The Dead Sun (Star Force Series) Read Free

you place a contract like this!” he shouted.
    We both looked at him in surprise. Like a traffic cop, I gestured toward both of them. I shushed Jasmine with one hand and encouraged Miklos to talk with the other.
    “Let’s hear it, Miklos. Give me your honest opinion. You’ve been hinting around all day. Tell me where you want to put the fleet construction facilities. If not on Phobos if not in orbit—where?”
    “Back before India—or the smoking ruin formerly known as China— had built their first toy rockets, Space City in Russia was building more launch vehicles than any other country on Earth.”
    I nodded slowly and I didn’t contradict him—or her. In truth, I thought Star Force on Andros Island had been the greatest producer of ships in recent times. They were both talking about old-fashioned chemical rocket delivery systems. We’d moved past all that, and I wasn’t sure that the existing facilities or personnel could help us much to build a modern facility using Nano and Macro technology. Sure, they might have some good technical people knocking around, but the existing factories and the like would be all but worthless.
    “I’m not sure that they could help,” I said. “I’m sure there are some retired astrophysicists about that we could hire, but—”
    “Hear me out, Colonel,” Miklos interrupted. “If we’re considering placement of the facilities on Earth, there are clear advantages to Space City. I’m not just talking about advantages to Star Force. The region has been damaged by war and economic upheaval. The people there have lost their pride and spirit. We could revitalize them.”
    “I see,” I said evenly. “What I’m hearing is this: Jasmine is from India. She wants to help her people out, and you want to help yours.”
    They both frowned.
    “Nepotism, sir?” Miklos said stiffly. “Is that what you’re accusing us of?”
    “Not exactly, Admiral. But I do think the numbers are so huge that your judgment has been compromised. It’s only natural. I’m rejecting both of you, not choosing one over the other. In your case, it’s because I’m not going to make a decision about the defense of Earth on the basis of who is most in need. If I did that, I’d build the factories in the wasteland that was once South America. Those people are living in squalor.”
    I turned to Jasmine while Miklos sulked.
    “Your argument is different, Jasmine, but no less flawed,” I told her. “You talk of India’s aerospace industry as if it’s modern. It isn’t. The technology we’re using is all new. It would be like using a vacuum tube factory to build tablet computers—no help at all.”
    They both seemed deflated and frustrated. To my surprise and delight, they didn’t bitterly argue to the last. They both knew me too well to go up against me when my mind was made up.
    “Where, then?” Jasmine asked. “Where do you plan to build these factories? In the Central Valley of California?”
    I flashed her a look of annoyance. She was suggesting that I was making an arbitrary choice to help out my own hometown, which just wasn’t true. I opened my mouth to refute her suggestion, but Miklos beat me to it.
    “He’s putting the entire thing into space,” he said. “An orbital platform.”
    “But why?” she demanded in surprise. “Such a waste—and one lucky missile could take out the entire facility.”
    I heaved a sigh. “I’ve gone around a few times with Miklos on this already. If you could fill her in, I’ll be taking my leave.”
    They both looked startled as I stood and marched for the door. I’d had enough of bickering about economics in my office. I was bored and irritated with the entire business of running an empire. Sure, it had sounded like fun, but I’d been having far too many days like this one. It wasn’t that nothing got done, but rather that it was a joyless affair.
    Jasmine followed me out and caught up with me at the elevators. She touched my elbow, and I