The Star Cross

by Raymond L. Weil

  “A wise choice,” one of the other humanoids said, nodding his head in understanding. “Just what type of system are you interested in?”

  “Something that would discourage an attack, such as what Profiteer Creed launched against Earth,” Kurt answered evenly. “I have been told, if we can destroy or damage enough Profiteer ships, they will pull back rather than risk a loss to their profits.”

  “That is true in most cases,” Lomatz responded, his eyes narrowing.

  Lomatz had brought three others with him, and they quickly huddled together and talked animatedly to one another. One of them took out another tablet. Finally the four seemed satisfied, and Lomatz turned toward Kurt.

  “Six orbiting defense platforms, twenty-four satellites armed with standard energy weapons, and one control center to coordinate everything.”

  “How much?” Lieutenant Tenner asked, his eyes focusing on Lomatz.

  Lomatz looked over at one of his associates who answered, “Eighty-two million credits.”

  “And this would ensure that Profiteers such as Creed would leave us alone?” asked Kurt. It made him uneasy having to depend on these humanoids to plan the defense of Newton.

  “Yes,” one of the others answered. “These weapons systems are capable of inflicting just enough damage on an attacking fleet to make profits impossible. In most cases just the presence of the defense system will deter aggression. Most of the systems in the Gothan Empire, plus a number of others outside the empire, have this type of system.”

  Kurt leaned back and folded his arms across his chest. Newton was Earth’s only hope of eventual freedom. “Are there more powerful weapon systems available for planetary defense?” He suspected that, while it might be true that this type of system would deter most attacks, he wanted something that would discourage even a full-size battlefleet from attacking Newton.

  The humanoids seemed surprised by the question.

  “Yes, there are more powerful systems,” Lomatz answered carefully. “However they’re extremely expensive, and most planetary governments can’t afford them. The type of system I’m speaking of is widely used in some of the more enlightened systems that don’t want to depend on a warfleet for protection.”

  “What type of system would it take to destroy an attacking fleet such as the one Profiteer Creed has at his disposal?”

  “Destroy it completely?” asked the humanoid holding the tablet. “You’re talking about a system that would cost several hundred million credits. It would involve no less than twelve Class Two Orbital Defense Platforms, forty-eight satellites with dual firing energy weapons, a Class Two Command and Control Center, and six Planetary Defense Centers with top-of-the-line direct-energy cannons that can hit anything in orbit.”

  “We’ll take it,” Kurt answered without hesitation.

  “What!” uttered Lomatz, looking stunned. “We rarely sell those systems because of their price. Do you have that many credits?”

  “I can have that much in my account within twenty-two hours.”

  The four humanoids talked again. This time it took much longer. Finally they turned back to Kurt.

  “We can have the system ready for delivery in sixty days,” Lomatz answered. “We’ll use one of our special cargo fleets to deliver the system and two of our construction ships to install it. We’ll also guarantee the safety of your planet from the time we arrive until the time the system is activated.”

  “Very well,” replied Kurt, surprised at how quickly they could have it ready. Then he leaned forward and looked intently at the four. “We also want to purchase a large supply of hypermissiles.”

  “Hypermissiles are one of the standard weapons most species in the galaxy employ,” one of the humanoids answered, leaning back and focusing his attention on Kurt. “The basic missile costs twenty thousand credits each. How many are you interested in and what type of warheads do you want on them?”

  “One thousand,” Kurt answered without hesitation. “What are the options for the warheads?”

  “For twenty thousand credits the missile comes with a standard ten-kiloton explosive warhead. For fifty thousand credits the warhead detonates in the fifty-kiloton range,” Lomatz answered.

  “Do you have anything more powerful?”

  Lomatz looked at his associates a little uneasily. “There are the antimatter warheads which detonate in the fifty-megaton range. Those warheads, once they have been sold, are not allowed back inside the Kubitz System or the Gothan Empire. We have special detection equipment that constantly scans the system, and any ship entering Kubitz space will be annihilated if it contains such weapons. Other inhabited worlds in the empire are similarly equipped and follow the same policy. They are two hundred thousand credits each.”

  “Let’s change our order slightly,” Kurt said. “I want one hundred antimatter warheads and two hundred of the fifty-kiloton and the rest in the standard ten-kiloton range.”

  “What about the defense system?” asked the humanoid with the tablet. “The system comes equipped with the standard hypermissile warhead. Do you want some of the stronger missiles for it as well?

  “Yes,” Kurt answered. “Twenty percent of the hypermissiles are to be in the fifty-kiloton range and the rest can be of the standard ten-kiloton warheads.

  “Fifty million additional credits.”

  “Done,” responded Kurt without hesitation.

  “What about ships?” one of the others ventured. “We sell warships as well. We have the largest orbital shipyards in this section of the galaxy. We can provide you with a standard model or one built to your specifications.”

  Kurt looked over at Lieutenant Tenner. This wasn’t something he had even considered. Was it possible he could actually buy a fleet or have one built? “How much does a battleship cost, like the ones the Dacroni possess?”

  “Those are special vessels and very heavily armed,” Lomatz answered. “They were built specifically for the Dacroni. Normal battleships equipped with ion cannons, energy projectors, and hypermissiles will run about fifteen to twenty million credits each. A battlecruiser similarly armed will run about twelve to fifteen million. All of this is, of course, dependent upon what options you want included.”

  Kurt could scarcely believe what he was hearing.

  “If we purchased the standard model, how soon could you have a battlecruiser or battleship completed?”

  “Sixty to eighty days,” one of the other humanoids answered promptly. “We keep a supply of the hulls on hand already completed. We just need to add what weapons and options you want. Most of these are modules that just need to be slid into place. We can also adjust the crew quarters and other areas inside to fit whatever design scheme you prefer. We can do an entire fleet rather quickly.”

  “If we order some vessels, can it be done in secret?” asked Lieutenant Tenner.

  “Yes,” Lomatz replied. “It can be written into the contract, and no one, not even the work crews, will know where the ships are heading. I should inform you of one other important piece of data. It is against the laws of the Gothan Empire for any ship built at Kubitz to be used against any world of the empire. If that were to occur, then you would be at war with all 118 worlds. This will be explained in great detail in the contract.”

  “What about outside the empire?” asked Kurt carefully. “Could I attack the Profiteer fleet in orbit around Earth with a fleet purchased here at Kubitz?”

  “The rule does not apply outside the cluster,” answered Lomatz, his eyes unwavering.

  Kurt knew this was a big decision. It would also be necessary to come up with the crews. However, how could he not jump at the opportunity to buy a warfleet? It might be the solution to freeing Earth from Profiteer Creed’s grasp. “Give me a day or two to consult with some of my people on the ships. If we do decide to buy some warships, can I send some of my own construction engineers to help with modifications to the interiors?”

  “That’s perfectly fine,” responded Lomatz, nodding his he
ad. “Most worlds that purchase vessels do send engineers so the interiors can be built to specifications they are more comfortable with. Do you want to complete the contract for the hyperspace missiles and the Class Two defense system today?”

  “Yes,” Kurt answered.

  -

  For the next hour, they hammered out the exact details for delivery of the hypermissiles and the defense grid. They would take immediate delivery of one hundred of the missiles and would load them aboard the Lansing. The rest would be delivered when the defense grid was brought to Newton. It ended with Kurt pressing his thumb against the computer pad the Controller had brought.

  “You have twenty-two hours to have the credits deposited in either your account at the spaceport or the one at the station,” the Controller said. “Failure to do so will result in forfeiture of all credits currently in your accounts.”

  “The credits will be in our account in the morning,” responded Lieutenant Tenner.

  As the meeting broke up, Kurt glanced at his watch; nearly three hours had passed. It was past time for him to meet Keera for the meal he had promised her. For the first time in quite a while, he was actually looking forward to something.

  -

  “Second Clan Leader Castel gazed at a large viewscreen, showing the human cargo ship so tantalizing close.

  “We’ve finished interrogating the captive human female,” Dalet reported. “It took time, but, in the end, we got what we wanted or at least most of it.”

  Castel turned his attention to his second in command. “Is there more gold on that cargo ship?”

  “Yes,” Dalet answered. “Unfortunately her mind collapsed from the use of the mind probe before we could learn how much. We know they came to Kubitz to buy back their people and to learn as much as they could about the Gothan Empire. She admitted that the gold on the cargo ship was taken off Earth during the time High Profiteer Creed was absent.”

  “Why did the machine fail to get us all the information we wanted?”

  “When pressed for how much gold had been removed from Earth, her thought pattern disintegrated due to the high setting we were using on the mind probe. Her answers now are mostly gibberish.”

  Castel sighed and shook his head. He knew, in time, her mind might return to normal or her thought patterns might never reestablish. It was dangerous to use the mind probe. The machine was banned on most worlds, including Kubitz. “Imprint some basic memories and sell her to the Brollen Pleasure House. She’s good-looking enough to bring a fair sum, and they’ll stay quiet about the transaction.”

  “It will be done,” Dalet replied. “What will we do about the cargo ship?”

  “We take it!” Castel answered with greed in his eyes. “Put a hyperspace tracer on the ship. When they leave the Kubitz System, we’ll follow and take the ship when they exit hyperspace.”

  “That battlecruiser is equipped with particle beams that can penetrate our shields,” warned Dalet.

  “Yes, that’s a problem,” admitted Castel, as he thought up a plan. “We’ll have High Profiteer Creed’s battlecruiser and two escort cruisers come along as well. We’ll let them take the first hit from the particle beam cannon, and then, while it’s recharging, we’ll move in and take out the battlecruiser. Use our energy projectors to take out the cargo ship’s hyperdrive, so it can’t escape. Once the battle is over, we’ll dock and remove whatever gold is still on the ship. I suspect it will be quite a lot. They won’t be comfortable with leaving all of it here on Kubitz.”

  “They’ve set up a diplomatic compound,” Dalet pointed out. “They’ll need credits to operate it.”

  “We’ll let High Profiteer Creed worry about that,” responded Castel dismissively. “Our interest is in that cargo ship and what it might be carrying.”

  -

  “I’ll be leaving shortly,” Kurt said, as he looked across the table at Keera.

  She had done her hair and put on a little makeup since he had seen her last. They were in the small cafeteria on the bottom floor of the main building of the compound. One of the cooks from the Star Cross had come down to show the locals, who had been hired how to run the place, the type of food the human staff would want.

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” Keera replied, as she took a bite of the chicken on her plate. “This meat is quite tasty. What’s it called?”

  “Fried chicken,” answered Kurt, smiling. “It’s very popular on our home world and our colony on Newton.”

  “You’re embarking on a dangerous path,” Keera said after a moment.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I saw the Kubitz arms people leaving,” she explained with a grimace. “Lomatz only deals in big weapon orders.”

  “It’ll be expensive to protect what remains of my people,” Kurt answered.

  “That may be true,” Keera said, as she stirred her mashed potatoes and gravy with her fork. “But the Profiteers will know that you have credits to spend when they learn what you’ve purchased. They’ll be curious where the gold came from and may pay a visit to your colony. I’m sure the word is already out on the streets.”

  “It’s supposed to be a secret,” answered Kurt, leaning back, curious about what this young doctor had to say. “It’s in the contract I signed with the Controller and Lomatz.”

  “Perhaps,” Keera said, as she took a curious bite of the potatoes. Her eyes widened, and she smiled. “These potatoes are very good, particularly with the gravy. We have similar foods, but every culture puts its own spin on them.”

  “You don’t think the Controller and Lomatz will keep our purchases a secret?”

  “Oh, they’ll try,” Keera said, shrugging her shoulders. “But on Kubitz, nothing stays a secret for long. There are spies everywhere, and enough credits can buy any information that’s supposed to be secret. Once the Profiteers learn of your purchases, they may decide to strike your colony to see what riches it has before your weapons can be delivered.”

  “I considered that,” Kurt admitted. He was enjoying Keera’s company. “If they do, we’ll be ready.”

  “I hope so,” Keera said in a softer voice. “I would hate to see anything else happen to you or your people.”

  -

  Later that evening, Kurt sat down with Lieutenant Tenner. “I intend to leave as soon as possible. Is there anything else that you might need?”

  “I’m sure there are a hundred things,” Tenner responded with a partial smile. “We have the Dallas in orbit, and, if she can’t provide what we need, we’ll just add it to the list.”

  “I’m leaving 120 million credits in the embassy account,” Kurt said. It had taken some time to determine just how much Tenner might need. “We’ll change out the light cruisers every month or two, depending on what happens at Earth. Each time a new ship arrives, they’ll be accompanied by a passenger liner, in case you have had to buy the freedom of any more of our people.”

  “What about the warships?” Tenner asked, his eyes narrowing. “We need to tell Lomatz what you want. I still can’t believe that warships are for sale, as Lomatz indicated.”

  “I was surprised also,” admitted Kurt. “It was something I wasn’t expecting. Right now I’m leaning toward four battleships and ten battlecruisers. The problem will be finding the crews to operate them.”

  “Earth,” Tenner answered simply. “There are bound to be some fleet people still on the planet, and others who could be easily trained. If you can find a way to sneak into the system and get down to the surface, I’m sure you can probably contact Fleet Admiral Tomalson and explain what your needs are.”

  “It’s a thought,” Kurt answered, as he considered Tenner’s suggestion. He would think about it on the return trip. “I’ll meet with Lomatz again tomorrow. I spoke to Dolman earlier, and he confirmed that a hyperspace detection system surrounds the Kubitz System, so they can detect inbound ships before they arrive. I want such a system for Newton. It might also be useful in tracking Profiteer ships leaving Earth.”


  “I’ll make the arrangements for a meeting early in the morning,” Tenner answered with a nod.

  “I’m still greatly concerned about Private Dulcet,” Kurt added with a deep frown. “I know that Dolman feels she’s probably dead, but you keep Grantz searching for her.”

  “I will,” Tenner promised with a nod. “I’ll push Grantz to find her.”

  “As far as Dolman goes, use him and his sources as needed, just watch the amount of credits he demands for his services,” Kurt said.

  Tenner allowed himself to smile and nodded. “I suspect there’ll be a lot of bargaining between me and Avery Dolman.”

  Kurt hesitated for a moment and then spoke. “The young doctor I was with earlier tonight, I think it would be wise to offer her a contract to care for the embassy staff.”

  “I thought you might suggest something like that. I’ll have a simple contract drawn up for her to sign.”

  Kurt nodded. He didn’t know why, but he had a feeling he would be seeing the young doctor many more times in the future.

  -

  Captain Randson was in his quarters with his wife and daughter. It had been a huge relief to finally rescue them. Alexis was still having a hard time sleeping and had woken up several times, screaming.

  “What’s Newton like?” asked Alexis, looking at her father.

  “It’s a beautiful world,” Andrew replied with a loving smile. “You’ll enjoy living there. In some ways it’s much like Earth, only cleaner. There’s no pollution. Everything’s pretty modern, and they have some very good schools.”

  “So we won’t be living in a tent or out in the wild?”

  “No,” answered Andrew with a laugh. “There are over eight million people on Newton with over six hundred thousand living in the capital. We’ll find a nice house to live in, and everything will be back to normal.”

  “What if the Profiteers come to Newton? I don’t want to come back to Kubitz. They were going to sell us to the highest bidder!”

  Andrew reached out and put his arms protectively around his daughter. “I can promise you that will never happen. We have a large fleet around the planet, and we won’t be taken by surprise, like the fleets protecting Earth were. We even have the heavy battlecarrier Kepler finished. That ship, by itself, is quite capable of protecting Newton.”