1. A computing device comprising: an interface configured to interface and communicate with a dispersed storage network (DSN); memory that stores operational instructions; and a processing module operably coupled to the interface and to the memory, wherein the processing module, when operable within the computing device based on the operational instructions, is configured to: generate a read request for a set of encoded data slices (EDSs) of a data object that is stored within a plurality of primary storage units (SUs) and a plurality of secondary SUs within the DSN, wherein the read request includes a read extra request that specifies at least one of more than a read threshold number of EDSs from the plurality of primary SUs or instruction to a SU of the plurality of primary SUs to forward the read request to at least one SU of the plurality of secondary SUs when a DSN operational characteristic compares unfavorably to an acceptable DSN operational characteristic as determined by the computing device, wherein sets of EDSs of the data object are stored within the plurality of primary SUs and the plurality of secondary SUs within the DSN, wherein the data object is segmented into a plurality of data segments, wherein a data segment of the plurality of data segments is dispersed error encoded in accordance with dispersed error encoding parameters to produce the set of EDSs that is of pillar width, wherein a decode threshold number of EDSs are needed to recover the data segment, wherein the read threshold number of EDSs provides for reconstruction of the data segment, wherein a write threshold number of EDSs provides for a successful transfer of the set of EDSs from a first at least one location in the DSN to a second at least one location in the DSN; transmit the read request for the set of EDSs of the data object to the plurality of primary SUs within the DSN; and receive at least the read threshold number of EDSs from the plurality of primary SUs, wherein: the SU of the plurality of primary SUs provides an EDS of the set of EDSs from memory of the SU of the plurality of primary SUs when the EDS of the set of EDSs is stored and available within the SU of the plurality of primary SUs; and the SU of the plurality of primary SUs provides the EDS of the set of EDSs after receipt thereof from a SU of the plurality of secondary SUs when at least one of the DSN operational characteristic compares unfavorably to the acceptable DSN operational characteristic as determined by the SU of the plurality of primary SUs or the EDS of the set of EDSs is unavailable within the memory of the SU of the plurality of primary SUs.