Free The Star Cross: The Dark Invaders by Raymond L. Weil Page A

two-million-credit fine will be due upon filing your
contract as well as whatever the contract fee may be. You may now leave to
conduct whatever business you have on Kubitz. If you have gold or other
precious metals you wish to convert to credits, it needs to be done here at the
exchange.”
    -
    A few minutes later
they were back outside the Controller exchange where their Marine guards waited.
    “I hate this
place,” muttered Sergeant Jones, who was in charge of the Marine security
detail. “Everything looks so damn gloomy!”
    He shifted his
heavy assault rifle to his other arm. To allow the Marines to carry such
weapons, former Lieutenant Tenner had to pay a hefty fee. Only security people
involved with an embassy or trading compound were allowed to carry similar weapons.
For the duration of Kurt’s mission, Sergeant Jones and his squad had been
transferred to the embassy security detail.
    -
    Kurt looked up
and he could barely see the sun. Kubitz was the fourth planet out from its
primary, and he was amazed at how much of the sunlight was blotted out by the
pollution in the air. Grantz had blamed the factories, operating for decades
without any regard to the contaminants being released into the atmosphere. It
was one of the reasons most cities had large domes over their more affluent
sections. The planet also had a serious weather problem with acid rain. At
times it was so acidic it could seriously burn a person. People had died when
caught out in the open, away from protection, during an acid rainstorm.
    Glancing at
the spaceport, Kurt saw dozens of small cargo ships and shuttles parked on the
landing pads. Vehicles flew by, and numerous work robots scurried back and
forth, unloading and delivering crates to various ships.
    “Let’s get to
the compound,” said Keera impatiently, looking up at the hazy sky. “I hate
being out in the open on Kubitz. Even here at the spaceport, the air smells of
ozone and other contaminates.”
    Kurt knew this
was one of the reasons she disliked Kubitz. While the more affluent citizens
could afford to live under the protective domes, the average Kubitz citizen
lived in slum neighborhoods with very high crime rates as well as sickness. The
air was unsafe to breathe over a long period, and she had told Kurt stories
about all the children she had treated at the medical facility with respiratory
problems. Some had even died.
    “Yeah, I’m
sure Grantz is waiting for us,” added Andrew. “I see our rides are here.”
    Kurt smiled,
seeing two old-style Humvees pull up. Each Humvee was capable of holding six passengers
in its heavily armored body. A small turret on top held a rapid-fire M240K
machine gun, which fired 7.62 mm rounds at a top rate of eight hundred per
minute.
    The old-style Humvees
had been brought from Earth as transports for the embassy compound. Since energy
weapons were not allowed on Kubitz unless used by an Enforcer, the old-style
M240K machine gun was well qualified to keep any criminal elements from attacking
embassy staff. It was also about the heaviest weapon the Kubitz government
would grant an embassy or trading compound to possess. Six Humvees were at the
compound, and, as with the assault rifles, a heavy fee had been paid to allow
them to be armed with the machine guns.
    The passenger
door on the nearest Humvee swung open, and a Profiteer stepped out.
    Andrew groaned,
recognizing who it was.
    “Fleet Admiral
Vickers,” bellowed Grantz, rushing forward, grabbing Kurt by the hand, and
shaking it vigorously. “It’s about time you returned to Kubitz. We have much to
discuss.”
    “Yeah, right,”
said Andrew with a frown. “What schemes have you come up with now to get more
gold?”
    “Gold!” cried
Grantz in mock consternation. “What makes you think that?” Reaching out, he put
his arm around Andrew and grinned. “This time you must accompany me to one of
the pleasure houses. If you can’t find a woman there to satisfy you, I can guarantee
the food,