The Star Cross: The Dark Invaders by Raymond L. Weil

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.”
    “They are,”
answered Dolman, his brow wrinkling in a deep frown. “But this threat is not
from any of the Protector Worlds.”
    “Where are
these black ships coming from?” asked Kurt. It sounded as if the situation was direr
than he had believed possible.
    “We know of
them only in legends and in vague historical data from eons ago. They are known
as the Destroyers of Worlds. Every two or three million years they enter our
galaxy and destroy most of the civilized races. They cleanse all major life-forms
from the worlds they attack. Only plant life, insects, and a few microbes are
left behind.”
    Kurt felt his
breath catch in his throat. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “These