diff --git a/CrossPrinter.java b/CrossPrinter.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..756cae9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CrossPrinter.java
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+/*
+ * TASK 3
+ * archived at https://git.femboy.science/femsci/ppj/src/branch/task/3
+ * by femsci
+ */
+
+public class CrossPrinter {
+
+    public CrossPrinter(int size) {
+        _size = size;
+        _ast = "*".repeat(_size);
+        _whi = " ".repeat(_size);
+        // 3n² chars + 3n of \n
+        _buf = new StringBuffer((int) Math.pow(size * 3, 2) + size * 3);
+
+        fillBuffer();
+    }
+
+    // yes i'm a C# dev
+    private final int _size;
+    private final StringBuffer _buf;
+    // :3333
+    private final CharSequence _whi;
+    private final CharSequence _ast;
+
+    public StringBuffer getBuffer() {
+        return new StringBuffer(_buf);
+    }
+
+    public void printToStdout() {
+        System.out.println(getBuffer().toString());
+    }
+
+    // populate the buffer
+    private void fillBuffer() {
+        fillTopBottom();
+        fillCore();
+        fillTopBottom();
+    }
+
+    // to fill upper and lower segments for strbuffer
+    private void fillTopBottom() {
+        _buf.append(String.format("%s%s%s\n", _whi, _ast, _whi).repeat(_size));
+    }
+
+    // fill the middle segment
+    private void fillCore() {
+        _buf.repeat(String.format("%s\n", _ast.toString().repeat(3)), _size);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Meow.java b/Meow.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..54f5dfa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Meow.java
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+/*
+ * TASK 3
+ * archived at https://git.femboy.science/femsci/ppj/src/branch/task/3
+ * by femsci
+ */
+
+public class Meow {
+
+    // printing logic decoupled to CrossPrinter.java
+
+    public static void main(String[] args) {
+        if (args.length == 0) {
+            System.err.println("No argument provided...");
+            System.exit(2);
+        }
+
+        int size = 0;
+
+        try {
+            size = Integer.parseInt(args[0]);
+
+            if (size <= 0) {
+                // short circuit
+                throw new Exception();
+            }
+        } catch (Exception __) {
+            System.err.println("Invalid argument provided...");
+            System.exit(1);
+        }
+
+        var cross = new CrossPrinter(size);
+        cross.printToStdout();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 78a26cb..17dff11 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 # PPJ
 
-This repository exists to archive PJATK tasks for the PPJ curriculum.
+This branch contains the solution for the **3rd task**.
 
 Each task can be found under its **corresponding branch**: `task/n`.  
 Example: `task/2`.
+
+[Go back to main](/femsci/ppj/src/branch/nya)