Starship Conquistador (Conquest of Stars Book 1) by Sid Kar Read Free Book Online

clause of our contract. Is that correct?”
        “Yes,” Remus said turning his glass in
his hand.
        “Good, now let’s set aside this
unfortunate incident till my detectives and SPASI gather more clues,” Carvyk
said then leaned forward, “Who is it exactly that is attacking you?”
        “We don’t know, these are mysterious
aliens,” Remus said, “their civilization must lie farther along than our planet
Blackskull in that direction. About a couple of years ago our mining and
exploration spaceships that ventured out in the frontier space and beyond
started getting attacked and abducted. We thought they were pirates or
disgruntled political factions from our own civilization. Slowly we came to
realize that it was actually an alien race that we had never encountered before
and we know nothing about.”
        “Are you familiar with our Starfire
Galactic Navigation framework?” Carvyk asked.
        “I am,” Remus said.
        “Then in what coordinates in those
charts would you say these mysterious aliens hail from?”
        “Somewhere between -30/-60/-30 degrees
and -30/60/-30 degrees from the galactic center,” Remus said.
        “The only large section of the galaxy
that our long range galactic exploration spaceships haven’t traveled to,”
Carvyk looked at Rockvyk.
        “Yeah,” Rockvyk replied, “bad luck. The
only uncharted space in the galaxy happens to have an aggressive, hostile
spacefaring civilization.”
        “What about their spaceships?” Carvyk
asked.
        “Huge, like yours, ten-twelve-fifteen
miles long, although only one sighting for the later sized ship,” Remus said,
“they appear to be significantly more technologically advanced than us. Their
speed and acceleration capability and shield technology are also much farther
along than ours.”
        “Have you tried to contact them and
negotiate?” Carvyk asked.
        “They have made no contact and rebuked
all of our attempts as well,” Remus said, “It just could be that our and their
technologies are too incompatible but that is unlikely since technology relies
on the same universal laws of science.”
        “True, but it could take very different
development paths,” Carvyk said. “Vice-Chancellor Remus, I believe you, but I
also need hard data.”
        “I have brought along,” Remus took out
a small, metallic green box and handed it to Carvyk, “Data that was captured
live during our battle with them. It is shorn of our military secrets but has
sufficient details to prove our case for protection.”
        “I will have to get this analyzed and
if it meets the terms of our contract…” Carvyk said.
        “Commander Botlar,” Remus said, “The
Starfire Empire charges us a hefty protection fee annually. We have never
missed a payment and are now entitled to the benefits we were promised.”
        “I completely agree,” Carvyk said, “But
you have to realize the political decision to make you a protectorate was met
with considerable internal opposition in the Empire. Your and our space borders
are almost a 150 light years apart. Usually, we don’t spread our wings so far
out in the frontiers. But in your case you were on the verge of conflict with
another of our protectorates and the only way to bring those stubborn fools to
the negotiation table was to give you our protection as well.”
        “And we pay dearly for it. Your fee to
most of your other protectorates is a requirement to import 25% of their
machines and industrial equipment from Starfire Empire, but we have to import
50% of our industrial goods from you,” Remus said.
        “Don’t worry Vice-Chancellor, we will
not allow anyone to overrun Nestorian Republic,” Carvyk said, “Vetting the
terms of our treaty is just a formality. I promise you our help. Will you stay
with us till I put together an armed force for your reinforcement?”
        “I am afraid my position doesn’t