The Star Cross

by Raymond L. Weil

  “No,” replied Emily, struggling to keep her voice low. “Andrew and Admiral Vickers are both out there.”

  “What!” exclaimed Karen, her eyes widening in shock and hope. “Are you sure? How could they have found us?”

  “I don’t know,” answered Emily, her heart racing. “But I can tell you one thing. They won’t leave until they’ve rescued all of us. She grabbed Karen and hugged her, not caring who saw. “We’re going home!”

  -

  “That was Emily,” said Andrew, his eyes wide with hope. “They’re here!”

  “Stay seated,” cautioned Kurt, not wanting to draw any undue attention their way.

  “Your mate,” commented Grantz in understanding. “She is here?”

  “My wife,” Andrew answered. “What do we have to do to get her free? I’m not leaving here without her and Alexis.”

  Grantz was silent for a moment. “I wouldn’t recommend making an offer on just one human. It will only drive the price up on the others. Your best price will come from making an offer for all of them.”

  “Who do we need to talk too?”

  “We wait,” answered Grantz. “Dolman has made arrangements. They will come to us.”

  “It is best we do as Grantz suggests,” commented Lieutenant Tenner. “We have a plan, and, if it works, we can free all the hostages.”

  “I hope they hurry,” Andrew said, looking in the direction of the kitchen, hoping to see Emily again. “I want to see my wife and daughter!”

  -

  Up in orbit Second Clan Leader Castel listened to the latest report from the surface.

  “It’s confirmed,” reported Dalet. “The humans are at the Marsten training center.” Marsten maintained a large training center on Kubitz to handle the slaves they brought to sale.

  “Surely they don’t want to buy back their fellow humans?” Castel asked in confusion. “It would cost over forty million credits.”

  Dalet motioned toward the large human cargo ship in orbit. “They may have more gold than we originally believed.”

  Castel was silent as he thought over Dalet’s words. “What if, during the weeks High Profiteer Creed was away from Earth, they sent the biggest part of their gold to their colony planet to keep it safe?”

  “It will greatly aggravate the High Profiteer,” predicted Dalet. “We could arrange for a Dacroni battle group to go to this colony and take the gold.”

  “We will leave that decision up to Clan Leader Jarls,” Castel replied. He didn’t have the authority to make such a decision. “He will be highly interested in what we’ve learned. In the meantime, we’ll wait and see if they actually have enough gold to buy back all the humans who have been taken from their world. I still want one of the visiting humans captured and brought to me. Perhaps then we can learn just how much gold they have.”

  -

  Kurt and the others had finished their meal when several men in colorful attire walked up to their table.

  “I am Alvit Meer, and this is Baltwer Janetks,” the taller one said. “We understand you’re interested in procuring some of these humans?”

  “Yes,” Grantz said. “I’m serving in an advisory position for these negotiations.”

  “Just how many would you be interested in?” Alvit asked, his eyes focusing on Grantz.

  “All of them,” Grantz replied evenly. “Every single one!”

  Alvit’s eyes widened considerably at this announcement. “That would involve a very large sum of credits. Do you have a Controller computer card showing how many credits are in your account?”

  Kurt handed over the card, and Alvit handed it to Baltwer, who ran it through a handheld scanner. “Not quite enough,” he announced.

  “We can get more,” Kurt replied. “Is there somewhere we can go in private to discuss this?”

  Alvit looked at Baltwer, who nodded. “Come with us. There’s a suitable office nearby.”

  Kurt and the others stood up. Glancing at the door to the kitchen where he had seen Emily before, he saw her standing there, watching with hope in her eyes. He gave her a quick smile and a casual thumbs-up signal and then turned to follow Alvit. If things went as he hoped, Andrew would shortly be reunited with his family.

  -

  Emily was in her quarters, sitting on the bed, her hands lying in her lap. It was all she could do not to stand up and pace nervously. She hadn’t told Alexis about her father being here. She didn’t want to get her daughter’s hopes up, if he couldn’t find a way to free them. However, she knew that he would move heaven and earth to do just that. She and Karen had quickly spread the word to the other adults in the kitchen that Admiral Vickers was on Kubitz. The spirits of everyone suddenly skyrocketed, as they realized that, just maybe, they were about to be rescued, and their trying ordeal might be coming to an end.

  “What’s going on, Mother?” asked Alexis, noticing her mother’s odd behavior. “All the adults in the kitchen were acting strangely. A few were even smiling and laughing. I haven’t heard that in a long time.”

  Before Emily could reply, there was a knock on the door. Her heart nearly stopped, as she could think of no reason for someone to be coming to her quarters at this time. Standing up, she walked hesitantly to the door, praying that she would know the person standing on the other side. Grasping the handle, she slowly opened it.

  “Hello,” said Andrew with a big smile, as he stepped forward and took his wife in his arms.

  “Daddy!” screamed Alexis, as she saw who held her mother. She ran over and grabbed her father in a tight hug, never wanting to let go. “Is it really you?”

  “Yes, sweetheart, it’s me.”

  “How?” asked Emily, freeing herself from Andrew with tears running down her face. “How did you find us?”

  “We captured a Profiteer,” Andrew explained. “He told us everything.”

  “Are we going home?” asked Alexis, still holding on to her father.

  “We’re going to Newton,” answered Andrew, bending down and looking his daughter in the eyes. “We’ll build a new home there.”

  “The Profiteers still have control of Earth then?” asked Emily wiping the tears from her eyes.

  “Yes,” Andrew answered grimly. “For now they do, but, if Admiral Vickers has his way, someday we’ll free Earth.”

  “Are we supposed to go with you now?” asked Emily. She didn’t know if she could bear being away from Andrew after all that had happened.

  “Yes,” he replied, taking Emily’s hand. “I’ve made arrangements for you and Alexis to leave now. The rest of our people will be transported to the spaceport over the next few days and taken up to the Newton Princess. It’ll be a little crowded, but we’ll manage.”

  “They’ll free all of us?” asked Emily, her eyes widening.

  “For a price,” Andrew answered. “We paid forty-five million credits to free everyone and arrange for transport to the passenger liner.”

  “Where did you get forty-five million credits?” asked Emily.

  “That’s a long story,” Andrew replied. “Now get your stuff and let’s go. I want you and Alexis safely on board the Star Cross.”

  Emily looked around the room that had been her and Alexis’s home for the last three months. “There’s nothing here that I want,” she said somberly She took her daughter’s hand and looked directly into the eyes of her waiting husband. “Take us home.”

  Andrew nodded as they exited the room, closing the door behind them.

  Admiral Vickers and the others waited at the ground level. They would shortly be returning to the Star Cross to discuss more matters. Andrew felt a vast relief and joy in knowing his family was safe. Admiral Vickers had delivered on his promise, and Andrew would never forget that.

  Chapter Eleven

  Kurt watched anxiously as the first shuttles docked with the Newton Princess. Each shuttle contained fifty humans who had been held captive in the Profiteers’ training center. In all 4,206 people needed to be moved. Most were adu
lts, but nearly three hundred were children. Kurt had seen the working conditions his people had been subjected to; while not extremely harsh, it had been a very poor environment for kids.

  “I can’t believe it worked,” Andrew said, as he gazed at a viewscreen, showing a shuttle docking with the passenger liner.

  “Money talks here,” Kurt said, agreeing with Andrew. It had been expensive, but buying their people back, keeping them from potential slavery, was worth every cent spent.

  “There will be more.”

  “I know.” Kurt sighed. “Lieutenant Tenner and two of his First Contact team will be staying. We’ve leased a small building complex to serve as an embassy of sorts. The Kubitz government even guarantees the buildings and the small area around it will be secure. Armed Enforcers will be at all gates to the property. Of course the price is ten million credits per year.”

  “Three people doesn’t sound like a lot,” answered Andrew, frowning, looking over at Kurt. “Emily says she overheard some of the Profiteers talking, and they claim that tens of thousands of humans will be brought to Kubitz. I don’t know if Lieutenant Tenner and a couple of others can handle what might be coming at them.”

  “If we let them get here,” Kurt answered.

  He recalled what Fleet Admiral Tomalson had suggested. Use the fleet like the pirates did theirs and ambush the Profiteer ships before they could reach the Gothan Empire and Kubitz. After what he had seen and understood could be bought on this godforsaken planet, there was no doubt in his mind that he would do just that.

  “You mean, locate their convoys and take our people back before they reach here?” asked Andrew, his forehead creasing in a frown as he thought that concept over. “We don’t have the technology to locate a ship in hyperspace. Once a ship jumps, we have no idea where it’s going.”

  “The technology might be available here on Kubitz,” Kurt replied. Earth may not have developed the technology yet, but it didn’t mean that others might not have. Also, when they had first jumped into the system, Grantz had mentioned that Kubitz had a way to locate ships when they exited hyperspace.

  “What does Lieutenant Tenner think about staying here on Kubitz?” It was something Andrew wouldn’t consider. From what he had seen of the planet, it was a madhouse and extremely dangerous.

  “He volunteered,” answered Kurt promptly. “We have eight other specialists—besides the First Contact team—who will be staying, so we can get everything organized and set up. I’m also leaving twenty Marines to act as a security detail with Sergeant Jones in charge. I don’t fully trust the Kubitz government to hold up their end of the agreement as far as security goes. It wouldn’t take much to buy a few officials and get them to look the other way.”

  “I assume we’ll leave some gold behind to ensure Lieutenant Tenner has the credits available to procure the release of future human captives.”

  “More than that,” Kurt replied. “I’m leaving the light cruiser Dallas behind. If things get too hot, Lieutenant Tenner and his people can always evacuate to the cruiser and even return to Newton if necessary. I’ve been speaking to Grantz, and nearly every government in the galaxy that has had contact with the Gothan Empire has a compound on the planet to do business when necessary. They also keep at least one ship in permanent orbit to ensure the safety of their people. It costs a fee, but it will be worth it. It seems as if no one actually trusts the Kubitz government fully, though Grantz claims there has never been a major incident, due to the penalties that would be levied by the Controllers.”

  “These damn Controllers,” muttered Andrew, his eyes showing a contemptuous glint. “They seem to control all the money. I wish we knew more about them.”

  “Perhaps Lieutenant Tenner can learn more. I intend to rotate the Dallas and the Sydney. When the Sydney returns, they’ll bring more embassy staff. I’m also returning to the surface this afternoon. You recall that one of our other orders was to procure a defense system for Newton. Grantz is in the process of contacting the right people for us to speak to. Lieutenant Tenner has set up a conference room in our new embassy, and we’ll be meeting there.”

  Andrew groaned and shook his head. “Why do I think this will be very expensive?”

  “That’s why we have the Lansing,” answered Kurt, glancing up at a viewscreen that showed the cargo ship.

  They monitored every ship in the fleet twenty-four hours a day to ensure no unscheduled visitors appeared from the surface. A viewscreen displayed each ship, plus the tactical screen was closely watched. In addition, at least one of the three warships was kept at Condition Two at all times.

  He knew the Kubitz government had no idea how much gold was on the cargo ship. It was one reason why he had moved an additional fifteen Marines from the Star Cross to support the twenty already assigned to the ship. He would also move the battlecruiser a little closer to the Lansing, just as a precaution. The gold on that ship was the key to protecting Newton and perhaps someday freeing Earth.

  “How’s Emily and Alexis doing?” Both had been brought aboard the Star Cross and were staying in Andrew’s quarters.

  “Great! From what I understand, the food they were fed was quite bland in taste and nearly the same every day. I took Emily and Alexis to the mess hall and let them order whatever they wanted. The cooks even managed to whip up some spaghetti for Alexis. They’re back in my quarters, resting.”

  “If they need anything else, let me know,” Kurt said, and he meant it. He knew how he would feel if this was his sister and nephew they were talking about. He was just glad they were both safe on Newton.

  “You rescued them,” Andrew answered with a smile. “That’s enough for me. Alexis is still a little shaken up from her ordeal, and Dr. Willis has indicated that she should be back to normal in a few weeks. He’s planning on checking on her and Emily regularly.”

  “I’m glad to hear that,” Kurt replied. He could well imagine how frightened Alexis had been by all this. What child wouldn’t have? It still angered him immensely at the sheer audacity of the Profiteers in abducting children. He wished there was some way he could make them suffer for their actions.

  “Admiral, several shuttles have left the Dacroni battleship in the last hour,” reported Lieutenant Brooks with some concern in her youthful voice. “All landed at the same spaceport our people are being taken to.”

  Andrew looked over at Kurt with concern in his eyes. “Do you think there’ll be a problem?”

  “I don’t know,” answered Kurt. “I hired Dolman for extra security for our people. He promised everything would go smoothly.”

  “Dolman makes me feel uneasy,” commented Andrew, his eyes narrowing sharply. “He’s a damn shyster!”

  Kurt laughed. “The man’s working the Kubitz black-market system to make a living. He runs a very large security and information-gathering business. He has connections all over the planet and even a few on other worlds of the Gothan Empire. We could find him very useful in the future.”

  “Dolman and Grantz,” muttered Randson, shaking his head in disbelief. “What are we coming to?”

  “The galaxy’s not as we believed,” answered Kurt, his voice taking a serious tone. “It’s full of intelligent space-going races. While many of the more advanced ones are reportedly peaceful, some are like the Profiteers who aren’t. We have to adapt, or we’re done for.”

  “You’re right,” Andrew said, as he looked down at a console, which showed the ship’s current status. “I just wish things were different.”

  “We all do,” Kurt replied, as his gaze shifted to a screen showing Kubitz.

  -

  Kurt stepped from the shuttle and looked over at the man in charge of his Marine escort, Sergeant Jones.

  “Grantz made arrangements for a couple vehicles to pick us up,” the sergeant said, as he eyed the vicinity of the landed shuttle for signs of anything suspicious. He was responsible for the admiral’s safety, and he took his job very seriously. He would also be staying behind to comman
d the security detachment at the embassy compound.

  “What do you think of Grantz?” asked Kurt, curious to hear the sergeant’s opinion.

  Jones smiled. “He’s one hell of a poker player. I’ve never met someone who can bluff like he can.”

  “Cleaned me out,” commented Private Lucy Dulcet. “I thought he was bluffing, and he laid down a full house. Made my two pair meaningless.”

  “I won’t gamble with him,” Corporal Evans said loudly. “He’s a crook, and I wouldn’t put it past him to be cheating.”

  “No,” responded Private Dulcet, shaking her head. “He doesn’t have to cheat, and, besides, you’re a lousy poker player.”

  Corporal Evans glared at Dulcet, but, before he could make a retort, two vehicles pulled up.

  “Here are our rides,” spoke up Jones, carefully scrutinizing the vehicles.

  These were two of the more modern vehicles that ran on hydrogen as a power source. They were very quiet and, according to Grantz, highly economical. The hydrogen-powered vehicles were something the Kubitz government initiated to help curb the rampant pollution. Looking across the city, Kurt could see a thick gray haze and recognized it as heavy smog. About 40 percent of the city was covered by a large habitation dome; the poorer areas were left outside. Grantz had told him, at times, it was too dangerous to go outside the protective city dome without a breathing mask. Kurt knew, in the past, that some of the cities in China had done the same thing. Those days were long gone, but industrial smog was still a problem in some of the underdeveloped areas of Earth.

  Five Marines and the sergeant accompanied Kurt. Two Marines and Sergeant Jones got in the vehicle with him, and the remaining three Marines were in the other one. Kurt had purchased twenty more of the translation devices, so the Marines could understand what was said around them. He also planned on each member of the embassy staff having one.

  The driver was a humanoid with a very white complexion; his eyes were set wider on his head than normal, and the hair on his head was limited to a very narrow strip down the center.