Astra Pt. 06

We will get you a few of our belts; gifts from Tau Ceti. You focus your telekinesis into it and you have a shield belt for protection that will still allow you to fight with a sword. An item that does not have a patent on it yet. I might set it up as a foundation for those who have a demonstrated ability with telekinesis to get one."

She smiled, "I would travel back with you?"

He nodded, "Yes. We might have a slight detour to Hawaii. I have 2 more wife candidates that are looking to join us. They have no sword experience but they have a lot of useful skills and are willing to learn. Hire yourself a good instructor. Find the fighting style you like best. I know many."

She nodded, "I have some ideas in that area already."

The President rolled his eyes. "You want me to marry your 20 something cousin. The one who is a master at Capoeira and Kenjutsu."

Jack looked over, "That is another tenant; for us humans. Fuck like mad and have lots of children."

Everyone laughed at that. He sighed, "I don't have the stamina."

Jack smiled, "You have the stamina for two wives and this will double your stamina when you go through it. It will ensure you are all fertile for a long time. Listen to your wives. Happy wives."

He nodded, "Happy lives."

Jack smiled, "You decide to marry her let them know you had planned to do it when you got out of office. Because of the extension, you said fuck it. Let's do it."

His wives smiled at that. He looked over, "She is a lovely woman."

His first wife Brenda commented, "She sure can lick pussy too."

Jack backed up, "TMI."

Grace shook her head, "I would like to hear more."

The President was saved by the bell with a knock at the door. He heard, "They are ready for you."

Jack and Grace followed him out and back into the meeting room. Gonzales was standing with her lawyers.

She sighed, "I want a press conference to announce that I am pleading guilty to the research facility. That I am pleading no contest to the other charges because they center around trying to eliminate Alien influence in our society. The others will plead no contest or get tried and sent with us most likely.

I want house arrest with all communications monitored I know. I must drum up some support to fill these colony ships. I do not want you or your fucking AI hijacking my press conference."

Jack nodded, "AFTER you have pleaded guilty before a judge in open court. To the murder charges associated with that research facility. The fact that 'alien influence' in your eyes extended to all hybrids as you do not see them as human. I will have one of my own to refute whatever you try and say against me.

Including all the audio and video I can muster. You attack me and the other hybrids directly in your speech; I will take you to task on the level of detail you give. I will hit you back 10-fold in the data Astra can collect. I will also stipulate that you call for a time of peace and restraint so the work of getting these colony ships built can be completed.

Any violence we trace back to you and your house arrest moves into solitary confinement. Because it will take longer to get rid of you. By the time this is done the next 2 Dreadnoughts will arrive. One will go out as far as the first system you will come to and return. It is not the system you are going to but it will ensure you comply with leaving the area instead of trying to bring those ships to bear on a colony like Mars.

It will not engage with you at all unless you attack it foolishly; in which case it will destroy your military capability. It also increases the range of how far our hybrids can travel in that direction. Making it easier for us to pre-explore some other locations. Your ships will be stripped of Terra transponders. A new design for transponders is in my patent list.

It will be more useful for communicating with the tower with colonies coming online with their own transponder identifications. The old transponder designs will become useless here. All patents I file will be held in a protective archive until after you are gone. Stealing patents is not beneath you. Astra will be sure to scan all your systems and remove all patent designs you are not allowed to have.

The real Terra military will follow behind. That new dreadnought will lead the way and clear a path through the asteroid belt for your ships to follow. We will not wait for the best corridors to be aligned we will create a new one to get rid of you faster. That lead dreadnaught will be told to travel to the first system. To monitor your progress and not to contact you.

The moment you drop from FTL it will depart. I will give you the lessons learned for the Tau Ceti run. The periodic stops to check all hull integrity and system status. When you arrive, it will turn around and be gone as you hit the edge of it in a year and a half. I will not be on that dreadnaught.

I have a few other telepaths to draw upon to establish that location. Also, as far as house arrest goes. Outside of any major city. Not the home in the middle of the defense contractors; that will be forfeited. Essentially what you take with you is what you have. Unless you set up your own credit system there will be no TC's here for you to come back to. Any of you.

All bank account would be seized and property held in trust until your departure. That order should be signed before you leave this room. Good thing for you I brought my attorney. She can still practice law here and can simply go down the line with all of you here and have it filed with the judge pending your appearance in court. Where it will become permanent."

One of the lawyers asked, "You mean the defendants. Right?"

Jack looked at her, "You brought a listening device into here and the records prove you colluded with illegal activity to forward her agenda? Do you want Astra to go through all of your computers right now to answer that question?

Anyone who thinks they should not sign it Astra can pull those records. The President is likely to order all of your business and personal assets seized because of the crimes against Terra."

She looked over, "That would be an illegal search."

He sighed, "She is not human and does some things on a whim. How do you prosecute an AI? You like the rules that protect you from shady business dealings. You brought a device in that makes you and your firm open to investigation."

The President jumped in, "I want it signed by all the defendants and all of the lawyers who brought those devices into the Capitol. Any that do not will be held by Capitol police for 48 hours, within the law.

Meanwhile, search warrants are issued and executed on your businesses and family activities including your children."

Another man yelled, "That is not fair. Why bring our children into this!"

The President looked at him, "Because you killed 2,854 children in your actions! You conspired. Every single one of you, including some if not all the lawyers here. You are looking at conspiracy charges if you helped to hide or facilitate their illegal activities.

Remember what I said earlier. State of martial law. That gives broad power I did not want or ask for that power. But if you force me to bring that down on you, by god I will!"

Grace finished drawing up the document as a template and then worked with each of them that were signing. The 2 men and 4 women who refused to sign got their ID's striped and taken into Capitol police custody on the spot. The rest, including the lawyers, were taken to separate detention facilities. Grace worked with the President and he sent it directly to the world court.

Because of the level of charges and precedence it set, they agreed to take the case. Grace sent them all the signed forms. She also sent them a couple of her own petitions. The President had the attorney general issue the search warrant for all business and lawyer offices. All personal accounts. For the 6 that did not sign the order; he stipulated their children's records be examined if anything was found on the parents' guilt.

Jack told Astra, "Two squadrons of lancers over the waterway near the Capitol outside of Dubai. If asked why they are there inform them that President Grendel has requested First Lady Brenda Grendel travel with Jack Travus. She is going to speak with the crew on the 2 Dreadnoughts on a fact-finding mission. With hybrids and non-hybrids about colony life."

Astra laughed, "Added and they are on their way. A squad from each dreadnaught." Jack looked at the President, "Grace draw up the form to fine my business 1 trillion TC's for my action on Ms. Gonzales. Namely cutting off her hands while in custody. Given the extenuating circumstances, 2,854 deaths of offspring sired by Jack Travus that I have agreed to this solution.

The funds are to go toward the distant penal colony solution. That solution will include Ms. Gonzales and her co-conspirators. Namely to build the ships and outfit them for 30 years on what should be a 20-year journey. Then a second one, of my own volition and to aid any sympathizer of any age who wishes to join Ms. Gonzales at this new penal colony.

Jack Travus has graciously agreed to give another 2 Trillion TC's to finance the construction and outfitting of these ships with the ambitious plans to have them all completed in 2 years. The ships will not have transponders and will for all intended purposes be going on a one-way trip with military escort vessels. All ships built under this effort will be built tax-free!

In order to provide for additional ships for those who wish to follow Ms. Gonzales to a penal world free of 'human hybrid' influence. We cannot guarantee alien influence, but I, Jack Travus, as the leader of the hybrids, agreed to mark that system as out-of-bounds. Meaning our human hybrids will never approach, or help the people in this one system.

Giving those who truly wish to go that route the opportunity to be free of human hybrids. As long as they do not attempt to declare war on the rest of humanity. In which case we may come in force."

He looked over, "We will sign and release the first one after she has pled guilty. I do not need to stand before a Judge. My attorneys in Australia can do it with my prepared statement. My presence is not required as I am not under arrest. I am agreeing essentially to a corporate fine for an attack that caused no lasting permanent physical damage.

I already knew she had the cure in her system. I just had not known at that point just how many of my offspring had been killed by her research facility. All in an effort to find a way to kill all hybrids and potentially the Drakor.

That she increased her percentage of Drakor blood to 20% from using the blood of those children she killed, my children. She worked in complete opposition to her no alien influence policy."

Grace looked at Jack, "I will write this up and you are right as this fine is coming at a business level by the government to be used for this effort."

The President nodded, "That will work. It kills a couple of birds."

Jack looked over, "Get that off to them now and get it in front of a judge and released as soon as she pleads guilty in open court."

The President nodded, "I have security services working on her home for house arrest including guards inside and out. She will hate it. Especially the random drug screenings with the results published. I know she takes vallum.

I just do not know how much she takes. Her personal assets are covering the cost of her incarceration. She will be in front of a judge in a few hours if I have anything to say about it. A banishment from Terra for her and all who join her to go to this penal colony."

Jack smiled, "Can I suggest 2 or 3 of these ships be prison ships to go to the penal colony. From your existing overcrowded jails?"

The President smiled, "As many as 5 to 10 ships. That will get me some poll numbers for clearing the prison population problem. The worst of the worst life sentences first. Also, all the Terra-1 conspirators still in custody. Then volunteers from the prison to go."

Jack shook his head, "Intermix them with the conspirators. Else she will just destroy the ships with convicts in them as an act of defiance. We limit her shuttles to one per battleship and one for the hospital ship. That way she cannot easily make any big personnel changes quickly. Also, send those she sent to jail from the military side for breaking rules when she was in charge.

Those she put into jail for life while being a hypocrite. Let her know she can try to change crew assignments and locations once she has jumped out of Terra space. All exterior airlocks will remain sealed, which includes shuttle bays until they are out of range of your military escort. The blueprints for the rail guns will not go into the system until after they are out of Terran space.

We can build the ships and upgrade all the other weapons. You have my guys with a ton of those who will help to protect Terra until we get the new guns in place. It will be guns and additional power cores for those guns. I build you any new ships from my factories then they will have the guns before the blueprints drop."

He nodded, "Agreed. Right now, that makes you my weapons manufacture as you hold all the patents."

Jack nodded, "Find me one guy who is into building weapons and has integrity and if he is the right guy, I will make him a hybrid and set him up in business to do what you need. There are a bunch of seized assets coming out of this and people looking for work.

I need an honorable leader. Astra pull-up the heads of the unions that worked those facilities and give me the list of the top 3 or 4 rabble-rousers from those unions. We turn the businesses into new union-owned entities. Geared to quality products and not gouging the workers or the government."

The President nodded, "That is a solution for the long run."

He smiled, "Let's get in the air Grace. You joining us First Lady?"

She nodded, "I packed an overnight bag with a couple of changes in clothes."

Jack smiled, "I will ask my wives, Aiko and Sprits, a red and blue sword wielder to act as your guards going around. Sprits can keep you inside a telekinetic shield and Aiko will put down any threat. She is an empath as well."

She nodded, "Good to know. Jack shook his head, "I will add Ash to that list. She will watch your back. She was the hybrid built by the Drakor. I do not expect any problems aboard ship but want you to feel secure."

She nodded, "Three women bodyguards."

He nodded, "Talented too."

Grace looked at Jack, "I sent a message to the ladies. They will meet us when we land."

Jack smiled, "Astra tell the Tower the First Lady is getting ready to depart with us and my two squadrons will be joining us over the Capitol."

Astra smiled, "Messages sent and the pilots are on the move."

Jack walked out with Grace and the First Lady and they boarded his shuttle. He looked over, "You can take the second chair if you like. The view is better."

She nodded, "Thank you."

Grace smiled, "I am working paperwork so keep each other company. Sending a message to the ladies to meet at the Spaceport shuttle area."

Jack nodded, "Tower this is Merlin with an extra passenger. I have one of the First ladies aboard so she can visit the men and women aboard the Dreadnoughts."

He responded, "You are cleared. Use call sign DF-2 Presidential when dealing with other towers."

Jack smiled, "Like Merlin isn't enough."

The guy laughed, "You can add that as well."

He smiled, "Tower taking heading 180 at 10,000 meters. Flight leader, When I get in position, protection formation."

He heard, "Roger, Merlin."

She looked, "You hit a switch when talking to your fighters?"

He nodded, "Secure encrypted link. Let's my craft talk with each other without being understood by anyone trying to listen in. They all have them. The ships do a random number generator to change the encryptions every few hours. They are synched through each other and the Dreadnoughts."

Jack headed south, "Dubai tower, This is Merlin with an additional call sign of DF-2 Presidential we are skirting your perimeter. The fighters are from my ships and proving protective cover."

He called back, "Good luck Merlin. Thank you for the explanation of all of the fighters. The DF-2 callsign explains that."

Jack had them change course a few times to avoid all the towers and flew over open water past India, Australia and toward Hawaii. A couple of fighters went to interdict them near Australia but never got within range of the collective.

He contacted Hawaii early." Honolulu Tower, This is DF-2 Presidential. I have a 12-fighter escort and we will be on the ground for only a few minutes to pick up two ladies. Dr. Pela and Dr. Velma Jackson. Twin sisters if you could have them at the pad you assign us, we will be gone that much sooner and have my fighters out of your air lanes."

He heard back, "DF-2, Pad 12. Glide path sent. Ask fighters to circle above at 15,000 meters if that is acceptable." Jack smiled, "Acceptable. Flight leader, we will be making a stop at Honolulu Spaceport. You will circle above the location at 15,000 meters. I will go for a vertical ascent and join you as we head for home, "Kirishima Commander Zack, Undock and meet us in orbit to dock the battleship.

Full scans inside and out. Check for explosives and life forms. Also, stealth suits."

He replied, "Every hour on the hour. Just scanned Sir. Pulling in our guard detail at the Dock and we will be with you shortly Admiral."

Jack smiled at the First Lady, "Good kid. He is essentially the XO on the ship under Grace and I run things when I am on board. I shuffle the two battleships between bases. I spend an equal amount of time on both."

She nodded, "Sounds like you have your children in a lot of key roles."

He nodded, "On these 2 groups. Not as many on the other 84 battleships we have back there at last count. I brought many of mine back as I wanted them to see where we came from. Feel it firsthand. We gave them the choice and some stayed behind. Some were dying to see grandparents or aunt and uncles on my wives' side."

Jack heard, "This is Honolulu tower. We see you on approach and we are sending you a glide path." Jack nodded, "Fighters climb to 15,000 meters and wait above Spaceport for my arrival. Tower when we leave we will request a 90-degree vertical assent. I have my fighters and a battleship in orbit waiting for us."

He heard from the tower, "Understood let us know at the time and we will work with you."

Jack took it into the pad and slowed it down at the last 300 meters and set it down nice and easy. He saw the two women smiling. He looked past them on the flight line, "Tower we got a hostile on the tarmac with an RPG! Squad leader, get down to my position and scan for explosives. Eliminate targets!"

They are waiting for me to drop shields which I have not done. Grace, send a..."

She nodded, "Asked them to step back into the terminal for a moment. We have a threat out here."

Jack focused and put a telekinetic wall just beyond the shields all the way around the ship." He took it up 1 meter and opened weapons bays. The one-man ran but did not get far when his legs were blown off by one of his fighters, "Admiral, I picking up 12 moving hostiles with explosives and your shuttle."

He nodded, "Fighter Squadrons deploy. Assign targets leader. We are protected."

The other fighters came down and found their targets. 6 of the RPG's fired on the shuttle before the others arrived; however, they did not live long afterward. 3 surrendered, 1 escaped into the building, and 2 died when the PD laser on the fighters destroyed the rocket inside the launchers."

"This is DF-2 Presidential to tower. My fighters are staying put because your Spaceport is not secure! Give me a senior controller!"