The Star Cross: The Dark Invaders (8 page)

Creed knew his
crew still felt anger about the profits the Humans had cost them. Plus the pleasure
houses on Kubitz were expensive, and Lantz especially enjoyed spending quality
time there whenever they were on the planet. “They will find it much harder to
leave Kubitz than it was to come here. Jarls is prepared to make a move.”

“It will be
costly,” commented Lantz. “Jarls does nothing for free.”

Drawing in a
deep breath, High Profiteer Creed reached a decision. “Lukon, send a message to
Clan Leader Jarls. I will pay him ten million credits if he can destroy the
Star
Cross
and an additional five million if he can kill Vickers.”

Second
Profiteer Lantz’s eyes widened significantly, hearing the amount of credits
Creed was willing to offer. Lantz hadn’t expected the High Profiteer to offer
such large amounts. Lantz realized there might be a simpler and easier
solution. After all, he didn’t spend so much time at the pleasure houses not to
realize how things worked on the black market planet.

“What about
offering a two-million-credit reward if Fleet Admiral Vickers were to suffer a
life-ending accident while on Kubitz?” suggested Lantz. “A number of mercenaries
as well as a few bounty hunters would be interested in such an offer.”

High Profiteer
Creed slowly nodded his head. “That’s an excellent idea. Make a list of our
contacts on Kubitz who could handle such an offer.”

-

Satisfied
Fleet Admiral Vickers would soon be dealt with, Creed made his way through the
ship to his quarters. The
Ascendant Destruction
was inside a repair bay
in one of the large orbital stations above Marsten. While he preferred the more
elaborate repair bays above Kubitz, Creed had decided to return to Marsten to
get some basic repairs done to his ships.

Once that was accomplished,
he intended to return to Kubitz and have all his battlecruisers fully updated
with the most modern weapons and defenses possible. It would also be necessary
to purchase more warships and cargo vessels for his fleet. This would put a
sizable dent in his credit reserves, but, if he wanted to continue to operate
in the area of space where Earth and Newton were, it was a necessary
expenditure.

Already he had
heard rumors of two more habitable worlds in that region. If that were true,
then that backwater area of the galaxy was much richer than formerly believed.

Creed entered
his quarters and stood deep in thought. He had plans to become an important
person on Marsten. Successful Profiteers held large estates on the planet and often
threw lavish parties to show off their wealth. Creed had been well on his way
to buying the land he wanted when Fleet Admiral Vickers had interfered.

Several months
back he had sent several escort cruisers to check on Earth and the Newton
Systems. He had been discouraged to learn Newton now had a full defensive grid along
with dangerous Class Two Orbital Defense Platforms. No doubt Vickers had
purchased the defenses from Lomatz, the Kubitz arms dealer. Lomatz had a
reputation of being willing to deal with anyone, even if the Kubitz government
was against it. Also a sizable fleet was constantly in orbit around Newton. An attack against the planet was now off the table. To attack such a powerfully
defended world would be too costly.

However, scans
of the Earth System were entirely different. Only a few defensive satellites
were in orbit along with two defensive platforms. A small number of battleships
and battlecruisers were present and of Kubitz design, but they could be easily
handled if he brought Jarls along. He had already recruited a number of Humans
to act as spies upon the planet. Promises of riches and power had easily swayed
them into providing valuable inside information. He already knew much of the
gold taken to Newton had been returned to Earth. He even knew the supposed
secret locations of most of it.

If he could
take out Vickers and the
Star Cross
, it would weaken Newton to the point
they might be hesitant about aiding Earth if Creed attacked it with an
overwhelming force. As much as he hated to spend more credits, it might be
worth it to bring in a few more of the Marsten Profiteer clans as well as
several Dacroni mercenary groups.

From what his
spies on Earth had told him, if Creed attacked the planet and looted the secret
gold repositories, after paying off the other Marsten clans and the Dacroni mercenaries,
he would still come out with well over one billion in credits. It was a
staggering amount and one that would ensure his rise as a prominent member of the
ruling class on Marsten, the capital of the Gothan Empire.

Walking to his
desk, Creed sat down and activated the computer terminal that sat in the center
of his desk. For several weeks he had been planning the reconquest of Earth. He
figured—from the time he initiated his attack on the planet, looted the gold
depositories, and generally stripped everything of value he could find on Earth—he
would need seventy-six hours.

Calling up the
ships that would be involved from the different clans, he wanted to finalize
just how much this venture would cost. He would also be taking a large number
of detainee ships. His plan was to bring back tens of thousands of young nubile
women and young men who could be sold at the slave auctions on Kubitz. Between
the slaves and the wealth he would take from Earth, he could retire in comfort
and live a lavish lifestyle on Marsten.

Of course the
first thing to be done before he launched his attack was the destruction of the
Star Cross
and the death of Fleet Admiral Vickers. If things went as he
hoped on Kubitz, all that might be attained in just a few days.

-

Keera waited
anxiously for her brother to show up. She had left him a message at his
apartment, asking him to meet her at the compound. She was in the guest
quarters assigned to her and Kurt. With a deep sigh, she stood up and walked to
the window. Their quarters were on the second floor, and she looked out across
the compound. There wasn’t a lot to see due to the tall security wall. In the
distance, she could barely make out some of the city’s taller buildings, where
much of the business on Kubitz was conducted.

However, the
streets and the people were completely hidden. She felt a sudden chill as she
thought of the deals and transactions being made in the bars and the pleasure
houses only a short distance away. It made her even more grateful to have found
Kurt and Newton.

Kubitz was
like a second home to her since coming here with her brother. She had learned a
lot in the medical center where humanoids from all over the galaxy were
treated. Unfortunately a lot of the injuries she saw had been from business
deals gone wrong. When Kurt had come to the planet and with the horrifying
circumstances concerning Private Dulcet’s abduction, Keera had decided to go to
Newton to see if it offered any new options. She had never regretted that
move. Kurt was everything she had ever wanted in a man and a lover. He always
put her feelings first. He was also very committed to his duty as fleet admiral
and ensuring Newton stayed safe.

Movement at
the main gate drew her attention, and a battered-looking vehicle pulled in. As
she watched, she saw her brother get out and walk to the main entrance of the
embassy. The guards had instructions to escort him to her quarters. She didn’t
want anyone around when she talked to Dalen. The last time she had seen him,
they had had a terrible argument. They left angry with each other and hadn’t
spoken since.

Keera walked
over and stood by the door. It wasn’t long until she heard a tentative knock.
Opening it, she saw her brother along with one of the Marines who had escorted
him. “Come in, Dalen,” she said, gesturing for him to enter the room.

Dalen stepped
inside and stood, looking at his sister as she told the guard he could leave, and
then she shut the door. He was a little taller than Keera but had the same dark
hair and fair complexion. “It’s been a while,” he said. “I didn’t know if you
would come or not in response to my letter.”

“Sit down. We
have a lot to talk about.” Keera walked over and sat on a sofa, indicating Dalen
should sit next to her. “How is your work with the Profiteers going?”

“Fine,” Dalen answered.
“Or at least it was until recently. Now everything’s changed.”

“The black
ships?”

Dalen nodded;
his eyes clouded over as he looked across the room. He let out a deep breath
and then spoke. “Business is way down. A number of Profiteer clans have quit sending
raiding fleets into the territories of the Enlightened Worlds. Some are hesitant
to even leave the Gothan Empire. It’s been weeks since a cargo ship or
passenger liner from an advanced world has been seized.”

“It’s that
bad?”

“Yes, and I’m
afraid it’ll only get worse.”

Keera leaned
back and looked at her brother. He seemed paler than normal, and his breathing
was rapid. Dalen was two years older than she was. Keera had never seen him
this worried before, not even when she had gone to work at the medical center.
They had argued about that as he wanted her to stay home, and not be out and
about on Kubitz. Instead she had gone to work at the center and moved into her
own place.

“What else do
you know?”

“I’ll tell you,
but you have to promise me one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“When you
leave and go back to Newton, I want to go with you. I don’t think the Gothan
Empire will be a safe place to be much longer.”

Keera sucked
in a deep breath. She hadn’t been expecting this. She didn’t know what her
brother would do on a planet like Newton where there was no black market or
Profiteers.

“I’ll see what
I can do. Now tell me what’s got you so scared of staying on Kubitz. The
brother I know wasn’t even scared of the Profiteers. What’s changed?”

Dalen studied
his sister and asked, “Have you ever heard of a race called the Destroyers of
Worlds?”

-

Fleet Admiral
Kurt Vickers, Captain Andrew Randson, and Envoy Marvin Tenner were in a large
conference room. Joining them were Avery Dolman and the weapons dealer Lomatz
who had worked with Kurt before.

“I’ve arranged
for Grantz to meet with Controller Nirron over your contract problems with High
Profiteer Creed,” Dolman said. “I’m sure they’ll work up an acceptable
contract.”

“And how much
will that cost?” asked Andrew suspiciously.

“Only a modest
fee,” Dolman replied with a smug grin. “A lot cheaper than the one-hundred-million-credit
fine you’re currently facing.”

“Does everyone
know about that?” muttered Andrew.

Dolman
shrugged his shoulders. “This is Kubitz. What do you expect?”

Marvin Tenner turned
to Lomatz. “You helped us with the warships we purchased last time, as well as placing
the defensive grid around Newton.”

“Don’t forget
finishing your space station,” Lomatz reminded him. “A number of people on Kubitz
were very unhappy when they learned all I did.”

“We appreciate
everything you did for us,” Tenner replied evenly. “If I remember correctly,
you were well compensated.”

Lomatz nodded
and then turned toward Kurt. “I suspect there’s another reason why you asked
for a meeting with Dolman and me.”

Kurt nodded. “Some
mysterious ships were spotted in the far reaches of Earth’s solar system. We don’t
believe they’re Profiteer ships. We’ve been made aware of rumors of a new enemy
attacking the Enlightened Worlds. Is there any truth to that?”

“I don’t know
what you’re talking about,” said Lomatz, looking uncomfortable. “Rumors always float
around Kubitz.”

“I understand
the Protector Worlds are powerless to stop these mysterious black ships.” Kurt stared
at Lomatz, waiting for an answer.

Lomatz turned
toward Dolman, as if expecting him to respond instead.

“It’s
complicated,” replied Dolman, leaning back in his chair. “I think it’s best if
Lomatz leaves us. I believe he could face some serious repercussions if he were
to speak of the black ships. They’re a closely guarded secret.”

Lomatz stood, focused
on Kurt, and then spoke in a softer voice. “If these black ships have been
spotted around your home system, know full well you can do nothing to stop
them.” With that ominous remark, Lomatz left, shutting the door behind him.

“Crap!” said
Andrew, as he watched the door shut. “I don’t think I’ll like this.”

“No, you won’t,”
said Dolman. “What you’ve heard is true. These black ships are attacking the
colonies of the Enlightened Worlds. So far none of the home worlds—either Enlightened
or Protector—have been attacked.”

“What else do you
know?” asked Kurt. If these black ships were a threat to Earth, he wanted to
find out everything he could about them.

Dolman leaned
forward, and a serious look crossed his face. “This information will be free,
but I might need a favor in return someday.”

“Agreed,” replied
Kurt. He was astonished Dolman was willing to share any information without an
exchange of credits.

“In the last six
months, a number of meetings have been held on Marsten in the Golite System between
the leaders of various Profiteer worlds and clans. The shipyards and construction
stations in orbit around Kubitz have been working full time, building new
battleships, battlecruisers, and defensive stations. The same goes for the
shipyards above all the major Profiteer worlds. They’re expanding their fleets
and increasing the strength of their defensive systems. Even here at Kubitz,
the defensive grid has been increased by nearly 20 percent. Hundreds of
millions of credits are being spent each week.”

Andrew let out
a whistle. “I thought the defensive grids around the main Profiteer worlds were
powerful enough to stop even a ship from one of the Protector Worlds.”