Free The Lost Destroyer (Lost Starship Series Book 3) by Vaughn Heppner Page B

for Per Lomax,” the professor said pensively. “It was a long shot, maybe longer than I let the New Man know. That’s history now. I suppose one method of stopping the planet-killer would be to gather the biggest armada in human history. But we would need the New Men’s help, and they’re not about to give it. By the time the majority of the New Men realize how dangerous the planet-killer really is, most of humanity will already be dead. No, we have to do something ourselves.”
    “And that is what?” Maddox asked.
    “We must go to the asteroid belt near the Nexus. There, we must search for a control unit. I happen to know the doomsday machine was parked there for thousands of years.”
    “And that’s why you hijacked my starship?” Maddox asked. “To go there?”
    The professor nodded.
    “Why not come to me first and tell me about this or better yet ask for our help?”
    “I have my reasons,” the professor said.
    Maddox did some quick thinking. Finally, he said, “I’m not going to agree to help unless you give up the backdoor to Galyan. Either I run Victory, or I will consider myself your prisoner. As a prisoner, I refuse to help my captor.”
    “You’re in no position to bargain,” Ludendorff said.
    “But I am. You want my help. To gain it, that’s the price.”
    “I could simply lock you in your quarters and do this myself.”
    “I don’t think so,” Maddox said. “You like to use proxies. That’s why you sent Per Lomax after the planet-killer. You as good as murdered him. I’m beginning to think he had no chance but for wildest luck.”
    Ludendorff scowled. “I’m growing weary of your insults, Captain.”
    “You mean to say that the truth can still prick your conscience. That means for all your faults, you haven’t yet become inhuman.”
    After a moment, Ludendorff shook his head. “You’re a brash young fellow, but that’s the kind of officer I need. I don’t have time to search for someone else to do this. Thus, I’ll give you a concession. I will retain the backdoor to Galyan. But, I will refrain from using it unless I inform you first.”
    Maddox pondered that. Could he get more? “Tell me this,” the captain said. “What is our destination?”
    “I already told you.”
    “What are the stellar coordinates?” Maddox asked.
    Ludendorff shook his head. “I will keep that to myself for now.”
    “Why bother? We’ll know once we get there.”
    “As I said before, I have my reasons.”
    Maddox became thoughtful. “I agree,” he said at last.
    “Excellent,” the professor said, tapping the flat device.
    The web field disappeared, and Maddox could move again. He stretched and scratched his back, but there was no use drawing his gun for a quick shot. The professor still wore the personal force field.
    “I feel compelled to warn you,” the professor said. “This will be your hardest assignment yet.”
    “Right,” Maddox said. It would be difficult because he had to find a way to regain control of the starship. He had to surprise the professor, which he would do at the first available opportunity.

-8-
     
    Valerie paced in her quarters.
    Ludendorff had taken over the starship. He and his people used the various interior ship systems to watch them, had been watching them for some time. The captain had called a short meeting after the seizure, letting the others know the situation. Maddox had been guarded in his speech because he knew Ludendorff watched and analyzed everything they said.
    During the meeting, the captain had brushed aside her question about their exact destination. As the starship’s navigator, Valerie wanted to know where they traveled. Maddox had smiled as if bored with her question, but he might have winked. He’d done it so quickly, though, that she still wasn’t sure.
    At first, Valerie had resented the brushoff. Too many times during her Space Academy days, the clique of rich-kid cadets had done just that to her during the group study period.