Astra Pt. 01

He shook his head, "You want to see next-generation technology interdict us when we leave and I will show you a few things."

He laughed, "I saw your launch from Terra-3. I was asked to hold traffic when that happened. Blew right past us."

Jack replied, "The intertrial dampeners were running at 138%. I am looking at putting a patent on one that will give you fighter jocks dampeners. It will be small enough to fit a fighter."

The Fighter responded, "This is Wildcard. You take care and we will look for you on the return flight."

He got a glide vector and speed from LA traffic control. He slid into traffic where they wanted him and he hated it. It was a recipe for disaster. Then a disaster happened. 6 ships in front and 1 blew an engine.

The ship behind him rammed into him. The shuttle shot up tumbling end-over-end over them. It was without power and gravity took it back into the glide path of the ships behind them. Jack hit retros up but kept the ship flat. Spun 180 degrees and activated his tractor beam and caught the disabled ship.

He turned 180 degrees bringing the shocked people back off the lane and to a parking lot. The other shuttle was inverted at 120 degrees. He took them up, set his shuttle to slide to the right Released the beam, slid over and grabbed it again from the top. He slowed to a hover pointed down and set the shuttle down carefully, "LA control, this is MERLIN TPS-497042.

I am off flight path due to an accident. Puddle jumper TPS-5684 lost an engine. Another craft hit it and it went tumbling up losing its other engine and all power. It went to crash through traffic in the glide path behind us and I caught it. I set the shuttle down on the ground at Farrow's Mall Parking lot and am currently hovering awaiting direction."

He heard, "Wait for local authorizes and give a statement. We will get you back in the pattern when they clear you to leave. I must ask. How did you catch a tumbling shuttle?"

He frowned and mumbled to himself, "They don't have tractor beams yet."

He pressed the button, "I am an inventor and I used a tractor beam to do it. It is a proprietary prototype."

Flight control asked, "Name pilot."

He sighed, "Jack Travus. Merlin is the shuttle for Excalibur."

She responded, "This is controller Danna Peters, have you seen my message yet?"

He pulled up his communication and found her message with full-frontal nudity and massive tits he could not even guess the size of. He asked Astra on a secure channel, "Is she 'seriously' a candidate?! How much surgery has she had?!"

Astra replied, "Heavily in debt, divorced twice, both millionaires. 84 operations thus far in her life."

He hit the button, "I will send you the forms for releasing a full background check and we can see if you are a match. You are stunning."

Another controller interrupted, "This is senior controller Ralph Tarlon. This channel should be kept open for official traffic only. Besides, she has so much plastic in her to be a new age barbie doll. She is not that great of a lay either."

The ladies laughed and Jack shook his head but did not respond as the airwaves went silent. The police arrive and motioned him to land. He rolled the craft over and set the gear down. He landed without a whimper. He powered down and opened the side door.

He had his sword and a pistol on him. He looked over as the cop walked over, "Was told we have a celebrity involved. How did you cause this?"

He shook his head, "I was not involved in the crash. Only the rescue. They had an engine failure and got rear-ended by another ship."

The cop walked around and looked at the front of the ship and came around and looked at Jack again, "If you were not involved who was?"

He pressed the comms, "LA Tower, I need a senior control for a review of flight logs. This is MERLIN TPS-497042."

He got a new guy, "You caused quite the shitstorm up here what do you need."

He looked, "I reported an accident on the glide way headed into the city's mall district. The accident occurred with Puddle jumper TPS-5684. We need the transponder for the craft directly behind that craft when you lost Puddle jumpers transponder. They lost all power after the collision. I am with local law enforcement to leave a statement and they seem to think I am involved."

The controller responded, "Review of flight logs shows a loss of that transponder 32 minutes ago TPS-98005 Gator Rules is the craft name. They are hovering and non-responsive. It is located two miles southwest of your position."

Jack looked at the cop, "I will bring them to you." Jack turned on shuttle sensors and located the transponder.

He looked to the cop as he closed the door and took the shuttle up. He went over at a slow pace and found them outside of their vehicle, "Please get back in your ship." Some young kid called out, "Or what old man?" He aimed the tractor beam at the kid and activated it and set him next to the driver's door and released him.

They all got inside the vehicle. He took it at an angle from the driver's door. He took them to the cop keeping the transported ship level.

He set the shuttle down where he had previously been parked. He inverted and overflew the new arrival. He used his PA, "This is the vehicle that ran into the back of that one. They did lose an engine first. You know where to contact me if you have further questions."

He flipped upright and retro'd up rotated over pointed toward the glide way, "LA tower this is MERLIN TPS-497042. Request permission to reenter glide way."

LA tower responded, "Permission granted."

He pulled along the running shuttles and the only open spot was on the far side. He rolled over traffic and slid into the slot. They got to their location without any further issues. He took them near the pad, "Barrows Mall this is Merlin request permission to land."

He heard back, "This is Barrows. You are cleared to land Merlin. Pad 3." He put them right over pad 3 and lowered the landing gear and landed without a bump. He powered down. "Barrow's, 3 are going shopping. I will remain with the shuttle in case you need a spot for another shuttle to do a drop-off."

Barrow's responded, "Thank you for the information Merlin." The doors opened and the ladies left after giving him a kiss goodbye. Ash stopped, "You save those people tonight."

He nodded, "I had the technology and the skills. Soon you will have that."

She smiled and left with the others. He sealed up the shuttle. He went through his messages and had one listed from the Terra Capital. He opened it. Request to contact the President directly. He looked at the number and executed it. A woman appeared, "Hello you have reached the capital. Do you have a routing ID?"

He transmitted it. She spoke to someone and then she looked back, "Please stand by for the President."

He waited and the man he saw earlier appeared, "Hello Jack Travus."

He nodded, "President Grendel. You requested to speak with me."

He nodded, "Your impromptu board meeting has had a devastating effect. There is talk of pulling their defense contract."

Jack chuckled, "You have a hostile takeover from a rival who is eager to get those contracts. They do and I will be working with them to get them the new power cores I designed. You pull them now and you risk damaging the market further.

Markets will self-correct. Treven Engines makes the best engines on the market today. Pairing them with my power cores makes sense. Especially if they take over those contracts. They will work to set updated designs to use the new engines and cores on your ships. Use their management and pick up some if not all of GS's manufacturing space. GS was a walking disaster. That Admiral was no walk in the park either."

The president chuckled, "That's what I wanted to hear. We were concerned with the funds they were pouring into the hostile takeover that they would not get the cores."

He smiled, "After the news broke, I got them to agree to take a large chunk of what I would get for the cores off the top of the deal. A slight increase in the per-unit cost comes back to me but not for the military. I made that clear.

I took 5 billion and bought into GS when it was at 22% of the previous value. A hostile takeover. The best engines with the best power cores for the Terra fleet. Other innovations will be coming in the future, including new FTL and system drives.

I gave a demonstration of the system drive the Admiral was not even interested in pursuing. The FTL I have is currently twice as fast as what is being produced, there is just not much of a market for that currently.

I am seeing if I can improve upon that by at least another 50% before putting it to market; for both of those. I already know who I want to deal with when that happens. Treven Engines. I took the long view to choose the company with the best integrity. A lot of good people died because of GS drives and cores. That did not need to happen."

The president smiled, "A crusader. I like that. Are all your innovations involve flight systems?"

Jack shook his head, "No. I demonstrated a tractor beam in LA traffic to stop a catastrophe from happening. I am also nearly ready to put something to market for the medical community. A dermal regenerator.

Will close wounds and cover burned skin with artificial skin to protect from infections. Will help those who suffer from plasma burns. Which is the engineering hook."

The president laughed, "This tractor beam. There are videos surfacing of you using it. You picked up a boy with it?"

Jack smiled, "He asked what 'that old man' was going to do to get him back in his vehicle. I demonstrated and educated."

The president laughed, "Why did you go find them?"

Jack sighed, "Local law enforcement thought I was involved in the accident. I helped to stop a shuttle that got knocked high in the air, lost power and was tumbling back into the glide way.

I reacted. Speaking of reacting. I have been getting several death threats. I would like to keep my home and research lab from being attacked. What is the process to get authorization to fully arm Excalibur?"

He looked at Jack, "We do it for space stations and mining stations already. Floating research facilitates. I could easily see allowing that. I will send out an executive order and you will get a copy. What is your long-term plan?"

Jack smiled, "Want to escort the colony mission to Tau Ceti. Having a repair, mining, and refining vehicle traveling with them might make it so they all get to the distant end. Do not want to see a repeat of the other colony disasters."

He looked at Jack, "That tractor beam would catch or slow a tumbling ship in space."

Jack nodded, "Or a crewman in an EVA suit who got kicked out by explosive decompression. It has limits and it takes a lot of power. Hence my trying to kick up enhancements across like and conjoined fields where there is synergy."

He nodded, "Commendable, I will be keeping an eye on the news when you start rolling some of this innovation out. What is slowing it up?"

Jack smiled, "Working toward perfectionism. Wanting to get something that is not just the next generation but two or three generations ahead.

Getting those science students coming up to look at how to improve upon that design for the future. Instead of enhancing a dying line. Mr. President, I know your time is more precious than gold and I do thank you for hearing what I had to say today. Both earlier and now."

He smiled, "Your time right now seems to be just as precious. The executive order went out 3 minutes ago while we were talking. I will be looking forward to seeing what Excalibur looks like the next time we see her."

Jack smiled, "She will lift her skirt and shock the crowd like those can-can dancers of old." The president laughed his head off at that analogy.

He looked across, "I have others walking in including my wives. They both laughed at that statement. I will let you go, Jack. Thanks for returning my call."

The comms went dead and Jack laughed. He heard a knock at the door and pulled his pistol and opened the door. Valery Nelson stood there. He put the pistol away, "Hello Valery."

She smiled, "I came to see if you changed your mind about being a one-woman man."

He looked at her, "This sex addiction is real. I climax at least 12 times a day and as high 24. Each one takes 20-30 minutes to complete because I don't have the number of nerve-ending to stimulate an ejaculation as some guys. Then there is the size."

She looked at me, "I want to see."

He shook his head, "I pull that in here and you won't be walking out for 2-3 hours and you would be walking out pregnant."

She looked at him, "Have my tubes tied. I am not wanting children."

He shook his head, "I want lots of children which is another reason this will not work. I have 5 women pregnant carrying 9 children after fucking each of them once. At least in the cunt. They all have sweet asses. I bet you don't do anal either. Do you hate doing oral on a man? How far off am I?"

She signed and backed out. "Alright, they're a lot of reasons we shouldn't get married. But what about once?"

He smiled, "I do you once I do all three holes for as long as it takes to get me to fill them. You would also have to sign a release stating you would not seek child support if you somehow, by some miracle, do get pregnant."

She looked up, "Do you have lubricant?"

He looked at her and took the tablet and drew up the documents. "Read, State you accept and use your thumbprint. She read it over and stated, "I accept."

She pressed her thumb to it. He called out, "Astra is that recorded?"

She responded, "Yes it is."

He called out "Pause recording until I contact you again."

He closed the door after she got inside. "3 ladies are shopping. 2 of them are brides to be and they knew this would likely be the outcome if you came. They did not object as I am not married yet. He pulled off his shirt and undid his shoes. He put his belt and gun to the side. And undid the top of his pants and she got out of her clothes.

She was completely naked with a cleanly shaven cunt and legs. He slid his pants down and sat back as she gawked open-mouthed. He commented, "This will fit in your ass but we will start with your mouth. I hope you're a good little cocksucker."

She looked at him, "How long until you climax?"

He sighed, "30 minutes give or take depends on how good the sex is."

She sighed, "I don't think I could handle that in my ass or my mouth. Not for that long."

He called out, "Astra, Start recording again." She laughed, "Recoding started." He looked over. "Valery changed her mind and exercised the escape clause. No sex of any kind. Correct?"

She nodded, "Yes."

He picked up his clothes and gear and took them back to the cockpit. He sat in his chair. "Let me know when you're dressed, gorgeous. I tried to talk you out of it beforehand. I am sorry that it just not a fit for us."

She nodded, "Nice play on words."

He laughed, "I was completely honest. You are gorgeous."

She nodded and she finished.

He opened the door and let her out before sealing it again. He shook his head. He looked over and saw Linda walking back with bags. He slid his pants on and opened the door for her. She looked at him, "Did I miss something?"

He nodded, "Valery stopped by. Run the video, Astra. He watched her agree then she was naked and agreed on the escape clause.

Linda turned red as she saw Jack naked in the video walking back up to the pilot seat. He shut off the video. He pointed to the screen with his messages which were over 1.5 million now. "Most are women who want to join me. Some are death threats. And some..." He searched for the capital e-mail and pulled up the attached document.

"The death threats are from angry lovers of the women who want to join me. Some are with GS or in the middle of the GS scandal and they want to do me harm. I have effected change though."

She got serious, "Why did you save my husband and me? It is just the two of us."

He looked at her, "I had a strong feeling that you both would have walked into that prison alone but came out in a box or urn. It might be years from now. But it would have been throwing your life away. I could not do that when I had the ability and knowledge to help. I cannot help everyone. Check my messages."

She laughed and hugged Jack, "Thank you from both of us."

He nodded, "I will never pursue you. You are married. I hope you and your husband do not decide to pursue us. That would get rather awkward. Picking up a second wife for the two of you. Someone you might enjoy together is something to consider as we will be away from Terra a lot."

She blushed, "He has asked about that but we just got out of debt because of your help."

Jack shook his head, "You find one that would be good for the crew let me know. Don't put your hearts on hold. Start your family. We are."

She smiled, "You have money."

He nodded, "You live in a life where you have no need for it. You want something and you got it. When and if you leave us, you will not leave empty-handed. I cleared the debt of everyone there as you saw. I saw an opportunity for the two of you to start over."

She nodded, "I will talk with him again when we get back. He had someone in mind. From our home town. She was married and widowed."

Jack finished getting his shirt on, "Contact her. See how she is doing. Tell her where you are working. See what she says."

She sighed and smiled as she seemed slightly embarrassed, "She is my older sister."

He nodded, "There is nothing stopping him from marrying two sisters. If it was his sister, they would have issues because of the child conceived in incest chance for birth defects. What you do with your sister is your business as you cannot get each other pregnant. Not all polygamy marriages have the wives entertaining each other.

I have 5 wives' lines up with the possibility of more. They all like to play. I might need 5 more if I can only get 5 to taking care of my needs every other day; just to keep me in check."

She chuckled and rubbed his shoulder as she slid into the co-pilot seat. Jack sat there quietly reading through a few of the offers, He intended to let her talk with her sister. He sighed, "Astra, can you categorize all these messages. Background all of the ladies offer to join us as outstanding candidates and filter the other into good and then not happening.

Also, show a link if there is a jealous ex or current lover listing a death threat message. Send replies to the not happening ladies. Let them know I had close to 2 million messages and they did not make the first round of cuts to be considered. Sincerely apologies. Any replies to those messages filter into the rejected folded and link to the death threat folder if one is included.

Do the same for business opportunities and forward those to Grace to look over. As well as all messages dealing will any legal actions. After you have vetted them of course. Another folder for requests for military contracts. All messages asking for a request for an interview forward to Holly to review.

All job applicants' vet them against ship positions and give me two folders, one for acceptable and one for the automated 'We regret to inform you' pile. Keeping the marriage requirement in place unless they are a likely wife candidate. Do not forget to filter out for any xenophobes or those who are anti-AI."

Astra laughed, "Your messages have been filtered." He looked at the list that was left, still several hundred and clicked on one at random. It was one of the victim's families from the colony. "Astra put all the victims of the colonies into a subfolder with the lawyer messages. Those may lead to lawsuits."

He looked at the folder list and saw an additional one. "I see you added a 'Hot Damn' folder for the wives' search."