The Star Cross: Galaxy in Peril

by Raymond L. Weil

  Kurt was astonished by what he heard. “So it is possible to defeat the Destroyers of Worlds in combat.” This made the second time that a fleet under the command of Fleet Commodore Dreen had done such. Kurt wanted to meet this Lakiam fleet commodore.

  “To the best of our knowledge this is the first time in any of the Vorn incursions that they have been defeated so decisively. It has also created a dangerous situation for the Lakiams and the Andocks.”

  “How so?” asked Mara, her eyes narrowing sharply.

  “The Vorn cannot allow word of such a victory to spread across the galaxy without retaliation,” explained Marshton. “It would only stiffen resistance against the Destroyers of Worlds. In our opinion they will gather a massive fleet and return to either Andock Prime or Lakiam in order to set an example for the rest of the galaxy. They will leave nothing living behind.”

  Mara’s face turned pale. “We must warn them!”

  “You shall,” one of the other Glaymons said. “I’m Tasid, a weapons specialist. If you allow us, we will rebuild your ships and equip them with more modern weapons. We can provide you with an energy shield that is nearly impervious to Vorn weapons.”

  “What about the neutronium marble that my tactical officer wants?” asked Kurt.

  “What do you know about Zero-Point Energy?” asked another of the Glaymons.

  “My people have researched it,” said Mara, sitting up taller in her seat. “So far we have not found a way to make it into a viable power source. The best we have are the antimatter chambers on our ships.”

  “We have found a way to harness it as a power source,” explained Tasid. “What we propose is charging a power cell with Zero-Point Energy. This power cell will be encased in a special alloy we have developed. We can then use this as a round for your KEW cannons on your vessels. With some slight modifications, we can improve your KEW cannons until the Zero-Point Energy round is launched at nearly the speed of light. We estimate that a Vorn mothership struck by this round would be destroyed instantly.”

  “What additional modifications do you want to make to our ships?” asked Captain Hastings.

  Marshton took a deep breath and looked at Kurt. “We will totally disassemble your ships and put them together with all our improvements. We will upgrade your repair robots and combat robots. In addition we will install an AI on your vessels that could take them into combat if you wish. It will also be capable of directing any repairs that need to be done to your ships.”

  Kurt could scarcely believe what he had just heard. “How long would all this take?” With the pending attack on Andock Prime or Lakiam, they needed to return as soon as possible.

  Valan grinned. “We can do it all in two weeks. Plus, once we install your new hyperdrives powered by Zero-Point Energy, you can be in your home regions of space in just a few days.”

  Kurt sucked in a deep breath. All this sounded too fantastic. “What’s in this for you?”

  Another Glaymon stood. “I am Waelt, what you would call a captain of one of our disk warships. When you return to warn the Andocks and Lakiams, some of our warships have requested permission to go with you.”

  “How many?” asked Kurt, his eyes widening at the thought of having Glaymon warships with his fleet. This was certainly far more than he had hoped for.

  “Nearly five hundred, maybe more,” answered Captain Waelt. “We have waited a long time to fight the Vorn—or the Destroyers of Worlds as you call them. This may be our only opportunity to do so.”

  Kurt found himself speechless. In coming here to find the Glaymons, he had hoped to return with a weapon that could combat the black ships. Never had he expected to return at the head of a Glaymon warfleet.

  “There is one catch,” Valan said in a much grimmer voice. “Once our fleet leaves, it can never return. The other Glaymons will not allow it. What we are proposing violates some of our most important rules. Those of us who remain behind may even be punished.”

  “What will they do?” asked Mara.

  “I suspect they will want to reduce our numbers substantially,” replied Valan. “For many millennia they have wanted to put us into just one habitation square. Two billion Aggressives are sufficient to maintain the vitality of the Glaymon race.”

  “I’m sorry,” said Kurt, realizing the massive sacrifice the Aggressives were willing to make. “We should never have gotten you involved in this.”

  “It was necessary,” answered Marshton. “For far too long we have neglected our duty to deal with the Vorn. That has now come to an end.”

  Lomatz had remained silent through the meeting, but now he spoke. “Why not move some of your people out into the galaxy? Surely you have the means to do so.”

  Marshton looked thoughtful and then slowly shook his head. “Our technology is too advanced. It would throw the economy of the entire galaxy into chaos.”

  “What will happen to the crews of your warships?” asked Captain Hastings.

  “We are still discussing that,” answered Valan, glancing at Marshton. “There are several options.”

  Tasid reached forward and tapped the top of the conference table in front of him. Instantly a hologram appeared, detailing the interior of the Star Cross. “Let’s discuss the proposed modifications to your warships.”

  Kurt looked at the hologram in surprise. It was a very detailed and exacting depiction of his vessel. He had no idea how the Glaymons had gotten such intricate information, and he wasn’t going to ask.

  -

  Several days passed, and Kurt stood in the massive construction bay, gazing at the work being done by the Glaymons. All eight ships of his fleet had been torn down to their metal frameworks, and construction robots swarmed over them. Some of the robots were huge, capable of lifting massive beams and even complete sections of ship armor.

  Marshton stood close to Kurt, watching the work with a critical eye. “Everything’s automated. Once we have a final design, we download it into the main construction computer, controlled by an AI. The AI then supervises the entire operation to maintain the maximum possible efficiency.”

  “Will I even recognize my ship when it’s done?” Kurt nervously studied his entire fleet, reduced to pieces on the construction bay floor.

  “For the most part, you will notice few differences. We had the ship disassembled, as it is simpler to run the new power conduits and to install better armor throughout the vessel. We’re leaving both antimatter chambers, though they will be drastically reduced in size. Our method of producing power from antimatter is more efficient than the Lakiams.

  “A Zero-Point Energy module will be the ship’s primary power source, with the antimatter chambers as a backup. Your weapons had to be redesigned and augmented to handle the extra power from the module. We will also add some replicator technology. Food and water can be replicated from the energy produced by the module or the antimatter chambers. You’ll only need emergency supplies of those items.”

  Kurt watched a large construction robot rise into the air, carrying a large metal beam by use of tractor beams. Turning toward Marshton, Kurt asked another question. “Will my crew and I understand how the technology works on our ships?”

  “The AI and the repair robots will. It’s the same on our own vessels. While we do have scientists and engineers who are familiar with the mechanics of everything, they don’t normally travel on the ships. We will make sure your people understand how to do basic repairs, but the more complicated work will be done by the AI or the repair robots. In time, if you want to assign some of your own engineers to follow the robots, they can be programmed to guide your people through the steps.”

  Kurt turned to the Star Cross. Several robots were placing a piece of hull armor on the ship’s stern. “What changes did you make in the hull armor? It seems much thicker than what I remember.”

  “It is,” replied Marshton, nodding. “It is also ten times more resistant to damage. If our calculations are correct, the new hull armor could resist a Vorn black a
ntimatter beam for a few seconds. Long enough to get the energy shield back up.”

  “Is there any sign of the expected Vorn fleet in our galaxy?” Kurt was worried the Vorn might attack Lakiam before they were ready to return.

  “No,” replied Marshton. “We believe we still have another week or two.”

  Kurt nodded. ‘I hope so. We have to get to Andock Prime and Lakiam before the Vorn do.”

  Kurt hoped to turn over some of the new weapons technology to the Lakiams. Mara had assured Kurt, if he did, Fleet Commodore Dreen would use it to drive the Destroyers of Worlds from the galaxy. It would keep Earth and Newton out of the war and secure in their remote section of the galaxy. Kurt wasn’t ready for either to become a major player in galactic politics, must less a galactic war. It would be decades yet before that was even a possibility.

  -

  Andrew was in what the Glaymons considered a cafeteria. He walked up to a replicator device set in the wall. “Ribeye steak cooked medium with a fully loaded baked potato and a large dinner roll.”

  “What would you like to drink?” the replicator asked in a soft female voice.

  Andrew still wasn’t used to computers speaking to him, particularly asking questions. “Iced tea, unsweetened.”

  A slight humming noise came, and then his food magically appeared in the aperture. Supposedly this replicator and a few others had been modified to produce food that the visiting crews would be familiar with.

  Still suspicious of the technology, Andrew took his tray and walked to a table where Lieutenant Mays, Mara, and Lomatz sat. Lieutenant Mays was eating a club sandwich, and Andrew had no idea what Mara and Lomatz were eating. What was on their plates wasn’t familiar to him.

  “I checked on the Golan Four this morning,” said Lomatz as he took a bite of the Merton steak on his plate. “It’s unrecognizable. I hope they can put it together again. I spent a lot of money building it.”

  “The Aurelia is much the same, though I have a few scientists and technicians watching the rebuilding,” added Mara. “Even they have told me that much of the Glaymons’ science is far beyond anything they can understand. This replicator technology is even being used in the construction. Entire sections of the ship appear from thin air. Then the construction robots swarm over it, installing instruments, connections, and various power leads.”

  “I spoke to Tasid earlier about our new KEW rounds,” said Lieutenant Mays, eating chicken salad. “He said they did have the technology to mine a neutron star. However, the mass of the rounds alone would be extremely dangerous. If only one of our ship’s containment fields were to collapse or weaken, the entire ship would be crushed and end up smaller than a tennis ball.”

  The description of the Star Cross and its crew being crushed was a chilling thought. “How easily will these Zero-Point Energy rounds be to produce?” asked Andrew.

  “The KEW round will have a containment field that holds the Zero-Point Energy charge until it strikes a solid surface or energy screen. Either will cause the energy to be instantly released. A replicator on board the ship can produce the casings for the round as well as the parts for the containment field.”

  “What if a containment field fails on the ship?” asked Andrew, still visualizing the Star Cross imploding.

  “That’s the interesting part,” said Lieutenant Mays. “The new KEW cannon is designed so, if a round fails, the energy will be directed through the barrel and out the ship, causing no damage. The rounds also won’t be charged until they’re inside the cannon.”

  “What about other rounds? Is there anything else they can build for us?”

  “Yes,” said Lieutenant Mays, her eyes lighting up. “We can use several exotic substances that will be harmless on board the ship. Several have increased mass, but nothing we can’t handle. Unfortunately we don’t have the technology to build the rounds and will have to carry a supply with us, knowing they can’t be replaced.”

  Mara looked across the table at Andrew. “If we are successful in taking these weapons to Fleet Commodore Dreen, we can defeat the Destroyers of Worlds.”

  Andrew nodded. Looking around he saw a number of Glaymons sitting at other tables, eating and talking in their soft voices. In the last few days he had gone on a tour of their habitats. Their cities were awe-inspiring. Tall towers reaching above the clouds. The shapes and colors of their structures were almost whimsical. The taller buildings were connected by slim ribbonlike bridges with no guardrails. He had watched Glaymons walking across them with no signs of fear. He had visited several museums exhibiting their history, even describing the construction of the Dyson Sphere. It made Andrew wonder what this galaxy would have gone on to create had the Destroyers of Worlds never come.

  With a deep sigh, Andrew took a bite of his steak. It was cooked perfectly and tasted like the real thing. It was a shame he couldn’t take a replicator to Emily. Regardless he was anxious to get home. This trip would be the longest time he had been separated from his family since Emily and Alexis had been kidnapped by the Profiteers. Thinking about the Profiteers brought a smile to his lips. With the Glaymons’ upgrades to the Star Cross and the other ships, no world in the Gothan Empire could ever again endanger Newton. Perhaps, sometime in the near future, they would have to visit Kubitz and Marsten and have them pay for what they did to Earth. It was an interesting thought, and one he would have to discuss with Kurt. It suddenly occurred to Andrew that they would have the power to exert their will over the Gothan Empire. After what they had put his wife and daughter through, Andrew was determined to someday end the pirating ways of the Profiteers.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Prince Brollen watched with deep satisfaction as numerous Intergalactic Transport Vessels exited hyperspace into the staging system. Each was covered with twenty of the powerful 1,200-meter-long battleships of the Vorn. When the last one exited hyperspace, fifty of them were in the system.

  One thousand battleships sent by the Queens, sent Military Commander Fraymot, his admiration evident. With these we will crush the pitiful vessels of the two food species that defeated our fleet.

  Prince Brollen watched the multiple viewscreens in the recently repaired Command Center as the battleships disconnected from the transport ships. We have two thousand cruisers in the system with more waiting in Galaxy X241. We will annihilate the food species that possesses the dark matter weapons and harvest each of their worlds. We will sweep their systems clean of life, leaving radioactive cinders where their worlds once were. We will do the same to the food species in the system where we were defeated. They will suffer the same fate as the other. Once we have harvested all their worlds, resistance to us in this galaxy will collapse.

  How soon do we depart? asked Fraymot. All our ships have been repaired, and we can leave as soon as you command it.

  Tomorrow, answered Prince Brollen, his triangular-shaped head moving until he faced the military commander. I must meet with the commander of the warfleet and secure my authority. In this coming battle, there can be no doubt that I am the one leading our fleet to victory over the two food species. When we return to the Conclave Habitat, the food pellets from the two species will be used for a feast for all the Queens and the Royal Court.

  As you command, replied Military Commander Fraymot, bowing slightly. The fleet will be ready.

  Prince Brollen returned his attention to the viewscreens, gazing at one of the battleships—a bulkier spindle shape with numerous weapons turrets. Far more than what the cruisers were equipped with. In addition, the weapons on the battleships were more powerful.

  The fight against the two food species wouldn’t be a battle; it would be a slaughter.

  -

  Fleet Commodore Dreen was on Lakiam, meeting with the council. A number of the councilors had great concerns as Lakiam now appeared to be a prime target for the Vorn.

  “I knew, if we got involved with the Andocks, this would happen,” complained council member Brewl Darmas. “You have drawn the attention o
f the Destroyers of Worlds to us. I demand that you immediately resign and someone more qualified be put in charge of our fleet. Your wild ways will lead us away from Enlightenment. We must stay true to our values and our steady advancement toward that goal.”

  Fleet Commodore Dreen gazed disdainfully at council member Darmas. The man was a fool and would lead Lakiam to ruin if he had his way. “You seem to forget that the Destroyers of Worlds have come before. They will leave no world untouched. No matter what, at some point in time, they will come to Lakiam. At least now, we won’t stand alone.”

  “But Enlightenment,” cried out Darmas, looking woefully at the other councilors. “You are destroying our path.” He looked at Fleet Commodore Dreen, daring him to reply.

  “What matters the path if we’re all dead,” replied Dreen, staring at the councilor. “We take the path of survival, and, if that turns us away from Enlightenment, then let it be so.”

  “Blasphemy!” cried out Darmas, pointing a shaking finger at Fleet Commodore Dreen. “This council will remove you from command. You are not fit to lead our fleets!”

  “On the contrary,” said Lead Councilor Harlus Atratis. “Fleet Commodore Dreen is the perfect person to lead our fleets. The path to Enlightenment will not save us. I am afraid the fleet commodore is right when he says, in order to survive, we may have to stray from the path.”

  “But we have worked so hard toward Enlightenment,” said Darmas in a more subdued voice, his eyes wide and pleading. “How can we give all that up?”

  “It’s called survival,” answered Fleet Commodore Dreen. “We do what we must. Perhaps Enlightenment is still in our future, but the Destroyers of Worlds must be dealt with first, and, in order to do that, we must stray from the path.”