Chapter 4
I am not sure why I didn't notice it before. It was an information chip, which could be read by any standard reader. Jamal had left me something, and it was a lot more than what our old friendship called for. So the question was, why?
I was six days in hyper (just three light years from the station), when I found the chip. The only person who had been in the ship besides Nevil and I, had been Jamal, and the spot where I had found the chip, was a place I had already cleaned after Nevil had left.
It had been interesting reading. It also had several video captures of meetings between very recognizable people. They were making deals that if the public knew... well, let's just say that more than a couple of careers would be over. From the look of the video, it had been done on the sly.
What really shook me was the section where the Terran Federation's Secretary of Energy gave a speech on the stock piled reserves of power metals in the Federation, as opposed to stock piles on other worlds.
I had been shocked to learn that the Federation was getting short of power metals. I made a note to stock up on fuel cores for my ship, when I got back. As it was, I only had one in reserve, thinking there was plenty to go around.
The long and short of it was that the Terran Federation and these member nations would take over the disputed planet from the PU, before the PU knew what was happening. Then everyone at that conference would share in the distribution of the power metals.
Since Jamal gave me this 'evidence', I am assuming that the PU already knew about this possible take over. The PU was very powerful. They had several good sources of power metals, other than the disputed world. But they would fight to keep their investment safe.
The first two systems I explored were a bust. While I found some minerals, there was nothing to draw anyone's interest in coming out here to mine. I made very thorough and detailed scan of the system, as I did for each system I explored.
It was the beginning of my third month into the trip, that I had my first bit of excitement. An asteroid belt yielded some very interesting readings for power metals! That was high on my list of priorities.
I took samples from several sources. Preliminary results looked very good! My first trip out, and if I was right, I had made a find that a mining company might be interested in developing!
One large asteroid tested very high in content for power metals. I also had found traces of silver, gold, copper, zinc, titanium, uranium, iron, and nickel in other asteroids. Yes, this asteroid belt was definitely worth developing!
I spent several days cautiously approaching several different asteroids. I took many core samples. I documented the site, time, and location, and stored my samples. Not bad at all for a first trip out. Unfortunately, that was the only excitement I had until I was getting ready to head back.
I had a decision to make: where to head back to. The station I had left was a good place to re-supply, but to get this system developed? No. I had to go to a world, or an organization, that could make something of my find if I decided to sell it.
I had the AI bring up all worlds within my cruising range that had mining and developmental interests. I found one that was almost at the end of my cruising range, with the on board supplies I carried.
Raintree had been settled a couple hundred years ago, and was part of the League of Planets. Listed at Raintree also, was a class 'A' spacedock, with accompanying facilities. Several mining firms (which I was very interested in) had people there, too.
I had the ship set a course for Raintree, and considered my luck. How many people went out, and never discovered anything close to what I had just come across? Most exploration was done by large companies that made their money charting and mapping the galaxy, or by governments.
I settled into a routine for the trip back. I also went over and over the chip, trying to wring out any further information I could get. I called up all the news reports that my ship had copied, at my last port.
I made a copy of the chip. I had decided I would keep the original one, but I would keep it off-ship. While I still had faith in my government, I was also privy to some of the past special ops that they had ordered; having, myself, been involved in several covert operations when I was in the Marines.
I was going to give the copy to a representative to my government. I was a loyal member, after all. I wondered if that was why Jamal had given me this copy to begin with. It was hard to know, since I had not had contact with him since my last active duty in the Marines, over 10 years ago.
There is nothing so boring as space flight when you're by yourself. I made myself as busy as possible, but it was still boring. I considered placing myself into cold sleep, but while it was safe to do, there was still that statistical 2 percent that never awakened.
There was also a large blank spot on the star charts, between where I went into hyper and Raintree. So I worked my way back into civilized space. I was very happy to finally break out into Raintree space. It took only 3 hours to get docked at Prime One Station, and to have customs do their once over.
I put both copies of the chip in my belt pouch, and went into the station proper to do business. The first thing I did was stop at the Interstellar Banking Consortium. I deposited one of my 10,000 credit chips. That established credit for me. I also got a 'safe deposit box', and placed the chip that Jamal gave to me into it. The Interstellar Banking Consortium was very good with customer's privacy. They did not bow to political pressures by any government, including the Terran Federation.
Raintree was not in Terran Federated space, nor in any other large political entities space, save for The League of Planets, so I knew my chip was safe in this bank. My next stop would be planet-side: a visit to the Terran Embassy.
But that would happen only after I found a laboratory to run my samples, and list them with developers. I was about to enter the world of speculation, on a scale and of a type I had never known before. As always, it was an exciting and exhilarating thing.
It didn't take long to transfer my core samples to one of the three labs here on the station. I also made arrangements for a firm to start refurbishing my ship. This included moving it from its current location to a section of the shipyards. I paid a price so high, that I wanted to scream! I knew that there were expenses involved in my new profession, but shit!
I sighed as I made my way to the ticket agency, to get a seat on the next shuttle to the planet. While I waited, I paid for a news feed, and went through the listed headlines.
Tensions were running high between the Terran Federation, and the Peoples Union. Well, imagine that. There was posturing all around, with accusations of treachery from both sides.
While it was known that there had been a skirmish of some sort, both sides had withdrawn to reconsider their positions. I sighed. I was looking at what well could be the start of the next interstellar war, and my side was not innocent in this.
I changed my mind about going planet-side. I canceled my ticket, and asked where a decent but thrifty place to stay was. I was given a list of several establishments and prices. I considered my choices, and settled on a place that offered an assortment of services for a fair price. While it was not the cheapest, it was not the most outrageously expensive, either.
I got myself checked in. I had a two room suite, for which I paid a princely sum of 65 credits a day. With the exchange rate from the Terran dollar to the Galactic credit, that was a couple hundred dollars a day. I sighed again. At this rate, I was going to have to cash in my other credit chip, within the month.
I asked for a small, flat mailing box, and addressed it to the Terran Embassy. I paid for shipping the copy of the chip I had made. That ran me 25 credits, alone! With that done, I decided to relax, and find a good restaurant.
The thing about space stations, is that they are designed to part people from their money. I was reconsidering going planet side. I could get a very good suite planet-side for what I was paying up here for a room. However, I had a suspicion that I was going to be entertaining intelligence people, shortly. Here, I had a better chance of staying alive, if things started getting bad.
I had sent the copy of that chip to the Terran Embassy, with the hopes that they would realize that their plans were exposed. Still, I knew some dangerous things now, and they might take offense that I did.
Two hours later I was at an eating establishment having a very good steak dinner, when I was approached by two men. Though they wore civilian clothes, they had that military bearing that you only get after being in the service for years.
"Captain Connor?" asked the man on the right (as they were facing my table).
"Yes?" I asked.
"May we join you? I am Commander Trask, and this is Lt. Sampson. We are from the TF delegation," Commander Trask said.
"Pull up a chair. I might suggest the steak, it is very good," I said, taking another bite.
"Thank you, no. We were interested in the chip you sent the embassy. We have a few questions about it," Lt. Sampson interjected.
"Wow! That was fast. I only just sent it off," I said in amazement.
"We have an office on board the station, and it was diverted to us, there. Do you know what was on the chip? Also, can I ask how you obtained it?" the commander asked, this time.
"Certainly. Yes, I know what's on the chip. I found it on my ship after I had entertained an officer of the PU, at my last port of call. We had known each other when I was in the Marines. After he left my ship, and I was in hyper for some few days, I ran across it. Then I viewed it," I said, deciding honesty was the best policy.
That started a question and answer session that, while polite, was annoying to say the least. I informed them of Jamal's name and rank, his position, and what my relationship had been with him.
They asked me what I intended to do with the information I had. I told them I was going to do nothing. I was not going to go public with this, as I did not want to hurt my own government. I also knew how to keep my mouth shut.
"Why didn't you turn around and report this, as soon as you found it?" Sampson asked in a snotty tone of voice.
I looked at him. "First, I was on my outbound trek in my new occupation. Secondly, we are far from the Terran border, and I am not an active member of the Marines anymore. While I am sure what is contained on that chip is interesting to you, it only disgusts me," I said cuttingly.
"My livelihood now depends on me going out and making a living. It is not just me I have to support, but a ship as well. Turning around and finding a Terran ship or base, would have eaten into my on board supplies, and I somehow doubt that I would have been reimbursed for my trouble," I added after swallowing a bite of steak.
"Sir, I would like to stress that this is a confidential matter..." I stopped him.
"Let me tell you something about me. Maybe it will ease your minds, and you can go back to your boss and tell him or her that they have nothing to worry about. I graduated with a degree from the local liberal arts college at the age of 20.
"I discovered quickly that the degree I had was worthless. Millions of other kids my age had the same useless degree. I also had another strike against me. I had no family to help me. So I joined the Marines. I became a private.
"I was into my second year on a six year enlistment, when I was approached by my command to go to OCS, officer candidate school. I didn't have to think too hard. I did it, and graduated in the top 5 percent of my class.
"I was then shunted to another school, and yet another. I received some very specialized training, indeed. I did well, both in the schools, and in my job performance. I rose in the ranks to Captain, and that was my rank when I was discharged about 10 years ago.
"I met Captain Orman when he was a Lt. Commander. He was assigned to my group as a liaison officer. Frankly, I don't believe either of you have the clearance to know what I was doing at that time, so I will just say it was a success.
"I have had no contact with him or his government, or anyone that I know to be a representative of his government, since then. The exception being his meeting with me, and coming aboard my ship, at my last port of call. Does this answer your questions?" I asked, with just a little exasperation.
"Thank you, Sir. I still have to ask you not to disclose what was on the chip. I also have to ask if you made any copies," Trask asked me.
"No," I lied.
They got up. "Thank you for your time, Sir. How long do you think you will be here at Raintree? I would like to know in case my superiors have any follow up questions," he asked.
"I am not sure. Depends on how long it takes my ship to be re-provisioned and equipped for another run. I also have core samples. If they pan out, I might try to deal with a development company. The prospects look good right now on what I have brought back," I said with a slight smile.
They nodded and left. I had finished my meal, and was drinking coffee when a waiter approached me.
"Sir? Are you Captain Connor of the TF registered exploration ship Misty?"
"Yes," I stated.
"This is for you, then. It is from Dynamic labs, and they said 'rush'," he said, handing me a small chip. Interesting.
Edited By TeNderLoin