Chapter 2

David Foster, like all Starmen, was able to navigate and fly his own ship, but had a specialty in Deep Space exploration and survival skills. Whenever he was faced with a problem, he could think it through and come up with a solution with the equipment available. He was a natural leader. He excelled at organization and decision-making, and Joe and Mark were glad to be a part of the Starman team under Zip’s leadership.

Joe continued to relate his observations. “I’ve scanned as far as the instruments can reach, and there’s just nothing out there in any direction--except the Earth ships, of course. They should be here in about three hours.”

“No debris?”

“No, Zip. I’ve found where the explosion took place and examined that more carefully than any other area. It was a violent blow. I think about a third of an asteroid was turned into dust when it went off, and that’s powerful enough to vaporize any ship that was carrying a weapon with that kind of potential.”

Zip shook his head as if warding off a buzzing insect. “All right. Nothing we can do about it.” He turned to the third Starman on the crew. “Mark,” he called out. “Would you send a report to Mars please and ask Commander De Koven what he wants us to do?”

“Okay, Zip.”

Mark prepared the message and sent it off. The response would come through after a delay of several minutes. As they waited, Joe said, “You seem uneasy, Zip. What’s there to worry about?”

“I just like completion. That ship we were chasing carried the last of the pirates from Mars, and I’d just feel a lot better if there were some debris, some evidence that they hadn’t escaped.”

“Zip,” came a deep voice from the lounge next to the flight deck, “there’s a lot of uncertainties in life, ’specially life in space. I been around a lot and believe me, the exception is when you really know everything that happened--and that’s never.”

“Sure, Steve,” answered Zip, raising his voice. “I know. But I don’t like it.”

“You’ll probably be uneasy most of your life then. C’mon, be like me. Lie down, relax, take a nap. You’ve been rushing for days now, especially the last couple when we were shooting through the void at top speed. Give it up now, boy. You can’t do anything more.”

Zip didn’t answer, but he walked into the lounge. Steve Cliff was completely relaxed, with his feet propped on a table. His huge frame was sunk into the sofa deeper than Zip would have thought possible. Zip picked up a book that Mark had been reading, and lay down. In less than a minute, he was asleep with the open book face down on his chest.

* * * * *

“Up you go, Zip, it’s dinnertime.” Steve’s normally boisterous voice was gentle and almost subdued. Zip took a deep breath and slowly opened his eyes. He sat up, put the book aside and ran his hands through his red hair.

“What’s going on?”

“You’ve been out almost four hours. Figured I’d make myself useful so I whipped up some food. Here you go.” Steve set a tray down on the nearby table. There were mashed potatoes, salad heavy on diced tomatoes just the way Zip liked it, and a few pieces of very thinly sliced roast beef in a luscious brown gravy.

“Looks delicious, Steve; thanks.”

“Coffee’s coming up in a minute, steaming hot with half a teaspoon of sugar.” Zip reflected for a moment about how little time he had known Steve and how well he fit in to the group of three Starmen. Steve already knew how he liked his coffee--hot and fresh--and what his favorite meal was. While he was enjoying the aroma of the meal before tucking into it, Steve brought in the coffee.

Zip lifted a mouthful of roast beef and potatoes. “What’s going on?” he repeated.

“Mark got hold of the big guys in Eagle City, told ’em what was going on out here. They told us to wait until the Earth forces showed up and then get on back to Mars. We’ve been under way almost an hour.” Zip nodded.

“Mark says there’s more and wants to talk to you whenever you’re ready.”

“Send him in.”

Mark came in as Zip put a fork into a chunk of tomato and lifted it out of the bowl, dripping with dressing. “This really is delicious, Steve!” he called out as Steve disappeared onto the flight deck, leaving the two Starmen to themselves.

“Steve told you we’re on our way back to Mars, I’m sure,” said Mark by way of preamble. Zip nodded. “Commander De Koven also said that we are to report directly to Mars Base. We drop Steve off at Eagle City and go right on to the Base without getting out of the ship.” Mars Base was Starlight Enterprise’s headquarters on Mars. It was a huge plant, covering several thousand acres of Martian desert near the north pole and far from any other settlement.

“What’s up?” Zip’s gray eyes peered over the rim of the coffee mug as he took a swallow.

“There’s no danger of further attack on Mars--everything seems to be secure in Eagle City--but we’re to be given an assignment with a ‘significant time factor,’ as the Commander put it. Too sensitive to put out over the radio even with scramblers and tight beam.”

“They must’ve learned something from the pirates they captured.”

Joe peeked around the corner. “No--I think they’re going to give us a medal and a month off for liberating Eagle City!”

* * * * *

Two days later, the _Star Ranger_ was cruising at a good clip a few miles above the Martian desert. Eagle City was behind them, and the course was set almost due north. Mark was reminiscing about the parting with Steve.

“Don’t worry about a thing, boys--I’ll make sure the little folk get back to the Moon safely enough.” Steve was referring to Jack and Jill, the diminutive citizens of Titan who had played a critical role in rescuing Eagle City from the pirates during their assault on Mars.

Mark felt very badly that he hadn’t been able to see the Titanians. Four days before, they had left Mars without notice to begin the frantic chase of the escaping pirates, and now they were urgently called to Mars Base with no time permitted to see their friends. Personal relationships were important to Mark. As the _Star Ranger_ returned to Mars from the Asteroid Belt, he had made a recorded greeting and farewell for Jack and Jill and entrusted it to Steve. Mark was beginning to realize that for him, the life of a Starman would be marked with frequent partings and sorrows.

The always-ebullient Joe did not seem to be affected. “Don’t worry about it, we’ll see them again. They’ll understand. Right now we’re off on another adventure!”

As the _Star Ranger_ approached the pole, Mark shifted his mood and hoped that Joe would be right.

“Oooh, yes! Look at that!” exulted Joe, pointing out of the front of the ship. A light came over the horizon like a flame too bright to be looked at comfortably. The sun was reflecting off the glass-sheathed buildings of Mars Base, Starlight Enterprise’s primary headquarters on the fourth planet.

As the _Star Ranger_ rapidly closed the distance, Mark radioed for landing clearance.

“Gorgeous!” said Joe. From the pilot’s seat he could make out the airport, the hangar, the sprawling laboratory and research buildings and the manufacturing centers. Men, robots, and machines scurried around the plant. Security was very high; ever since the pirate attack SE had redoubled its efforts to keep out unauthorized personnel. This was the area from which Starlight Enterprise conducted its Martian operations.

Immediately after landing, the Starmen were brought into a spacious office. As they entered, a clean-shaven man with a rather long crew cut looked up.

“Mr. Konig!” exclaimed Zip as he led the little parade into the central portion of the complex. “I sure didn’t expect to see you here!” Konig was in charge of security throughout the entire SE system.

“Welcome to the Base, Starmen!” Konig stood up and came around his desk to greet each of them with a warm, two-handed handshake. He was a genial man, large but by no means overweight, very strong, firm, and of almost regal bearing. He gave the impression of being always available and affable, but never to be taken for granted.

“Sit down,” he continued. “What I have to say is of vital importance and I’m afraid we don’t have time to do more than get you briefed on the situation. I can’t even take the time to commend you for the outstanding work you did against the pirates. Richard is busting with pride over his newest Starmen! I can’t say I blame him--you did marvelous work! You three are wanted on Earth for some special recognition, but unfortunately we have a brief mission for you first.”

“Richard” was Richard Starlight, the head of Starlight Enterprise who had entrusted Mark and Joe with their Martian assignment.

“Thank you, Mr. Konig,” responded Zip simply.

“The pirates only had a few men placed here at the Base, but they were enough to shut down operations for the few days they needed to paralyze Eagle City. Frankly, it was a surprise for us and Richard wanted me to take personal charge of security on Mars until it was quite clear that the threat was past. Actually, I flew in with the invasion fleet. My most important assignment here is to set up a secret base for Starlight Enterprise, which will be a backup and defense unit prepared for any events such as the one we’ve just experienced.”

“A secret base?”

“Yes. I’ll be looking for the best site, recruiting the right people to man it, and drawing up plans for construction and the tasks it will have to perform. I don’t need to tell you that the project is highly confidential. I’m only telling you about it because you’re Starmen, and it will be a resource you’ll need to become familiar with. Of course, there will be much more information coming your way later.”

Oritz Konig spoke cleanly and clearly, but gave the [DB1]impression that his thoughts were racing faster than he could speak. He had had to discipline himself to speak so that others could follow him. There were few wasted words when he had to get a message across, but he was able to converse in a way that assured his listeners that he valued them as people and needed their cooperation. Konig manifested an extremely rare combination of being a “people person” as well as having a supremely disciplined and task-oriented mind.

“We interrogated the pirates while you were in the Asteroid Belt. We started with Troy Putnam, of course, but he won’t say a word. He’s got a strange kind of strength to him--genial in a lot of ways, but utterly inflexible and unbreakable when he doesn’t want to cooperate.

“We questioned other pirate leaders, too, of course, and a lot of the rank and file. Not all of them cooperated, but enough did that we learned that they have a base in the Belt. It’s no ordinary base. Most of the pirates don’t know its origin but they can describe what it looks like.

“It’s a fairly good-sized chunk of hard stone, mostly iron. It’s hollow, and the base is inside. The access port is concealed. More to the point, it cannot be detected by radar.

“Some of the toughest of the pirates sneered that we’d never find it--that it couldn’t be seen even if you were right on top of it.”

Joe jumped in. “But sir, this technology is not new. There have been craft since the late twentieth century that were invisible to radar. There are other ways to find them--gravitational influences, to name one.”

“Of course, Starman Taylor. This asteroid, however, appears to be the work of some advanced race, other than Earth. The pirates didn’t create it--they took it over. Its sheathing system is highly effective, highly effective indeed. The pirates could be lying, of course, but once the word got out to them that we knew about the asteroid, most of them seemed to swell with a kind of arrogant pride, even welcoming the fact that we had the information. They were confident that we couldn’t do anything about it.”

“And that explains, I’m sure, why we couldn’t find them in spite of an exceedingly thorough search of the area,” concluded David Foster, feeling somewhat vindicated.

“So are we to go find the asteroid?” put forth Joe, leaning forward in his chair.

“No, Mr. Taylor. We want you to find the man who discovered it.”

Joe leaned back into his chair, a puzzled look on his face. Oritz Konig continued.

“The asteroid was discovered almost twenty years ago by an asteroid miner named George St. George. He’s a loner, like so many of the asteroid miners. He makes a good living, but has no fixed address. He’s constantly on the move and spends most of his time away from settlements in the Belt. He’ll disappear for months, maybe a year or two--then show up on Ceres or in Eagle City with what he has found in the Belt and turn it into cash and supplies. Then he’s gone again.

“Apparently he discovered this remarkable asteroid the pirates took over. He’s a trusting, almost naïve, decent man. He spoke unguardedly about his find at one time and Troy Putnam learned about it. Putnam had St. George take him to the asteroid and paid him a good price for the knowledge. St. George showed Putnam where it was, and then disappeared into the Belt. Putnam went on to build his empire of pirates.”

“And now you want us to find St. George so he can show us where the asteroid is,” inferred Zip.

“It’s not that simple, Starman. We’ve also learned that the pirates who escaped are the most dangerous of the lot. Their leader is a very bad number named Lurton Zimbardo. The pirates were willing to obey Troy Putnam because he encouraged them. They liked him. He was a charismatic leader who gave them visions of grandeur and made them think that they could pull off the impossible. But they are afraid of Zimbardo--for good reason, from what we hear. He is a merciless, calculating spaceman, patiently willing to play second-in-command to Putnam while waiting for his chance to take over. That chance has now come.

“The pirates are greatly reduced in number now, but those who are left are extremely dangerous. They will be fierce, uncompromising enemies. St. George is the only person outside of the pirates who knows where the asteroid is, how to find it, and has some knowledge of how it works. Where Putnam was willing to let St. George go about his business, Zimbardo will certainly determine to eliminate him. Zimbardo will try hard to find St. George. You must find him first. Protect him, and learn from him where the asteroid is.”

“What do we know about him? How can he be found?” asked Zip.

“He hasn’t been heard from for over a year, and he could be anywhere in the Belt. But he has a friend named Montezuma Vly. If anyone knows where St. George is, Vly will know--and we know where Vly is.”

“Why not just ask Vly where St. George is?” asked Mark.

“That’s where your assignment begins,” answered Konig. “Like St. George, Montezuma Vly is an asteroid miner. Unlike St. George, he doesn’t wander far from his home. But Vly has a deep distrust of any authority figures. He lives on an asteroid he calls Montezuma’s Castle. He claimed it over thirty years ago and enjoys his privacy. No government officials have any right to enter his domain. He is completely independent. We’re hoping that where officialdom can’t act, you young Starmen can. When he knows that George St. George is at risk, I’m sure he’ll help you.”

“Where do we find Montezuma Vly?” asked Mark, who was the navigator for the trio of Starmen.

“Montezuma’s Castle is not far from Ceres. You can get to Vly in less than a day from Yellow City.” Yellow City was the major center on Ceres, the largest and most important asteroid in the system, with a population of around 100,000. It doubled as a spaceport, and was a stopping-over and refueling point on the long voyage between the Inner and Outer Planets.

“Go to Ceres first and check in there. Since the pirates will be searching for St. George, you’ll have to conduct your search quietly--using the _Star Ranger_ and wearing Starman’s red uniforms won’t do on this assignment. You’ll need to change ships and clothes in Yellow City. The rest of the information you’ll need will be provided for you in files which you can read as you travel.”

* * * * *

Lurton Zimbardo called his five most trusted leaders to a meeting in one of the libraries on the pirates’ asteroid. Each was dressed in the gray and black uniform that Troy Putnam had designed for the pirates for their failed mission to take over Mars. The meeting had been going on for several hours and had involved a lot of detailed organizational work. The men were tired and showing it. As usual, Zimbardo showed no signs of fatigue.

“Yes, gentlemen,” said Zimbardo, “You know what to do now. We will need to get all of our men busy and you must drive them, drive them relentlessly! I don’t want to take any longer on this work than we need to. We’ve been moving slowly out of the Asteroid Belt for almost three days.”

His laser pointer made a few small red circles on a chart in the library. “This is where we were, and this is where we’re going to be.” The chart was nearly a full wall of smooth quartz, illumined from the inside and showing the nearby configuration of asteroids.

The table was strewn with large books opened to star maps, note pads, a couple of small computers and calculating machines, and a huge number of crumpled balls of paper. One man reached for a pitcher of water that was on the table and slowly filled his glass. Zimbardo continued.

“The manufacturing will begin tomorrow--that’ll be for Stubb to oversee. Once the sheathing device has proven effective we can begin work on restoring and disguising our fleet. After that, Crass, you’ll take care of the rest.”

One of the men looked up. “What about St. George? If anyone discovers him he could put a serious crimp in our plans.”

Zimbardo looked annoyed. “St. George will be dealt with, Mr. Slant. I have not forgotten him; you can leave that to me. He will never speak to the Starmen or anyone else.”

Another spoke. “Is it really necessary to silence him? It will take a large number of men to make a search--men we could use on the urgent projects at hand. Since you’ve moved the asteroid from its original site, he can’t find us now or show anyone else how to find us.”

“He can’t find us, but he knows how this asteroid works--almost as well as I do. If the Starmen learn what he knows, it could be disastrous for us in the unlikely chance that they ever locate us. I don’t like taking chances, and I don’t like leaving any loose ends. St. George is a loose end we can’t afford.”

“Do you know where to find him? He doesn’t have any fixed place he calls home.”

“Our men have quietly inquired for him on Ceres and learned that he has a good friend, another asteroid miner named Montezuma Vly. We know where Vly lives, and Vly will know where St. George is. Vly doesn’t receive visitors, but his resistance won’t keep a small fleet from landing. One way or another, Vly will tell us where to find George St. George--and soon.”

3: Montezuma’s Castle

A FEW DAYS later, Lurton Zimbardo decided to take a tour of the workshops and check on progress. Where Troy Putnam’s organization had been large, easy-going, and confident, Zimbardo’s was tight, highly-organized, and ruthless. Its high degree of efficiency was dependent almost exclusively on Zimbardo himself. Once Zimbardo had asserted his control over the organization, the asteroid and its crew had rapidly become an extension of his formidable personality.

He took an elevator from his suite down to the main floor of the organizational complex and stepped out into the hallway. He walked with a firm tread, and men stepped aside with a slight deferential bow. He passed through the great glass doors at the end of the passage into a huge foyer. Passing through, he entered a courtyard, strode across it, and came into the working area.

About sixty men were working at various stations. The men felt that Zimbardo was a real leader and were glad to see their new commander. It was amazing how rapidly the sense of defeat had been changed to one of expectancy and pride.

Every day or two another ship docked and new workers came in to join the crew. Zimbardo had sent out a few trusted leaders to recruit men form noted asteroid bases and mining operations in the proximity of his asteroid. He could use more men, especially skilled workers in electronics and mathematics, but he wasn’t eager to build up a large force. He chose carefully. The workforce was being built up gradually with men he could trust. He had also invited three smugglers he had known before to join the operation, with their men.

“Stubb,” called out Zimbardo.

“Sir,” responded the man so addressed, an eager man about thirty years old, with sandy blond hair and baby blue eyes. He hastened up to the pirate leader.

“Give me a status report. The ships first.”

“The sheathing systems are easy to manufacture, thanks to the ample supplies from the warehouses. The men are able to put them together rapidly, even the unskilled workers, since they just need a master circuit to copy. I have forty men working on these, with the skilled electricians checking each plate. As you know, we completed work on ten ships six days ago; they were tested and went out on their assignments. They have not returned yet. These plates we’re working on now are going on the remaining ships, and we have already finished work on four of them. That leaves just three to go, including the ship that just joined the crew yesterday. We should be finished by tomorrow afternoon.”

“Good. And the power units?”

“These are far more complicated, sir, so I only have the most skilled workers assembling these. The same with the propulsion units. They won’t be ready for at least a week, not even one of them. However, once we get the prototype finished the rest should follow rapidly.”

“How long until you have all 85 completed?”

“I should have a good number of the unskilled workers ready for a new assignment once they have finished with the sheathing plates. Once the design has been checked by the experts, we can get them cracking on the power and propulsion units. Of course, each unit will have to be tested by the experts, so I would estimate that all 85 can be operational within ten days--unless we run into any problems.”

“Good work, Mr. Stubb. I will check on progress every day.”

“Very well, sir.” The man went back to work and Zimbardo returned to the main complex.

* * * * *

Ceres was the hub of the Asteroid Belt. Nearly 600 miles across, it was the largest body in the ring of planetary debris that swirled and turned in a large swath between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. It was the place where professional miners first arrived from Earth before their companies farmed them out to the mining centers on various asteroids. Independent asteroid miners came to Ceres once in a while for supplies, and corporations picked up equipment imported daily from Mars. Ceres, located several days’ travel from the nearest sizable population center, was a buzz of activity.

The _Star Ranger_ approached the large asteroid after a fast but uneventful journey of six days.

“Quite a cloud of starships!” remarked Joe as Yellow City came into view. A swarm of at least forty ships of an amazing variety of sizes, shapes, and vintages was moving over the port. Some were hovering, others were heading in toward the landing field and a few others were departing. None moved very fast since the space was as crowded as bees around a hive.