Astra Pt. 04

She nodded. Sprits handed him a mead, "You earned it. Trounced my course record even. Carol said some were complaining about your ship shooting up Terra-5. She told them that would be the battleship. She watched it from the deck of the Excalibur."

He went to the bridge to see what each of the stations was saying. He finally had enough and contacted Terra News. He saw the editor, "Man you have everyone talking about you going rogue on the military."

He laughed, "How soon can you get me on the air."

He smiled, "Give me 2 seconds." He saw them break into a hollo-vid and then the breaking news. They showed blue lights blowing off pieces of the station and he shook his head when Bill came on. He looked across, "Jack, everyone is talking about you."

Jack sighed, "No everyone is getting a lot of things wrong. Which is why I called in. Let us start with the images you showed of the weapons fire onto Terra-5."

He nodded, "Alright."

He pointed, "Terra -5 docks at that same timestamp and wait for my scout ship. There. Now watch it fire." It fired off. "This was a live-fire exercise between 2 fighters I built and what was supposed to be against 12 fighters from Terra-4 and Terra-5.

This was a proof of concept fly off on a new fighter craft. It was supposed to be 2 new vs 12 old craft. The 2 battleships were not a part of this equation but Admiral Spritzer decided 55 fighters and 2 battleships versus my 2, non-lethal at this point, fighters were a 'real test.' Instead, I showed him what one fully armed Stingray class scout ship I built could handle his 2 battleships.

I sent a third Lancer that was fully armed to bait and run the battleships. She was under orders not to fire. The PD weapons from her fighter destroyed the missile launchers when they fired at her ship. The scout pilot was Ash Travus, my wife. I gave her the call-sign Phoenix. My tactical officer, and fiancé, Danyelle Cortez is an eagle-eyed sharpshooter tactical officer, former Military. She handled all the weapons on King Arthur. She later flew Merlin through the Death Valley course.

All the weapons fire was color-coded. My scout was dark-purple. My 3 prototype fighters were red for lasers.

For the initial fly off the 2 fighters, I was in Lancer-1 used the rail guns loaded with pink metallic paint as our only forward-firing weapons. All Teran forces were blue lasers. What you saw was a battleship hit Terra-5 as it shot toward and missed my scout.

The scout had to destroy the rail guns, retro thrusters, and countless lasers to get them to stop firing. Even after being ordered to stand down by the President. The images you observed at the docks; King Arthur destroyed 2 engines on each ship. Now I did not do this without talking to people.

The President who authorized the start of this exercise gave us the go-ahead. The Admiral attempted to cheat the test and others paid the price. What he really wanted was to discredit my scout because I told him it would eat battleships for lunch. That craft only live fired on the battleships once they were fired upon my craft.

Now let me talk about the Lancers. That is the name of the fighters I designed. I did so because there was a shortage of fighters. The existing ones are tied in with the Ravager contractor. All work was suspended with this contractor last I heard. I brought in Vincent Martina to build my scout and had him stick around long enough to build 3 Lancers.

The President is working with him and the Defense Department to build more Lancers. The design for the fighter was done out of respect for the fighter pilots who were behind the times in being a relevant deterrent. Not because of skill but because of technology. I took point in Lancer-1. The Call Sign I use is Merlin.

Lancer-2 was piloted by a rookie Terra Military fighter pilot, Call Sign Death Blossom. I spent 2 weeks training her. I taught Ash and Danyelle on King Arthur how to engage if a destroyer or battleship came into the picture. All craft were using 5x system drives. Once a fighter's canopy was covered in paint, the best they could do was an instrumentation landing.

Once that evaluation was done, we gave ourselves 30 minutes to remove all four rail guns and rearm them with live guns. Activate the 6 Gatling Pulse laser cannons on each of them, go in and tweaked the software to have the point defense systems run at full power instead of leaving black spots on the fighters' paint when they got hit.

We went right to the Death Valley course and then Lancer-1 and-2 took on the Mojave range with live fire testing from our own guns. There was not much, if anything, left of the weapon systems at the range after those 2 fighters ripped it apart."

Bill shook his head, "Wow. We heard Doctor Druthers went over and helped at Terra-5?"

He nodded, "Yes she helped where she could. That situation was unfortunate and nothing would have happened if the Battleships had not broken the rules of engagement as directed by the Admiral.

The 2 Lancers neutralized 55 fighters. The third returned a damaged fighter who tried to enter the Battleship fight and was literally destroyed by the point defense weapons that were set to automatic fire on hostile targets."

Bill called out, "Now here we have images from Death Valley and they show your 3 fighters, your shuttle called Merlin, and your new scout on the course?!"

Jack nodded, "The 3 Lancers followed by Danyelle Cortez flying Merlin, and Ash Travus flying my scout. Danyelle wanted to stretch her wings."

He nodded, "But the course manager said you set a new course record."

Jack nodded, "He told me the same. In fact, he told me all 5 craft beat the previous course record held by the one-man rocket flown by Sprits 'Martina' Travus. Daughter of the shipbuilder for the Lancers. She also flew Lancer-3 against the battleships and in the Death Valley course.

It was my first time on that course. Death Blossom, as I stated, was a rookie Terran military pilot I got reassigned for this fly off. The Stingray Scout is TAR-2 King Arthur, Flown by Ash Travus, aka Phoenix. My shuttle is TPS-497042 Merlin. TAR-1 is my home and research center, The Excalibur.

The TAR designation is new and stands for Terran Armed Research Facility. They had nothing to describe research facilities that were Space-Based. I needed them armed like a Starbase or ground-based Research Facility.

I have explained to several fighter pilots, I get interdicted a lot up here, that my pilot's license lists me as a Certified Fighter pilot instructor. I obtained that when I was 16 years old; I am 26 now. Today I got to show them exactly what that meant. All the engines on all 3 models have the same limiter.

2.5 or half of the system drive in the atmosphere. You push it to 3 and you will risk setting the atmosphere on fire. This is from my history and we did not want to tempt fate by making it go any faster."

Bill shook his head, "When can we expect this scout to hit production?"

Jack laughed, "I built a scout for my travels that also has a 5x FTL drive as well. Obviously, we could not demonstrate that today. It was designed for my personal use to test weapon systems. I am not an airframe designer by trade.

I did test everything with the latest modeling tools I provided to the Air Frame designers. I built it the way I wanted it and not necessarily the way the military would want it. The Military had a scout contractor already and while I did the fighter out of a need at the planetary border. I will leave it to the President to decide where they want to go with the scout of tomorrow.

I am not geared for mass production of airframes. I will say after the live-fire tests we conducted that the weapon systems patents are being filed. Then the bidding and jockeying process started on who develops those. I did ensure the fighters and the scouts used technology that is or is becoming available.

For example, all the computer systems were from Hitichi Computers using the TC-1400 Series with the triple cobalt processors blade servers. They handled sensors, navigation, and automated point defense systems software. Though I did rewrite the underlying algorithm to be a bit more aggressive.

That was how we took missiles out when they came out of the tubes. Both new platforms had inertial dampener systems designed to ensure the operator of the craft did not have to fight the effects of G-forces."

Bill nodded, "Well we for one hope the president talks you into bringing that scout design out for production. What do you think it would take?"

Jack shook his head, "That is a long discussion with the President. As I said I am not geared for manufacturing a spacecraft production line. At least currently. I would be interested in hearing his ideas on the mater first.

As to the fighters, I delivered the 3 fighters to the unit I went up against. I stipulated that Lancer-2 remains in the hands of Death Blossom as she is checked out on the platform. Lancer-1 I gave to her wing commander, Dragon Lady. Lancer-3 went to Death Blossom's wingman Crazy Eights.

Crazy Eights and his cohort in crime Wildcard will be cleaning off a lot of pink paint. Those 2 liked to throw rookies at me to see what I would do to them. You might say I paid the pair of them back for that."

Bill nodded and laughed, "Thank you, Jack, for contacting us to set the record straight on what happened on Terra-5." He nodded to Bill and ended the call.

Jack sat back, "Any calls?"

Astra laughed, "Putting him through now."

Jack nodded to the President. "You saw me tell Bill 3 times that I was not building scouts for the military."

He laughed. "True but have you thought of selling the design?"

Jack groaned, "Who wants to buy it? The patent is out there and nobody has approached me directly about buying the design. You would not be asking if someone didn't inquire, through you."

He smiled, "You remember him as Gregory."

Jack sighed, "Anyone else? Preferably someone who is not afraid of space travel."

The president laughed, "Your joking, right?"

Jack shook his head, "According to Astra, he fears space travel. I find it ironic that he chose that line of work. Is he the one you are giving the scout contract?"

He sighed, "I have some dealmakers in the wings who think it is a good idea."

He nodded, "Tell him I would like to know how much he is offering and what is his mark-up? Is he building it as outlined or is he going to strip it to the core and then say it does not work the same? Does he state that the cost as outlined is too high? Have them contact me directly. We will take it from there."

He nodded, "At least that is not a no."

Jack laughed, "Happy with how I set things straight with the fighters and the Terra-5 issue?"

He nodded, "Yes, the Wing Commander wants your scout. Not just the designs she wants the one you tested."

Jack shook his head, "I gave her the fighters. She cannot afford the scout. The scout was framed and armored in Titanium-H. I spent 90 million on the builder to build those 4 ships. Another 2.7 million for the computers, then there are the engines, FTL drive, shields, weapons, sensors, and tractor beams. We can skip that for a moment.

I used 4,000 bricks of Titanium-H on that scout. Each brick has about half liter on Metallic Hydrogen processed into the Titanium and other elements. The armor and frames on that ship are 3.5 Billion TCs in raw material alone. The fact was I could harvest the ingredients from Jupiter for the metallic hydrogen made it an easy alternative for me. Currently, I am the only one who can do that with any consistency. I do not think she has that kind of money laying around for my scout ship."

The president whistled out, "I saw the coloration on it but did not realize the material you used on the hull."

Jack nodded, "It is 10 times stronger than the best titanium alloy on your battleship; which was used on the 3 fighters she did get. All of the weapons on the scout were in Titanium-H as well."

He nodded, "I will let her know the government checkbook does not have enough zeros to buy your scout."

Jack heard the president's wives laughing. Jack smiled, "Have I got clearance to start building the space dry docks? That is the first Question. Second, are you going to ask me to design your cruisers, destroyers, and battleships as well?

If so, I am going to need that dry dock even more to build the mockups for testing."

He laughed, "No, but I would like you to review the designs that are submitted for those ships."

Jack nodded, "I can do that but they will not like what I have to say I am sure."

He heard more laughter on the other end. Jack sighed, "The price you paid on the ravager units were outlandish. I was charged a 153 million TCs for the one I bought. With them losing this work I have zero chance of recovering the lost funds from them for that.

While I got you here I have to ask the General when I am going to get my mead? I would say ask the Admiral but I think he will be busy collecting recycle material to make ends meet with his retirement pay."

The President shook his head, "The ravagers costs us a 132 million fully armed, but we got the weapons for nothing due to the contract agreements. The new units were going to cost 180 million. I will get the General to visit and bring you that personally. That was one hell of a display you put on."

He nodded, "You are getting screwed over on your scout costs. I spent 100 million for my scout; not counting the fancy armor. 70 million was the builders' cost because I wanted it in a week with a 10-man crew. If you are getting one every two weeks, you are talking 80 million maximum

That is giving them one heck of a profit margin. They have been gouging the hell out of you on the costs. You want to send the numbers and breakdowns of what is costing how much for each ship I can break it down for you on where they are padding their books."

He smiled, "I just might do that. That was why you asked those questions about Gregory?"

Jack nodded, "Now you are starting to understand me. I have nothing against them making money. I do disagree with gouging the eyes out the public coffers. Especially if they are going to provide an inferior product. I will add price and spec points to the Stingray and wait for Gregory to contact me.

I won't sell the design until I know who is going to do it and they will do it right. I put my name to something, like cores and the engines, I want it to stand for something. I also find it ironic that these same vendors were asking how much of the market I wanted. Now they want to buy my designs as well to give me more market share if you would."

The President laughed, "I will have him contact you and see if you can reach an agreement then before proceeding."

Jack nodded, "Thank you, Mr. President." He nodded and ended the call. He looked over at Grace, "How goes things with the patents?"

She smiled, "They go, I am contacting the specific weapons manufactures you outlined and letting them know when the patents hit. You had a lot of components added in that are not in any of the particular blueprints."

He nodded, "My safety valve on them trying to ramp up the weapons development. Those components are some of the keys needed in order to take weapons to the next 1-5 levels. In short, those patents are not for sale until I decide to release them. They can innovate, but they will have to choose another path to get around those components."

She shook her head, "Sneaky. What is the reason?"

He sighed, "Half of those are components they would need to make them into ultra-powerful handguns, rifles, or light arms weapons. They can make more powerful weapons without that. They cannot ramp it up unless they innovate around the hurdles I put in place. I told them I would not manufacture for handheld weapons. I took several obvious paths for them doing that out of the equation."

Astra spoke up, "Gregory Parker is calling for you."

Jack went to his desk, "Put him through."

He saw the man on his screen. He smiled, "You have had an impressive day!"

Jack smiled, "Mr. Parker I was told you would be contacting me about my Stingray design. You have pulled up and looked at the specification, everything from power Cores, power coupling, and computers. I want to know what you would be charging per unit and if you plan on gutting the design I have laid out for the ship?"

He smiled, "Straight to the point. Why don't I get to my offer for the design?"

Jack shook his head, "I am not asking for your offer. We are not there yet. What part of my design are you actually going to put into production? How much of it are you going to cut out?"

He looked, "I would have to have my engineers to a cost-benefit analysis on the components as listed."

Jack shook his head, "First if you are going to build it. You are going to build it to those specifications. New cores, drives, software, CPU's come online then sure. In fact, I would expect them in the contract! Cutting anything away from the design is not going to win you the right to make the craft. It has my name on it.

I would not sell my power cores if someone were going to cut all the pipe densities in half to save money. I won't have them doing so with a design with my name on it. That is why I need you to tell me what your per-unit cost for this ship, as configured in the blueprints would be.

Then break it down as to what each piece is costing. I believe the profit margins on these ships is way too high, I want to see where you believe they should be. Get your people to do whatever they are going to do, but any contract I put out will establish the components listed as a minimum baseline with upgrades expected when available. For building this model.

Each upgrade getting a new model number 1.0, 1.1 and so on. Upgrades that become downgrades will get you into a breach of contract lawsuits left and right as I will have a local law firm watching over your efforts with a technology specialist to answer the technical questions.

As I stated in my news conference. I built it with my own requirements in mind. Not those of the military, which might be cheaper or different. If the military wants what they saw then they have the specs in hand. Contact Grace Winters, my business manager when you have that data."

The man sighed and nodded as Jack ended the call.

He looked over, "He wanted the shell to say he had it but the internals would have been inferior."

She nodded, "You know these types well."

Jack got up from his desk, "Too well. I am going flying."

She smiled, "Alone?" He nodded tapping his head, "Yes. Astra is up here. She can contact me."

He went to the shuttle bay and looked at the craft sitting about, "Astra contact Sprits and Carol. Let them know I want to look at getting them to sell their two craft or let me break them down for components. Then build them something new. See what they think. "Open it up, Astra."

She sighed, "Take your shuttle instead."

He laughed, "Negative." He powered up the scout as she opened the doors. He shut off his transponder retro'ed out and cut power immediately. Put it on a 90 degree down drop and headed for the planet. As he approached the atmosphere, he powered up and aligned his entry vector.

He came in on the open ocean and leveled off turning his Id back on and headed toward San Diego. Astra, called out, "You are in route toward three restricted military airspaces."

He nodded, "I have them up and I will thread the needle."

He approached the coast when he got contacted, "Unidentified aircraft you are approaching restricted North American military airspace."

He laughed, "Unidentified caller, this is an identifiable spacecraft, I will not enter military Airspace. Feel free to have your guys keep up if they can."