The Asking Price of Stars

by John Baeyertz

  Cici thought, such love. It must be an exceptionally close family.” She continued with her narrative.

  “As we boarded, the medical team on the lifter began treating Kat’s burns and Tracey’s wounds. Several hours later we docked with the hulk of an old transport in orbit above Horizon. The ship was a large ancient sphere ship being used for a storage warehouse. We docked at an enclosed lifter bay. As soon as the bay doors closed all appearance of being a hulk vanished. A second set of inner doors opened revealing first class docking ports for four lifters. Our lifter from the Outcast Lady was already docked at one of the ports.

  Kat and Tracey were sent off to the medical facility.” The crew and audience were in rapt silence. Next, Lady gathered the others into the meeting room and proceeded with a quick update.

  Lady began, “Welcome to my home. You will be safe here. As you can see by the exterior, anyone picking up or dropping off supplies at two main docking stations will see only a poorly maintained dock and a disorderly warehouse. However, you will find the interior is a modern and organized base of operations for Sun Transaction Trading. Please join me for a meal, then you can cleanup and get some sleep. We will talk more on first watch.”

  “Thanks for your summary Cici. Thank you, too, Lady,” Kat said. Kat continued, “A day later Baryic ensured that all the damn Martheain Herb Tea Bugs was off loaded to Sun TT. Two days later we had a contract with Sun TT to transport one hundred sealed cases to an unnamed planet. Later that watch, we were back aboard the Outcast Lady. Supplies, fuel, dark matter flasks and new small arms arrived in short order. We will be smuggling our cargo past Green Fleet and Tri-Star-Republic patrols. Also pirate attacks will be an ongoing danger.”

  Chapter Thirty Three–

  In Space - 08-15-518.

  Light years away and days earlier the Dark Song had dropped out of the space time wave and began to decelerate. Ahead of her was a tramp liner, Express Girl, also decelerating on an orbit toward the planet Valley Myers. When they were within 12,000 kilometers of Express Girl, the commander of Dark Song ordered battle alert. The tough young Trocnavar Commander Niikia Kaiii-var directed Artystaar Tiigano, her First Officer to prepare to fire missiles.

  Artystaar ordered the weapons officer Quinn, “Target her light wave drive, open missile bay doors, and prepare to drop missiles.”

  “Doors open, missiles live, target locked!” Quinn called two minutes later.

  “Drop two missiles on my mark --- Now!” Artystaar ordered.

  Quinn called out, “Two precision target missiles away.”

  ********

  Commander Niikia directed Artystaar to slow and match the speed of the crippled liner. The two Trocs watched as their ship Dark Song closed on the helpless liner. Hours earlier they shot out the liner’s LWD engine. The ship was a small mixed cargo and passenger liner. Express Girl was a contract ship not registered to any planet. She was imperial built of an old class called Summer Fish. On board was a crew of seventy or so and perhaps 200 passengers.

  Commander Niikia now sent the following message, “Commander Jensen your LWD is destroyed. In normal space your liner cannot out run or out maneuver a fast war ship. There is no escape. We will match our speed to your ship, the Express Girl, and deploy a transfer tube. If you should resist in any way, we will fire our rail guns directly into your hull. The depressurization will kill most of you. The few in space suits we will hunt down and kill.”

  Commander Jensen responded, “You black hearted bastards spare the civilians and their children. We will comply with your request.”

  Artystaar and Sandy pulled themselves across the zero-gravity transfer tube. Forty officers and crew of the Dark Song were behind them. The air lock doors were open and they landed on the deck as the artificial gravity of the ship pulled them down. Minutes later, shots rang out as they reached the main deck. A dozen or more troops opened fire on the pirates. Artystaar thought, So much for an easy assault. You can never trust the word of humans. Niikia can’t fire on the liner now with forty-two of us on board. By the God of Death, I love killing, let the fighting begin.

  Artystaar motioned for two of her pirate gang to move forward. The two pirates she first ordered forward were killed. Artystaar got in a shot and dropped one of the troopers who showed himself. Sandy shot one and Bald Xiggott shot another. Artystaar shouted, “Three down, let’s get the rest!” and led the pirate gang forward. As she stepped over the defender’s body she saw that he was a contract Shock Trooper.

  Artystaar, Sandy, Xiggott and four other pirates dashed forward into the main dining room and took cover behind overturned tables. The defending troopers unleashed a mass of gunfire. The pirates began to return the trooper’s fire. More pirates rushed into the room.

  What in all the hells are Shock Troopers doing defending a tramp liner like Express Girl? Artystaar asked herself.

  The fire fight went on for an hour. In the end, all twelve Shock Troopers were dead including any crew members and passengers who joined the defense. Six pirates were dead and two were so badly wounded that they would be sent to the gods.

  The remaining crew and passengers were now herded into the main dining room. Some would live to be sold as bound laborers, some would not. The better-looking ones were being dragged off to cabins. Artystaar and Sandy walked up to a handsome family, a man, his mate and two teenage girls. The man began begging, “Please don’t take me, by the love of the Dark Goddess take my mate and my daughters. Do anything you wish with them, use them, kill them, or sell them. My mate is skilled at satisfying. Please! Please take her and the girls, let me live and not be sold! I will do anything; I will make them do anything.”

  Sandy look into his eyes and gut shot him. She whispered, “Die slowly weakling scum! I placed the wound so it’s going to be a very long night.” Sandy then turned to Xiggott who was guarding the group of prisoners and said, “Lock the women away in a cabin. I will keep them myself to sell. Leave the weakling here to die. Xiggott, I know you will see that the guards do not ease his way out.”

  “As you request, with pleasure,” Xiggott responded.

  As the three women were marched away, the mother raised a trembling hand and stopped. She walked over to where her mate lay and spit is his face. Then she intertwined her arm in Xiggott’s hairy arm and walked away.

  Artystaar commented, “I would have taken pretty boy to bed before I shot him. The woman and girls are beautiful; you will get a fine price. Shall we go and execute Commander Jenson?”

  *********

  Several weeks later in the evening dusk, Artystaar, Sandy and their commander Niikia walked through the streets of Awful-Landing, the only real city on the Planet Stoneland. They had been drinking. A thief and three of his gang followed them, planning robbery and darker actions. But when the women stopped under a light any thought Rocket might have about taking advantage of the woman disappeared with a quick count of kill dots. He stopped counting at thirty and slipped back into the darkness.

  Earlier in the day, Sandy sold the woman and girls captured on Express Girl. A rich trader from Blue Port purchased all three, the woman for himself and the two girls for his two sons. The auction price was higher than expected and Sandy bought several rounds of drinks at a local tavern to celebrate her good fortune. As night fell they headed back to the inn where they were staying.

  As they walked Niikia said, “Sandy the crew voted you in as Crew Sergeant. Xiggott put your name up. The crew admired the way you fought and then gut shot that weakling and took his women. Also, you added kill dots for hand to hand kills on the Express Girl. There is going to be a pirate operation which will change Green Line forever. I will count on Artystaar as my First Officer and you Sandy as my Crew Sergeant.”

  Niikia continued, “Tonight we drink with the sweet tavern boys who are working the inn. We leave here at first watch tomorrow.”

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Near a Red Dwarf - 09-01-518.

  Commander Kiitay sent a tight be
am to Commander Jang. “If you sub-human warriors can manage it, match our orbit and we will come over to talk. See that the meeting is in a shipshape room. The last human contract warship I was aboard was a filthy junk pile.”

  The two ships orbited a cold airless rock of a planet. It was the only planet in the system and a far distance from the Red Dwarf star at the center. Kat and Peter were unable to find any record of the system. Given that the Outcast Lady was equipped, due to a fluke at time of sale, with the latest Free Space Force navigation computer, the star system must be unknown. At least the planet was unknown to the Free Space Force or any Green Line trader or warship. The system location was provided by Sun Transaction Trading in the contract to deliver the sealed cases.

  Ninety clicks ahead of them was an imperial built ship, a mixed cargo and passenger liner. Not just any imperial ship but a newly built Fat Fish class merchant ship. Kat thought, how did a trader operating on the edge of known space acquire a new first rate ship? She is a superb one; three times the length of Outcast Lady. Someone must really want these boxes, someone high-ranking in the Empire. How do they plan to get their cargo back to the Empire? It a long way back to Green’s Star and then even further back to the Empire. Why such a long voyage?

  Kat announced to the control room, “Ladies and Gentlemen, just ahead of us is the liner Ice Queen. They are sending over representatives. Please show the representatives every consideration during their visit. In addition, prepare to off load our cargo within the hour. Ms. Watkins, Mr. Guderian, and Ms. Czajka will handle the meeting.”

  As soon as the lifter from Ice Queen was inside, the bay doors closed and atmosphere retuned, out strode three officers. They were not wearing the dress whites of commercial officer’s uniforms but were in tailored utilities in the bright colors so favored by Trocs. The commander was Trocnavar and the two others human. Tracey greeted them on the dock and escorted them to the Ward Room. The look of shock could not be hidden by the officers as they stepped in. Peter and Czajka rose and saluted the three. Tracey introduced them, “Mr. Guderian, our Chief Time Wave Navigator and Ms. Czajka our trade agent.”

  Commander Kiitay managed to introduce the two other officers; a Lieutenant named Harveston and another Lieutenant, a female named De Lunes. Kiitay said, “I never expected to ----” and trailed off into silence.

  Tracey continued, “Shall we prepare Martheain Herb Bug Tea? The bugs are from a recent shipment.” At that moment Anna Morgan, chief of the mess deck, rolled in a cart with a formal tea service on it. Anna began to prepare the tea.

  As Anna served the tea Peter quietly said, “You seem confused Commander Kiitay. May we help in some way?”

  “You are a half Trocnavar, we did not expect that. First Officer Watkins has a red and a black Kill Dot.” He glanced at the bare shoulder of Tracey’s utilities and said, “We did not expect that either. To our sensors, your ship appears to be a battered old war ship but inside the equipment is first rate and the crew and the ship are as sharp as any ship in our commercial fleet. Next you serve us tea that costs a month’s wages. Who are you people?” asked Kiitay.

  “We are simple traders hoping to turn a profit. Our plan is to off load our cargo and fulfill our contract,” replied Czajka as Tracey thought, perhaps we over-played the tea.

  Tracey’s thoughts continued, and who are you Commander? Why is the Ice Queen operating out on the edge of known space? Surly a ship like yours could find work closer to home. How could you possibly get back to the Empire in less than two years? Do you know anything about a mixed cargo and passenger liner called Fast Lady? When did she reach port at Blue Port? Is Jane Star - Major Tara Freeborn? Was Jane Star a passenger on the Fast Lady? There are so many unanswered questions.

  Tracey asked, “Commander Kiitay what do know about a ship called the Fast Lady?”

  “Only that the ship did not make Blue Port on schedule. We don’t have time to waste. Can we start loading our cargo now?”

  Tracey watched as the last of the sealed cases were loaded on to the Ice Queen’s lifter. At that moment, one of Queen’s officers carelessly revealed a key bit of information.

  De Lunes said, “Thank the gods that this is finished. We should have the cases safely delivered in four weeks.”

  They sure aren’t going back to the Empire, Tracey thought and then asked, “Where are the cases going?”

  De Lunes replied, “The Viceroy likes his staff to have only the best.” She then stepped into the lifter as it powered up. Tracey walked off the lifter dock as the doors prepared to open to space.

  Sometime later Kat, Peter and Tracey sat talking. Kat outlined what they now knew. “The Trocs have a major operation out here on the fringe of the Green Line. They are operating new first class ships here on the fringe. We do not know the location of their bases but it appears one is within four weeks’ travel time. Auntie Tara was trying to find what the Empire doing out here when she disappeared. If we can believe Jennifer Wolf, Auntie Tara left Horizon on a ship called Fast Lady during the first month of the year. The Fast Lady was headed for a planet called Blue Port but never arrived. Peter, set in a course for Blue Port, we leave in one hour."

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  –The Planet Blue Port- 09-30-518.

  “Fast Lady never arrived here at Blue Port,” The Station Master Amy Bradshaw declared. “But, many believe the ship was taken by pirates. How many times do I have to tell you that the ship did not reach Blue Port? I damn well run this station, and, as you know, it is the only space station for Blue Port. I would know if Fast Lady arrived here,” Amy Bradshaw indignantly concluded.

  After a month’s long voyage, Tracey and Kat sat in the office of the Station Master. The blue ball below filled the side window of the office. Water covered ninety percent of the planet. The ridges of mountain ranges formed islands, many lush and green. The planet was on the outer fringe of the Green Line. Out here Blue Port was an island semi-civilization amid a sea of barbarianism.

  Amy Bradshaw commented, “Commander Shane you really should consider a game of Field Ball. Ms. Watkins, I understand you play an excellent soft bat forward.”

  Kat started to say, “Are you crazy?” but Tracey’s hand on his arm stopped him.

  Tracey replied, “Thank you for the suggestion. I believe we can put together a creditable team. Please tell us more.”

  And Amy Bradshaw did just that.

  **********

  Later during on board watch the Outcast Lady, Kat and Tracey gathered the officers and crew on the mess deck. Kat began, “For reasons I cannot explain at this time we need to put together a Field Ball Team. In the next three days, our team must be ready to play in a tournament and, if possible, win at least our first two games. Our participation in the tournament is critical; the impact is far beyond Field Ball.”

  “The teams will come from pirate ships, trading cargo ships, contract warships such as us. In addition, teams will come from trading houses, schools, government agencies and the military here on Blue Port. This tournament takes place every two standard years. It is major event our here on the fringe.”

  “As many of you know, First Officer Watkins was a star player at Officer Training School. Tracey it’s all yours,” Kat concluded.

  Tracey took over, “The officers and sergeants of Outcast Lady are challenged to play in Blue Port Field Ball Tournament. We need a coach and nine players plus subs for the team. A practice field is reserved on Boca Island where dawn will be breaking in an hour. All officers and sergeants who played either on upper school or advanced school teams or as a professional be on the lifter when it leaves in half an hour. We begin training as soon as we land. If you have gear you like, bring it, if not we will get you gear.”

  “I know several of the crew are outstanding players, please see me. For of a couple of you we can arrange a promotion to Acting Sergeant. I don’t think we can bend the rules for more than two.” Tracey finished.

  Two hours later they came in over the leeward s
ide of Boca Island. A wide plain of green farm land filled this protected side of the island. A river meandered snake-like to the ocean. At the river’s mouth a town spread out. Light identified three Field Ball circles on an open plain just south of the town. She watched as a flashing signal was turned on to mark the landing field. We’re expected, she thought.

  Light watched as they closed on the Field Ball field. Three rings were laid out near a school. Only one was a full regulation hundred-meter ring. A level circle of grass enclosed by two tracks half a meter apart formed the field. The black and white goals were up and on their tracks. The black goal ran on the outside track. The white goal ran on inside track. The goals rotated on the tracks in opposite directions. They were complex mechanisms, three meters high with a two-meter aperture. The goal aperture changed size at random times from two meters to half a meter. As the goals rotated around the field they change speed at random. It was not an easy task to knock a ball through a goal. Below, someone was testing the moving goal operation.