Astra Pt. 06

The 4 of them just stared. Jack looked at them, "Not the big prick you were expecting to be yelling at when this started?"

He got a couple of them to laugh and the others followed suit. "My problem was with the asshats who owned the businesses you worked at. Not with the workers. They worked the designs they were given. Just like GS and their crap engines and power cores.

A lot of their facilities were retooled and used by Traven Engines. They are putting out better quality products. You got guys who see improvements to weapons then you can make them. I had a series of patents I filed but did not release.

The reason being is they were the obvious paths to upgrading the tech I gave them. They did not try to innovate around the obstacles I gave them. They tried to have me declared dead to get to the patents. That will change. Those patents will get assigned to the appropriate weapons factory.

Some of those can be used by the army. That expands your customer base. You get things set up and impress and I will put the contracts together through my attorney to allocate those patents to the factories at no cost! You must be fair on your price for the product to the government.

There is still my standard per unit cost which is cut in half on military sales. A business or Trillionaire walks in and wants to protect his home, and has authorization, he does not get the military discount. You all following this?"

They nodded, "Astra get all of their contact information and send to all participants of this meeting, Grace, and the Attorney General. They can work the grants if you will to get the business founded, good honest legal counsel, and funds to visit the other 6 facilities workers together.

Then they can figure out who the top 4 are and which one is going to mentor each of them into this structure. Put your teams together well. The squeaky wheel always gets the grease. Well now you are neck-deep in the grease and you need to assemble your teams to make this happen. The faster it is done, the faster you get back to work.

I know you all have said, 'If I were running this I would do this differently.' Here is a chance for actions to catch up with your mouths that got you noticed by me."

The President chuckled, "You did this to me because of me blindsiding you earlier?'

Jack nodded, "Yes, payback is a bitch and you wanted these guys back to work even more than I did. I gave you a solution that is workable. You guys just have to do the work."

The President nodded, "You men get a team of 11 within your numbers covering your areas in your factories. Figure out who the spokesman for your new company is going to be. You will get contacted by my Attorney general in another conference call like this in 4 days.

He will set it up so the 4 groups can all call into the conference. We do not need Jack for this part or no telling what he will do to me next."

The guys laughed.

Jack looked over, "I want what is best for humanity. I am human; the world court agreed with that brief submitted by my wife."

The President looked over, "I read through Grace's draft of the cooperation agreement. Your action with the attacks makes more sense now. For those that have not seen it, he has had a few attacks against him, but he never did a boarding action on any Terra ship. He has destroyed some that fired upon him. He has disabled some and captured them. He has forced some to the ground until the Army could arrive to take over the crews.

In short, his agreement calls out that no boarding action can be done across services. They turn over the culprits that are assessed and prosecuted if needed with the local laws in each colony or here. It is a brilliant piece of work in cooperation. My treaties guys are going over it and wanting to add a few items to work with Grace on.

With your satellite, you can get these back to your leader."

Jack nodded, "She will also get you one from me considering the penal colony. No entry unless they attack Terra or other Terra colonies. At which point we will be on their doorstep and knocking hard!"

He nodded, "Letting her know if she stops them somewhere else, they are fair game to hybrids."

Jack nodded, "They escaped the prison at that point! One last point, I just got word Tau Ceti was hit again. I will brief you later but the threat is more real and extreme now."

President groaned, "Alright. Not the right audience. We will talk later."

Jack nodded and ended the call.

He looked up, "Show me the bitches press conference."

Astra sighed, "Here it is."

She was up on a platform with supporters standing around her, "I will be looking for good like-minded people who are tired of alien influences over humanity to join us. There will be an announcement to get qualified candidates onto these ships to work in this new colony.

I heard the court's ruling on Jack Travus's status as a human. While I do not agree with it personally, I will stand by the court's decision. I am asking for peace during this time while the ships are being built. They are being financed by Jack Travus because of his attack on me. There will be plenty of ships and opportunities for all. Thank you."

She took no questions from reporters. Jack sighed, "Get me the top 7 newsgroups together for a virtual news conference. In 20 minutes from the bridge."

He heard her laughing, "Will do."

Jack thought, * Grace did the fine on the business get filed? *

She replied, * Yes, and the second is ready to go. *

He thought, * Send the second in 24 minutes to the top 7 news agencies Astra is hooking me up with. I am headed to the Bridge. *

He walked out and ran into Sprits father who shook his head, "Septuplets and a set of twins in each of them?!"

Jack nodded, "Not sure when I will get back to give them more. I have one more gift if you will from me to the 3 of you.

Something you could pass on to your other children if they want it." He looked at me, "You wanting to make me a hybrid?"

Jack smiled, "Not quite. I know that thought freaks you a little bit. Ask Doctor Vee to show you what will happen if you get injected with a sample of my blood. You will not be hybrids but you could live for a couple of centuries with your ever-growing family."

He looked at me, "This would help with my stamina?"

He nodded, "Also your wives' stamina. It may also undo your vasectomy."

He nodded, "I will go back to medical and look it over with the wives. Jack commented. "Have Astra walk you through the list of enhancements done to me. See if you and your ladies like any of them."

He left him and went straight to the bridge, "Admiral has Command. Keep working there will be a virtual press conference coming online. XO, please keep an eye on operations while I deal with these targets."

The bridge crew laughed at that. "Alright, Astra link them in."

He looked up at the reports, "Thank you for joining me here today. Unlike convict Gonzales announcement I will take questions. In fact, I will start with the questions.

Astra, would you randomly select one reporter at a time to ask questions. Let them know their order. Please give your name and network first so I know who I am working with here."

One lady beamed, "Hello I am Joanna Gates with Blistering News. My first question is what was the deal with cutting off her hands?"

Jack sat back, "I had already confirmed that she had the cure in her system. I did not know but suspected she got it increased to 20% by killing one of my offspring. 2,854 that we know of. If those mothers are wanting to have my children again, Send a message to Astra.

She will confirm you're a former mother of my children and we will work to get you to a doctor who can provide the insemination to you free of charge. I will pay for those mothers who lost children to try again. Astra will send out contact information to each station. We know if she had her way convict Gonzales would have killed them all.

Back to your question. It was essentially done to expose her fraud to the people. I knew they would grow back faster than if I had shaved her head. At the End of World War II Nazi sympathizers, women who entertained the Nazis, had their hair shaved to shame them for their activity.

Her hands will be back to normal within days. Not the months it would have taken to recover from a shaved head. I also knew it would draw this kind of scrutiny. It is also symbolic of cutting off the bloody hands of the woman who killed so many children.

To those in the military, who she convinced to martyr themselves for her cause. To any parent out there, would you have gone further than I did for killing just one of your children? Many would have killed her in space. It was what she wanted at that point. For me to kill her in cold blood.

You heard she set it up as a trap to 'catch me' killing Terra military personnel. They were operating without transponders and fired upon me. The one ship I spoke with made it clear he was following convict Gonzales and not working for the Terra military. He pirated his own vessel. The others just fired.

She wanted these pawns sacrifices so she would have her proof that I was not here to help humanity. They were all someone's children and not mine. She forced them into their actions knowing they would die for her little cult.

She tried it with several methods on the ground in Australia as well and I foiled her efforts there and several were taken into custody."

He sighed, "Next Question?"

She smiled, "Andrea Newman Universal News. I wanted to ask about this fine on you and this document we received where you are giving another 2 Trillion TC's to this effort? What is going on with this?"

Jack nodded, "First, technically it was my business that was fined for taking action against her. I did not argue the point because the President told me what he wanted the money for. To set up this penal colony. It was a brilliant idea that he blindsided me about when we walked in.

I agreed with the solution given the number of conspirators coming in from this debacle. This one-way trip away from Terra and the laws here to form whatever government they set up. Which oddly enough the Judge addressed after her sentencing. She is the 'top dog' if you will in these crimes but she will have to figure out how to keep that position with all of the people going.

The contents of 10 of those ships. Spread across the fleet, will be individuals who are serving life sentences without any possibility of parole. Essentially other murders like her. As well as those within the prison who volunteer to go. The process for that selection has yet to be determined but this is a penal colony and sending of other prisoners only makes sense.

Second, she misspoke at her conference. She said 'qualified candidates' this is open to any candidates who back her position. Not just those she selects as qualified. She has no say in who is qualified for this mission. The prisoners will not run the prison until they are gone. This is a prison transfer.

Those who have no records are volunteering to go with these convicts because of marriage, or a general wanting of being away from 'alien' or in this case hybrid influence. I increased it to ensure that all candidates who wanted to go, regardless of qualification, can go.

Those who do not want the aid of Hybrids or alien influence can live in that society away from those who are looking to embrace the future. I did not do the things I do for money. Next question."

The woman smiled with a wicked grin, "Gale Caller with Blazing news. We want to know how many hybrids there are where they are at?"

Jack shook his head, "As of this moment, there are no hybrids on Terra. There are less than 180 in over 15 billion humans. We averaged less than 1 a month for 19 years. 500,000 live with us in peace so far in Tau Ceti. There are hybrids aboard my ships. I am here, hello? Next question."

She seemed to be put out that Jack did not give 'more detailed information.'

A bubbly and conservatively dressed smiled, "Hello Mr. Travus. I am with the Christian News Network. My question is in two parts. How do you think God sees you in the scope of things? Also, do you think you are a messiah?"

Jack chuckled at the question, "First off, I lived in Japan for 12 years and studied Iaido. My exposure to core Christian beliefs did not come to me until I was in the military and they held a multi-faith service. That was not a daily or weekly practice aboard ship so my exposure to it was minimal.

At most 1-2 years while training aboard the ship I was assigned and of course during basic space training. If you are asking what I believe I would say my views were influenced by Confucianism. That people are generally good, teachable, and perfectible. Then Buddhism has many elements.

The eight paths include the right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration. You take those aspects of what I learned while learning Iaido, which is sword work with a Katana to get focused, determined, and centered.

At peace with yourself. Being a child genius, I was always being analyzed and questioned about the things I could do mentally. I asked to do Iaido and my uncle encouraged me because I was living with him. I also wanted to learn to fly. I passed my written test for my pilot's license at 8 years old. People have seen me fly.

I go into something like the Death Valley course I tune out everything except what I am doing. I am focused and at peace with myself. I trust in my abilities and do what I do. As to the messiah question. That is a can of worms. I will say it has many definitions but it is not a word I use to describe myself.

Technically I am a leader of a group and cause. This is 'a definition.' Many could call themselves one based on that definition alone. It was one thrust upon me by the future Teran government and AI's. If this is God in your eyes working in mysterious ways then you could turn any answer to be a support of one religious view over another. I mentioned before I do not do politics.

In my eyes, religion is a political hotbed I choose to not get involved with. All religions have the tenant to be good to one another. From that standpoint, I support tenants of multiple religious views and hold none of them in contempt. Next Question?"

She smiled, "Mindy Morrison With Terra News. I understand what you are doing and why you are doing it. What about all the ships you brought with you? What are your plans?"

Jack nodded, "Once these prison ships are gone the next phase of colony ships will be put together for expanding Tau Ceti. It has requirements in its way bylaws dealing with Hybrid acceptance as humans. Also, the fact that the colony would be a diplomatic way station if you will for humanity to establish contact with other peaceful alien races.

Hopefully, more peaceful relation that what has happened recently. A second attack occurred earlier today. Another Brisen time travel attack that I have not talked in detail with the President about this yet. I informed him but we have not had a detailed discussion yet. I learned of it shortly before coming on the air.

It destroyed 10 of our fighters and 2 of our cruisers with the crews. I had 6 of my children die in the defense of Tau Ceti. Including Isabelle Travus. Fighter pilot brilliant personality, smart like her mother Danyelle. I have very few children from Danyelle because of these 2 attacks and losing her so soon in our marriage. Isabelle believed in defending humanity.

I was training fighter pilots at her age I was certified on 5 airframes by the time I was 14. If we would have gotten attacked while in the air at Terra you bet, I would have engaged at 14, let alone 16. 16 is the minimum age to serve in Home Guard and by then you have been training for 3-4 years.

You also have to have parental or guardian permission to do it before 18. You saw 12 of my 19-year-old sons fly the Death Valley course. First time on that course and they all crushed it for rookies in fully armored and armed fighters with FTL drives in them."

His son the XO came up and whispered in his ear, "Terra-3 is on comms unknown ships appear. Jupiter station picked them up. They are 14 hours away from Jupiter and 22 hours away Terra. 40 ships. 8 of which are Capital Ships."

Jack looked at him, "XO execute evac of children and mother unfit for flying because they are restricted from combat. Sprits included. All civilians as well. To Terra-7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12. Spread them out. Use all shuttles."

He looked across the room, "Battle stations. Launch all ships!" He looked at the news reporters. "I must cut this short. We have a crisis. Astra killed it." The President appeared, "Is this what you feared it would be?"

Jack nodded, "If they appeared here, we need to check Tau Ceti. They were going to launch 18 sets in groups of 3 according to the intel they got from one of the destroyed ships. That is 6 sets of 60 ships! I built a decoder for their computer systems with Astra's help. If they did not show up in Tau Ceti and we only have 2 groups here it is likely the other 4 are on the outer belt.

Have Saturn and Jupiter stations report in with all ships working out in that area. They make or see contact on sensors with any ship not squawking a Terra or Ceti ID they are to put it in full gear back to Terra and move away from them. They are no match if it is them. Report and retreat are my recommendations, Mr. President."

He nodded, "I will send the word. I want the battle footage."

Jack nodded, "One way or the other. You find a reliable Admiral yet to assume command?"

The President laughed, "I am doing a little more rigorous review process. The man she was buggering was a guy just out of basic and he essentially told her he was gay so she treated him gay. More charges. I got someone who will look after our best interest."

Jack nodded and hit the broadcast button. "This is Admiral Jack Travus Ceti Home Guard to all stations. Battle stations. All fighters on alert. All other ships gather between the contact and earth approx. halfway. If this is who we think it is hit them from range and use your speed. They hit hard and play for keeps!

Home Guard, you are getting course directions. Five-second delay 6x. Engage! Astra get us comms to Tau Ceti see if they are getting hit again!"

She responded, "No attack there your theory is sound."

Jack nodded, "If they are plowing through the asteroid belt or looking for an easy opening it will take them time and they are slow. Time to intercept?" He looked over, "They appear to be changing course and headed for us 6 hours. Jack called out, "This is the Admiral to all drone operators.

I want the supervisors to assign 12 drone operators to execute 'Plan Oscar' 6 per ship. Starting with their battleships. Every operator on one target. All others, take down those shields for our fighter. Fighters will hang back with the rest of the fleet. Clear opening for the Dreadnoughts to take point.

Fleet slow to let Dreadnoughts take point. They like to target the big ships first. You get close to being in range shutdown all speed and launch all drones and then get your guns ready to dance. Back up your ships to keep them at range. They have no idea who or what they are fucking with."

Astra contacted him in his head, "Saturn station said they just lost contact with TRD Victus. They transmitted back they were working corridor 12. Picked up a bunch of energy signatures for ships. Then something exploded in the asteroid field. It is on the other side of the system!"

Jack called out, "I need one volunteer for a suicide run with me!"

He heard back, "King Arthur running with you is always a run. But never suicide. I volunteer. What do you need?"