The Asking Price of Stars Read online

  As the lifter landed at the school, a short wiry man greeted them. “Welcome to Boca Upper School! I am Robin the second coach here. Station Master Amy Bradshaw asked us to provide you with whatever you need. I believe we have everything you require. First, our local sports shop is sending out a van full of equipment. You will be able to purchase anything you require. Secondly, the main field here is fully staffed and is yours to use for as long as you wish. The local inn, Jill’s Place, will provide food and accommodations. You will be our guests. Finally, the B team from school and I will be on hand as a practice team. Our first coach and our A team are in the capital for the school pre-tournament.”

  Kat said, “Thanks Coach, we need all the help we can get. This is Tracey Mills-Watkins our team leader. As soon as we have our equipment, we will take the field and play a practice game with your team.”

  Equipment arrival did not take long. Field Ball requires a complex field, but the equipment is simple; knee pads, elbow pads, a light helmet, good shoes, gloves for Goal Guards and the bats. The hard bats were one-meter-long made of solid aluminum bars three centimeters in diameter; flattened on one end to provide a flat area for hitting the ball. The other end was dipped in soft plasticine to give a solid grip. Soft bats use the same aluminum bar but not flattened on one end. The soft bats, except for grip area, were covered with plasticine foam. The rules stated that you can hit another player with a soft bat but when hitting the ball, the range is limited. You cannot hit a player with a hard bat. However, the range is much greater.

  The first practice game was a disaster. They lost nine to one. Tracey rationalized telling the team, “We have not played together and it shows. We’ll complete two hours of drills and then we will play a second practice game.”

  Tracey and Kat continued to drive the team and themselves through cycles of play and drills until they were playing under the lights. Finally, Nirabella told Kat to call a halt before they killed someone. Kat thanked Coach Shinn and the B team students who seemed disappointed to stop. The Outcast Lady team was damned glad to stop, get a shower, hot meal, and some sleep.

  Following a dinner of Aki-Aki stuffed with local greens and grilled red fish steaks, Kat and Tracey sat on the veranda of Jill’s Place. As the warm evening air drifted in, they reviewed the team lists compiled during the day. After half an hour of discussion they settled on a final roster.

  Kat began, “One of the crewmen we appointed to Acting Sergeant, Mark Bittman, looks like our best bet as 1st Goal Guard. He was a first-rate upper school player.”

  Tracey continued, “Cici is the best choice for 2nd Goal Guard. She is strong and quick although out practice. Light and Shadow are a must as our 1st and 2nd Runner. – I don’t know where they played, but both are damn good.”

  Kat added, “The second Acting Sergeant, Brittany Diamond, is a natural as Throw. Great arm! Tracey, you must be our 1st Soft Bat Forward. You are a star player.” Tracey nodded. Kat continued, “I would like Spider as 2nd Soft Bat Forward. She played “B team” at OTS and did well today. Also, Baryic Chahill played a strong 1st Hard Bat Back today. The old man can still play.”

  Kat said “I think we must use Peter as 2nd Hard Bat Back. He is as strong as a Kirgiiiz Beast. For myself I played “A team” at OTS and can coach and be a substitute. I can’t play a full game because my hands are still healing.”

  .

  Tracey added the last names, “Fidelity, Czajka, and Centari Shamir can sub; all are decent players. Of course, Nirabella will be the Team Doctor.”

  Purple Cat, snoozed curled up at Tracey’s feet. Earlier, for dinner, she killed a fat motan in the vegetable field behind the tavern. She did not comment on player selection; c-cats have little interest in the lists human are always writing.

  Tracey awoke Light and the rest of the team at dawn. The next two days’ activities were a blur for Light. As night fell on final day of training; she stood on edge of the field thinking. I can’t remember much except games and then endless drills. I must admit we are better now by all the hells. I can’t imagine why Kat wants to stop looking for Auntie Tara and play this tournament. He says we must win our first two games, what in all the planets is that about? Watching Mark Bittman play is astonishing. He is a handsome one, taller than Kat, with his black eyes, dark hair, tan, chisel cut features and a body of stone. He is one of the kids we rescued on Pangerbar and is growing up fast. Someday I may give him a tumble, but now is not the time.

  After a quick breakfast, everyone loaded into the lifter for the trip west to the capital.

  *********

  The contrast between the pastoral calm of Boca Island and the capital city of Harland’s River could not have been greater. The capital was also located on the lee side of an island. The city was split by the river and sat on a large bay that held water ships of all kinds. The city docks were filled with fishing boats, cargo ships both big and small, passenger ships and a couple of water-warships. Tracey flew the lifter in over the city. Brightly colored flags and banners flew from all along the main road of the city. The road curved along the quayside at midpoint and an arched bridge spanned the river. Every tavern and inn flew flags and banners marking the teams who stayed there. Beyond the city was an open field with six Field Ball fields. Each field was encircled by bleachers. Surrounding all six was a mass of brightly colored tents and wagons forming an open fair.

  Tracey landed at the space port on the other side of the city. A young man from the Station Master’s office greeted them. "My name is Diego and I will be your guide. By tradition each team parades though the city and out to the game fields to officially sign in. We will use an open topped electro van. The flags on the van I had sewn with the tan and black colors of your dress uniforms. I added the bright yellow to keep it festive."

  Tan flags with wide black and yellow diagonal strips flew from the van. People cheered them as they slowly made progress across the city.

  Along the waterfront, they passed an inn called the Seabird built out over the water. The tan, black, and bright yellow flags flew from the high points on the roof. Diego told them, "This is the inn where you will stay. It’s a good clean inn. My uncle owns it,” he said proudly.

  ********

  The Outcasts were losing the third-round game to local team called the Trade Winds. The score was four to one in the final period. Light thought, the two sisters are superb players --- both great runners. The four boys playing with them are also excellent. I think they must be bothers. Unless I miss my bet the other three players are semi-professionals. No wonder we are getting our asses kicked!

  Just then one of the judges called time out. The younger girl came to a stop beside Light. She slipped a tiny plasticine tube into Light’s hand and said, “I knew you were the one; hide this and give it to your commander when you are off the field.” She was gone before Light could say a word. Peter scored another goal but the Outcasts lost four to two. The game ended and Light walked over to Kat and told him about the tube. Kat thanked Light and said, "I will take it as soon as we are back at the Seabird. Guard it with care until then.”

  Kat and Tracey gathered the team and he told them, “This third round is the end the of our tournament run. You played well and Tracey and I are proud of each one of you. A fine dinner and celebration awaits us at the Seabird.” As they were leaving the field Kat pulled Tracey aside and asked her to be on guard until the team returned to their ship. "Ensure Light is safe," she said.

  The excellent seafood dinner served at the Seabird included a dozen types of fish, shell fish, sea insects and the superb wines of Blue Port. With the exception of Tracey and Kat, the team drank and danced until dawn began to break. After dinner Tracey and Kat had slipped off to Kat's room. What the team members assumed was happening in Kat’s room was quite wrong.

  After Guide Diego said “goodbye” later the next morning, they were ready to lift for the Outcast Lady in orbit. Four of the Seabird tavern girls had an emotional time saying goodbye to Baryic and Ma
rk Bittman. Diego gave Cici a kiss goodbye with a sparkle in his eyes. Tracey thought, by all the hells, the party last night was a damn fine one! Too bad I missed it. Cici walked over to her and said, "Nice going Tracey! Did you two have your own private party?"

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  – Outcast Lady in Orbit Above Blue Port - 09-38 -518

  Back on board the Outcast Lady, Light, Kat, Peter and Tracey met in Kat's office. Light told them what occurred on the field and Tracey handed him the object in question.

  “I haven't seen one of these since I was twelve," Kat said as he snapped the tube in half. Inside was a rolled sheet of plasticine. As Kat unrolled the sheet he observed random letters covered one side. On the other side was a chart. Kat continued, "Let me show you something." Taking a knife out from his desk drawer he cut open the end of tube. Flame flashed out of the broken middle of the tube. Anyone trying to open the tube at either end would destroy the message inside.

  "Light, please go to my cabin and bring us the book Death of the Empire. You will find it in the drawer next to my bunk. The information on this sheet is encoded. The book is the key to decode this message. Decoding the note will take a while.”Minutes later Light returned holding an ancient book with paper pages. “Thanks, please ask Morgan to bring us hot Gubble brew and tea," Kat instructed.

  Kat explained, "The old book was written three hundred years ago by General Thomas Freeborn Jang. It outlines a plan to collapse the Trocnavar Empire. At that time, the League of Free Stars possessed none of the resources needed to accomplish that goal and the book was soon forgotten. A few family members kept copies and handed them down for generations. The Freeborns developed a series of codes using the book. Let us begin decoding the message."

  Light, Tracey and Peter offered to help. Kat told Tracey, "Grab a pad and write down the numbers and letters I call out." He then said to Peter, "See if you and Spider can understand the chart." Next, he asked Light be their runner. He then asked her, "Ask Spider to join us. Then fetch a copy machine, the best one on board. "

  By the end of third watch Tracey had looked over ten pages of notes and estimated the decoding was 70% complete. Peter and Spider had a rough idea of what the chart showed. Kat told them, "My thanks to each of you. Light, please have all the officers and sergeants meet in the Ward Room. After the meeting, no further work by this team will be done during first watch. I mean what I said about sleep and rest. We need to get some sleep and clear our minds for the task to come. On second watch, we will start planning the operation. As a head start, I will ask Baryic to go over to the space station and quietly find out who is the best junk dealer in the system.”

  *********

  Blue-Port was surrounded by nine moons of which Moon 9 was the farthest out which was just fine with James "Motan" Smithson. James acquired his middle name while becoming the biggest dealer in old space ships, used parts, and space junk in the Blue-Port system. James looked across at Kat and Tracey and wondered who in all the hells are these people?

  Looking at him Tracey thought, how does one get nick- named after a life form like Motans? The small vicious beasts spread from their home planet to almost all of the planets in the Empire and the League of Free Stars. They love both Troc and human blood. So, far no one has stopped them from spreading to ships throughout known space.

  The low life James looked back at Kat and Tracey and said, “I can supply your requirements. Can you meet the price?

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  – The Planet called Nothing #8 - 10-01-518.

  The lifter dropped through heavy clouds as rain pounded. Sandy knew the planet on which they were landing was beyond the fringe of the Green Line, not at the far end of Green Line, but on a side branch folding back toward the Empire. It was nearly a thousand light years back to the Empire. Riding a high and narrow wave of time and space, cargo ships could make the passage in 500 days, give or take a few. Fast warships could make the run in close to 400 standard days. However, it was still a voyage of one standard year. One would need a least five planets or comets as a source of water for reaction mass. Every star chart and computer model Sandy looked at showed empty space between here and the Empire.

  A fast courier ship, riding the highest possible wave might cut the time to close to three hundred days. But that was still almost a standard year. To make the voyage that long, four excellent time wave navigators were needed; one for each watch plus a backup. One of the new Imperial Super Flash couriers fitted with extra dark matter flasks and reaction mass tanks would also be required. Yet the Empire was bringing over warships, cargo ships, and supplies. Sandy was sure the battle cruiser that she saw in dock at the planet called ‘Four’ was sent out along a hidden route linking back to the empire. Dark Song must have also come over the hidden route. Imperial Blue Fleet is sending out ships, supplies, and crucial personnel.

  Sandy reflected, the time span of the operation was impressive. The Emperor must have given the Imperial Space Force approval years ago. Niikia Kaiii-var, our commander, is here for the final briefing on the plan.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight –

  The Moon X9 of Blue-Port - 10-05-518.

  It is going to be a very complex operation, Kat thought as he and Tracey slowly worked their way along the right wing. The remainder of the team was spread out over the wings, tail surfaces and nose cone. Every square centimeter of the leading edges needed inspection. An unrepaired crack or chip in the ceramic foam could kill them.

  In spacesuits, Kat and Tracey floated along the glider’s right wing. Tracey held an optical inspection unit and moved along the wing edge while Kat pushed a repair unit for the wing edge. The glider was docked in orbit above Moon X9 along with two other gliders, a dozen outmoded ships and junked space assemblies. Motan James, the scrap trader, told them this glider was the best of the lot. So far, he appeared to be correct.

  Peter and Fidelity floated out on the left wing. Fidelity looked over the glider. The body was a box with rounded edges twenty meters long with three wide with a rounded nose flowing back to the cockpit bubble for a crew of two side by side. The body ended in a cargo ramp. Above it was a ‘T’ shaped tail five meters tall. The swept back wings spanned twenty-five meters. Fidelity asked Peter, “Tell me about Colonial Cargo Gliders. I have only seen them in the vids.”

  “They are gliders designed for a one-way trip down to a new colony,” Peter said. “The glider carries cargo to the surface and is cargo itself. You grew up on a planet in center of the League. You never see one on the central planets of the League. They are used on the periphery of the League when new colonies are founded.”

  Fidelity asked, “Why are there so few of them?”

  Peter continued, “Thousands have been built. However, the reason why so few exist is simple. The gliders are built of low cost materials, carbon micro tube reinforced plastio-ceramics, cheap plastics and only a few parts of steel, or aluminum. In order to prevent burning up during flight down, the nose cone and leading edges of the wing and tail are covered with ceramic foam over the plastio-ceramics.”

  “The glider can be broken down into assemblies and used by the colonist during the first years of the new colony. The body can be cut into homes; the wings make excellent roofs for barns or workshops and the tails and nose cones are used for walls and small buildings. In addition, the gliders are stuffed with supplies and equipment for the first year. We are fortunate; this one was built for an aborted colonization and never used.”

  “Peter, why don’t the colonists use lifters?” Fidelity asked.

  “Cost and the gravity bending technology of lift engines makes them expensive,” Peter responded. “The FSF uses lifters without thought of cost. However, lift engines are costly for a private operation. It’s not cheap to operate lift engines or maintain lifters. Small Cargo Gilders Type-17, like this one, can haul 12,000 kilograms of cargo and salvageable assemblies to the surface. The only extra cost is the assembly of the glider. Normally a crew of two is on board. T
he pilots and co-pilots are trained for a single flight. It can be dangerous, about one in two hundred is lost on way down. Most colonists ride lifters down to the surface. Only the poorest colonists ride the gliders down. The important thing for our mission is we create no lift engine gravity abnormalities. Consequently, the gravity instruments scanning the sky can’t find us.”

  Fidelity said, “And twelve of us are going to ride this unpowered antique down to the surface unnoticed, land on water at night, make our way across several kilometers of a wilderness lake, infiltrate a hidden Imperial base, find Auntie Tara, capture one or more senior Troc officers, and then, in the confusion, hope a lifter can get down undetected to pick us up? You, Tracey and Kat are out of your minds if you think this operation can succeed! And don't think filling the area under the cabin floor with flotation foam is going to save the ship on the lake.”