Astra Pt. 08

He got up, "I am taking my shuttle to the surface to spend time with my children." The wives shook their heads, "We will fly you down. We heard about the gouges in the deck."

He nodded, "Was low on energy. I feel somewhat better after you ladies shunted some into me. Yes, I noticed."

They laughed at that and headed for the shuttle bay.

---

Jack spent the whole 12-hours of his time playing and loving on his children. They asked about the latest ships that came in and Ash spoke with her son and explained it to him and the others who would listen. They had a crowd outside and Grace spoke with them about what happened in the Drakor ship. Jack timed it so he did not run into the reporter.

She had gone to the other colony. He did not talk with the wives, answer comms unless it was an emergency. He had it all forwarded to Grace. She even wore the necklace which she discovered was a real pain in the ass. He returned to the ship and went straight to bed. He woke up with Astra sucking away and the wives nowhere to be seen. He busted loose a load for her.

She smiled, "Sprits and the others paired off for the night or ganged up. Anyway, they got up about 3 hours ago. You have been out for 12 hours. 404 ml, they wanted the extra sent her for women who are waiting."

He nodded, "Understood."

He showered and dressed and Astra was back with breakfast for him and his coffee. She pointed, Eat, Core Doctors orders now that it is fully operational again. The president contacted him, "You awake yet Jack?"

He sent back, "Eating breakfast and drinking coffee. Have an armed bot at the door glaring at me."

He laughed, "Can I come down to your room."

He looked at Astra who went for the door. He walked in and was unsure of himself. Jack looked up, "Be decisive. I do not judge or bite."

He sighed and looked at Astra. Jack looked over, "Astra, kill the cameras in here. Do not record this conversation."

She nodded, "Understood."

He sighed, "I saw that list of surgical procedure you had, they dealt with your genitals."

Jack nodded, "You wanting some of those done for you and your ladies?"

He nodded, "That was the thought."

He looked at him. "If you're not lasting as long as you want, no more than10% nerve reduction. Look at the numbers for the sack from what it was to where it finished. Cut it in half. "Girth and length, I think the psychotic bitch got that right. At least for my ladies."

He laughed, "He pointed, "Astra, Take John Wickstein to medical, clear the area and get him scanned and what he wants. She runs the core."

He nodded, "Thanks, Jack."

He nodded, "No thanks necessary." He smiled and left with Astra which gave him an escape from the room to get to the bridge, "Master Chief, Status on the power cores?"

She looked over, "I am glowing. Thank you for the recommendation."

He looked at her, "Well how many?"

She smiled, "2 girls and a boy."

He nodded, "Is my son the admiral on board?"

She nodded, "He brought a few others. Half of your hybrid sons that were going to leave opted to stay. So did 13 others. Then about 20% of the others who were looking to leave returned."

He nodded, "Astra nothing should be running in my lab so shut it down. Master Chief, drop the shields on the cores. Shield, take us to the third shield only when called for. "He gave a few hours for everyone to get back and all shuttles accounted for. As well as the fighters.

He worked a pad and planned out modifications to make a Carrier class ship. One that would dry dock a couple of destroyers and scouts at the same time. He looked up at his son behind him "When we go from half to full, I want you to connect into my mind and see what this looks like. It will save you some damage to your ship when it is ready. You will need the extra power cores in that design update."

He nodded. "Can something small like a fighter move ahead of you?" He shook his head, "No they would have to see the beams, be telepathic and in a seat connected to that engine." He nodded, "Inside your shields works I see."

Jack nodded, "Connected to the ship, inside the shields is untested. How I got the security services to dock their ships. I told them before I started the engine, I did not want any stray unseen beams hitting their ships. They were fine inside of our shields and docked. The President ordered them to dock."

He laughed, "Why the nose up."

Jack smiled, "I wanted them to take in what we just accomplished. Not have it thrown right in front of him. Take a second and give them that moment of awe for the first time."

He smiled, "I will remember that."

Jack sighed, "Everyone ready?"

They nodded. "Master chief half power." She looked over and he nodded. She drove it up half-power He then nodded, "Full power."

Astra called out, "30% over. We have plenty of room."

He felt his son and showed him the gentle hand that pushed the craft and then let go.

He brought them a 100 km from the moon. "Astra fully extend Caterpillar to stage 1 and put it in lunar orbit near our Dreadnaughts." He heard from the tower, "Terra-1 Tower, HGEBS-1. I do not see you in our system."

He called back, "Hit the yellow icon in the bottom left-hand corner and you will get an update from Tau Ceti."

He asked, "Are you unloading a dry dock?"

He called back, "No that is a caterpillar II Space Base Construction Platform. That can build Dreadnoughts. This is Merlin DF-1 Presidential."

The operator seemed to fumble around, "I was told to contact someone when you arrived. We all were."

He called out, "Calm down. We all put our pants on the same way."

He found it, "The Capitol."

He smiled, "Don't bother. He hit the screen, "Astra, Capitol."

The operator smiled, "You are all they talk about around here. One moment."

She patched him into the office with the cabinet and they all looked on with a sigh of relief. Jack called out, "Don't look too relieved. We know where the next 6-12 time-jumps are coming in at. All in the system around Jupiter's orbit."

They groaned as the President looked on, "We got other issues to address this treaty for the Home Guard, and the signed documents with both Tau Ceti colonies."

They nodded, "The colony stuff they like and approved. But they want to rewrite this Home Guard Treaty."

Jack looked at them "No. They take it as written or not at all. Hybrids do not play politics."

The President looked on, "This is one time where we have to stand firm. That warning at the end of the meeting was real. Those ships that came in yesterday. They were from the future. They were 10-12 times as long as the Dreadnoughts. At least 10 times as thick, but these were cylinder-shaped. I have never seen one."

Jack sighed, "I have, it was a short clip from AI Bob showing the Drakor wiping the surface of Tau Ceti clean with thousands of fighters and landing craft to kill off all the humans. Leaving all the plant life and such for another species. Tera was already gone, as well as every colony in the other systems."

He took up from his pad and sent them the schematics. "Someone wanted an aircraft carrier. That Construction platform could be used to build it. Astra, show them external cameras and take the caterpillar II to Fully extend caterpillar stage 5.

Split-screen it for us. "The ones I left with you could not handle building bigger than a battleship and they were built into the space stations. We build 4 of these. The other 3 are in use. They are gearing up for after you get 6-12, they would get hit next. They will get returned in kind most likely. The pattern is not completely predictable.

Then it is back here for 14-28 on the outer rim. Then a repeat or increase possibly at Jupiter. We need to get the science behind it to dampen those locations. Fix whatever we can there. That should also be a priority. Put a cork in it before it swallows us. When does congress wish to see me?"

He laughed, "You probably got a dozen subpoenas already."

Astra looked, "You have 5, all for the same time, same building but different committees."

He nodded, "Politics. Which committees?"

She looked at them, "One is researching if Sedition charges should be filed against you. The next in the Ways and Means committee. The next one is an energy and Commerce, Judiciary Committee on patent issues, One here for science, space, and technology."

Jack sighed Sprits with my lawyers from Australia. All of them. I want you at the commerce judiciary committee. Grace and Aiko at the sedition charge. Screw Ways and means they are about how are we going to pay for this? They can reschedule.

They are not paying for it. They have nothing to do with it. I will go to the Science Space and Technology. Better yet, the president can call Ways and means and find out what in the hell they need to see me for?

I finance everything I am doing. I have given breaks left and right and helped your defense budgets by identifying overcharges. Maybe they want to give me a big fat voucher for 10 Trillion TC's."

The President laughed, "I am curious about that one."

Jack looked at him, "If I am to make 5 committees at the same time I will have to be punctual; now won't I."

He rolled his eyes while the president chuckled.

He nodded "Good luck in there."

He looked back, "Swords, can you do anything about that?"

He nodded and sent them all letters with executive orders.

He nodded and walked out and they got in the shuttle. They fired it up, "Terra-1 this is Merlin in Danyelle I am in route to Congress."

He heard, "Merlin what happened to your transponder?"

He called out, "Tower bottom corner yellow button. Sync."

Traveling port speed, I can clear my own way while you all sync up with Tau Ceti. All stations should do that. All stations owned by me will do that this is Jack Travus."

He entered the atmosphere and then took it to a straight 90-degree nose angle, Congressional tower this HGSH-1 in route to you. Need glide path to a landing pad."

He heard, "HGSH-1 I do not see you in our system."

He sighed, "Because Congress does not wish to upgrade your system. Contact Starbase towers 7-12 and they will tell you, This is Jack Travus Home Guard, aka Merlin.

I am 20 km out on a direct approach to all your landing pads as I am 90 degrees above you. Guidance tower."

Jack arrested the fall and had the front of ships shuttle a meter off the tower Glass. "You can explain to 5 committees why you did not allow me to land."

He heard back, "This is Senior Controller Rebecca Fresca I wanted to say take pad 5 and welcome back. Congratulations on that brilliant piece of technology."

Jack smiled. She called out, "All guns away from the building."

He replied "Half the guns are on 360 Degree turrets. Just be glad I did not Bring in King Arthur. You don't have a lot of room for a scout. Tower be advised. All point device systems will be active. After 5 bombing attempts on me, I am taking no chances."

He opened the ramp, "Merlin those systems should remain off."

He asked, "You putting 6 guards around my shuttle to keep would-be bombers away?"

She sighed, "I cannot do that."

Jack walked out and contacted her. "That is my line. I am tired of being fucked with every time I land. Astra arm PD weapons at 25% power."

He walked past a guard, "That shuttle had PD weapons armed. Keep people away."

He looked at Jack, "You cannot do that." Jack turned and walked inside. They got to security. He showed them the executive order. He shook his head, "I cannot accept this."

Jack nodded, "Then find the person in charge who can accept this." He shook his head, "Sorry"

Jack shrugged, "You can go and tell the 5 committees that want to see me today that we are leaving then."

He held up his hand, "That would put you in contempt of Congress."

He looked at him, "This activity is illegal. You cannot schedule 5 committee reviews with the same person at the same time." Jack pulled up his vid and got the operator. She patched him through. "Mr. President, what does it take to get a congressional guard fired for wanting to refuse an executive order?"

He shook his head, "Guard, If you give me a reason to call congress you will find it hard getting a job as a traffic cop."

The cop let him past but he heard, "Why?" Jack looked over and saw their open safe. He sent his sword into it and brought it out through the side ethereal and made it materialize and fly to his hand, "That is why. Pointless."

Jack walked down the hall and there were 5 aids waiting, "Mr. Travus I am with..."

He waved his hand, "Who is with Space, Science, and Technology."

A girl in the back, "I am."

He pointed, "I will go with her. The rest of my team will deal with the others."

He followed her, "When this happens, we are usually the last committee to get a shot."

He nodded, "You're with the hottest committee in town. We got major problems."

He walked into the room and had a seat. They seemed just as surprised that he was there. "Hello, your subpoena did not say what you wished to discuss."

She looked at him, "You are supposed to be at another meeting."

He shook his head, "I got representatives in there who are telepathic like I am. Except for means and ways; that is 'just a means to get in the way.'"

A few in the gallery chuckled, "You had nothing you wished to talk about? Wormhole drives, System to system communication, alien contact, or how about the next 6-12 travel events that will happen around Jupiter. I think you know the spot. Before it goes back to Tau Ceti. Based on 3 previous events.

The lady on the end, "I represent the Midwest region of North America, "What happened inside that spacecraft?"

He looked across and sent her the entire encounter. The first time he had pushed memories like this. He Emphasized humanity as a whole was not ready. He looked over, "Does that answer your question?"

She nodded sheepishly.

The recorder asked, "What do I type in?"

He sent it all to her in the same manner. She looked up, "That is weird."

He shook his head, "Is this committee telling me they wasted my time by subpoenaing me to end up in contempt of Congress charge with the other 4 committees?"

---

Grace sat down with Aiko and looked across, "I am Grace Travus his wife and lawyer. This is another of his wives Aiko Travus. I would like to see the list of charges?"

He looked, "We are investigating if we should."

She looked at him, "Then a list of the evidence you are looking at so we can prepare a proper response. That would work."

The man shook his head, "That is not the way we work."

She sighed, "Then as his lawyer, I am advising my client not to get involved in a political witch hunt."

He looked at her, "You are getting close to contempt of Congress."

She stood, "As his lawyer, if he is unavailable you are to direct your questions to me. Your political stunts to have him in 5 meetings at the same time ensured he is not here."

The man looked at Grace, "Where is he?"

She looked at him, "In one of the other 4 meetings you scheduled for him at the same time. Ask away. I am telepathic I can get answers from him."

He looked, "That is not the way we work."

Akio looked at Grace, "He is not trying to get to the truth."

He looked at her, "That is a serious charge, young lady."

She smiled, "I am a hybrid who is 38 years old. I am also an empath. I can tell when people are trying to be deceptive or flat out lying. You want to find him in contempt but we have yet to see from what?"

Grace got up and walked for the door. Aiko followed her. The congressman called out, "Detain them." They could not touch either of them. He looked over, "They have some sort of force field up."

Grace looked over at him, "I have tried to play nice but I am a justice hybrid on top of being a lawyer and we do not play politics. Speak plainly or not at all."

He looked across "They can and will arrest you!"

She looked at him, "You think for one second that they would try and board a dreadnought for contempt of Congress charges? You need to realize we do not have to be here. We came back to help Terra. That is all we have done. You won't even tell me one question and I am his lawyer.

That is against Terran law! I know you a lawyer and I will take this matter up with the Planetary Bar Association for failure to follow the law in this matter. I should also warn you that all proceedings are recorded and will be made available to the public.

Do you wish to charge me with contempt, ask a question pertinent to this fictitious claim? He could be standing right here and it would not matter."

Jack walked in, "That was one committee that had nothing to ask me. I got it all recorded. What did you wish to ask me? As she told me you would not give her a list of charges or evidence. Is this a simple fishing expedition?"

He looked at Jack, "Please sit." Jack walked forward and stood there, "I prefer to stand. I have a right to that simple choice."

The man did not argue with him, "What were you doing in kidnapping the president?"

Jack shook his head, "I did not kidnap him. I took him to sign a treaty aboard my ship. The technology behind the drive I told him weeks ago when it was being installed. He was only surprised that I got it working that fast. Next question."

He looked up, "What about this announcement that Terra news broadcast from you speaking with the masses?"

Jack looked at him, "I purposefully ensured I did not send it over the connection to the masses of Terra. As to it getting here. That would be a reporter who traveled with us and sent it back to her people. I wish she had not. Does not change the facts of the matter."

He looked at him "Unsubstantiated facts."

Jack laughed, "I tried to talk about the facts in your Space, Science and Technology subcommittee. They did not wish to discuss those facts. You want me to call up the President who was in that video to substantiate that fact? Or try to refute those facts. You have an expert in spatial mechanics you would like to call in to refute those facts?"

Jack walked out of the room with Grace and Aiko unmolested.

---

Sprits sat down with her lawyers, all 15 of them. The panel looked over, "Where is Jack Travus?"

Sprits looked at him "I am Sprits Travis. We were told this was an issue with the patents. These are his patent attorneys from Australia. As I sit on the board of Hybrid Innovation Investments. All patents are registered to that business.

I can speak to your question. You, unfortunately, book him in 5 committees at the same time."

He shook his head, "No, we want Jack Travus."

Sprits asked him, "Is that an admission of guilt for aiding in him being booked at 5 committees at the same time?"

He looked over, "You are very close to contempt."

The lawyer stood up, "Congressman, by law you are required to speak with his legal counsel if for any reason he is unavailable.

Your Congressional scheduling system ensured that he was unavailable. Is there a question concerning a specific patent or patents? What are you wanting to know so we can get this resolved?"

He grumbled, "I want to know how he makes so many patents in a short about of time? Sprits hit her comm device. "Astra find an appropriate monitor to show the interaction with Francine Treven on the capacitor patents."

She threw it up and watched what he did and was done in 20 minutes. Sprits looked up, "The man is a genius, the Drakor stuff kicked it up a notch. When he gets really bad, he will lock himself in the lab for a week at a time and invent left and right. He probably has 20,000 or more he has not submitted. Sprits called up Astound Shields, Hillary Zimmern." She answered, "Hello Sprits."

She looked over, "The panel for the patents want to know how he makes patents so fast?"