Trenco._ > I have always thought that Morgan was nothing but a windbag.… So did I—until today. I thought that he was simply an unusually corrupt, greedy, rabble-rousing politician. Our estimates of him may have to be changed very radically. Both Jill and Samms previously dismissed Morgan as a mere blowhard, but now suspect he is far more powerful and dangerous. _Reveals the shift in perception of Senator Morgan's role._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/first_lensman_se/chapters/ix - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/first_lensman_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/first_lensman_se/chapters