"So what are they doing?" Jon said. He was looking at the holograph above the planning table in the center of the bridge. Eight ships were shown as small red dots. They were in orbit of the outer most Gas Giant. However, even the ship he had dispatched to take a look at them couldn't get a reading on them. All they could report back was that the ships were Invaru and they didn't react to their close fly bys.
"If I had to make a guess," Atlantis said. "They're watching us to see what we're doing here."
"Why would they be interested in what we're doing?" Jon said.
"Simple, we have disrupted their hold on a few of the races that they hold under their sway," Atlantis said. "We have waked the Ga'sahde and that makes the nervous. Their hold on the galaxy is slipping. You're sister is now the Matriarch of the Ga'sahde and you're the House-Primus. All these things combined don't bode well for them or their Empire. They're waiting for you to slip up and make a mistake so they can take advantage of the situation. Now you're at Euthara, which for some unknown reason, isn't in their control."
"Euthara isn't a threat, that's why we have flown under the radar," Deatra said. "They still send envoys to us, but they never send assistance. They're happy to let us die out in peace as it something they didn't need to focus their attention on."
"Maybe," Sa'oliq said. "My people breaking away have caused much dissention among the other member races, if you can call them members and not slaves."
"Sir, we've settled in to high orbit around Euthara," the Con officer said.
"Good, Tactical keep patrol around the clock on the Invaru vessels. I want to know if anything happens," Jon said. "They're not to fire on the vessels unless they're fired on."
"Aye Sir," the Tactical officer said.
"Think they're going to try something?" Terri said.
"You never know," Jon said. "I'm a thorn in their side, one they would like to be rid of I'm sure. If I wasn't tied down as I am now I would just go in guns blazing and be rid of them one way or the other."
"The Desmodi has docked at the ship yard," Terri said. "Mike and Brad have the power coming on-line. They say there doesn't look to be any major damage to the station and it should be up and running shortly. They say the only thing lacking is personnel."
"I'm working on that," Jon said.
"Sir, I have an incoming transmission of the surface of the planet," the Com officer said.
"Put it through," Jon said.
The main viewer lit up as an aging Eutharan filled the screen. He glanced around before nodding.
"Daughter," He said in a deep voice. "It is good to see you well."
Deatra knelt as she spoke, "Father, it fills my heart to see you looking well."
The King's eyes locked on Jon as he spoke, "Bond-Son, I've heard much about you from my officers and other sources. It seems leading suits your blood and mind."
It was Terri who spoke next, "How dare you!"
Jon looked at his sister in shock as the Eutharans on the bridge gasped.
"So, the stories are true," the King said. "You must be his sister."
"You, Sir, are treading on very shaky ground," Terri said as she took a step forward. "How dare you address the House-Primus in such a manner and then address me in the same way. Have you forgotten your manners or has age made you take leave of your senses?"
"This is my planet and I'll address people as I see fit," the King said. "If you expect anything else you're sorely mistaken."
"In that case I'll take my leave of this system and mark you as non-compliant," Terri said. "Desmodi pull all forces off the station and disembark we're returning home."
'As you wish Matriarch, ' a female voice responded.
Deatra paled and was staring at Terri mouth agape. She couldn't believe what she had just heard.
"You wouldn't," the King said.
"She would," Jon said.
"You're the House-Primus," the King said. "Tell her to stop this nonsense."
"Why?" Jon said.
"If she does this every vulture in the known universe will descend on us and destroy what is left of our way of life. This system will become a war zone as we'll be considered outsiders," the King said.
"Sounds to me like you want your cake and eat it too," Jon said. "You either accept the treaty and all it offers as if it has always been in place. Or you go on insisting you no longer follow it." Jon turned towards Deatra and gave her a half smile in assurance. "Excuse me your highness I have something more important to take care of. A situation has come up that needs my attention." Jon reached down and disconnected the communication feed.
Terri knelt and bowed slightly as she spoke, "Brother, I must be on my way. We'll be on the edge of the system and when this is resolved, call us and we'll come back."
"It shouldn't take long," Jon said. "I'd like you to try and find out a bit more about what those eight ships are doing for me while you wait."
"As you wish," Terri said as she stood up. Jon leaned in and hugged her in a tight embrace.
"Sir, priority communication from the planet," the com officer said.
"Who is it?" Jon said. He watched Terri depart the bridge and then turned to Deatra. He reached up and rubbed the side of her face and smiled. "Don't worry it's a ploy. I would never abandon our people. Let him stew for a bit and then I'll let him wiggle his way out of it."
"The Desmodi has jump to the edge of the system," the Tactical officer said.
"Well, that will make my father have fits," Deatra said as she smiled.
"You think that will give him fits? Watch this," Jon said. "Con, plot a course out of system past the fourth planet."
"Aye Sir." the Con officer said.
"Tactical, I want all installations scanned as we get in range of the planet," Jon said. "Engineering, prepare to test the sub-light engines. I want to push them past their limits and see how much they can take," Jon said.
Both stations answered affirmative.
Jon stared at the hologram of the planet as it rotated. Several installations showed up as inactive on the surface and the low orbit station showed that it was running on minimal power.
"Who owns these installations?" Jon said as he brought up one of the mining outposts.
Various reading scrolled next to the hologram of the mining outpost. From the data that had been sent by Commander Aneoi Jon knew that it was used to pull various metallic resources. The outpost's reactor was running at such low levels it was barely readable on scans. The low power allowed computer access and airlock activation if it failed manual activation of airlocks would be needed.
That would mean any team sent down would have to land on the surface of the hostile planet and not in the safety of the landing bay. It was one of the main reasons installations of these types were left on a stand-by power. EVA on a hostile planet could be very dangerous.
"The Eutharis Mining Corporation owns all installations on this planet," Atlantis said. She reached out and pulled up a company profile as she spoke. "Jao'uos is the CEO of the corporation. It was one of the largest mining and manufacturing corporations on Euthara and held a lot of government contracts, most of which are still active and unfilled. The Corporation actually owns the planet and used to have a private navy. After the collapse of the Euthara Economy their fleet was disassembled and all installations were shut down."
They couldn't afford to support their small Navy or pay the employees of the corporation as their only contracts were to Euthara. The Invaru disallowed any outside selling of Eutharan commodities. It was one of the leading factors into the collapse."
"Sir, the King is still requesting to speak to you," the Com officer said.
"Tell him I'm busy and I'll contact him at my earliest convenience. Then I want you to get this Jao'uos on the line for me, his contact information should be in the database," Jon said.
"What are you thinking?" Deatra said.
"Oh, I'm going to give him the opportunity to get back on his feet," Jon said as he smiled.
"Oh, you're just trying to get under my father's skin aren't you?" Deatra said as she laughed.
"Is it that obvious?" Jon said. He grinned at Deatra flashing his perfect teeth.
"Slightly," Deatra said. "But, do you really think it's a good idea to agitate him?"
"I think any ruler that allows his people to fall to such a state is no ruler at all. There's something more than meets the eye going on here. He ordered the takeover of Ghost Station and I don't shine to well on that fact alone, even if it did fail. Now he's trying to say the Ga'sahde, the best possible thing that could happen for the Eutharan people, have no voice here," Jon said "Now what person in their right mind would do something so damning?"
"He's right," Sa'oliq said. She had been silent the whole time as she watched how Jon handled the situation. "Any ruler in their right mind would have accepted the Ga'sahde back the moment they saw them. Your father should see that the Ga'sahde is the saving grace for his people. It would allow him to open up trade with other races, even allow them barrow the money and man power to get their various installations up and running. It's just crazy for him to shun the Ga'sahde."
"I might be agitating him, but really my only intent is to make him open his eyes," Jon said. "Atlantis, access the computer core on this mining outpost and bring the reactor to full power. Start up all essential systems and start running diagnostics. I need to know what we need to get it fully operational do the same for the orbital station."
"Yes Sir," Atlantis said. "I'll be in engineering if you need me."
Jon nodded and Atlantis faded out of view.
"Sir, I have Jao'uos," the Com officer said.
"Put him through," Jon said as he turned to the view screen.
Jao'uos was an older Eutharan with silver hair. He was sitting back in a plush looking chair overlooking a large desk with stacks of paper everywhere. He looked up as he spoke, "Yes, how can I help you..."
"Jonathan Hunter," Jon said. He intentionally left the C'loth he didn't want the man to just agree to everything he said. He had Deatra standing out of sight so her presence wouldn't interfere with what he was doing.
Jao'uos nodded as he looked Jon over. "Well, I don't think I have seen your species before," Jao'uos said. "Where are you from?"
"A small planet called Earth located in the Sol system," Jon said.
"Sol system, don't think I've heard of that system," Jao'uos said as he looked over at something off screen as he typed on a small screen in front of him.
"Does it really matter?" Jon said.
"Mr. Hunter, call it a habit, but I like to know who I'm speaking with," Jao'uos said as something beeped. "Ah, here it is. Says here the Sol system is off limits. The people living there, Humans, are not yet space faring. Entering that system is punishable by banishment from the known galaxy for the ship and all crew on board. This was passed down by the Ga'sahde to protect the Humans from exploitation by the known races." Jao'uos looked up at Jon a bit of confusion on his face.
"That was something I didn't know," Jon said.
"Did you know the Ga'sahde commissioned the Eutharan and Buranis Empires to place an outpost on Earth for observation of your people?" Jao'uos said as he raised an eyebrow in a questioning manner.
"I knew about the outpost," Jon said. He wasn't sure how much he wanted this man to know. "I didn't know it had been commissioned by the Ga'sahde."
"Only one ship was allowed to enter that system," Jao'uos said. "She was a top of the line battle cruiser named Atlantis. Her construction was pretty much secret and involved the brightest minds from the known galaxy. She was also the first to have an experimental jump drive that would allow her to travel vast distances in the blink of an eye. The model for the now widely used fold drive found on most Eutharan and Buranis ships."
Jon nodded as he spoke, "So I've seen, although I'm at a loss why some ships still travel under hyperspace if fold drives are more efficient."
"Because, my corporation invented and still to this day holds the patenting on the fold drive," Jao'uos said. "The various races that don't have access to them wouldn't sign an agreement with us."
"I see," Jon said. "What would stop someone from copying the drive if they got their hands on one?"
"Key codes built into the ship and engine," Jao'uos said. "Specially encrypted key codes built into ship and drive pair. Key codes so advanced it would be impossible to copy or reproduce by anyone but my corporation. They're also installed in several places in the computer code that the drive uses. If you tried to copy or transplant a drive and its software the drive simply wouldn't work. The codes contain various data about the ship they're installed on and checks are run to make sure everything matches."
"Interesting," Jon said. "What if I told you I know for a fact the drive has been copied and works as intended?"
Jao'uos stared at Jon for a long second then said, "So, the Atlantis survived after all these years."
"Possibly," Jon said. Jon really didn't have anything to hide from the man. He was more interested to see what he knew.
"Oh, come on now, don't play coy," Jao'uos said. "If your people have copied the drive and it's working it would have to be the Atlantis' drive. It's the only one that didn't have these key codes installed as it was experimental. It was a project my Grandfather worked on and I only have very basic references about her construction. I even have a picture of her when she was completed and leaving this very space dock. She's something of a family heirloom you might say. Plus I have heard stories of a ship fitting her description causing mischief for the Invaru and their allies. They say the ship is captained by a man fitting your description."
"And?" Jon said.
"And what?" Jao'uos said. "That's pretty much what I've heard. Information here on Euthara is a bit scarce and we mainly get bits and pieces that the government doesn't mind getting out. I also have agents in places that keep me informed about what's going on, but that's sporadic at best and takes some time to separate fact from fiction."
"And if I told you I was Captain of the Atlantis and we stumbled upon her on Earth," Jon said.
"It would fit with some of what I heard," Jao'uos said. "It would also make you the prophesied one."
Jon frowned, it was happening again. Was there no one that didn't know?
"I can see by your reaction that I'm correct," Jao'uos said. "I believe you're bound for great things in this galaxy. Others believe differently, that you're going to destroy what we all know and love. But, if you look closely at the scriptures that's not what it says at all. It says you will bring about a long and lasting peace between the people of this galaxy and its inhabitants. There will also be a time of upheaval and destruction throughout the galaxy and its inhabitants from outside forces. You're the pin that will hold us all together and drive these invaders away."
"So I've heard," Jon said dryly. He glanced over at Sa'oliq and Deatra, both of whom were grinning at him. He shook his head as focused his attention back on Jao'uos. "Would it surprise you to know I don't believe in prophecy? I believe we all control our own destiny. We alone choose our own path and have to deal with the consequences of those choices."
"No it wouldn't," Jao'uos said. He smiled at Jon as he continued. "Anyway you're here now and doing what you must and having chosen your own path what is it I can do for you?"
"Well, the ADF would like to buy in to your company, the Eutharis Mining Corporation," Jon said.
Jao'uos raised an eyebrow and looked at Jon as if he had just sprouted another head and breathed fire. "You want to buy into a dead company? Why would you want to do that?"
"Let me explain," Jon said.
"Oh, by all means, you have my undivided attention" Jao'uos said. He sat back in his chair as he stared at Jon.
"We'll help supply people and parts to get the installation back into working order. We'll barter contracts with other races for the corporation. You can then finish filling your contracts you have outstanding and start opening new contracts with the various governments," Jon said. "All we want is a fifty-one percent share in the corporation for the first two years of operation."
"Even if I believe you had the resources to pull this off and somehow I think you just might," Jao'uos said as he stood up and walked around his desk. "You're asking me to hand over my corporation for two years to someone I don't know and have only read about in vague reports. You're asking my corporation committing treason against the Eutharan Government by import and export, which is strictly forbidden. Yet at the same time fill all my outstanding contracts to the government I'm committing treason against."
"If you put it that way, yeah I am," Jon said. "Though, I don't think it will be so complicated in the coming days."
"Why would you think that anything is going to change in the next couple days?" Jao'uos said.
"Let's just say I have the attention of the King and you government right now," Jon said.
"Oh you do, do you?" Jao'uos said.
"Yeah, it's one thing I do really well," Jon said. "I have this habit of getting people's attention."
"That I believe," Jao'uos said as he laughed.
"Look, even if things don't change the ADF, as the controlling entity of your corporation can still fill the contracts on your behalf," Jon said. "We don't fall under any restrictions the Euthara Government has in place. As such if in two years things haven't changed we can retain control until they do change."
"Do you have plans for every situation?" Jao'uos said.
"I like to think outside the box," Jon said as he winked.
"I can see that," Jao'uos said. "Think a way out of this one. Technically you will still be held under Euthara law as the installations are in Euthara space. How are you going to get around that?"
"I've done my homework," Jon said. "Euthara law only governs the home planet and the space that comprises the Euthara system. The planets and moons are not governed by the same rules or laws. According to the law and installations on a planet or moon are only governed by the laws of the owning race. These laws were lax so that it would encourage outside development and help the Euthara economy. If the ADF owns fifty-one percent of your corporation then our laws will govern those installations."
"So you have," Jao'uos said. "This will cause a lot of problems for me here on Euthara with the government. Nothing I can't deal with though, as I still have some clout in those circles."
"If it causes you too many problems the ADF will relocate you and corporate headquarters," Jon said.
"To Ghost Station?" Jao'uos said. "Actually, I might like to do that anyway. My family and the families of my staff might be better off there anyway."
Jon liked this man and it might benefit him to have Jao'uos close at hand. His little spy network might come in handy. Hell he might even learn something from him. "Certainly," Jon said not missing a beat.
Jao'uos slapped his hand down on his desk as he spoke, "I knew it! I wasn't sure but I had a feeling."
"When would you like to leave?" Jon said.
"There will be time for that in a bit. What I want to know is do you have any idea what it would take to get the installations back online and running?" Jao'uos said.
"I'm working on that now," Jon said.
"You are?" Jao'uos said. "Never mind, I'm not surprised actually. You have a bit of clout around here and I can tell that just by the information you have."
"You control all the stock in your Corporation," Jon said. "Am I right?"
"Of course, every stock holder I had sold them off when the collapse happened. By our laws I had to buy them back when they sat on the market for too long," Jao'uos said.
"If you enter this agreement with the ADF and give us the stock in your corporation we need," Jon said. "In two years we'll give you two percent back and you'll once again have control of your corporation"
Jao'uos studied Jon for a bit before he spoke, "You really think you can pull this off don't you?"
Jon looked over at Sa'oliq and she stepped into view as she spoke, "My people will help staff the installations and you'll be free to open contracts between our people."
Jao'uos eye widened when he saw Sa'oliq.
"The ADF will also be allowing you to open contracts and will help with the supplies and personnel needs," Jon said.
"I don't think you have any idea what you're stepping into," Jao'uos said. "Though I'm impressed by what I have heard so far."
"Oh, I have an idea what it will take," Jon said as he smiled.
"Really? Do you?" Jao'uos said. "You have an idea what it will take to get every installation in the solar system up and running?"
"Yes, I have an idea what it will take to get every installation owned by your corporation up and running," Jon said. "I'm in orbit of the majority of them now and doing diagnostics to get a starting figure."
"I don't think you understand," Jao'uos said. "When the crash happened, I bought out every single corporation when their stocks bottomed out."
"Do what?" Jon said. Jon was floored by what he heard. He wanted to start out small and work his way up. "Well, um."
"That's what I thought," Jao'uos said. "A bit larger than you thought."
"I take it they're still all separate just under your control?" Jon said.
Jao'uos eyes narrowed as he spoke, "Yes they are."
"Good," Jon said. "For me to do this you'll have to sell controlling interest in the other corporations back to their owners."
"Why would I do that?" Jao'uos said. Jon could see he didn't like where this was going.
"Because, I'm doing this to help your people get back on their feet, all of them not just one man," Jon said. "You took advantage of a situation, I would have probably done the same thing, in hopes that someday you could profit from it and you will of course. You turn over eighty percent of the controlling interest to all corporations that you snapped up and keep twenty percent for yourself. You will make profit on each corporation that way and still be helping your fellow Eutharan."
"Again, why should I?" Jao'uos said.
"I won't help you, and I won't allow anyone to help you, if you don't for one reason," Jon said. "The second reason is your corporation will build the parts needed to get these other corporations up and running. You can even contract labor out to them for a fee. This should make you wealthy enough. It will also give you and your corporation a name of helping those in need which will drive your sales across the galaxy."
"I still don't understand, I would be employing enough people that it would help everyone anyway," Jao'uos said.
"Look, the idea here is to build Euthara back up not just a single individual or corporation. How much do you really know about those other corporations you bought out? You asked me if I knew what I was getting myself into. Do you know what you would be getting yourself into?" Jon said. "What about all the bad feelings it would create by those people you screwed over in the crisis? The ADF doesn't want the negative attention that would be gained by helping you. How would that affect your name and corporation throughout the galaxy when word got out? How about when people started to expand beyond this solar system and put installations in other systems close by? How will that affect you if you've created enemies?"
By doing what I ask you helped them twice, you bought the shares which helped them with money in their time of need. Then you gave them their shares back when you realized things were about to pick up. You would create strong ties between you and those you help."
Jao'uos turned and walked back around to his chair and sat down as he thought about what Jon had said. "You've made your point," Jao'uos said. "I'm a shred business man, but I'm not stupid. You're right by saying at first I would profit, but in the end it would destroy me and my name and the ADF along with it. By doing things this way I secure the corporation for my family down the line. I'll start contacting and transferring ownership and controlling shares to the former CEO's."
"Good," Jon said. "So we have a deal then?"
"I have one condition and then we have a deal," Jao'uos said.
"That would be?" Jon said.
"The ADF stops making the fold drives and all drives created by you are locked down so they can't be replicated," Jao'uos said.
"I can deal with that," Jon said.
"Including the Atlantis' drive," Jao'uos said. He was watching Jon for a reaction.
"Certainly," Jon said with no hesitation.
"My family and staff will be ready to pick up at your earliest convenience," Jao'uos said.
"I'll contact you again when we're in orbit and things have settled down a bit," Jon said. "It will probably be a few days."
"Fine, Now what account do I transfer ownership of the shares too?" Jao'uos said as he smiled.
"Uh," Jon said. It was the first time he was unsure of his self.
It was Deatra's turn and she stepped into view. Jao'uos gasped and immediately knelt with his head bowed as he said, "Your Highness."
"Rise," Deatra said. "You can transfer those shares to my account for the ADF under my care."
Jao'uos stood up as he spoke, "Of course your highness."
"Princess will do, not need for all that," Deatra said.
"As you wish Princess," Jao'uos said. He turned his attention to Jon as he continued to speak. "You sir have a bit more clout than I gave you credit for. Had you just made mention of the Princess it would have been a done deal from the start."
"I understand that," Jon said. He stepped up to Deatra and put his arm around her. "I wanted you to want to do it and not be forced to do it. I wanted to see what kind of a man I was dealing with."
Jao'uos gasped when Jon wrapped his arm around Deatra's waist. Deatra caught his uneasiness and laughed as she spoke, "He's my bond mate."
"Oh my god," Jao'uos said and dropped to his knee again and bowed his head. "Forgive me my prince, I had no idea."
"For god sakes man stand up," Jon said as he chuckled. "I'm less informal than the Princess, you can call me Jon while were in private company. You also don't need to bow when we're in private company."
"As you wish my Prince ... Err Jon," Jao'uos said as he stood up again.
"I think we're going to get along just fine," Jon said. "Prepare for your departure I'll call when it's time. Take care until then."
The view screen went blank just as the Tactical officer spoke up, "Sir, we have an incoming hyperspace. Ship is emerging now twenty thousand feet off out port bow."
Jon dropped his arm from around Deatra as he spoke, "On main view screen."
Jon watched a ship exited the hyperspace event. It was twice the size of the Atlantis and if that wasn't enough the ship had a very dark look to it. Multiple gun ports littered its surface. It was definitely a ship of war from the way it was built. Jon watched as fighters swarmed over its surface heading towards the Atlantis.
"Condition Red," Jon said. "Contact the Desmodi and request their assistance. Bring us out of orbit and plot a rendezvous point with the Desmodi. Launch all fighters and bring all guns and point defense systems online."
"Sir the eight Invaru vessels are on the move. They're headed directly for us," the Tactical officer said.
"Desmodi is in route to us. They report they should reach us before the Invaru fleet," the Com officer said.
Atlantis rocked slightly as if she had been hit by something.
"What the hell was that?" Jon said. "Did they fire on us?"
"No Sir, they haven't opened fire yet," the Tactical officer said.
"Explosion on deck twelve, section four," the Engineering officer said. "No casualties reported."
Lights faltered on the bridge as stations shut down. Atlantis appeared next to Jon just as the last of the stations shut down.
"Failure in the primary and secondary power coupler," Atlantis said. "Engineering is trying to reroute. Secondary bridge reported a systems failure too just as contact was lost with them."
"What the hell is going on around here?" Jon said.