Astra Pt. 04

In 25 years, an uprising will occur with a small group of xenophobes. The president of that time, who is also in this room if time holds to its course, will make the decision that humanity needs a cool off period from alien contact and negotiations.

That decision will cause negative issues for a couple of centuries with aliens on the outside trying to work with us. Humanity has been made aware much sooner and in a much more dramatic fashion of the alien life out there. Tau Ceti will not operate in a xenophobic manner.

It will be the arm of humanity to continue those negotiations for when the day the rest of humanity catches up to being a part of a larger universe. If those events hold true to course. If that means Tau Ceti, when this occurs, must declare independence from Terra to do it; then that is the course I will advise those settling in this system to take.

I said before, none of the hybrids wish to lead humanity, that still holds true. That does not mean we won't have a say in a society that sees us hybrids as aliens and thus not human. The society in Tau Ceti, in its bylaws, will have it as being open to negotiations with peaceful alien species and learning from each other.

Also being ready to gear up to be the pointy end of the sword if hostile alien presences make themselves known to protect all of humanity. We will be able to set that in the bylaws as we will be the founders of the colonies in that system.

It will take you, based upon history, 400 years to offload 30% of the world's population to other colonies. Those in the Terra system will still be dependent on Terra for hundreds of years after that. It will take 300 years to get Mars and the Moon terraformed under the previous timeline.

They are still heavily dependent on Terra up until the end even after they are terraformed. The outer colonies. Well, let us say many never arrived and many that arrived failed to thrive and most did not survive. We sent a lot of people to their deaths. These new ships will help to speed up the independence both in the system and in other systems.

Some of those systems are far out of the way and even with the new drives, new colonies will be built in systems between them. Some nothing more than space-based mining communities with Starbases.

I would like to say that history shows us to be better than our ancestors but that is not the case. When it came time to push people out the first ones sent were the criminals and the poor. That, of course, sets up a lot of space-based piracy that your military will deal with forever.

Back to your original question. You announce it but also announce the expansion of the space docks for creating the colony vessels needed to address these issues. That the crew of the Excalibur has provided some insight into places that humanity can expand more easily than others to help with setting mission priorities. Again, you will find nothing in Tau Ceti in the charts I gave you. We would, after its 'founding', provide additional information on that system.

Mr. Sun, who heads up the Jupiter initiative. We will have to get with him on changes he needs to make to make that station viable. Larger engines and his platforms ran through the modeling engines to deal with the stress. Oh my, what a surprise."

They chuckled at Jack, "That is why I did not just tell him how to do what I did when I arrived. He has a 0% chance of success. He fails to listen and it zero times a hundred."

The cabinet chuckled at that as they took notes. "I would also avoid setting any one company as the sole producer at Saturn or Jupiter for mineral rights. All ships need hydrogen for fuel. Leave that open for free use. As to metallic hydrogen, sorry if that went to anyone it would be me as the first to do that successfully.

For Jupiter anyway. I could do it for Saturn as well in a heartbeat. They are big worlds with a lot of resources. Nobody must get greedy to make a nice living from the effort. Terran colony and terraforming convoys are going to want to stop there to stock up on fuel especially. Metallic hydrogen in the big money maker and you must have the right equipment and know-how to work with it to make it worth your while.

The equipment to do the Metallic Hydrogen work will be cost-prohibitive to the average citizen. This is where I set non-exclusive rights to that design and license them out to the big mineral exporters. This keeps them from getting depleted too rapidly. Makes projects like the Jupiter station, the Titan Starbase, the Saturn mining operations, and all that a cost-productive business model to those doing the work.

This is history. Things that happened. Titan became a space dock and refueling station which catered heavily to the military. Fuel brought in from the Saturn rig because of all the material in the rings and the hazards of Saturn putting a station with the mining rig will end in disaster. Four times. Before they took that approach. The Jupiter project was on its 12th revision and had gone bankrupt many times in my timeline. I am working to make it viable sooner.

I had not planned on being in your cabinet meeting today but I hope I provided some insight that has you more happy than anxious about what it is we have been striving to accomplish out here."

The president nodded, "I will leave the talk to Mr. Sun with you. I will drop him a personal note to re-watch the ravager test flight if he needs further incentive to believe you. We will hold the announcement on the population for another month at least. I want the approval for the other space docks in place before then.

Thank you for giving us a mock-up of what those stations would look like. It actually makes it an easier sell as we were supposed to go to twelve stations and this would make the next six have space-based space docks to work the ships needed for all of our citizens. They would be paid for and ran by civilians."

Grace walked in, "Here are the modified contracts dealing with the weapons developers." He signed them all for her and she smiled, "Thank you for getting them off of my back."

Jack smiled, "I know how you feel. Like you need a shower for a week to get clean." His audience laughed at him.

He looked at it all, "1.3 trillion TC's from all of those after taxes. Set aside 300 Billion as grants for the 6 new stations at 50 billion per. We will spend another 200 Billion on the first 3 stations upfront. We will see how it goes."

She nodded, "Expect it to double." He nodded, "That is why I am setting it for the first 3 now and we will see what the future holds for the rest. Return on investments on the patents per-unit costs.

When I said the money, I was collecting was to give humanity improved jobs in space, new craft for exploration and expansion of humanity's capabilities. I meant it. Take care everyone. Thank you, Mr. President."

He ended the call. He looked over, "Holly, get with your buddies over at Terra News and announce the latest set of contracts and our plans to start building the first of many Starbases with Space-Based Space Docks. Grace, I have another list containing 4,641patents to file. Just because you are bored and wanted to keep me tied down."

Grace sighed and shook her head at him as he typed out a message to Mr. Sun. Letting him know what would need to be done including sending him a copy of the modeling software in order to make his station viable.

He continued while typing, "Then I want you to get ahold of Driven Construction. They are on the verge of going out of business, however, they have heavily invested in building destroyer class ships for making beams in space. They have 6 rigs. I want to put 4 to work on this Starbase, Sprits can oversee the building of the Station cores while we are here.

I will work with her on the computers needed for the station, enhanced security, and the engine housing and thrusters for the station to stay operation. Now the other two ships I want to buy from them. We need vetted crews by Astra for sound and qualified candidates for those ships.

Watching out for xenophobes and AI haters as well. Those two ships will get reinforced and new 5x engines and 5x FTL drives built into them. Then I want you to get in touch with Other Worlds Farming Enterprises. They have the facilities on the ground to build my terraform ships and my hydroponic ship. I want 2 of each, crewed and manned. Including bees and coffee plants. Then contact Irish Mills Mead company. Put them through to me Astra."

All of the ladies looked at him and Danyelle finally said it, "Your building a terraforming colony convoy to take to Tau Ceti. Within a year."

He nodded, "Within 6 months. I plan to farm some of the work out to Treven Engines. Sprits and I will work the reinforcements inside of the additional ships. Let any single mothers know who are carrying my children, if they pass Astra's vetting process, we will include them as passengers aboard these ships if they desire to relocate to Tau Ceti. No announcement, contact them individually.

If they are married to another man or lady and wish to go, vet them both against the timeline and for crew positions aboard the Excalibur before extending an offer. Taking the one ship to Tau Ceti seems like a waste if we can get 2 colonies established on the sister planet that exist in that system.

Astra nodded, "You know the 2 planets are within 12 hours of each other with our new ship engines, at the nearest point and both in the habitable zone. One a little warmer and the other a little cooler but both have vast flora and animal life. We have the catalogs on the animal life that is safe for human consumption.

You want to introduce bee colonies to both planets. One will take longer to propagate because of the narrow band the bees can survive within but you get bee colonies to survive on even one of the planets without killer bees to invade them then you could save the species from extinction."

Jack nodded, "Pet project if you will."

Grace looked through the patents, "A shield light harmonic generator?"

He nodded, "Will light up the inside of the shields and give enough 'sunlight' to the crops and animals aboard the other ships to increase survivability rates. It can also be used to get crops and animals slowly acclimated to the sun rays of the destination, including the distance from the star for each world."

Astra looked at Jack, "There is nothing in my archives for this kind of technology."

He nodded, "I had to work on getting it out of my head. Those innovations will help to finance human exploration into space for the poor and the common man. They will finance the rest of the Starbase construction efforts.

The mining operation at the asteroid belt on the outer rim that will be required to generate all the metal. Which brings me to Danyelle. I want you to get into contact with these 3 companies, work with Astra on future implications and such. Work to buy into at least 2 of the companies.

Offer up ship upgrades and improved ore miners to work the resource collection. Put that geology degree of yours to work. Use the information on the now-closed third corridor on the mineral surveys Astra did while we were out there. Then let them know we have improved sensors to aid in identifying metallic substances to do that.

Ash, I want you to Get ahold of Martin's Cryo-Storage and get us another 36 of the 2,000-liter tanks. A dozen of those will be moved, once filled into our expanded cargo area. Those will eventually end up in our shuttle for the flight to that distant moon."

She looked at him, "That was why inside the scout you put the double-cross entrances. To be able to get those tanks into the shuttle and make them maneuverable.

A dozen is all you would be able to take and take the hybrids we have."

He nodded, "I need to get Treven senior, Paul, and his two ladies to make a trip to the Excalibur. If Francine and James come along that is fine and preferred. But we need to hammer out the management of these stations and see which path Paul wants to take.

I would like that meeting today if possible. Holly can you contact them on my behalf as my press secretary if you will. Let them know I got every wife right now working multiple projects and over 4,000 more patents being filed. Aiko, I want you getting in touch with Hamilton Freight. I want you to acquire 4 of their ships and work to buy into their company for freight hauling from the mining locations back to Terra.

I want two of those to become refineries with particle accelerators on board. We will install 8 cores on each ship with four multiplexed for ship functions and four multiplexed for manufacturing and scientific functions. There is a lot of electrical engineering work involved in those projections. Along with more structural reinforcements.

I have a list of 108 5x drives and 40 5x FTL drives that we will need to be manufactured. Some of those are spares. However, that leaves the good doctor. I want you to get with Admiral Porta Gonzales. They are set to decommission a nightingale hospital ship. I want it and want it retrofitted and reinforced. Then manned with scientists that the good doctor would like that Astra can clear.

It will become out scientific research and hospital ship. All members going must have the cure with at least 7% going to cut down on the need for doctors. However, I want you to have a team to work to examine the changes that are happening with the children and with the mothers. I also want a Rest and Relaxation section on this ship for mothers to meet all the single men we might have on these other ships.

Astra will keep the sperm bank full here while here but samples will be kept for mothers who wish to have more children. Free of charge and free medical services. This will become a cooperative as TC's will have no use out there. Those are your assignments for the moment ladies, Did I miss anyone?"

Sprits looked over, "A week alone and you got pretty bossy coming back."

The ladies all laughed."

He picked her up and kissed her, "I did not want a week alone I had to have it. Free of distraction. To get a myriad of technological ideals out there and out of my head. I have something for my hybrids in my workshop. A surprise for later. Psi based technology."

They all smiled at that. He looked at the Doctor. "One might even work for you as you are. We will see."

He sat back down, "Astra place my call through; we will meet back in 2 hours to see how things are going. Grace will be busy with contracts and funds. Then all of the new patents will drive another round of bidding wars to manufacture them."

He sat at his desk with his mead in his hand when an older woman with some grey in her red hair appeared on his screen. He nodded to her and tipped his bottle at her, "Mrs. Flanagan, I am one of your biggest fans."

She smiled, "Everyone knows who you are. We are such a small company. What can we do for you? You in need of a large shipment?"

He smiled, "Yes but I am working that through your distributors as to not overwhelm your supply chain."

She nodded. He looked at her, "You are planning an expansion of bees into Iceland and a few other island nations in order to try and save the bee population. I wish to acquire a couple of colonies of your bees, your recipe from you directly, for your mead.

I could simply pull it from the computer. I have more respect for your fine product than most. I know in 472 years your company will be out of business based upon past activity. I am in the midst of filing over 4,000 patents. One of those is a species directed insecticide to kill off killer bees. It interferes with their communication and ability to follow orders.

Now they will eventually adapt but by that time I would hope half the world's population of this infestation would be gone and your bees would have room to expand for another thousand years. I am planning on leading an expedition to Tau Ceti in roughly 6-12 months.

It depends on refit schedules. We will be picking up some farm ships locally for this and retrofitting them. I want to take two colonies of bees with us and eventually build a refinery for the production of your mead in Tau Ceti."

She looked at Jack, "You want our receipt and two colonies of bees for your ships for this new insecticide to help with the killer bee population?"

Jack shook his head, "That is the start. I am introducing new technology to keep bees and other life alive in long space travel. The ability to have a magnetic field for migratory animals that use it. The ability to irradiate if you will the inside of the shields to generate sunlight. These are not technologies of the future.

These are my own inventions for expanding Terran life as a whole to other worlds, be they birds, cows or bees. I would look to include your company as a beneficiary of these patents when used to transport bee colonies to other worlds. You can license out the remote refineries for the other 5 Terran like worlds that I gave to the president earlier today.

All in different systems. I am giving your small company, which has meant so much to my family and myself over the years, the first opportunity to seize a piece of this history. The insecticide will have to go through planetary regulations but I plan to finance the use of it across Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Australia at a start.

Let it spread from there. It is not something you will need to buy. It will happen regardless. It is the right thing to do. I will not hold your business hostage. I did invest in your company and hold roughly 30% of your outstanding stock. I am committed to your company's survival."

She looked at Jack, "I would want a comprehensive chemical analysis of any mead you produce to check against my family brand. If there is a deviation because of something local then your brand of Mead will have to have a separate name to identify it while still offering homage to the founders if you will."

Jack smiled, "I will write something up concerning the Flanagan legacy for making mead and how the tradition is being continued to other parts of the galaxy. That will be written on the labels of all bottles; regardless if it is Irish Mills Mead or Geos refined Irish Mills Mead. Listing what the change might be and what minuscule percentage is involved."

Mrs. Flanagan smiled, "Planet name?"

Jack smiled, "That name is from history but no bees were ever taken there so that is a new endeavor."

She nodded, "I like the idea of my family legacy continuing. You plan on hiring some of my workers that we had to let go of?"

Jack smiled, "I will have Astra look into it. As I explained some people have a greater destiny based on my timeline for themselves or their progeny to have a lasting positive effect on humanity. I do not want to take that away from them or humanity. But others who wish to go. We could probably find work for them aboard those farming vessels.

Tending to the bees and collecting honey over the next 3 years before we make planetfall."

She looked at Jack, "You know there are planets capable in that system?"

He smiled, "I know of 6 systems. I kept Tau Ceti separate because of the Drakor threat that the hybrids must address. Before it is safe for major colonization of that system. Understand my caution there as it is a human survival concern."

She nodded, "This meeting you talked about occurs in that system. That is why you are being selective and somewhat secretive in your approach about who and what you are taking?"

He smiled, "Yes. That is the simple answer."

She laughed at that, "You are quite an enigma. I do have a board to discuss this with but I think we could make an arrangement feasible."

Jack laughed, "Tell your family, I mean your board, that I said hello."

She laughed at that statement as all but two of her board members were family by marriage or blood in one line or another.