Verron_Birth of a Nation

by Douglas Varnell

  Paul really wished he could spend every day running and working out and training with the Dragon Guard. He and the five who ran with him, managed to get an hour of Jxansa Gha hand-to-hand training done before he had to shower and make it to his business meeting. More and more he was getting involved in the business end of running his government. He was fortunate to have the people he did on staff, people who would take initiative to get things done, even when the plans were not always precise. Everyone was given a job to do, but could use their own discretion as to how to get it done. He ate a quick breakfast with his Mother, who was going to be watching MJ and MJ2 for a few hours. He asked if she wanted to join him in his meeting or maybe just take his place, while he watched the two toddlers. She smiled and used one of his lines, “No thanks! Besides, that’s why they pay you the big bucks.” He was surprised when he entered his office that no one was there. He was immediately informed by his new secretary, a 30 year-old Scandinavian woman named Inga with a Master’s in Business and Information Technology that she had secured the large conference room since there were too many people for his office. He looked at the twelve seat meeting table in his office and wondered who all was here. He had remembered speaking to General Zarman, General Hall and Michael about a meeting, and possibly Renee and Marie.

  He walked down the hall to the conference room followed by Inga carrying a laptop and a stack of file folders. She was the most efficient person he had ever met. She was also related to Donald Williamsson by marriage to his nephew Jon. She was not simply an assistant; she had become a vital asset to his being able to keep up with everything he had to do as King. She was almost like a presidential Chief of Staff. He had few secrets from her. He smiled as he thought, “She’s way smarter than anyone gives her credit for being. No doubt Leona has already filled her in on my personality. She seems to reads me like a book.”

  He entered the conference room and looked back immediately at the grin on Inga’s face, as she shrugged and said, “Everyone has seen the news coverage of the Astronaut Rescue. There was no way to keep these people away, their ready for action.” He turned to face almost every leader he had on staff. Michael Verron and Gail Morton, and some of their staff, representing the Department of the Treasury and the MV Bank, Dr. Joe Verron, Marie Parks-Verron and Desiree Verron from the J. H. Verron Medical Center; Clark Kidd, his Agricultural Czar and several of his aides, Kary Verron and his staff in charge of manufacturing and developing military weapons, Donald and Leona Williamsson who handled Earth acquisitions and investments, his Uncle Mike and Uncle Les who managed manufacturing of the Personal Transport Vehicles and all non-military hover-based equipment; combines, material haulers, farm equipment … General Zarman and General Hall, Kenneth Verron, his cousins Wendal and Roddy, as well as Benny Barry who had built businesses and residences for millions, Cliff Vandegard his newly appointed director over Mining and Steel, Marcus Verron, Manager of the newly named Marcus Verron Space Center and of course Tlase, Zimuel, Dalhia and Yadvega.

  Ever eye that wasn’t on him were looking at the beautiful five foot tall redhead in a dark green business suit to Paul’s left. The hologram of Lucy looked so real it seemed you could reach over and give it a hug. Paul thought to himself, “Little do the others know that she is without a doubt the most important member of his staff.” He was pleased to see her make one of her rare appearances. Paul looked around pleased with these people and what they had accomplished and now realized they were about to embark on an even greater adventure; trying to make Earth an ally. He knew it was going to be a challenge with hundreds of governments and billions of people all pulling in opposite directions. How was he ever going to be able to organize them for a common cause? He opened the meeting with prayer. He knew it was the best place to start. When finished he smiled and said, “Well, as you all know, my original plan was to go public with Verron next year. As usual, God had other plans. Now it’s up to us to make the best of these changes of direction. So, I’ll do my best to explain what I think we can and should do, you can then tell me what we actually can do. I don’t want to over-extend our resources or our capabilities to meet the many demands we are now facing. I also want to include as many of our allies in this process as possible. We can’t do everything we want to do and we can’t do any of this alone.”

  He began, “I have not made an appointment just yet, but I plan to meet with the President of the United States and his staff within the next couple of weeks. I want to be certain I have all my ducks in a row before I meet with them. It is my position that we do not dare offer or reveal the full extent of our technology to the people of Earth. In fact they already have been exposed to more than I originally intended to show them. We want to offer them technology in small doses to see how it is received. We will impact Earth’s economy both positively and negatively. We literally could topple world governments if we move too fast. With that in mind, here’s what I would initially like to begin with.” He looked to make certain he had everyone’s attention and continued.

  Paul began by saying, “The first thing I want to offer is Medical Technology. It would be cruel of us to withhold cures for Cancer, AIDS, Diabetes, Ebola, Sickle Cell Anemia, Autism, Arthritis, and most common diseases and illnesses on Earth, no doubt we will get resistance from the medical community and the FDA, but we will sell what we can, where we can. Desiree, Marie; are you two prepared with the goods?” They both indicated they were. “Good, then you will both be going to Earth to handle the marketing and approvals.” They both gave him a surprised look at being responsible for sales, marketing, distributing and manufacturing. Paul smiled and told them, “Hire more people if you need help. Desiree still has friends at the CDC, Donald and Leona should have contacts with some of the drug companies, but be careful; all they will care about is their profit, not what’s best for the people.”

  He next turned to Michael and asked, “Have you been able to fill the position for someone to oversee our oil and refinery business?” Michael replied with a disappointing, “Not yet.” Paul smiled and told him, “Well, guess who will be in charge of handling it until you do.” He turned to Donald and Leona, asking, “Do you know of any unemployed CEO’s of oil companies looking for a job?” Leona answered, “As soon as you reveal what you want to do on Earth, we will be getting resumes by the thousands.” Paul had no doubt he would; he turned to Renee and informed her, “Better get some people ready to screen resumes and get them into the right hands.” Once again returning to the subject of oil, Paul continued, “Over the years oil has been down to $50.00 a barrel and up over $100.00 per barrel. OPEC has had the market under their control long enough. We have plenty of oil and anything we make selling it is better than simply having it all sit idle, even at low prices we’re talking billions, if not trillions of dollars. Xhondar, Klelta and Tecalna all buy our oil. I plan to do the same thing with Earth as I have them, run a pipeline through a gateway directly into the United States and price it so that Verron controls the oil business on Earth. I know we will upset the economy of several countries, but most will benefit from lower oil prices; Russia, the OPEC countries and China will have the biggest issue. We need to locate a piece of property near the majority of refineries in the U.S. and close to shipping points for supertankers. I also plan to build a warehouse and distribution center there and possibly a refinery. Louisiana, Mississippi or possibly Alabama would be a good location and it will put areas with high unemployment to work.” Looking to Leona and Donald he asked, “I know real estate is not your specialty, but we’ll need several thousand acres or more to do what I’d like to do.”

  General Justin Hall quickly spoke out, saying, “Paul, sorry, King Verron, I think I know a place that just may work and if you play your cards right and offer enough jobs to go with the package you’ll become a state hero. When I was still a teenager in the National Guard I spent a lot of time at Camp Shelby Mississippi driving my tank around. The place is owned by the State of Mississippi and I would guess is close to
150,000 acres, more or less. It starts just below Hattiesburg and extents south almost to Biloxi. It’s also close to the Alabama border. If you could get your hands on all or some of that land, it would give you just what you’re speaking about for your requirements.” Turning to Leona and Donald, he told them, “Let’s keep this as quiet as possible, but see if you can get in to see the Governor of Mississippi and feel him out about whether his State would be willing to work with us for a few thousand more jobs. Tell him we would try to staff the complex with Mississippi residents as first choice and would maintain a racial balance in proportion to the states demographics.” Donald and Leona nodded and asked, “OK if we take Justice with us?” He quickly added, “I’m counting on it.”

  Paul next turned to Clark and asked, “Do you think we will end up with some more farmers when we go public? We can always use them.” Clark informed him he was already working on it and should be able to almost double Verron’s current numbers then added, “There are a good many Amish and Mennonites who are excellent farmers. They’re scattered all over Indiana, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and other states. Would you be willing to give them land to farm the way they farm?” Paul replied, “I used to eat their food on trips to Pennsylvania and Indiana. They do good work. See what you can do.” Paul looked at his two favorite Uncles and told them, “John Deere has done well living up to their end of our contract, think they would be agreeable to bringing the hover-craft farm technology to Earth farmers and equipment users a year earlier than planned? If farmers on Earth become more productive, they will probably need fewer of their farmers; all the better for us.” Uncle Mike smiled and replied, “He gets all his brains from the Arms side of the family.” Uncle Kenneth Verron was agreeing with a laugh as he added, “Well I know he didn’t get them from my little brother. By the way, we’re going to need more construction workers if people start moving here like I think they will. We have some additional capacity, but we’ll need more. I have already worked with Benny to build some additional housing units and prepare more subdivision sites at each major location.”

  Paul nodded his approval then turned to Marcus Verron, asking, “What are your plans?” He answered with confidence, “I plan to put together a package for commercial aircraft builders, like Boeing and Lockheed. I know you don’t want them flying all over outer space, but we can help them develop more fuel efficient aircraft that require almost no runway to operate, and if they use Verron Steel we can save them a lot of weight and improve strength as well. I am also working on what you asked; a new and improved NASA Ship and a defensive spacecraft for preempting missile attacks. The Interceptor, as my people now call it, is easy. We have essentially modified a Light Destroyer with non-light speed reactors. It will still reach .8 LS and be able to rundown and shoot anything Earth currently has flying. NASA is going to love their new shuttle if they decide to buy it. It will be a lot like some of our freighters, capable of 5 LS, 800 feet long, with a cargo bay of over 600 feet and will require no booster to get it into space. It will fly exactly like our ships. I can’t wait to build it for them.”

  Paul next turned to Uncle Les and asked, “Earth is nowhere near ready for flying personal transports, but do you think we could offer them a package with improved batteries for their current electric automobiles?” Les immediately answered saying, “We have been making ground transports for Tecalna, Klelta and a few for here that have two to four electric motors and a whitematter battery power source. The few we have on the road have been running for two years without a charge and still going strong. I believe we can make a huge impact on that segment of the transportation market.” Paul thought a moment, and told him, “Pick out one of the more common electric cars or motorcycles and buy one or two; for now just focus on replacing their battery systems using our whitematter batteries with existing technology in electric motors. It should still make a significant market for our products in the U.S., Asia and Europe.” He looked around the room and decided that most of the other import/export issues could be handled by his staff then told Inga, “I want you to work closely with Joshua in developing our expanded computer services and internet sites. Also review the ad campaigns before we release them in Europe and the U.S. We’ll need websites and advertisements in numerous languages. Yadvega should be able to help you with that.”

  Paul quickly thanked everyone for their work and, with a smile, told them they needed to stop wasting time in meetings with him and get some real work done. He turned to General Z saying to him and the others, “I’d like for General Zarman, General Justice, Dalhia, Kary, Marcus, Michael and of course Lucy to stick around to discuss military issues. By the way Joe, I didn’t forget you. I know that you have added over a hundred rejuvenation/regeneration tanks and increased Medical Center staffing. When people start relocating here, you and your team will be very busy.”

  As everyone was leaving, Paul pulled Cliff Vandegard aside and welcomed him to Verron and reassured him that his position is vital to everything else being done on Verron, saying, “If there is anything you need to improve production efficiency and output just ask. Our entire Nation and that of our allies depend on what comes out of your mines and mills. We will need to triple capacity in the next two years. No doubt you will need to expand your facility or maybe just build a couple more mills, you name it and it’s yours.” Cliff Vandegard formerly managed a plant in the Netherlands for Tata Steel Europe. He then took a position with ArcelorMittal, headquartered in Luxembourg, as the manager of their U.S. operation, Bethlehem Steel in Lackawanna, N.Y. Since being forced into early retirement when they shut down the plant in 2008, he mostly did consulting work and some teaching at the Lackawanna College and did some sailing on Lake Erie. He hated the freezing winters and his arthritis was killing him. When Donald and Leona found him and explained the benefits of Verron, he was all over it. Now he and his wife of 40 years are like kids starting all over again. He is now a young man with great experience and loves his new home and position. He replied, “I’ll give you all the steel you need and I will need to expand, but right now I have another problem, well, a sort of problem. With every ton of Trununcian we extract we end up with 200 pounds of gold. That’s not the problem, the problem is we’re running out of storage room for the gold, and if we’re going to increase production by 200%, well you get the picture.” Paul smiled saying, “Well, you’ve got a two car garage and a full basement don’t you?” Cliff shook his head and replied, “Only if I get to keep it and not just store it for you.” Paul laughed and told the others listening to the conversation, “I’m sure with all the basements and garages this group represents, we can find room for most of it, how much are talking about?” Cliff then asked, “Inside the warehouse or outside?” Suddenly everyone was listening. Paul shook his head and replied, “Both.” Cliff then informed his King, “There are 1900 metric tons in the warehouse and about half that much outside under canvass covers. If my garage wasn’t a bit too small I’d take it home.” Paul turned to General Zarman saying, “You have any extra warehouse space under the mountain where the whitematter is enriched?” General Z smiled and replied, “The droids in the enrichment facility have finished one more warehouse and are half-way through another. Nothing seems to slow them down.” Paul looked at Cliff, saying, “I’ll have some soldiers stop by and haul off all that nasty old gold for you. Anything else I can do?” Cliff shook Paul’s and General Zarman’s hand and expressed his appreciation for the two of them as he left.

  As they sat down to discuss military matters, Kary joked, “I think I will market a gold plated anniversary edition of a plasma cannon. We need to do something with all that nasty old gold. Big brother, I do have some extra space in my basement in case you need to use it.” Paul ignored his brothers offer and brought the meeting to order by saying, “Jim, Justice, Kary, the three of you have at least 75 years of experience with the military and how it works and the way it thinks, and Jim has even spent time working around the Pentagon people. Do you think we can trust
them with the level of technology we have been sharing with Klelta or Tecalna?” Without hesitation, there were three unanimous, “no way” followed by, “are you crazy?” Paul loved their honesty. General Zarman went on to explain, “The branches are so competitive and constantly trying to one-up the other branches. We would completely destroy the military technology industry that is competing for the weapons business and I wouldn’t trust them to not use it against others we decide to ally or even against us.” All three nodded in agreement, as Paul smiled and replied, “You don’t paint a very good picture of your comrades at arms.”

  Justice jumped in, saying, “It’s all about politics. If soldiers could be soldiers, like we are here, and kept the politicians out of the way it was run, then it might be OK. But even then, the self-serving mentality, no offense Jim, of the generals, admirals and upper brass, makes it difficult for what’s best for the country to have priority over what’s best for them.” Paul sat there a moment and thought about how to approach the situation. He then said, “Alright, we introduce military technology very slowly and maintain control of what we allow to be used on Earth. Jim, it will require that our ships, pilots and weapons remain under our control, even if they are used by allied forces. I guess we begin primarily as mercenaries and help them pick their battles and then oversee the way they are fought with our technology. I agree; it would be a disaster to ship them a supply of light speed fighters, plasma cannons and laser rifles.” He turned to Kary, asking, “If we eliminate Xhondarian technology and the improved stuff your people have been working on, what do we have left to offer.”