Alex nodded, letting Richard pick up the files before both men turned and headed for the door. “We’ll be in touch.” He said through gritted teeth.
Chapter 13
Time: September 15, 2030
Location: Empyrean Island, Pacific Ocean
Helen and Colleen sat on Colleen’s screened porch which overlooked a beautiful sandy beach, listening to the waves washing up on the shore. Several seagulls flew overhead, darting down now and again to grab a morsel that might have washed onshore before darting back into the sky. They had to be quick to avoid a walker and his energetic dog, the young lab being more than energetic enough to rush any of his winged tormentors.
“You have done such a good job of growing the island,” Colleen said, looking to her left toward the lush jungle on the edge of the sand. A myriad of palm trees and ferns flourished amongst flowering plants and fruit trees. It filled the air with beautiful smells, and Colleen loved to pick bananas or lychee from those fully grown specimens that were close to her own home.
“Thank you,” Helen said, her gaze looking off over the horizon as she took a sip of her tea. Both women looked similar in age, despite one of them being over a hundred. It had been a mystery why it happened, but besides plant life, Helen had used her gift to specialize in studying all sorts of medicine, including whatever was keeping Colleen alive, and Helen younger than her actual years.
They were content to sit in silence, having grown comfortable with each other over the years, but a moment later, Helen broke the silence once again. “I wanted to talk to you about an idea to help the company.”
“Help how?” Colleen asked, perking up. She was more of a coffee drinker, even having been known to slip a nip of scotch into her drink on occasion.
“Well, we’ve taken a hit in the news and on social media. I’m not a master of it like Piper, of course, but I’ve heard her complaining about it along with those folks she’s hired to help with our PR. It feels like we’re losing public opinion, and I think I may have something that might help.”
“You’re not going to go around and landscape for people, are you?” Colleen half-joked. “Not that you wouldn’t be good at it, but that would be a waste of your time.”
Helen laughed, shaking her head. “No. Free plants make people happy, but not that happy. I was thinking about all of the advances we’ve had with medicine. We’ve grown organs, limbs, and other body parts that could work wonders. I’ve been able to develop a bio-nanite that can convert excess fat into a variety of stem-cells within the body, too. We could cure obesity with a few tailored treatments and lengthen lifespans in the process.”
“That’s a good idea, except countries need to approve of them before they allow their people to take advantage. You know even the most innocuous of your advances are still years away from human trials, especially in the West,” Colleen said, putting her coffee down and looking at her friend. It had been especially difficult in America, with many big pharma companies and their considerable lobbyist presence making it nearly impossible to break into the market.
It made her sick to think of it as a market instead of simply helping people, but that’s what it had turned into. Life was no longer valued, but the money that could support it was.
“We’ve had excellent results from our medical facilities in Chili, and many parts of Africa. Dubai will be good too, and we’re half-way through building our own island off of their coast where we’ll have a high-capacity hospital right next to our airport and spaceport, but we’re not reaching the vast majority of the Western world or Asia. Right now, it’s being played off as a lie or myth by most controlled media outlets, with only the wealthy sneaking off to take advantage of those services.”
“How do you propose changing that?” Colleen asked, raising one of her eyebrows. She knew her friend was working up to something but didn’t have a clue what it might be.
“When I was working as a nurse in Oregon, one of the most difficult things I encountered was watching people unable to get the treatment they needed, most especially veterans. I approached John Malcolm, asking him what the best way to get our help to the people that need it. He suggested we operate hospital ships outside of territorial waters, and charter ships to bring people out to them.”
“That’s inventive,” Colleen said, mulling the idea over in her head. “Why not buy a few cruise ships and convert part of them into hospital facilities. We just wouldn’t begin any healing until past the two-hundred-mile mark.”
Helen nodded, getting excited. “Brilliant! That way we could avoid too much shipping issues. Nathan and his team might be part of the next step. I’m sure they have all sorts of veteran contacts that would be able to help.”
“You know, I like this idea, but you do realize that this isn’t something we can publicize. This needs to be something we do in the shadows,” Colleen said, then laughed softly at herself. “My goodness, I sound like some spy.”
“I know, but if we do this right, we can help a lot of people while also getting the word out to the masses, not through the gatekeepers. I wish it was as easy as helping third world countries, but there are other dangers there.”
“We’re making progress,” Colleen said. “Slowly but surely, we’re providing everything cities need to change themselves. Legos, Nigeria is a good example. It is not the same city as it once was. They no longer have the same infrastructure issues or corruption problems. It paid off to build the tribal leaders up, giving them our high-capacity food production plants and training them how to use it. They’ve even given us good ideas to increase efficiency, as well as provide their people with free food that’s much healthier than processed garbage. I think there was a new university established that specializes in high technologies and medicine. ”
“Some are still resisting vat-grown meat, despite the fact it can produce tons of protein for the same amount of land it took to raise one scrawny cow. However, the taste is winning them over. When you can get high-quality beef, pork, chicken, or salmon by just deciding a month ahead of time what you wish to eat, it makes a big difference.” Helen said. “The vegetable and fruit slabs are doing much better. I hear strawberries and oranges are a huge hit in several parts of Africa and Indonesia. The entire process is creating an explosion of new food combinations. I’m excited to try some of the recipes.”
“Well, maybe we can cook some together,” Colleen said, smiling. “I wonder what Piper will say after we tell her we’re feeding her Kudu.”
“I can’t wait to hear it.” Helen laughed, clinking her teacup with Colleen’s coffee before taking a long drink. She paused, enjoying the moment and easy laughter with her friend before bringing up another subject that was relevant to all of them. “How have the meditation’s been going?”
Colleen paused, thinking for a few minutes while she savored her coffee. “Interesting,” she finally said. “There is something there. I just know it. I can feel it tickling at the back of my mind every once in a while. Meditation is helping, but I just don’t know what I’m looking for. I was thinking about trying hypnotism next.”
Helen chuckled at her friend. “How very new-age of you, but that might be a good idea. If it really is something in our subconscious, then hypnotism might be just the way to get at it.”
Colleen smiled. “New age. We are entering one, aren’t we? Being built by us? How extraordinary.”
Chapter 14
Time: September 27, 2030
Location: Type 2 (Regional headquarters) system -Ogatragaton – Jezerine sub-sector, Zeinbrikka corporate headquarters.
Tur Galon Zeinbrikka smiled from the bridge of his newest mining vessel, acquired for the great endeavor he and his clan were undertaking. It featured four bays which could catch and process separate streams of matter that the fusion torches might liquefy from nearby asteroids. Below its sweeping gantry’s which could move the bays upwards of ten degrees each, there were eight frog-like landers that could mine and transport ore from places the main s
hip couldn’t reach. Galon liked how the vessel hunched forward like an aggressive beast; it’s arms reaching forward to tear and rend.
Two other mining ships, smaller and older, floated alongside the larger vessel, but all three of them were dwarfed by the eight massive freighters that were to accompany them. Each was about three miles long with massive engines behind the giant holds that made up most of the ships.
They were finally ready to send out the first expedition to system 667.27. Galon wasn’t even upset about the twelve years he would have to spend in stasis, glad it would only seem like a blink in time until he was thawed and ready to start plundering the riches of the virgin ground. The other three expeditions would be departing over the next several months, with the last one leaving almost a full year after him.
However, system 667.27 was the farthest away, and it would result in all four expeditions arriving at roughly the same time. Once they got to work, they would send back the freighters, full of ore and riches while another set would arrive each year thereafter and in a years-long loop. All-in-all, just his part of the project would mean a huge rotating caravan of freighters traveling back and forth over a twenty-four year period.
Such a mining enterprise hadn’t been attempted for generations, but Galon was determined to move his clan from obscurity to prominence within the Union. It was a gamble, but no dangerous space-faring races had been identified the last time Union scouts had passed through his targeted space. That was several hundred years ago, but how fast could things change? Besides, his mining ships were tough, and all civilian ships were outfitted with light defensive lasers for rogue asteroids and to ward off the occasional pirate.
Galon licked his teeth before pressing the command to connect to headquarters and his great-uncle Borvin. “We are ready to depart, Uncle,” Galon said confidently. “Make sure the automated freighters leave on time, so there is no delay. Things will be well once the first arrives back, but before then, things might be tight.”
Borvin leaned in, squinting at the lens as if he’d eaten something sour. “Haven’t left yet? What are you doing? Sleeping on the bridge over there?” The older Jezerine suddenly grinned, chuckling after giving his nephew a hard time. “Don’t worry, Galon. Everything will leave on time, and you’ll have your piles of treasure back here safe and sound. We’ll survive on the subsidy mines until they do. There’s not much left, but it will last long enough.”
“Thank you, uncle. Once we get there, I’ll name the first site after you and drink a glass of Kuul in your honor.” Galon said, preening his cheek fur in appreciation of his uncle.
Borvin laughed and shook his head. “You’ll be drinking Kuul anyway with that weak stomach of yours. Still, raise one for me and good fortune. We’ll all need it.”
“Confirmed, Uncle. I’ll let you undertake the next expedition since I’m fairly sure I’ll gladly relax at headquarters for a few years holding down the fort, but that will be a while in the future. Good Fortune.” Galon said, then turned off the com panel. His chair was situated low on the floor but swiveled so he could get an eye on the navigator. “How long will it take to get us to the optimum transmission point?”
“Fourteen hours at three-quarters speed until we’re clear of the star's gravity well, “The navigator said. “We could push faster if you wish?”
Galon shook his head. “No need. We’ll be under for twelve years. No sense in rushing to our sleep, eh?” he stood, preparing to go to his quarters but paused and glanced at Captain Tesh. “Give the crew a few hours to relax before we go into stasis. It will put them in a better mood when we arrive.”
“Yes, sir,” Captain Tesh said, leaning over another crewman’s console as he checked something.
With that, Galon left and went to his new cabin. The ship itself wasn’t new construction, but he’d had it sterilized prior to inhabiting it so as to destroy any trace of the previous crew or their microbes. It had smelled like sweat and refuse, and he wasn’t about to put up with that for any length of time. Still, it had been well-maintained, and he found the color scheme of white, black and gold to his liking. It was his families colors, and it almost made him believe for a moment as if he were back during the great Jezerine navy before the Union absorbed them, dominating and exploring their local cluster of systems.
Who knew if their race could rise to prominence again? Galon didn’t really entertain those fantasies, satisfied to simply improve his families position in their own small section of the Union. Everything had to start somewhere, and he was going to get good and drunk before going into the stasis pod. Maybe when he threw up at the end of their trip, he might manage to coat one of his attendants. With a smile, he slipped into his rooms.
Chapter 15
Time: October 9, 2030
Location: Ibadan, Nigeria
The two Skylark lifters settled down from orbit, their inertial shields keeping any heat generation away from the skin of the craft, though the display still lit the sky with fiery trails. They had received a call that several explosions were detected at one of their food plants in Nigeria, and not long after that, gunfire and casualties. Nathan gathered sixteen of his operatives, rushing them onto the transport versions of their orbital shuttles as quickly as he could. An hour later, they were rapidly approaching their target.
“Land in the south parking lot,” Nathan said, leaning over the pilot’s shoulder and pointing. “The smoke is moving to the Northwest, and it looks like there is a crowd huddle behind the building.”
Keith nodded, slowing the shuttles as they slowed for their approach. A moment before touching down and lowering the ramp, Nathan heard a ping off of the fuselage, then another. Someone was shooting at them.
“Keep the inertial shields up, Keith. No sense in getting a lucky shot to the cockpit. Once I establish contact with the locals, I’ll give you further orders,” Nathan said, then turned and dropped down the short ladder to the shuttle deck, following Gonzales, and several other Empyrean security personnel as they thundered down the ramp of the Skylark, spreading out quickly to secure a parameter even while greasy smoke roiled skyward. Each of his operatives had their Tavor assault rifles raised and sweeping the area, making the local Nigerians who had been running toward them stop and scramble to the ground, not wanting to get shot by the armed and armored security forces.
The Second Skylark swept in, hovering over several cars in the parking lot as its own armed occupants descended the ramp and expanded the perimeter. The flying vehicles hadn’t been designed for military maneuvers and lacked many of the military grade hardware Nathan would have liked. Those vehicles were still a few months from testing and production, and he couldn’t wait to get his hands on them.
He wished he had pushed Alex to upgrade their forces sooner. Nathan had seen this coming for a while but hadn’t had the time to prepare their security forces for this level of response. Individually, their training was adequate, and their equipment was on par or better than most military contractors, but he knew that they needed to be several notches above what they were now. With the technology that Empyrean was developing, they would be a formidable force, but it took time, and he was left with using standard hardware until his toys were ready.
Now, they were out of time. The massive explosion that had rocked the food production plant they’d built on the grounds of the University of Ibadan was proof of that. There were also unknown aggressors firing on workers trying to flee the plant. Things were beginning to escalate, and there was no telling how many people had died in this latest attack on Empyrean. It had happened during the middle of the day, during the most active work time, and Nathan had no doubt there would be casualties. He could already smell the tang of burnt human flesh on the air, and the screams of people were all around.
Nathan had made sure they landed near, but not on top of the local police and fire department vehicles that had responded to the fire. Establishing a parameter had been his first task, but now that they were down, it was time to get
more up-to-date information.
Nathan gestured to two of his operatives, Ben and Kalechi, to join him as he raced toward the makeshift command center the local police had set up behind a large firetruck and one of their swat vans. He knew that English was the primary language in Nigeria, but Kalechi had been a local before joining his team, and he hoped the younger man could help him get answers if the police proved difficult.
The dark-skinned police officers were watching them approach with something akin to alarm, glancing toward them in between sweeping the buildings around them with their own assault rifles. Occasionally, one of them would duck, and Nathan guessed there were bullets being fired at them though he couldn’t identify where they were coming from yet. He couldn’t blame them for being nervous with the massive Skylarks hovering over everyone. The orbitals were almost as large as a Boeing 727, though thicker in the body, so having one hover over the parking lot had to be unexpected.
Stopping a few feet away, Nathan and his men crouched down behind a blocking car and he nodded to whom he thought might be in command. He was a squat, thick man with a military helmet low over his brow and Kevlar jacket that had police written on the front. Instead of watching him wide-eyed as most of his men were, he had a considering look that bespoke equal parts intelligence and concern.
“Who are you?” the man yelled, flicking his eyes to the two men following Nathan. His eyes rested a moment longer on Kalechi than Ben, but Nathan expected he would notice his own countrymen. The sound of a bullet passing overhead and striking the metal side of the firetruck made him duck and curse.
“Nathan Adamson, head of Empyrean security. Sorry to drop in on you like this, but I didn’t think your superiors would have had time to warn you we were coming,” Nathan said, leaning against the car. “This is Ben Feldstein and Kalechi Bello. We’re here to help.”
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