Preface to the Story

The year is 2186. Humanity has established colonies on the Moon, Mars, and
several of the larger asteroids. Earth's sky is dotted with space habitats, and
the spaceways are always busy. As usual, there is the urgent need for energy to
power this advanced civilization; one of the primary sources of that energy is
quantum black holes. In STARCROSS, you are a black hole miner, scouring the
asteroid belt in your one-man survey ship. Finding and harnessing a single
black hole can make a person's fortune. It's a lonely business, fraught with
the known and unknown hazards of space. You've equipped your ship, the mining
vessel Starcross, with the best gear you could afford. You've put everything
into venture, and though you've tried before, you somehow sense that this time
will be different. The ship's computer handles the functions of navigation and
routine maintenance. You watch the sophisticated mass detector as it
unceasingly scans the vicinity for uncharted masses. To assuage the tedium of
your long trip, you browse through the compact tape library, a compendium of
human knowledge and culture. But the drone of the ship gradually lulls you into
a deep sleep. As you sleep, you dream of the riches which would be yours if
your search for a quantum black hole is successful. Little do you suspect that
the ala your mass detector is about to jolt you out of your dream - but not to
grapple with the long-sought black hole. Your quest has taken an unexpected
turn, for you are destined to rendevouz with a gargantuan alien spaceship from
the outer fringes of the galaxy.


M. C. S. STARCROSS

Mass Detector Output
Time -2186 : 104 : 58923
Valid until -2186 : 104 : 59287

Uncharted Mass Coordinates: Asteroid Coordinates:

Name R Theta Phi Name R Theta Phi
�������������������������� ��������������������������
UM08 150 :110 :017 AX01 200 :240 :134
UM12 100 :345 :107 AX32 125 :240 :105
UM24 100 :285 :087 AX71 125 :180 :047
UM28 250 :45 :178 AX87 125 :75 :102
UM31 150 :105 :067
UM52 175 :165 :035 Inhabited Asteroid Coordinates:
UM70 100 :135 :101
UM91 50 :15 :121 Name R Theta Phi
��������������������������
Ship Coordinates: AB40 250 :300 :022

Name R Theta Phi
��������������������������
US75 175 :135 :034

Instructions for use:
To reach your destination, enter the three navigation coordinates by typing:
Computer, range is (value). Theta is (value). Phi is (value).

As a safety feature, your computer will not initate a new navigational program
without confirmation. You can do this by typing:
Computer, confirm new course.