Grantz laughed and reached over, slapping Andrew on the back. “My friend, you should get out more often. I tell you, spend one night at the pleasure houses with me and I’ll show you what good drinks and food are. They have items on their menus from all over the galaxy. Even in all the time I have spent at the pleasure houses, I have not yet sampled everything they have to offer. We won’t even have to sample the women, though I promise they will do things you can’t even imagine. We can go only for the entertainment. They have a drink at the new one I’ve been going to that explodes like a supernova as it’s going down.”
Andrew shook his head as he frowned at Grantz. “One of these days someone will poison or shoot you at one of those establishments.”
Grantz leaned forward and winked. “I have friends there who look after me. Some are very beautiful.”
“Admiral,” Corporal Evans said, gesturing toward the door, as a man entered the bar.
Sergeant Jones was outside with two other Marines, while Corporal Evans had come inside with Kurt. Their Humvee was parked outside with a driver and two other Marines if needed.
Dolman had two heavily armed escorts with him. This was normal as Dolman never went anywhere without bringing adequate security. The man came over and sat at the table.
“Admiral,” said Dolman as he eyed the drink in front of Grantz. He shook his head. “I don’t see how you can drink that stuff.”
Grantz grinned. “I can out drink any man or nonhuman.”
“I believe it,” said Andrew.
“Why did you want to meet here?” asked Kurt. Normally Dolman came to the embassy compound. Kurt still needed to ask Dolman about a substitute for neutronium.
“Too dangerous,” Dolman replied as his eyes scanned the room, taking in all the patrons. “I’ve come into possession of some information the governments of the Gothan Empire don’t want out.”
Kurt raised his eyebrows. “What kind of information?”
Dolman leaned forward as if he wanted to make sure he wasn’t overheard. “A number of months ago, the Gothan Empire sent out a task force of forty battleships under the command of Dacroni Clan Leader Masak with one order. Find a black ship and destroy it.”
“The fools,” bellowed Grantz and then, in a quieter voice, asked, “Do they want to lead the Destroyers of Worlds here? It’s best if we remain hidden.”
“Quiet, Grantz,” ordered Kurt, wanting to hear what Dolman had to say. “What happened?”
“A black fleet attacked an Enlightened colony world of the Bollons,” Dolman said. “The system was Ralla, where Masak found a black fleet. He waited until it was engaged against the planet’s meager defenses and then jumped in with his fleet. He launched a general attack against the enemy and found his weapons useless. Switching tactics, Masak ordered all forty of his battleships to concentrate their weapons fire on just one vessel of the black fleet. He destroyed it and then ordered his fleet to jump into hyperspace. Before he could escape, the black ships opened fire and destroyed fourteen of his battleships in only a matter of seconds.”
“Seconds,” Andrew said, his face turning pale.
Kurt and Andrew were well aware of just how powerful a Dacroni battleship was. “Where did you get this information?” Kurt asked Dolman. Kurt wanted to make sure it was genuine.
Dolman looked at Grantz. “Our friendly Profiteer here arranged for a meeting between us and several other Profiteers. Fortunately one of them was the brother to Dacroni Clan Leader Masak.”
“Masak,” groaned Grantz, his eyes widening. “They never told me that.”
“So that’s where you got the information about the Destroyers of Worlds attacking Bascom,” Kurt said, shifting his gaze to Grantz.
“I didn’t know it came from Masak,” grumbled Grantz. “I’ll have to stay away from the pleasure houses for a while now. If Masak finds out I bought that information from his brother, I’m dead!”
“Good riddance,” said Andrew with a pleased smile.
“What else did you learn?” Kurt asked Dolman, ignoring Andrew and Grantz. Kurt wanted as much intelligence on the Destroyers of Worlds as possible.
Dolman slid a shiny computer disk across the table. “It’s all here. Complete sensor scans of Masak’s attack on the black ships, as well as the Gothan Empire’s preparations for when the dark ships come here.”
Kurt picked up the small disk and placed it in his pocket. “How much?” he asked. Dolman very seldom did anything for free.
“Double what I paid for it, since I took all the risks.” Dolman then told Kurt how much it had cost him.
“Contact Ambassador Tenner, and he will arrange for your payment.”
Dolman stood up and then spoke again. “How do you like all of Lomatz’s people being on Newton?”
“We’re keeping an eye on things,” answered Andrew. “We won’t let them turn our planet into another Kubitz.”
Dolman nodded. “Lomatz returned last week. He’s been loading his transport ships with all kinds of supplies and automated factories. A few eyebrows have been raised, and some questions asked. I told him to be careful. The same goes for you as well.” With those final words, Dolman turned and walked to the door, along with his two escorts.
“Let’s get out of here,” Kurt said, standing.
Grantz stood as well.
“I thought you would stay.”
“No,” Grantz said, taking a long drink and then setting his mug on the table. “The best place for me is at the compound, at least until I know Masak isn’t looking for his brother or anyone his brother might have come into contact with.”
“Afraid to risk your hide?” asked Andrew. “What about all your women at the pleasure houses?”
Grantz frowned. “They’ll just have to wait.”
Kurt looked toward the bar, where several scantily clad women danced and loud music played. If not for all the guns strapped to most of the patrons’ waists, this bar would pass for many found on Earth. Kurt would ask Dolman about a substitute for neutronium at another time.
“Come on, Grantz,” said Kurt. “We’ll make sure no one shoots you.”
The group left to return to the compound. Once there Kurt wanted to go over the information on Dolman’s disk to compare it to the one Grantz had given him earlier. He was anxious to see how the Dacroni battleships had destroyed a black ship.
-
Up in orbit, Dacroni Clan Leader Jarls frowned at his viewscreens; Lakiam battlecruisers orbited over Kubitz. Not only that but several more Lakiam battlecruisers as well as four Andock vessels sat in space past the sixth planet accompanied by Human ships from either Earth or Newton.
Jarls was dressed in dark gray battle armor, the Dacronis’ standard uniform, except when not on board their ships. He was humanoid, with bulky legs, torso, and arms. His face was similar to a Human’s but rounder and chunkier. His neck was shorter with his head almost resting on his torso.
“Is it possible the Earth Humans have formed an alliance with the Lakiams and the Andocks?” asked Salas, Jarls’s second in command.
“I doubt it,” replied Jarls. “Something else is going on here.” Very seldom did Protector World warships visit Kubitz or any world in the Gothan Empire.
“The Aurelia is one of those two Lakiam battlecruisers near the Controller station,” pointed out Salas. “The Aurelia was at the last battle of Earth.”
A troubled scowl covered Jarls’s face. The Aurelia by itself had been responsible for driving the Profiteers from the planet. Clan Leader Creed had been killed in the fighting as the Profiteer fleet fled the planet, leaving behind numerous cargo ships and detainee ships. It had cost several Profiteer Clans a fortune. Fortunately Jarls had recognized the Lakiam battlecruiser for what it was and had pulled back his battleships before they were lost to the battle as well.
“What should we do about Vickers?” asked Salas. “He’s on the planet. We can send a few teams there to take him out.”
Jarls considered what Salas said
. While it was tempting to kill Vickers, there was no longer any point in it, especially with fourteen Lakiam ships so near. “From the rumors I’ve heard on Kubitz, Lomatz has provided Vickers with a full Class One defensive system.”
Salas’s face turned pale upon hearing that. “A Class One system?”
“Yes, one that may even rival what’s around Kubitz. Besides we have other concerns now.”
“You mean the Destroyers of Worlds.”
Jarls nodded. “All the major clan leaders on Dacroni Four are in agreement. We must do what we can to defend our own world. The orbital defenses have been strengthened, and at least 70 percent of our clan fleets are now required to stay in the system in case a black fleet appears.”
“Due to Masak’s encounter with the Destroyers of Worlds,” said Salas. “Is it true he destroyed one of their warships?”
Jarls nodded. “Only one but at a cost of fourteen of his battleships.”
Salas shifted his gaze to the viewscreens. “I wish I knew what the Humans and Lakiams are up to.”
“We all do,” answered Jarls, as his focus drifted to one of the screens showing a Lakiam battlecruiser. He couldn’t ever recall a Protector World sending so many warships to Kubitz before. He was certain the Kubitz government as well as the Controllers must be greatly concerned over what was going on in orbit. Jarls leaned back in his command chair and whispered to himself, “Fleet Admiral Vickers, what are you up to?” Jarls wished he had a way to find out, but recently many of his old lines of communications had dried up. Even Avery Dolman had grown silent when it came to the Humans from Earth and Newton. Jarls was deeply concerned that, with the appearance of the black ships in their galaxy, the Gothan Empire would never be the same again.
-
Several days later Kurt was on the Aurelia, meeting with Mara. He was distinctly aware of how beautiful and alluring the Lakiam woman was. They were in her quarters, and she had just poured Kurt a drink very popular on Mara’s homeworld.
“Fleet Commodore Dreen was highly interested in what I had to say about your worlds,” Mara said as she sat across from Kurt.
“This Commodore Dreen must be very special,” replied Kurt. Keera would be highly unhappy if she knew he was in Mara’s personal quarters, even if she did sit opposite him. Her sitting room was lavishly furnished with bright and colorful paintings on the wall.
“He is,” Mara said as she took a sip of her drink. “He’s our most brilliant military leader. He’s trying to form alliances with other Protector Worlds against the black ships.”
Kurt set his drink on a small table near him. “How does all this concern my world?” He had a strong suspicion Mara wasn’t telling him everything.
Mara’s eyes narrowed. “In the past, many primitive worlds escaped the culling of the Destroyers of Worlds. Some of these planets were like yours, hidden in backwater areas of the galaxy. From those worlds, the new Enlightened and Protector Worlds arose. It could be that your planets are destined to play that role in the future.”
Lomatz had said something similar. “Perhaps,” replied Kurt. “But what if the black ships find us?”
“They will spend years culling the main worlds of the galaxy,” said Mara. “Many small empires similar to the Gothan Empire will resist them. Fighting will continue in our galaxy until every civilized world and empire has fallen to the Destroyers of Worlds. That’s how it has always been and most likely how it will always be. They are an unstoppable force.”
“You’re making a chilling prediction,” replied Kurt. He wondered how many of the civilized races of the galaxy felt this way.
“I’m only facing reality,” Mara said with a look of sadness spreading across her face. “They may, indeed, find your world, and, then again, you may find your worlds spared the nightmare of being culled.”
“You said Fleet Commodore Dreen was forming an alliance with other Protector Worlds. Surely, when joined together, they will be able to fight the black ships.”
“You don’t understand,” Mara said with a deep sigh. “Very few Protector Worlds ever work together. They all follow certain rules, but most are more concerned about the Enlightened Worlds they defend and becoming Enlightened themselves someday. I don’t believe very many Protector Worlds will join with Lakiam to stand against the Destroyers of Worlds. If we can’t form a unified front against this dangerous enemy, then I fear there is no hope for the galaxy.”
Kurt picked up his drink and took a small sip. The taste was unlike anything he had tried before. “I still don’t understand why you’re coming to Newton with the Aurelia. By now you must know we’ve duplicated much of the technology on your warships.”
Mara’s eyes widened. “I suspected as much,” she admitted. “The people I’m bringing with me consist of a number of very talented technicians and a few scientists. We are willing to help you with any technical problems you may encounter with adapting our technology to your vessels.”
“What do you want? There must be something.”
Mara took a deep breath, and then she focused sharply on Kurt. “Lomatz brought a large number of his people to Newton. I want permission to do the same. If the war goes badly for Lakiam, I want to bring several thousand of my people to your world. If your world is spared, then we can make it the most powerful world in the galaxy once the Destroyers of Worlds leave. Perhaps by doing this, we will be ready for them next time.”
“Did you discuss this with Fleet Commodore Dreen?” Kurt was greatly surprised by Mara’s request.
“Yes,” replied Mara. “He was hesitant at first, but, in the end, he saw the wisdom of attempting to save a few of our people. This continued ravaging of our worlds by the black ships every few million years must come to a stop. If this works, we just might be able to do that. We wouldn’t have to reinvent all our technology again.”
Kurt went silent as he considered what Mara had said. Having Lakiams on Newton could have a bigger impact than Lomatz’s people.
“I’ll have to speak to Governor Spalding,” he said finally. “I can’t promise anything.”
“I understand,” replied Mara. She stood, setting down her drink. “We can depart as soon as you’re ready. My people have checked out the Aurelia, and all the necessary supplies have been loaded.”
Kurt hesitated, and then he asked another question. “Are there any dark matter missiles on board your ship?”
Mara’s eyes narrowed, and her lips tightened. “Yes, twenty such missiles are on board. However, I should warn you. The technology for you to build such warheads is beyond anything currently on your world. Even my own people have a difficult time building the warheads. I am curious to hear how you learned of the missiles.”
Kurt smiled. “I have my sources. Once we arrive at Newton, I’ll have more questions.” Kurt greatly wished to speak to her about the Lakiams’ battles with the black ships, but that needed to wait. Right now he needed to return to the Star Cross and set a course for home. He had been gone longer than he wanted, but, at least this time, no one had tried to kill him while he had been on Kubitz.
Chapter Six
Fleet Commodore Dreen listened patiently to council member Brewl Darmas explain, once again, why an alliance with the Andocks was out of the question.
“Each Protector World has its own sphere of influence,” Darmas said, as if that was a sufficient explanation. He slowly shook his head. “We have eighty-seven Enlightened civilizations to protect, and we don’t have time for an alliance that will drain our resources.”
“You don’t understand,” Dreen said, trying to stay calm. “Those eighty-seven Enlightened civilizations have 1,400 colonies that also need protecting. We don’t have the ships.”
“Preposterous,” Darmas said dismissively. “We have the largest fleet in the history of our civilization. The only problem would be if we had to send some of our ships to help the worlds in this supposed alliance of yours.”
Commodore Dreen stared at the viewscreen on the wall of his quar
ters. Brewl’s face looked very determined. “When was the last time you left Lakiam?”
“Leave Lakiam?” replied Darmas, stunned. “Why would I do that?”
“It might give you a better perspective of what’s going on out there,” replied Commodore Dreen. “The Destroyers of Worlds are rampaging across the galaxy. If we don’t join with other Protector Worlds, our own planets may fall victim to their attacks.”
“With our defenses?” Brewl said in disbelief. “I don’t think so. If we commit ourselves to this war effort, as you desire, we are turning away from Enlightenment. We must not do that.”
“As you wish,” Dreen said, seeing this conversation going nowhere. “I just ask that you keep an open mind.”
“I always do,” Brewl replied as the screen went blank.
Fleet Commodore Dreen let out a deep sigh. He had made very little progress with the council. Nearly 63 percent of its members were against any alliance with other worlds, though they had approved more ship construction as well as increased defensive measures. The fear of endangering their future Enlightenment derailed any progress on the military preparations Dreen really wanted. He wasn’t sure what could be done to change their minds.
-
Eighty-two light-years distant the answer to Dreen’s problem suddenly appeared. In the Lakiam System of Holdez, a Destroyers of Worlds’ fleet dropped from hyperspace. Around the seventh planet orbited the inhabited moon of Holdez, which the Lakiams had terraformed over two thousand years in the past. The moon held a thriving population of over two hundred million. The system was rich in minerals, and a robust mining industry operated across the planets, moons, and asteroids.
Aboard the Lakiam battlecruiser Nixa, warning alarms sounded, and red lights flashed.
“Report!” ordered Captain Belson as he rushed into the Command Center.
“Scanning satellites have detected a Destroyers of Worlds’ fleet exiting hyperspace at a range of six hundred thousand kilometers.”
The Star Cross: Galaxy in Peril Page 8