Star Patrol 3: The War Against the Globes

By James A. Connell

This part of the story begins several months after Man's colonies and the Earth itself have been invaded from outside the realm of human worlds by alien creatures called Globes. They have but one purpose, to breed.

Globes are able to manipulate energy in the same way Human made machines can, allowing them to move in space and discharge that energy towards the destruction of human defenses, namely the Star Patrol's Fleet of defending Starships. Their fearless offspring, voracious, nine foot long killers known as Slimers, can infest the surface of a planet destroying and devouring all other lifeforms they encounter.

With Globes and Slimers threatening Mankind with extinction they find that they are not the only enemy. Humans still conspire against their fellow humans for control and dominance.

A soldier, Mary Como, a Doctor, Samantha Wilson, and the crew of the ancient Starship Pegasus were early participants of the war and although Mary, and the others were once affiliated with the Star Patrol, they have since pulled away from that organization and what they perceive to be a deep rooted corruption of the Patrol's hierarchy. However, unable to completely distance themselves, they find they are in an uneasy alliance with their former Commanding Officer, Louis Chen, "Admiral Rat". With known and unknown human forces against them, as well as Globes and Slimers, Mary feels that it might be better to be allied with the still powerful Star Patrol than to continue on their own as make believe Pirates.

After a medical mission with an unexpected encounter with Slimers in the outer reaches of the solar system, Mary and her crew take over an abandoned Star Patrol Base in the North American Rockies. Settling into their new home they begin to feel some semblance of peace and quiet. It isn't long before bounty hunters, mercenaries, unexpected rescue missions, and more encounters with Globes and Slimers make their lives more than interesting once again. Now the Admiral wants them to help train commandos.

One particular favor for the Admiral leads them into conflict with an old enemy, Anton Spect and his Hades Empire. At first they are unaware of the political maneuvering forming against them, but it will take all of their intelligence and cunning to overcome this latest threat. Maybe it's time to become real pirates, but even that may not be enough to save them.

Meanwhile the endless War Against the Globes rages across the Earth. Some feel it's the Star Patrol's job to end that conflict, but
neither the Globes, Slimers, or the Human enemies are willing to allow them enough time to act.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: May 18, 2012
• ISBN: 9781468574401

James A. Connell

I'm not qualified to write this book at all. I do not wish to have this information known. I am retired and I live in Santa Cruz California.

Book preview

Star Patrol 3

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James A. Connell

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AuthorHouse™

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Bloomington, IN 47403

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© 2012 by James A. Connell. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 03/28/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4685-7441-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4685-7440-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012905824

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Prologue

CHAPTER 1           A Capitol Crime?

CHAPTER 2           Pandora’s Stasis Box

CHAPTER 3           River in the Sky

CHAPTER 4           Here we go again

CHAPTER 5           Shamrock

CHAPTER 6           Death Ship

CHAPTER 7           Heat Wave

CHAPTER 8           Space Pirates

CHAPTER 9           Lily

CHAPTER 10         Unexpected Guests

CHAPTER 11         Mercenaries

CHAPTER 12         Guard Duty

CHAPTER 13         Night in the Park

CHAPTER 14         Mrs. Croft

CHAPTER 15         Another Rescue Mission

CHAPTER 16         Desert Heat

CHAPTER 17         Stopover

CHAPTER 18         Pirate Commandos

CHAPTER 19         Ensign Como

CHAPTER 20         Faking it

CHAPTER 21         Foothold

CHAPTER 22         Assault on a Battleship

The Star Patrol Series is dedicated to my Daughter Maegan Renee Connell, my inspiration.

Prologue

History is best when viewed from a distance, because when it’s happening, nobody can tell what the hell’s going on.

Anonymous

In the early part to the twenty-forth century Mankind’s worst nightmare became reality. While colonizing space humans ran into hostile aliens and found themselves in a war that they didn’t ask for, weren’t ready for, and could not talk their way out of. But then again, in the long history of humans, the situation wasn’t all that uncommon.

First thought to be alien spaceships, they overwhelmed two of the more distant colony worlds in a matter of days. When humans discovered that each eight to fifteen meter diameter silver sphere was a living organism, they tried negotiating with them. Which proved to be more than extremely difficult. The invaders were so alien they couldn’t talk to them at all. Put another way, they couldn’t talk them out of their intended conquest of Mankind’s planets.

Each Globe could control and discharge energy much like the spaceships of men. Also like man’s spaceships, that manipulation of energy allowed them to move through space. Since their initial group numbered over forty thousand, the two hundred plus fighting ships of the Star Patrol were pretty much ineffective.

In earlier times this would not have been as much of a problem. Humans were better prepared for violence, but there had been lengthy stretches of peace between men. Although Earth herself still represented Man’s seamier side, her colonies were founded on less violent moral values. But even on Earth weapons of minor and mass destruction slowly but surely disappeared. Humans had taken a few steps back from war. It was, at the time, for their own good.

Times change.

When the Globes reached Earth they found an unprepared, poorly armed human population. Earth’s first line defenses, the Star Patrol Fleet, had been overrun in a matter of hours. Somewhere between Jupiter and Saturn drifted the wrecks of more than two hundred ships. Left where they had tried to stand between thousands of Globes and the people of Earth. Within a short time many more thousands of Globes joined them from the hatching at the Genesis Colony. An estimated half a million Globes moved freely into the upper stratosphere of planet Earth. They were there to breed, and as it soon became all too apparent, they were there to stay.

With Globes dominating the skies over Earth, Humans had no choice but to flee the voracious, slime spewing, Globe offspring, the Slimers. Named for the slime they could spray at an intended victim they were three meter long featureless gray killers that ruled the open spaces between the cities. With their protective Globe air cover they seemed almost invincible. Breeding rapidly they soon massed enough numbers to easily overwhelm human defenses. To them, people were just food. Demoralized Humans retreated into their heavily defended cities and awaited the end.

Then, for reasons know only to them, the Globes left Earth’s skies giving Mankind the chance to launch a counter offensive against the Slimers. With their air cover gone humans could now make some headway against them. The slow process of reclamation had begun, and although it still paid to be cautious, some areas North of the Equator could actually be called Slimer Free. No one seemed to notice that the Slimer numbers were way down from the expected, and still going down. Had anyone bothered to listen to those few that investigated, they would have discovered that the Slimers had gone underground, to change.

Now in the early part of the Earth year 2308 people were ready to get on with their lives, back to so called normal. In spite of the fact that the situation with the Globes was far from over.

CHAPTER 1

A Capitol Crime?

A large green sphere dropped slowly into Earth’s thin upper atmosphere and then began to angle for one of the two still open Spaceports in North America. On it’s way to San Francisco one of the lower cargo doors, just above her flat bottom, opened up to just a slit. A small silver disk slipped through the narrow opening and dropped quickly to just a few meters above the surface. It skimmed the ground for a few dozen kilometers and then settled into a small wooded grove.

Two men in military clothing left the little ship less than a minute after it contacted the ground. They moved quickly through the woods and then on their bellies to cross a meadow overgrown with tall grass. They split up to approach their targets from two sides. The first man to sight the targets waited for his partner to signal that he was in position. Meanwhile he studied the scene before him.

A clear mountain stream flowed southward somewhere around half a klik beyond a motley collection of tents sitting in the shade of a small stand of trees. Off to one side an older circular shaped Spaceship about forty meters in diameter, sat between two and three meters off the ground on three slanted struts that levered down from her convex bottom. Just above the rim the smooth surfaced sides all around curved up and inward nearly seven meters rounding over to a convex top. Due to the maximum reflective mode of her programmable electro-chromic surface, the forward windows looked like two big rectangular mirrors that almost blended into a surface that shimmered and changed with rainbow colors. She would be Starship Pegasus, a relic of bygone days.

The magniviewer showed him five people in the front area of the tents. Among them were his primary targets, the two smaller women. The other two were around two meters tall and incredibly well built. At present they were engaged in a Martial Arts workout, and they weren’t being gentle with each other. Although the one with the dark braided hair was larger than the blonde, she wasn’t near as quick. They would be Anya Billetski, Medusa, and Jennifer Andersen, Kali. The data on Andersen said that the Goddess of Destruction nickname fitted her pretty well. The main targets, Mary Como, and Samantha Wilson, sat in fold up chairs a few meters back and a meter apart. This would be easy.

The two Amazons finished their workout and were heading, arm in arm, for one of the tents. Figures. He thought. Well, he wasn’t here to make a date. In fact he and his partner had something entirely different in mind.

A young muscular guy with short blonde hair, sat in another of the chairs to the right of the primary targets drinking some kind of bottled liquid. He would be Luther Griggs, nickname: Kid, even though the data on him said he was at least 24.

There should be a darker haired man with them. At age 33, Engineer John Jake Croft was the oldest one of the group, but currently nowhere in sight. Probably working on the ship’s systems somewhere inside. With that 100 year old antique, he no doubt had a lot to keep him busy.

Since he had time he wanted to get a bit closer. Tom wouldn’t reach his position for another seven or eight minutes. He moved cautiously towards the selected location. As he silently congratulated himself on another successful stalk something dropped heavily onto his lower back forcing the air out of his lungs. Something quickly grabbed each side of his head like a powerful vise and before he could resist his head was snapped quickly around to the left with a crackle of bones just slightly louder than the rustling grass that surrounded the scene.

Kali cautiously lifted her head so that she could just see over the tops of the swaying grass and looked for the other man. Medusa stood up in the spot she figured him to be in and waved. Kali stood up flipping her long, dark blonde single braid off her left shoulder with a quick flick of her head. She stood a good two meters tall and although she had a muscle structure that rivaled a lot of men, there was no doubt as to her gender. She only looked small next to Medusa.

Mary Como, Captain, Starship Pegasus, stirred from the comfort of her chair. Don’t you two ever stop?

Uh, we aren’t playing Captain. Kali said pointing to her feet.

Too late, both women were looking her way.

What’s going on? Samantha asked.

We have a couple of dead men here Doc.

Jake came down the ramp wiping his hands with a towel. What’s up Kid? He asked.

I think our golden girl just got another one. Kid said obviously impressed.

Jesus. Jake said shaking his head. What is that, eight, nine?

Eleven. Kid answered.

Give it up Kid. Jake advised seeing the look on Kid’s face.

Kid looked over at Jake who now gazed out at the field of grass. He followed the gaze to where Medusa stood, legs spread just slightly with her left hand on her hip. Her long dark multiple braids flowed down just brushing across her shoulders. As strong and muscular as a lot of men, but again, decidedly female. He had to hand it Jake, she certainly was spectacular, but although a beautiful woman, barehanded, she was as lethal as a disrupter shot to the head. In spite of that, she was second to Kali, whose cold efficiency had become legendary in the military world.

I could say the same for you. Kid said.

They’re not interested in guys like us. Jake said without looking away from the impressive sight standing confidently in the tall grass.

Samantha Wilson, MS, MD, had gotten to her feet immediately and headed out. Kali stepped back from her kill as she approached. Samantha knelt down and felt the man’s pulse. She looked up, suspicion crossing the delicate beauty of her dark Hindu features.

Dead alright, but not that long ago. Minutes I’d say.

Really. Kali said looking around innocently.

Uh huh. Stow it will you.

Kali looked chagrined, but the glint in her ice blue eyes said otherwise. Sure Doc. She said grinning.

Samantha had begun to worry about her. She enjoyed this. Where’s the other one? She asked.

Over by Duce. Kali said pointing.

This one’s still alive. Medusa said. I thought maybe we could get some information from him.

They’re bounty hunters. Kali said. What else do we need to know?

We need to go take out Old Man Chang. Medusa said. And stop this at the source.

No we don’t. Samantha said.

They’re going to keep coming until they finish it, or we do. Medusa said. Samantha had to agree, inwardly.

The man at Medusa’s feet groaned and stirred a little. She grabbed the lapels of his shirt and pulled him to his feet. Come on Killer. She said, her braids swishing across in front of his face. We’re gonna have us a nice friendly conversation.

I can’t condone this. Samantha said.

Mary put her arm across Samantha’s shoulders and steered her away from where Medusa and Kali had tied the man to the base of a tree. Kali’s eyes had actually glinted in anticipation. Medusa’s deep dark ones just held smoldering determination. The man had shown no fear until Kali’s flat black knife began it’s dance in her expert fingers. She only had to lay the blade next to something he considered very important to start him singing like a bird. She looked disappointed. Ten minutes later they had a report for Mary.

Bounty Hunters all right. Medusa said. The bounty’s up to half a million.

Kali flicked her head towards the still restrained man. He wants to be rich.

Medusa shook her head. Not in this life. She said.

Samantha had acquired that determined expression they all knew so well. Stop it. We are not killing him.

Kali shrugged. He’ll just come back.

You don’t know that. Samantha asserted.

I would. Kali answered.

For the money? Samantha asked.

To finish the job.

You guys worry me. Samantha said.

Aren’t you glad they’re on our side? Mary asked.

Definitely.

Mary looked at Medusa. Take him back to his ship and let him go.

Kali leaned in close to the man’s face. Even though she was what any man would consider beautiful with her spectacular body, dark blonde hair, and fine featured face. One look into those cold blue eyes brought fear to the man’s face. She leaned closer and whispered in his ear. The color had totally drained from his face as they lead him away.

They’re not going to kill him are they? Samantha asked.

They’ll do as they’re told. Mary answered confidently.

Mary was a shorter version of Medusa and Kali. Well muscled and well proportioned with her own brand of deadly efficiency. As the Captain of Pegasus they would follow her orders, to the death if necessary.

Kali likes killing too much I think. Samantha said. She snapped that man’s neck without a second thought.

Yeah well unfortunately you can’t have it both ways. Let’s just say Kali likes a physical challenge.

She likes to kill. Samantha said. Saying it another way doesn’t change it.

Mary stared at the ground silently. Her wavy black hair falling across pretty Italian features. After a few minutes she looked up into Samantha’s eyes with a serious expression. Both women stood around one and a half meters with Mary being the taller of the two by a few centimeters. With all of the others in their little company being at least two meters tall, Samantha was the only one that Mary could look eye to eye without straining her neck.

Mary swished her hair back and behind her ear with an unconscious flick of her right hand. She didn’t pick that name you know. She said. Her Squad gave it to her after they got to know her.

I believe it. Samantha said, remembering her own folklore and Kali, Goddess of Destruction and Dissolution.

Do you want to get rid of her? Mary asked.

Oh get real Mary, you know I like Kali. I’m concerned about her mental health that’s all. And don’t give me that crap about omelets and breaking eggs.

Have we had this conversation before? Mary asked.

Samantha grinned. Probably. Look, I know we’re in a situation that requires Kali’s particular skills, but I don’t have to like it.

"Now if you liked it, I’d be the one worried about your mental health. But don’t discount Medusa. Mary said. She would’ve done the same but she wanted information out of that guy. Both of those women would walk through fire for you. Killing a couple of bounty hunters is just part of the service. And just remember, those guys were here to kill us."

Samantha nodded without commenting. Temptation gnawed at the back of her mind. This thing had started less than a year ago when Lee Yung Chang’s grandson died on Prosperity. The colony had been overrun by Slimers with Dennis severely injured by one. As luck, bad luck, would have it Samantha found herself to be the attending physician. The bad luck had been two fold. First, although she had tried desperately, she had been unable to save his life. Second, she and Dennis had dated briefly just before she left Centaurus for the frontier. Old man Chang incorrectly assumed that Samantha had deliberately let him die, and using his considerable influence, placed a bounty on her head.

She even thought that maybe she should just cut Kali and Medusa loose on old Mister Chang, but inwardly she was afraid that they might not return from just such a mission. She would never be able to forgive herself if they should get killed taking care of her business. Unfortunately Kali and Medusa were like loaded weapons, very dangerous, at all times. Samantha half feared that they might go after Chang on their own, but Mary assured her they wouldn’t act without orders. So she finally decided that would have to be good enough.

Several minutes later Mary pointed out the little silver ship making for the upper stratosphere. Shortly after that Kali and Medusa came walking back over the hill.

You know what this means? Mary said pointing to the body still lying in the tall grass. It means we have to move, that’s what it means. Kali and Medusa were within hearing distance. Mary pointed to the body again. Kali, do something with him.

Aye Captain.

Medusa we need to pull up stakes. Mary said as one of the tents collapsed behind her.

Looks like they’re way ahead of you. Samantha said with a grin.

Mary looked behind her. Sometimes they act like they don’t need me at all.

Now you know how I felt. Samantha said, reminding Mary that she had been the first Captain of Pegasus.

The main drive hummed softly and a familiar vibration ran briefly through the deck. Mary drew in a relaxing deep breath and took hold of the control handles on the console in front of her. She just had to look to her right and nod to Kali. Kali nodded back and the three struts pulled up into their recesses on the underside of the ship with a triple dull thud.

Struts retracted, all outer hatches sealed. Kali reported as green lights appeared across her console. Where too? She asked as the little woods dropped away.

Site number two. Mary answered.

That’s kind of remote. Kali said.

That’s what we want. Samantha’s going to have to wait to tend the sick and injured. Right now we need to lay low. Mary said.

Samantha stepped into the Flight Deck. Number two is out.

Samantha, we need to think about security. Mary said. The other sites are wide open to attack.

I don’t want to hide. Samantha said.

Then let us take care of this bounty thing once and for all. Kali said.

Samantha shook her head. No. She said flatly.

Mary cast a look in Kali’s direction that said, Drop it for now.

You’re the boss. Kali told Samantha, but she was really talking to Mary.

After she left Mary drew in close to Kali. If I can get us to Centaurus without Samantha can you make an accident happen?

No problem. Kali answered.

Orion should be back soon. I’ll see if I can make her want to spend a bit of time with Bill. What else do you need?

Medusa. Kali said.

Oh like we could get away with excluding her. Mary said. You’ve got a few weeks to plan it.

Kali nodded smiling, obviously in her element.

During the past several months the crew of Pegasus had bonded together fairly well. It paid when the nightmare monsters came in the night to disturb an otherwise peaceful sleep. Everyone understood the occasional shout in the middle of the night. Most had done it. Mary less than most, and Kali only once when she’d been feverish with the Flu. She had that knife and no one could get near her until Medusa, taking a chance on getting stabbed, managed to get her calmed down. Later, after the fever broke, she apologized to everyone. Mary called it just another night in the Dorm.

Many things had taken place in those last months. Nothing like the turbulent period that preceded them though, when everything seemed to happen at once. Orion’s Captain, John Stewart, never did recover from the illness that overtook him after his ordeal on Hades. After a long time he died and Samantha came to understand the hard way why Doctors didn’t treat their friends and family members.

Orion’s First Officer, and Samantha’s love interest, Bill Allen, took over officially as Captain and got immediately assigned to discover the disposition of Hades and it’s self appointed Emperor, Anton Spect. Bill and Samantha had one night before he left, so Mary had little trouble making Samantha want to stay aboard Orion for a few days when she returned. She had been on Orion less than an hour when Pegasus made the jump for Centaurus.

Mary looked out the forward windows. Centaurus hung dead centered and only about ten hours away. Fifth Planet in orbit around Alpha Centauri and the oldest of the colonies outside of the Sol System. Nearly the size of Earth, Centaurus had blue seas and green-brown islands, but nothing the size of even a small continent. All of the islands together totaled forty percent of the planet’s surface making the rest hundreds of small seas with about half no deeper than five hundred meters.

This was Samantha’s home world so Mary felt a little guilty about not bringing her along, but Samantha would not have approved of what they were about to do. Had Mary realized that she would have to stay aboard alone with nothing to do but worry. She probably would have made Kali change her plan. Too late now. The plan called for Kali and Duce to leave as soon as they set down at Peking Island. Jake would be leaving half a day later. Mary and Kid had no choice but to stay at the Base and handle the loading of supplies that they really didn’t need. She couldn’t shake the feeling of letting someone else do her dirty work.

Kali wiped the sweat off of her forehead and picked up another big tray full of dishes. Placing them on the conveyor belt she stepped back and let the tray rattle off towards the dishwasher. After only half a day she had managed to land a job working in the kitchen of the huge Chang Estate on the North end of Shengen Island. Medusa and Jake would be waiting at the end of the day for any information that she could get.

The little old Chinese woman that she worked with looked over at her and smiled. You very strong. She said. But you never work in kitchen before.

Why do you say that? Kali asked.

Too slow. The woman answered. You must be fast or they not keep you.

She wasn’t being mean, just truthful. She had actually turned out to be a fountain of information.

They sure seem to feed a lot of people. Kali had said to her.

Only in morning. She had answered. At night only two plus Mister Chang. They snack a lot at night. Make a big mess in small kitchen.

The small kitchen was actually part of the living quarters. Kali had taken clean dishes there earlier in the day and gotten a good look at the surveillance system in the process.

Hey you! Wo Fan the head cook stood at the far end of the room pointing at Kali. You come with me, now.

Kali wiped her hands and followed him to one of the side doors. An unpleasant little man. She hadn’t even been there a full day and already she wanted to wring his stringy little neck. After following him through a short corridor they came out on the loading dock at the rear of the main house.

Those box. Wo Fan said pointing to a huge stack of large cardboard boxes. Lazy delivery man no put right. You stack those box here along wall. You understand?

How high do you…

Do you understand? He said interrupting her.

I was just asking how high you wanted… . Kali said holding her temper in check as he cut her off again.

No ask question! Move box! You understand?

Yes, I understand. She said.

No put so they fall on someone. You finish box you go home, come back tomorrow morning five AM. You late, no bother come.

Boxes. She said evenly as he turned for the door. The proper term is boxes.

Turning back with a look of pure hatred he started to say something but then he looked into her eyes. Uncertainty and a flash of fear crossed his face before he turned and went hastily back through the door.

Maybe you no come back tomorrow. He said in low tones as he went down the corridor.

At first she became angry but then she realized she had just gotten the opening she needed. Everyone would be leaving in less than an hour. Apparently Wo Fan expected her to finish the job no matter what amount of time it took. This could be perfect. She spent the next several hours diligently moving the huge stack of cartons to the other side of the room. He had looked in on her but he didn’t speak to her. Instead he leaned in the door and frowned, then disappeared.

By the time she decided it would be appropriate for her to go to the restroom she discovered an empty kitchen. After locating the bundle that she had brought with her she found a small out of the way utility room and settled down to wait for the middle of the night. Meanwhile she could get a little sleep.

Somewhere close to the selected hour she awoke to the darkness of the little room. Carefully leaving the room she moved quietly towards the main part of the house. The main junction of the house’s heating ducts sat in the basement as she expected. So far she hadn’t encountered much in the way of surveillance except for a laser beam across the basement door. It seemed that the majority of the heavy detection equipment was around the borders of the extensive grounds. Inside that border they apparently depended on the dogs.

Checking the junction over she disabled the alarm switch on the hatch that opened to the inside of the ductwork. She opened her little bundle and placed the breathing mask over her face. Next came the small cylinder of gas. She opened it’s valve and placed it inside the duct junction, closed the hatch, and activated the air conditioning system fans. Checking her watch she waited for ten minutes to go by.

She removed the last item, an injection ampoule, from the bundle. It’s contents held a very special chemical compound that she and Medusa had concocted from Samantha’s supply of drugs. When injected into the juggler vein it would cause extreme hypertension. The blood pressure in the brain would skyrocket resulting in one or more of the blood vessels to rupture. Death or, at the very least, an unrecoverable coma would rapidly follow. During the following hour, the body would completely break down the compound making it nearly untraceable. After retrieving the empty gas cylinder and removing all traces of her tampering, she started for the main part of the house.

She kept the breathing mask on while she made it to the monitor room. The man in the room lay slumped over the desk in front of him. He and the rest of the household would be out for almost an hour. They would awaken feeling as though they had just dozed off for a few minutes. Fear of later disciplinary action should prevent them from talking about it to anyone. As for that weasel Wo Fan, with the master of the house dead and a possible investigation to follow, it was unlikely that he’d admit that he had left a complete stranger at work on the loading dock and gone home.

It only took a few minutes to program the surveillance system for a video loop. She found the recording of the kitchen staff leaving and introduced enough static to make identification of anyone questionable. Then she moved quickly to Chang’s sleeping quarters. Passing two slumbering guards she was glad they had decided on the gas approach. She would not have been able to disable both of them without killing them since she had expected there to be only one. Bypassing the alarm on the door to the sleeping quarters she picked the lock and entered the darkened room. She slipped the night lenses on the breathing mask over her eyes showing every detail of the room and the rooms beyond in ghostly green tones.

In a short time she located Chang and a young naked woman sleeping comfortably in a gigantic bed.

Why you old dog. She said just under her breath. Then she became thoroughly disgusted. She recognized the woman as one of Chang’s granddaughters. Dirty old man is more like it.

Something seemed wrong. She held her hand just above his nose, then placed her fingers on the side of his neck.

Well I’ll be damned. She thought. All this for nothing.

From the cold feel of the skin he had been dead for several hours. The poor granddaughter would have quite a shock when she woke up tomorrow morning.

Better than what he had planned for you. She thought as she left the room.

She made it back to the monitor room and reset the looped surveillance computer. Now she would just have to get past the outside surveillance and the dogs without causing any commotion. This would be the easy part. The dogs lay quietly in their air conditioned kennels, gassed like the rest of the staff. While in the monitor room she had taken the time to locate a blind spot in the video net. She finally made it over the wall certain that she had left no trace at all. Even the gas she used would be undetectable in less than half an hour.

Some time later she walked into the rear entrance of the shabby Hotel in Shengen City and up to the room where Medusa and Jake waited for her to bring them information for tomorrow’s scheduled hit.

God you had me worried. Medusa said as she entered the room.

What time is it? Jake said from the sofa.

Medusa had apparently been sleeping on the bed alone. She knew that Duce hadn’t wanted it that way.

Poor girl. She thought. Medusa had quite a thing for Jake.

Four AM. She said.

So? Where were you? Medusa insisted.

I saw an opportunity to get to the old man and I took it. Kali answered. Too bad he was already dead when I got there.

Dead? Medusa asked. What do you mean already dead?

Yeah, can you believe that? The old bastard kicked off before I got there.

I don’t understand. Jake said. Did someone beat you to it?

Who knows. Kali answered. All I know is there’s no need to stay in this dump. So let’s get off this rock.

I’ll signal Pegasus. Medusa said grinning. Suddenly she hugged Kali. You had me worried Jennifer. She said stepping back.

I figured you could make it for a couple of hours. Kali said. I just couldn’t let the chance pass. We might not have gotten another one.

No problem. Jake said.

He looked like he wanted to hug Kali also. He didn’t though, maybe remembering the time she had nearly broken his arm. All he had done then was to put his hand on top of hers. He wasn’t about to test her again. A stray thought flitted across the back of his mind that if he hugged Kali he would also be able to hug Medusa, and he figured even a broken arm would be worth it.

She’s on the way. Medusa said. Let’s get to the Spaceport.

Slipping unseen from the Hotel they walked the back alleys finally winding up at the back fence of the Spaceport. Pegasus sat a few hundred meters away showing no lights. Mary had traded the multicolored look for a flat black, non reflective surface. Minutes later they were scrambling up the stairs on the inside of the front strut.

A slight vibration as the drive revved up told them that they were lifting off. The view on the lounge screen verified it although they were still only a few meters off of the surface. They would skim the sea’s surface until they were out of range of the Spaceport’s detection network, then blast into orbit hopefully unseen by the planet’s tracking systems. The hole in the scanner net had been carefully scouted days ago. Once in orbit Jake reactivated the supposedly tamper proof ID Transponder. In other words, he shouldn’t have been able to shut it down in the first place.

The lead story on the news as they left Centaurus told of the death of one they were calling the father of Centauran industry. Chang’s unexpected death from a stroke had thrown one of Centaurus’ largest corporations into total disarray. Infighting among the heirs had already begun as three separate family factions were claiming control of Chang Aerospace. The signal faded as Pegasus picked up speed for the jump. Which went as scheduled, but due to a slight miscalculation, they were a bit wide of Earth orbit.

Almost as soon as they exited the jump the proximity alarms went off. A large object floated a scant two hundred kilometers away.

It’s very large, and it’s made of metal and plastic. Kali said. And there’s a lot of smaller pieces.

What is it? Mary asked trying to make sense out of the many twisted pieces.

A Space Station? Jake asked.

All of the crew had crowded in or around the rear of the Flight Deck.

It would’ve been a big sucker. Kali said.

The scanner gave a solid ping, then another.

A ship. Kali reported. A Star Hopper, out there with all that debris.

Mary’s internal defenses went up a notch. Star Hoppers were the newest space runabouts from Chang Aerospace. All of the bounty hunters they had encountered in space had been using them. A bullet shaped fuselage with three equidistantly placed delta wings at the rear. They were fast and the ones used by Chang’s people were heavily armed.

Dead silent. She said checking the scans. No heat or electrical activity at all.

As they closed on the arrowhead shaped ship Mary switched on the outside floodlights. They could see what looked like the remnants of a docking tube still attached to the hatch.

There isn’t even an ID Transponder running. Kali reported.

I’ll suit-up. Jake said. Anyone want to join me?

I’ll go. Medusa said.

Be careful over there. Mary said.

Mary felt like pacing back and forth wringing her hands as she waited on the Flight Deck, but there wasn’t room in that small space for that, and she didn’t want to make everyone else nervous. They had only been in there for five minutes after all. Finally the word came back but it only raised more questions.

She’s registered as a Patrol ship, Scientific Division. Medusa said after they had returned. The main hatch is wide open. She was decompressed in just a few minutes.

It looks like she was docked at the station when it was destroyed. Jake said.

Did you find a name? Mary asked.

Log says she’s The Kagemusha out of Centaurus. Jake returned.

Kagemusha? Hiroshi’s ship? Mary asked in confusion.

Who? Kali asked.

Hiroshi Takagawa. Nick Murakami’s number one associate. Mary said. But he’s out on the Galactic Observatory.

Kali’s computer had been searching the wreckage for a cause. It now flashed, GLOBE ATTACK: Probability 97%.

If he worked for Murakami then she’s probably his ship. Jake said. Something else interesting though, the ID Transponder was disconnected.

Deliberately shut down? Mary asked.

Looks that way. Jake said.

My, my, what an unusual practice. Kali said.

Mary grinned but didn’t comment, knowing that their own ID was in the same state. Except they shut it down so often Jake had installed a switch. I think we may have just discovered the whereabouts of Professor Nicolas Murakami. She said.

I’m scanning bodies. Kali said. More than we can bring aboard.

We should inform Patrol Central. Jake said.

Why would the Globes come way out here to attack this station? Kid asked.

Mary turned to look back at the flashing computer screen. Good question. She said. Why would they?

If Murakami was here maybe he had his research here as well. Jake said. You told us Chen said that no one wanted his captured Slimers around.

And if he had Slimers, then… Mary speculated trailing off.

Then maybe he had Globes too. Kali finished.

Weren’t those guys supposed to be smart? Jake asked.

It does defy logic, doesn’t it. Mary said shaking her head. But Scientists sometimes feel that they’re above the consequences of things just because they are observers. I guess they forget that events can affect them as well.

She had a picture of brainy scientists conducting experiments on captured Globes, forgetting that the Globes were probably communicating with the others. She had no way of knowing the near accuracy of that thought. The brain trust in question had actually released two Globes allowing them to return to the main group, making a subsequent attack by Globes inevitable.

They left the quiet scene of devastation and headed Sun ward. Mary gladly turned the scanners away from the floating bodies and pieces of metal and plastic. Earth’s communications began to filter in. So far with little or no word of the events on Centaurus. Chang’s demise wasn’t big news for Earth. After a few days of drifting towards the Sun Mary decided that they could afford to make contact with the Patrol. Admiral Chen immediately requested that they come and see him, in person.

What do you suppose he wants? Kali wondered.

Mary answered with a shrug, and an inward flash of forboding.

Admiral Louis Chen could be a very influential man. The Admiral commanded the Star Patrol’s fleet, or what remained of it. Nonetheless he still had the respect and confidence of most of Earth’s leaders. The Admiral could also make people disappear if he wished it. Not by magic, by authority, which he had in abundance.

Chen wanted more information on the Station they had discovered. He told them that two ships were on their way to collect the nearly two hundred bodies floating near the station like so much space junk. Mary felt certain that Murakami would be found among them.

I fear you may be right. Chen said. That station was conducting a great many dangerous projects. Word has it that he had transferred his Globe/Slimer research to one or two ultra secret facilities. I think you may have found one, or what’s left of it.

At the height of the Globe invasion everything seemed to depend on research being conducted by the Patrol’s Scientific Division into Globe/Slimer physiology. That work had been the responsibility of Nicholas Murakami, but something happened and Murakami had disappeared from sight. Leaving the Earth to deal with the Globe crisis without help from science. The war had gone badly.

Who ran the thing? Mary asked.

At this point I have no idea. It wasn’t the Patrol. He answered.

It couldn’t have been a government station. Could it?

No. He said staring at a few papers in front of him. We might never know the answer to that. He shuffled through the papers. I have a few unconfirmed reports regarding the death of Chang of Chang Aerospace. One involves you.

Mary tried to look innocent, but she felt like GUILTY had been stenciled in big letters across her forehead. Even though they had done nothing wrong the intent had been there.

This report involves sightings of an unidentified Spaceship that may have slipped in under Shengen’s tracker net and set down at the Spaceport for almost thirty minutes on the day old Mr. Chang had his fatal attack. However by the time spaceport security forces investigated they found no ship. Your ship and another were in orbit at the time. I was curious as to whether you noticed anything of a suspicious nature.

No, we saw nothing suspicious. Mary said. What was the other ship?

Shamrock. Chen replied.

Chen looked at her questioningly for more than a few seconds. Maybe he wondered at the look on her face at the mention of the big Patrol cargo ship. Mary had reason to look strange where Shamrock was concerned. She kept showing up at the oddest times. The latest being an attack by two bounty hunters. Luckily Kali had been tracking Shamrock’s re-entry when she dropped off that little ship.

Well I just wondered. He said. You know it’s interesting the way people tend to forget a person’s bad behavior once that person is dead. It’s almost as though reverence for the dead negates all of the dastardly deeds that person was responsible for. Chang and his company have been fleecing money from the Hypergate Colonies for years. We know for a fact that Chang himself helped Spect build those Battleships. They treat him like a saint. If they only knew the truth.

Mary thought about the Granddaughter Kali had told her about. If they only knew indeed. Speaking of Battleships, She said hoping to change the subject. What’s the story on Hades?

The planet Hades was a Hypergate colony that orbited a star in the Greater Magellanic Cloud one hundred-fifty thousand light years away. The ruler of Hades and self proclaimed Emperor, Anton Spect, had visions of grandeur. He had been trying to build a fleet of giant space Battleships. The only functional one had been trying to stop Pegasus from escaping by way of the Hypergate when it inadvertently put the Gate out of action. They had unthinkingly fired at Pegasus as she activated the Gate apparently destroying many of the lead pylons. Since no ship could jump the distance between the two Galaxies without the Hypergate "Emperor" Spect and his battleships hopefully remained trapped in their own little galaxy. Unable to threaten the rest of humanity.

As far as we know the Hypergate at Hades still isn’t working Chen said. Which is good because we don’t need that maniac here.

Ku No Chui, an unpleasant little man with dark brown spotted gray-brown skin, sat in his office in the gigantic Chang Aerospace Citadel that nearly covered the southern end of Shengen Island, Centaurus. He still held his position as head of C A Security in spite of his failure to prevent the death of his employer. His position was still secure because no one outside of himself and an already dead lab technician knew that it wasn’t due to natural causes. On a hunch he had Chang’s blood run through an investigation for a specific family of chemicals. It didn’t surprise him when the chemical signature that he suspected showed up in the test.

There were many suspects. Most of the Chang family actually, and a few outsiders. Had those outsiders still been on Earth he would have ruled them out, but there were two ships in orbit that day and one of them was Pegasus. He discovered after only a brief investigation that Shengen’s tracking net covered much less than one hundred percent. A ship could have easily slipped in and out under that slipshod system. Ships were not tracked constantly once they were in orbit and sometimes not at all.

Someone thought they saw a ship out on the Spaceport field, but not what kind. He would have to file it for later. He needed to rule out the rest of the family first. After that, if he still had no assassin, he would turn his full attention to Wilson and Como and the two Amazons that had foiled every attempt made against them since he had taken over this position. It didn’t matter whether they were guilty or not. He had a score to settle with them. For the times that old bastard had screamed insults at him for ten and fifteen minutes at a time if for no other reason.

Chang had been furious over Chui’s failure to eliminate them. Until yesterday he had been certain that he would be replaced, maybe even killed. However since the Company’s participation in that highly felonious activity had been kept ultra top secret, no one else knew about Chang’s disappointment or his plans for his chief of security, if any. The two women employed by Wilson had proven to be most worthy adversaries in spite of their gender, but they had yet to meet the best.

Not that he cared about someone having done something that he himself plotted. In his schedule however, Chang would die by heart attack leaving an unprepared family looking for someone to handle things. This situation had left him the one unprepared, and the family fighting amongst themselves for control of the Empire had everyone watching their backsides. He didn’t like having his plans disrupted, but he had to admit, the added difficulties had only made it more exciting, and he was up for this new phase of the game. It simply meant that he would now have to get into the action.

CHAPTER 2

Pandora’s Stasis Box

Mars? Samantha asked. Why would you want to go to Mars? We’ve been there remember.

Exactly. Mary said. And we missed something. It’s been bothering me ever since.

There was nothing there. The whole planet. Samantha said.

Think a minute. Mary said. There was. We just didn’t want to deal with it.

A look of understanding crossed Samantha’s