X Marks the Spot

X MARKS THE SPOT

Craig Conley

Copyright© Craig Conley 2012

Published by CeeCee Publishing at

Smashwords

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Second Edition

ISBN: 9780983280170

About the author:

Craig Conley always had a love for astronomy and physics, soaking up everything he could find on these subjects. His stories reflect that passion. The science he employs is based on our current level of knowledge about the universe and its workings. He also adds a sense of humor and a touch of roguishness to his pirate gang, and the results are quite entertaining. Much of his life was spent as a professional musician and that extraordinary late-night environment often lends color to his characters.

Books by the same author:

The Jewels of Heaven (Second Edition – CeeCee Publishing) 2012

ISBN: 9780983280118

The CenterMint Caper (Second Edition – CeeCee Publishing) 2012

ISBN: 9780983280132

The Policeman’s Ball (Second Edition – CeeCee Publishing) 2012

ISBN: 9780983280149

A Credit to the Art (Second Edition – CeeCee Publishing) 2012

ISBN: 9780983280156

Diamonds in the Rough (Second Edition - CeeCee Publishing) 2012

ISBN: 9780983280163

Rockets Full of Rubies (Second Edition – CeeCee Publishing) 2012

ISBN: 9780983280187

C O N T E N T S:

CHAPTER ONE:

Exhibits and Executives

CHAPTER TWO:

Expropriation Exploit

CHAPTER THREE:

Excursion for an Explanation

CHAPTER FOUR:

Expletive Excavator

CHAPTER FIVE:

Exhausting Exploration

CHAPTER SIX:

Extraction from Ecstasy

CHAPTER SEVEN:

Exasperating Exertions

CHAPTER EIGHT:

Expedition Extension

CHAPTER NINE:

Examining Extinction

CHAPTER TEN:

Explosive Exit

CHAPTER ONE

Exhibits and Executives

So, Ron. Are you going to the dinner tonight? I heard Chancellor Meadowcroft is going to be attending.

The two Galactic Police Force cruiser captains standing in the middle of the huge exhibition hall surveyed the crowds wandering amid the many display tables and booths. The senior of the two replied.

I may put in an appearance, said Captain Pointer. He turned away and frowned. Political dinners were always so damned boring…such a waste of time. I suppose it’s expected. But I won’t hang around. I have things I need to do. His grey-blue eyes became momentarily distant.

Yeah? What’s that?

A project I’m working on. Captain Pointer was evasive. Captain Barnes smiled thinly.

"I gather you’d prefer not to be discussing it. No problem. Just make sure it doesn’t get any of the rest of us in trouble. The Chancellor has a low opinion of GP tactics as it is; we don’t need to toss any more fuel on that fire."

It’s a private matter, returned Pointer. Just a little something Charlie and I have cooked up. Nothing to do with any of the other cruisers.

Well, if Charlie Wong’s in it, I suggest you definitely keep things low key. I believe he’s brought you more bad press than any other officer in the fleet. Not to mention that he’s no favorite of either Dawkins or the Chancellor. Keep a tight lid on him.

Don’t worry. Wong’s my problem. He may be a handful to deal with, but he has his uses. I can contain him.

Captain Barnes nodded, then noticed his own second-in-command standing over by a display table talking to a pretty brunette girl.

Stryker. Get over here.

When the young blonde-haired lieutenant came over, Barnes berated him for wandering off.

Stop bothering the civilians, Stryker. You should be scouting out this new equipment. What were you doing over there?

The lieutenant grinned. Nothing…just talking with that sweet young lady. He looked back wistfully towards the girl. Her name’s Alyson.

Captain Barnes shook his head disapprovingly. Make time for that later, Carl. You need to see if there’s anything we might want to add to our Weapons and Tactics Section. A lot of this stuff is brand new technology. We can’t stay on top of the criminal element in the galaxy if we don’t employ state-of-the-art techniques. Get to it.

Looks like I’m not the only one with headstrong junior officers, commented Pointer dryly as Lieutenant Stryker moved off towards the row of booths along the far wall.

Captain Barnes let that remark slide by without responding. Here comes Commissioner Dawkins, he said, nodding to indicate direction.

The two cruiser commanders watched the police commissioner make his way across the room, stopping to shake hands or greet acquaintances as he came.

Commissioner Herbert Dawkins was the ideal man for his job. Distinguished-looking, radiating confidence and authority, he was the liaison between Galactic Police Force personnel and the political officials of the Central Government. He knew how to speak out of both sides of his mouth simultaneously while straddling a fence. Glib as a politician and ruthless as a cold-blooded killer, he sat at the top of the heap – pulling strings, wielding power, and getting richer every day. His flamboyant social pandering to the crowd diminished as he came up with the two cruiser captains.

Ron. Kyle. Glad to see you. How are you both?

Quite well, thanks, replied Barnes. Pointer merely nodded.

Good. Good. Are you enjoying the exhibition? I see there’s not much new that’ll improve what we already have, but every little bit helps. Have you seen that anti-scan blocker that Electrotech Industries devised? If it does what they claim, we can isolate the scrambling frequencies of scan blockers and cancel them out. That’ll be welcome when it comes to identifying those disguised outlaw ships that’re on our wanted list.

We’ve needed something like that for a long time, said Barnes. Is it past the development stage?

As far as I know, yes, answered Dawkins. "I believe it’s still in testing, but it’s operational. Get one and have it installed on the Pathfinder. You can be part of the testing program for it. I’ll okay it with Finance and Disbursement."

Thanks, said Barnes. I’ll have Lieutenant Stryker place the order. He looked around for his young second and saw him across the room talking with the same brunette girl again.

Damn, he swore quietly under his breath. He excused himself and headed toward him.

Dawkins watched him go for a moment and then turned to Pointer. He spoke conspiratorially.

I got a message from the Chancellor, Ron. He wanted to know about your withdrawal from the Treasury this morning.

What’d you tell him?

I said you’d explain tonight at the dinner. I hope you’ve got your story straight. You know he’s not real fond of you to begin with. Your taking five million in Treasury discs didn’t sit well. Times are hard and official Platinum reserves are low.

I’ll be returning the discs to the Treasury once my operation is finished. There’ll be no loss to the government.

Well, it’s going to fall on your head if something goes wrong. I have to protect myself. As far as the Force is concerned, this doesn’t have official sanction.

I know. Pointer allowed annoyance to cross his face at Commissioner Dawkin’s ass-covering back-pedaling. My plan won’t fail. I know my quarry. He’ll step right into the trap I’ve set for him. I assume since you won’t be sharing the risks in case of failure that you also won’t be accepting the accolades for success? He looked at Dawkins reprovingly.

The GP Commissioner flushed angrily. You overextend yourself, Captain. You just capture McDuff and his gang and then we’ll sort all that out.

I will. Don’t you worry about that, Pointer smirked slyly. This time that outlaw bunch is going down. A week from now, I’ll have all of them standing in front of a firing squad.

Yeah, well, you’d better come through. That’s all I’ve got to say. C’mon, let’s have a look at some of this new stuff – see if there’s anything of value.

Barnes arrived with his errant second and rejoined them. The four men meandered among the different displays, checking out the various showings at the exhibition. There was nothing of any great genius among the new offers; most were simply upgrades of older things.

As the officers ambled along, they came upon a booth with a sturdy table holding a fat roll of some kind of dense metallic film.

Commissioner Dawkins stepped forward and picked up several brochures from the table containing specifications and diagrams. He seemed excited.

This, he said, will be of interest to you gentlemen.

He handed one of the sheets to each of the officers.

These are specifications and installation instructions for thin layers of Negatronium film.

He paused to allow them time to study their leaflets. When they looked up, he went on, I want you to wrap the escape pods in your command cabins with this stuff. It’s been a long time coming, but finally someone figured out a way to protect your command circuitry from intrusive ionized particles. This stuff will do it.

He pointed to the shimmering roll.

The problem has been that this material is almost impossible to work into any kind of cohesive shape. Being constituted mostly of electrons gave it more of a fluid character than a solid. Eventually, by incorporating more neutrons into the structure, the lab boys were able to introduce some measure of stability. The result is this thin film you see here. I’ve ordered several dozen rolls of it. Enough to wrap every ship we have. It’s expensive like you wouldn’t believe, but we have to have it. Its protection is necessary for the dependable performance of our vessels.

The two cruiser captains nodded their acceptance of Dawkins’ instructions and were about to move on to the next exhibit when applause sounded from over by the entrance to the hall. Chancellor J. Ford Meadowcroft had arrived and his entourage was greeted with a welcoming ovation from the crowd. The statesman raised a hand in acknowledgement and thanked the assemblage briefly, then began his movement through the crowd, glad-handing and uttering congenialities as he went. When he came upon the four officers, he paused and his face grew serious. He addressed Commissioner Dawkins.

Tell me, Herbert, just what do you mean letting one of your officers withdraw 10 Platinum Treasury discs from our dwindling stocks in the Treasury? He looked at the police official with an accusing and suspicious eye.

Dawkins smiled nervously at the Chancellor, Captain Pointer requested them, sir.

Chancellor Meadowcroft turned to Pointer. Well, Captain? He stood silently waiting for an answer.

Pointer set his jaw obstinately and drew himself up to his full 6’1 height. They’re for a project that is necessary for the peace and security of our citizens, Chancellor."

The skepticism on the Chancellor’s face was obvious. Really? And what might that be?

Perhaps it’d be best if the exact description of this project were kept classified, sir. The fewer people who know about it, the better.

Meadowcroft wasn’t at all pleased with that answer. He frowned at Pointer.

You’re the officer who has been responsible for several unpleasant media spectacles in the past, aren’t you? I hope you’re not planning any more of those with this latest enterprise, Captain. My administration has a hard enough time maintaining the trust and good will of the citizenry as it is, we don’t need any more criticism as a result of your heavy-handed tactics.

Pointer and Dawkins winced slightly at the Chancellor’s rebuke, but said nothing. He went on.

As I understand it, the current market value stands at a little above 500,000 credits apiece for those discs. Is that correct?

Yes, sir. It is, replied Pointer slowly.

That’s five million credits. Meadowcroft looked back at Dawkins. This seems a very expensive endeavor. Am I to assume that the safety and security of the entire citizenry is at risk unless we do this?

Pointer answered before Dawkins could speak.

If you want to catch dangerous vermin, you need a big piece of cheese, sir.

Meadowcroft studied Pointer with narrowed eyes. And do you intend to return the ‘cheese’ to the Treasury once you’ve captured your prey?

Absolutely, sir. I guarantee it. My plan cannot fail. All of the Treasury’s money will be returned once it is completed.

Chancellor Meadowcroft mused silently for a moment. There had been problems with this officer before. Vague memories of a lunatic sidekick and the press having a field day flashed across his mind. Every instinct told him to withdraw his support from this.

Still…Dawkins seemed to be behind it. Or, at least he wasn’t denouncing it fervently. And after all, Pointer was captain of the flagship of the Galactic Police Force fleet. Finally, the Chancellor went against his better judgment and acquiesced.

Very well, Captain. I’ll allow you the use of the Treasury discs, but understand that not only must it be kept completely secret that I’ve authorized this, but understand also that the both of you are directly responsible for the value of those discs. The Treasury must not be shorted. If your scheme fails, that five million will be replaced - no matter what. Are we in agreement? He looked sternly from Pointer to Dawkins. Both men nodded their heads.

The Chancellor curtly raised his hand once in farewell and turned on his heel to resume his greeting and handshaking through the crowd. Pointer and Dawkins heaved a sigh of relief when he was far enough away to not be able to hear them.

Well. You’re putting a lot on the line here, commented Captain Barnes humorlessly. What have you got up your sleeve, Ron? Nothing that’s going to reflect badly on the service, I hope. I somehow get the feeling that I don’t even want to be seen standing this close to you right now. His keen brown eyes focused on Pointer suspiciously.

It’s nothing to be concerned about, replied Pointer dryly. Just a little old business that needs to be resolved.

Old business, huh? Barnes asked, his voice full of skepticism. Well, keep me out of it. My bank accounts are already dangerously low as it is. If you want my advice, put those discs back immediately and find some less expensive kind of bait.

I know what I’m doing, responded Pointer defensively. A week from now you’ll be duly impressed.

Barnes decided there was no stopping Pointer. The man obviously had a bee in his bonnet about something. He dismissed the argument with one final warning.

Okay, but just remember, Ron, Meadowcroft has taken a lot of heat from your shenanigans in the past. He’s not going to respond very kindly to another screw-up. If you value your career, you’d better watch your step. There aren’t a lot of job openings for Galactic Police Force cruiser captains in the civilian market, y’know.

Pointer brushed off Barnes’s exhortations with a dismissive wave of his hand.

Don’t worry. You tend to your career and I’ll tend to mine. He turned away to move on to the next exhibit. Barnes’ eyes grew hard for an instant, but then he just shrugged his shoulders.

Commissioner Dawkins silently raised his hands and spread them apart to indicate his resignation. Pointer was obviously determined. Barnes and Stryker nodded