Astra Pt. 08

The Doctor nodded, "Then the REM cycle is affected by the change. Dr. Carol Travus mentioned this in her notes but this is the first I have seen them directly. I went to the same college as her. I finished 20 years before her; a brilliant woman. A terrible loss."

Jack nodded, "I was a child Genius scoring 174 at the age of 7 when tested."

He nodded, "I heard about the last test done and asked for a copy of it from Tau Ceti and they sent it without reservation. They said he told them 'somebody will ask for this someday; give it to them.'" The room laughed at that. "His results were genuine.

You would be calling him not human, based upon this information, would be like calling the same to Einstein or any other genius the same. His is just the highest we know of, probably because if they were not a hybrid they would never sleep and go crazy.

We have seen people move objects with their minds and two communicate with each over from different rooms of a few occasions. His mind just takes this to a whole different level."

Jack nodded, "All other hybrids who have been asked have either been more telepathic or more telekinetic I happen to be both. The Drakor tested this fact." The judge looked, "I would like to know how."

Jack sent him the Drakor testing and his answers about humanity. The Judge shook his head, "I should be more clear next time. He just sent me all the testing the Drakor did to him. I will vouch for that unless you would like him to push that information into your mind."

Jack smiled, "The day I went out I sent all of that to every human mind in a 60km radius of Congress. I was asked why? The answer was simple.

Like me, hate me. The Drakor see me as the leader of the hybrids and until they believe humanity is advanced enough to have a discussion, I am their ambassador if you will. I don't speak for them, just to them. They are very literal in their context of things. Dispenser of Justice. My wife Grace, Lady Justice.

When they say we accept this treaty as written they mean no changes. That is why Congress must vote on it as written. We have seen the firepower they have. He also said it was much easier to just support us. More questions I am assuming?"

He smiled, "I and the rest of the court feel the earlier decision on your status and that of all hybrids is the correct answer. You are human. You have a second set of requirements laid upon you about following your nature first?"

Jack nodded, "That is different for each blade and varies some by the blade. We are, first and foremost, protectors of humanity.

The way we approach a problem will vary. Reds are the impulsive ones who charge in while blues are defensive ones and watch for what will come next and analyze their opponent before acting. Justices can do both in equal measures. I was being shot at by gunships. I yanked all the guns out and seized control of the ships.

Then I stripped them apart piece by piece and set the men down unharmed. They were arrested and freed because of corruption. That led to the Terra 1 incident. I told the tower through King Arthur that we had EVA's ongoing they sent men illegally and breached the airlock into space. 30 men died because they were red types who refused to listen to reason.

That is where judges come in. We try to get both sides to see reason. The key is 'for the good of humanity.' We do not say go against your nature. We ask if what they are doing or what they did was the best for humanity! Which is why Shimada Riku was a bad choice to be a hybrid. He could not see past for the good of himself.

That is why our selection process has been slow. Normally they spend years under observation as teenagers in training. Then a couple of years in the Home Guard. Before they volunteer or are approached. The question is only ever asked once.

Yes or no and they must know themselves. My children, for the number I have had, mostly say no. Because they have seen the strain and the burden of this responsibility."

He asked, "What about this ability to go 'ethereal?"

Jack chuckled, "You saw my trials. How I got past and into the blue circle. The fact is every hybrid can do that at least a little. Grace, stand for a second. You have your sword cut through your table without hurting anything. She did as he asked. He smiled, "Now bounce the blade in your hand. A psi-blade will not hurt its wielder. The ability to control; at that point energy and later matter. Thank you, Grace. It is an evolution. I am the only one who can take it that far that I know about.

More for telepaths I believe. That's how we move a ship through a wormhole. Two points on the astral plane the wormhole sets how big of an object we can get through. That is the engine. The telepath to harness that engine and slowly guide the ship through. Several other telepaths normally help. That is how my son and I both do that I walked him through it. That helped to keep him from destroying a couple of pylons as we did on our first attempt."

People chuckled. "We added more power cores to make the hole bigger as well. His ship is still in dry dock being fitted with a wormhole drive. The bigger the ship, the bigger the challenge. The more telepaths needed. The more power needed to generate the wormhole."

The Judge looked over, "I see the petition to have you tried on earth for murder. You were on an HG vessel registered to Mixtios and in compliance with Mixtios laws and bylaws in regards to another hybrid. That includes the lines you can never quit. Only death allows you to quit. We have seen the video and some of us have seen the execution because we were dumb enough to ask. You moved incredibly fast."

Jack nodded, "Sometimes dispensing justice has to be swift. I was set to release him but told him that the courts would go after everything for their violation of the NDA. He needed to reign it in if he was going to be the Justice he said he wanted to be. Then he quit and that sealed it. Measured response."

The judge looked over, "That leaves the wrongful death suit. Which this is in the wrong court. That would have to be decided by Mixtios's laws and they do not apply from what I see."

Jack nodded, "Mixtios as do the other colonies abide by Terra patent laws and their system as being the source system. The NDA was written up for the company on Terra so there is no getting around that issue for the Shimada family."

The judge nodded, "You would be correct I ruled on that while you were still out of it."

Jack smiled and nodded. The judges got up and left and Astra killed the feed. He sat up and had a few plates of food ready for him which he ate through quickly. Olivia looked over, "If you were human, I'd say broth for 2 days. He finished his third meal in under an hour.

He looked around, "Clothes. She sighed and got him his uniform and unhooked him from the machines. As he got into his pants. He kissed her warmly, "You the only one who came back this trip?" She shook her head, "Ash, Aiko, and Sprits are with Grace. Pela and Velma are getting the lay of the land and the facilities in the two colonies.

While Katlyn is scouting locations for improving the quality of the mead in Geos. There is a six-man squad in battle armor at the shuttle. They told her no PD weapons so they had to deal with the protection force instead.

He geared up and went to the bridge. He got a round of applause. He looked around, "I take it we did well?"

They chuckled, "Grace won every challenge until you woke and put the nail in the last one."

Grace came up through comms, "Got an offer to settle on the NDA for 100 million TC's."

Jack sighed, "Tell them the opening offer for us is 250 Trillion TC's."

She laughed, and sent it, "They want a sit-down."

He looked over the information he had. "Conference us together." He saw the man that had been pontificating. He looked at the data in front of him, "Your client with you?"

He nodded, "She does not wish to see you."

Jack nodded, "Feeling is mutual, did she keep here lust children or have them terminated. I am betting terminated."

He looked over, "That is none of your concern."

Jack nodded, "Very well let us talk numbers. Raiffeisen Switzerland safe deposit box 872190 with 450 trillion TC's squirreled away. I have 6 more on the list and Astra can destroy electronic devices from space. She is still searching for others. Imagine what she could do to credit sticks in safe deposit boxes.

That first one was the smallest account. She can deny they exist and then she would be right; almost immediately. Opening offer 250 Trillion, plus attorney fees, all 26 of them. She pays the taxes on this one for the settlement and for my attorneys. Otherwise, we can look at percentages 2,375 Trillion TC's.

Not counting property, some hidden by shell corporations, and the 175 Trillion TC's that it is now listed as having in liquid assets. Plus whatever else Astra finds as she is still searching. The condition of this is contingent on her accepting her and her brother's roles in this.

Plus testifying against the Air Frame manufacture. The terms of the deal are to be made public. I will leave it with Grace and the 2 of you to get signed, sealed, and delivered to our account today."

Jack ended the comm. Astra walked in and he hugged her, "Hi there. Great collection of data." She nodded, "Found a few more even almost another 500 Trillion."

He looked over his displays, "Where are the carrier bases?"

She smiled, "One is gathering material from Jupiter and the other is in drydock getting the new engines installed."

He shook his head, "I wished they had waited on that until we had the 3rd here first. What of the fighters?

She nodded, "On Terra stations 8-12 stacked up in dry-dock getting the new shields installed. Launch tube, weapons systems, and shields are down on the one in drydock. Grace walked in, "Your necklace of dread."

He laughed and she nodded, "2-3 times a day each for 12 days."

Jack nodded, "Thank you." She nodded, "The president thought he did it to you."

He shook his head, "Long list of things that day."

She nodded, "In the account. She watched the screen as the sister came on the news. Jack listened to her half-assed apology for the brother and her stealing from 'his' ship. "We are paying 250 Trillion TCs plus all legal expenses and taxes for this amount and his lawyers' fees. I will be testifying against Vanguard Airframes for their involvement in attempting to steal the Colossus Airframe design. I have nothing further to add."

Jack asked, "The camerawoman?" She groaned, "The network was trying to defend her on freedom of the press but that ended quickly when they were told she did not send it to the press but to the Air Frame Manufacture. She surrendered the 100,00TC she got from the effort, has agreed to testify.

They settled at 230 million TC's and 10% of the outstanding stock. Pretty much all cash on hand. The camerawoman was fired from the network. Her wife is back on the air but obviously upset. That brings us to today's announcement and them wanting to talk.

Jack pointed, "Call them up." He pulled up their balance sheets He shook his head. "Battleship designers. How many under construction?"

She looked, "Just two for now; the president put a hold on the others until he knows what is going to happen with this litigation. Traxon Air Frames value 1.2 trillion.

He looked up to see the girl and her husband. He shook his head, "I cleared the Shamada family for there part. You willing to match in kind?"

She choked, "We don't have that kind of money! We only took over for these designs a year ago."

He nodded, "When the previous owner retired and took most of the equity with him..." The man looked at him, "Father."

Jack cut him off, "Sperm donor. Remember. Save it. How far into construction are you for these two ships?"

She looked over, "They just stated the framework."

He asked, "Scouts?"

He sighed, "We are still retooling for the new model."

He thought to the president. He heard, * Jack? *

Jack thought back, *Yes and you did not cause this. *

He sighed, *I knew you were upset. *

Jack nodded, *Not as upset as Congress will be. How long remaining on Traxton Air Frames s contract? *

He sighed, *When this came in they had a 25-year contract on Battleships. They got the Scout contract 3 months ago for 30 years. Same design, no real updates. The old vendor sold it off and they rebranded. Why? *

Jack smiled, * I am going to own those contracts in a second. *

Jack looked across, "I am buying your company out. You hold 65% of the stock 200 million to you 500 million to the other 35% of the holders. Or I will buy it when you declare bankruptcy at 1/100th its current value. Get with my business manager and lawyer Grace Travus and let us know what you decide. Either way, you two are gone."

He disconnected the call. He looked at Sprits, "Feel like owning your own Air Frame business. I am sure your father would love to work on some bigger ships than those fighters."

She went into the ready room to call him.

He thought, *What about the cruiser contract? *

He sighed, *Now that Traxton settled they just got a 30-year contract. *

Jack asked, * The Destroyer contractor? *

He heard, * They are with Traxton, same deal and separate contracts. *

Jack thought back, * I got 250 Trillion TC's and nothing to do with it. *

He heard the President laughing, * You're going to buy them all out? *

He heard back, *No, Sprits likes battleships her father worked on those. I would think about breaking up the contracts into new companies, Aiko destroyer, Grace Cruiser, and Ash scouts because she fucking loved blowing away 2 battleships with one.

That way when they come begging for dreadnaughts, they must deal with me and the company I set up Hybrid Innovation Solutions Air Frame, or HIS Air Frames. Makers of the Dreadnaughts, aircraft carriers, and Colossus ships. All owned and managed by hybrids. *

"Astra, Vanguard Airframes, how much outstanding stock percentage-wise and who is the largest non-owner holder of the stock. Aiko, Ash, and Grace. I got another company in my sights and they hold two contract cruisers and destroyers. Should I split it up into 2 companies? Same with the battleships, scouts, and shuttles?"

Aiko looked over, "Airframes are not my thing, I like the electronics."

Grace looked up, I am a business manager."

He looked at Ash, "A new owner for a new company. Lead engineer Aiko with all of them. I get Sprits setup with battleships and then I will have Hybrid Innovation Solutions Air Frames, LLC for the carriers, Dreadnoughts, and Colossus-class ships."

Sprits smiled, "He would love to build big ships again."

Astra looked up, "38% the only two block holders for the rest is James Greggory and his ex-wife Jenelle. You own 10% already. Apparently, he was getting his pole smoked in the office by Peter, Paul, and Steve. He had to buy 1 % so he could split it even with his ex. They each own 31%. Bitter divorce."

Jack looked over, "Get her on comms."

She appeared, "You are the man all over the news my ex-husband hates. I am not fond of you now because the company stock tanked due to the settlement."

Jack nodded, "What is the best offer you had for your shares?"

She laughed, "260 million TC. He pulled all his equity and spread his wealth into other ventures after you gutted the profit margin on the military stuff. He has lost almost all of it. I was forced to take half the shares of his company and 80 million TC's when it was done. Astra spoke in his head, * You can have the 38% for 280 million! * "He looked over, "420 million TC's, AFTER taxes."

She smiled, "He has first right of refusal."

He nodded. He thought, * Grace buy it all now. * He smiled, "Company name is HII, LLC."

She nodded and put him on hold. She was back a second later, "He refuses to pay that much for the stock."

He looked at Grace as she replied, * Got just under 48% of the outstanding plus what you buy from her 18% of the stock. 10% that you already own and her 31%. * He nodded, "Grace my manager will draw up the paperwork."

She smiled, "You just made my decade."

Jack called up Greggory, "He answered and groaned, "What do you want?"

Jack smiled, "Should have bought up those shares from your wife. With that part down I now own 59% of the company and intend to take it private."

Grace smiled, "Done and the exchange has been notified."

He looked over, "What are you offering?

Jack smiled, "Ash and Grace will be by in 2 hours to go over details with you."

Grace looked over, "What names you want for these companies?"

He smiled, "Phoenix Air Frames, for Ash. Does your father like doing the air breathers and fighters?"

She shrugged, "Let me find out." He held up a finger and brought up Vincent, "You still building the fighters?"

He nodded, "Childs play. I got three of my sons who like airbreathers and racers. 3 who like fighter and three who want something bigger."

Jack nodded, "If we move the fighter in with the scouts and shuttles. Use that as ground base building. Move the Destroyers and cruisers with the battleship. Then we have the new one for the carriers and dreadnaughts."

Ash smiled, "I like the smaller ones and if the boys doing the fighters it gives them some options."

He looked, "How much is your business worth?"

He looked over, "in assets, 100 million. Taxes eat up a lot."

He nodded, "I will give you 10% stake into the Battleships, cruisers, and destroyers. With another 5 % for each of your three sons. Martina Family Airframes with Sprits owning it. You got any daughters still working for you?"

He nodded, "One and her husband. The one took off with the triplets about 3 years ago. Wanted to try something new. He is a bartender; he owns the bar with his wives. He was coming to work drunk and I told him it was the bottle or work here. He left and the 3 went with him. They called after the boys got trounced. He supposedly sobered up. We will see."

Jack nodded, "We get 5% to each of your sons, the husband and wife each that still work the fighter and such. Ash will have the other 75%. Phoenix Air Frames. You let your 3 boys take over the air breather side between them and see if they can make a go of it."

Astra, "Conference in the President." He saw the operator for a split second and was in front of the President with the Secretary of Defense. Jack smiled, "I bet you were just talking about me."

The Admiral laughed the president stood, "Congress is an uproar."

He nodded, "You remember Vincent Martina, Sprits father who used to work on Battleships." He nodded, "Yes I do, he is doing our fighters."

Jack smiled, "Not for long, we plan to shuffle a few contracts and you will see why in a second. Vincent at 10% and three of his sons would come in at 5% holders each for the Battleships, Cruisers, and destroyers. His three other sons, a daughter, and a husband would come in at 25% for your shuttles, fighters, and scouts. Putting all the stuff that can be built on the ground together and the stuff for the Spacestations orbiting the planet together. Grace, did you get the paperwork for Transferring Terra-7 over to James Traven?"

She nodded, "Right here needing your signature." Jack hit, "I accept. He now owns Terra-7. Vincent's last three sons will continue the air breathers and racers. Which includes some of your Capital fighters.

The Big guns would be under Sprits Martina Travus as Martina Family Air Frames. The scouts and fighters would be under Phoenix Air Frames. Owned By Ash Travus. Then I would start a new one Hybrid Innovation Solutions Air Frames, for your carriers, dreadnoughts, and bigger ships. HIS Air Frames. Your thoughts?"