Paul next pulled out a quart of Verron crude oil. Handing it and the battery system to Mr. Cox, he continued, “I know you probably are not the man who is responsible for the Petroleum Industry for the U.S., but I imagine you know who to give this to. Verron has more high-grade crude oil than all of the oil fields on Earth combined. To be honest with you, we use very little of it. I would like for the United States and her allies to be completely free from any OPEC influence. I’d rather see you dictating and controlling the oil industry than someone who uses your money to support terrorists around the world. If we can work it out, I intend to establish a direct oil line to the U.S. as a top priority. Have your petro-chemists confirm the quality of this sample and I’ll be glad to have them come to Verron to verify I have what I say I have.”
He next turned to General Martin Dorsey, and began by telling him, “Both of the Sullivan’s can confirm what I am giving you to test. My soldiers use weapons that are so far advanced they would be drastic over-kill and start a technology panic on Earth. I hope to ease things into use here so I do not harm your economy with technology so advanced no one on this planet could possibly reproduce it, even if we showed them how.” He removed from his case a 5.56mm, 7.62mm, 9mm and 12.5mm round charged with whitematter. He then reached into his pocket and removed a flash drive and handed it to the General, saying, “If you’ll be kind enough, I’d like for you to see this.” The General inserted the drive into his laptop and after a little manipulation, the video of the bullet trials began to show on the screen. Paul remained silent and allowed the video with Chase and Daniel doing commentaries to run all the way through the part where they had added the ships being destroyed with a 25mm round on Klelta. In the quiet that filled the room as it ended, Paul handed 4 of each round to the General and simply said, “You’ll want to test these yourself, but let me give you a warning; Do Not attempt to open one of these rounds to see how it works. I can assure you that what you just witnessed in this video will definitely happen to the person who tries to open it.” He turned to Secretary Cox and added, “Oh, yea, I forgot. The same goes for that battery, except there is enough power compressed in there to level a square mile. Don’t worry though, you could hit the battery with an armor piercing .50 caliber and not dent it.”
Paul next handed a half-dozen 12 inch by 12 inch panels made of Verron steel to the General. The General turned them in his hand thinking they were plastic because they were so light. Paul grinned at the questioning look on everyone’s face. He explained, “In your hand you hold the lightest and most durable steel in the Universe. Verron Steel is a thousand times stronger than the strongest alloy and as light as a piece of plastic. It can be fabricated in brushed steel, a variety of colors and even clear as glass, like the two I just gave you. This is what my Spaceships are made with and all my soldiers body armor. The applications are endless. I propose to sell your Nation body armor for your soldiers. I’m tired of seeing young men and women killed and maimed when it can be prevented. General take these and test them. You’ll soon find that nothing on this planet can damage them. Use whatever you like to prove me wrong and I promise you, those panels will look just like they do now when you’re finished. I have hundreds of applications in mind, but I thought you might like to use your own imagination.”
Back on Verron Tala had just landed to be greeted by several hundred people and transports full of supplies. She began immediately trying to explain the situation and Amber stepped forward and took responsibility for everything, but before she could finish Brigadier General Hall told everyone that, “As ranking officer, I am responsible.” Dr. Joe Verron quickly informed them, “There is no one to blame right now, but there are people exposed to radiation who need help right away. According to Lucy this ship is completely equipped to handle treatment of crew members exposed to radiation. Let’s get this stuff loaded and get out of here.” It took about a half hour to load the R4 with medical supplies and several transport loads of food. Everyone was on board to help, Marcus, Michael, Dr. Joe, Kary, Roddy and even the Queen Mother. Jesserrica, all the Xhondarians, most of the medical staff from the Medical Center, Desiree Verron and even Marie Verron were on board ready to lend a helping hand. The Dragon Guard was already on board and was soon joined by a platoon of Marines led by Colonel David Zarman. About the only people missing was Renee, Hunter and Vlad; and of course Paul and General Z.
Many of these people had never flown in one of the big ships and were walking around in a daze as they looked at the huge structure. Dr. Joe quickly took control and began organizing people for triage and to operate the regeneration machines in the large medical bay. Only the worst cases would require being placed in the tanks, others could receive an injection that would neutralize all radiation in the blood stream and flush it out. The Queen Mother began to organize the kitchen along with the two cooks from the Mansion cooking staff. She was a true believer in the theory of the key to man’s heart is through his stomach and decided the best way to keep a large crowd happy was to feed them. Tala was still sulking about setting off a nuke when her Dad, Marcus, came over and gave her a hug, saying, “When I was in France on visits, while I was stationed in Europe in the service, I always thought they were a bunch of arrogant snobs, you did what millions before you have only dreamed of doing, nuked France.” Tala smiled, rolled her eyes and kissed him on the cheek, telling him, “That’s my Dad, always knows how to cheer a girl up. Who do you think I should nuke next?” Marcus was always a diehard University of Florida fan and although from Tennessee, he hated the Vols. He thought only a moment and replied, “The University of Tennessee.” As she walked away to return to the bridge, with a straight face she told him, “I’ll see what I can do.”
Amber and Katelyn took the R4 back to their previous location; not even waiting to hit the outer atmosphere. They broke the sound barrier on entry into the air above the Atlantic Ocean and arrived on the scene of the biggest mess they had ever seen. There must have been fifty boats of various sizes on the ocean’s surface looking up as the monstrous ship hovered only a few thousand feet above them.
As the R4 recovery door began to swing open, the people in the boats below stared up in fear at the mammoth opening above, wondering how something so big could simply float in the air immovable in the strong 30 mph winds. After communicating with the Royal Navy Frigate HMS Iron Duke, it was discovered that they had the sixteen members of the crew from the destroyed Kahana on board. The escaping smugglers were the closest to the detonation and had the most severe injuries. One was already dead. Of the 234 member crew on board the Frigate, all those below deck seemed to be fine. The men and women manning the deck at 0252 had experienced varying levels of radiation exposure. The two worst were blinded by the flash from the nearby fireball. Amber and Katelyn positioned the ship directly over the Iron Duke as Chase and Daniel once again operated the tractor beam. The Navy crew on board spread-out around the ships rail to watch it slowly rise above the water’s surface. Once the 436 foot long ship was grasped and locked in place by the restraining beams, Amber adjusted her position to recover a 1300 foot-long German registered container ship whose crew had been closer than the Frigate and many of the 30 man crew was already sick from exposure. Once again, those deepest inside the protection of the steel walls were least affected. The freighter was lifted from the surface and placed about 50 feet from the Frigate. The last to be brought on board was a 150 foot French fishing trawler. They were closer than the Germans and several of the small crew was unconscious. The Owner and Captain of the trawler, Pierre Halies, was concerned for his crew of 12, especially since several of the crew where his own sons and grandchildren. His trawler was brought on board next and the recovery door immediately closed.
Hover platforms were brought out to transfer the ship crew members to the hanger floor. The Russians were immediately transferred to the Medical Bay along with one blind Royal Navy Able Seaman and one blind Royal Navy Petty Officer. Simultaneously the French were being transferred
from their vessel to Medical as well. There were several of the German crew suffering from radiation poisoning but the worst was the 1st Mate who was looking out the window directly at the location of the blast when it went off, he was also blinded. As soon as the worst cases were dealt with, one by one the crew members were walked through an apparatus that looked much like a metal detector in an airport, however, this machine detected radiation levels, weighed the victim and prescribed the exact dosage of anti-radiation serum to be administered based on exposure level and body weight. It would also indicate anyone who needed to be sent to the regeneration machines in Medical.
Paul looked at his watch and informed the President and his staff, “I apologize, but we will have to conduct the rest of this meeting later, I really should be with my people doing whatever I can to help. If any of you would like to join me, I’ll be glad to give you a ride to the site.” People in the room began to look at each other. General Dorsey spoke-up saying, “By the time we flew to the closest airport and coordinated a helicopter to fly us to the site, it would take hours and we have security to be concerned with.” Paul laughed and replied, “Hundreds of people need help and you’re sitting here so caught up in red-tape you basically end up doing nothing. I have a ship that will carry 24 people. I can have us there in under an hour, and I’ll see to it you get back. I’m leaving now and I’m not waiting around for you people to vote on going or not going. If you want to come, let’s go.” He spoke to General Zarman but the group thought he was speaking to them when he said, “Meet me on the south lawn where the helicopters land.” He turned and walked out of the room, headed for the south lawn. Immediately behind him followed George Sullivan, Samantha Sullivan, Susan Brice and Israeli Defense Minister Barak. The President looked around the room and got up to join them, but his Chief of Staff protested, saying, “We don’t have time to organize a security detail.” President Hensley hurried for the door to catch-up as he was saying, “Sometimes you just have to do what’s right and not worry about security. Anyone care to join me?” Not wanting to be the ones who wimped-out, the rest of the staff followed behind, accompanied by the President’s Secret Service detail.
Paul and the others were standing on the porch facing the south lawn when the President walked up to Paul and asked, “You always take charge like this?” Paul grinned and answered, “I don’t have to answer to as many people as you and I also have no one else to blame when I make a bad decision; our rides here.” The Sullivan’s knew immediately what was going on and had to restrain the smiles when Chief of Staff Malone grumbled, “Did you think you could just fly right into the Presidents backyard through our ADIZ?” Paul looked at the obnoxious man and replied, “Exactly.” General Zarman deactivated the cloaking device at that time revealing a shiny white spaceship with a red dragon on the side parked in the same spot where Marine I usually landed. The side door lowered to form a low ramp and General Zarman stepped out of the hatch. He saluted King Verron and said, “Welcome aboard Verron Flight 1005 with service to the coast of France. I apologize, but due to the short duration of this flight, no inflight snack will be served.”
General Zarman greeted the President with, “Welcome to the Dragon Wagon” as he and Paul boarded the ship. Paul looked at the President and informed him, “I didn’t pick out the name, but it is catchy, don’t you think?” President Hensley laughed and replied, “It does fit the owner’s personality.” Seating the President directly behind the pilot seats, Paul sat down beside him and requested, “Admiral Sullivan, you mind assisting the General while I chat with the President?” The rest of the staff and especially General Dorsey gave her questioning looks as she pushed past a few of them to join General Z in the cockpit. When the cabinet members and the contingent of Secret Service Agents were on board, the President asked, “How long to our destination?” Paul smiled and looked behind him at the inquiring minds waiting for his answer. He looked at Jim and Samantha and indicated they were to meet his schedule, then said, “About thirty-six minutes.” Jim nodded his approval and began to allow the ship to slowly rise above the Nation’s Capital. He didn’t want to make his passengers black out, so he activated the G-Force seats and ship compensator system and hit the throttle as he headed out across Maryland and Delaware towards the Atlantic. Few of the passengers had ever exceeded common commercial aviation speeds; two or three had flown fighter jets or crossed the Atlantic in the Concorde capable of Mach 2. None had ever seen the ground below fly by so fast. Admiral Samantha Sullivan enjoyed announcing, “Leveling off at 20,000 feet, air speed Mach 7, ETA 34 minutes.” The President smiled at Paul and said, “Well, I’ll hand you this King Verron, you definitely know how to get someone’s attention.” Feeling the seat and looking out the window at the ocean below, he added, “I’ve definitely gotta have one of these, don’t you agree Clarence?” The grumpy Chief of Staff, who hated to fly, growled, “No doubt the Senate will be glad to add it into next year’s budget.” President Hensley laughed like a child with a new toy and mumbled, “Spoil Sport.”
Chapter 30
General Zarman and Admiral Sullivan circled the scene below as everyone aboard apprized the situation. They continued to circle and reduce their altitude as they radioed the R4 to have them open one of the six side hanger doors. There had to be at least 70 boats of various sizes in the ocean below and surrounding the hovering R4. In addition, Paul saw two Bombardier 415 Amphibious Planes on the water and several news helicopters flying around; in the distance it was easy to make out more watercraft approaching. Using his visual implant for a close-up look he could see dozens of the boats with photographers and camera crews; two of them looked like tour boats with over 50 people on them. It was a three-ring circus and Verron was in the center ring. A hanger door large enough to drive a Boeing 747 through opened on the northern side of the R4. Those with window seats were glued to the windows, the person next to them leaning over their shoulder, to get a better look at this monstrous flying ship. Samantha cautiously maneuvered the Dragon Wagon through the opening and gently landed the ship about 500 feet from the opening. As she looked around, it didn’t surprise her that even with three large oceangoing vessels inside it was still more than half empty. It even looked like a Football game was about to begin. With British, Germans and French on board it was a Football game; not a soccer game.
The Secret Service Agents climbed out of the ship first and looked around trying to figure out how to secure the area. They took a look at 24 Verron Marines armed with automatic laser rifles, an 9 foot tall blue/gray giant with a sword at least four feet long, several others dressed in commando gray, all wearing daggers or swords of some kind, and armed Royal Navy Sentries making certain their ship was secure; but they really knew their efforts were going to be an exercise in futility when a five-foot-tall redheaded girl in commando gray, with braided pigtails approached the white spaceship wearing a white handled dagger in each boot and a Russian combat knife at her waist. The name on her shirt said, Blade.
She immediately began talking excitedly, “Uncle Paul, I’m sorry I created such a mess! It really wasn’t my fault, but it still makes me feel bad that there is such a mess.” Paul Verron exited the craft with President Hensley by his side. Putting aside all military protocol, he gave her a hug and replied, “I saw the video already. You did everything exactly like you should have. If there is blame to be placed, blame the Russians who sold the Nukes.” The President looked at Tala and back to King Verron, but before he could ask the question on his mind, Clarence Malone, who had heard the conversation, asked, “Am I to understand that this child was flying the ship and fired the missile that detonated the nuclear warhead. Do you realize what a mess you’ve made young lady?” Tala would have had no problem with King Verron or any senior officer on Verron correcting her for a mistake she made, but she really did hate to be talked down to by someone with a condescending attitude. She stood erect to her entire five feet, looked the Chief of Staff in the eye and informed him, “I don’t know who y
ou are mister and frankly I don’t care, but on this ship and on Verron, I outrank you, and besides that you have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.”
While Clarence Malone stood speechless, Admiral Samantha Sullivan, spoke out, “Mr. Malone, Princess Verron is possibly the finest pilot I have ever seen fly. I know of no one on this planet who can do the things she does with a Fighter Ship, or of anyone who has had a personal Mach 5 aircraft since the age of 10. You may want to read the debriefing I gave DIC Brannon on the flying capabilities of all King Verron’s pilots.” Tala smiled and nodded her approval of Samantha’s statement. She turned, unaffected by the Chief of Staff, and said, “The Dragon Guard is about to play its first interstellar soccer game, Verron against Great Britain. Can Amber and Katelyn turn the bridge over to someone and play with the rest of the Dragon Guard? They’re our best players.” General Zarman had just exited the ship behind his passengers and answered for Paul, “I’m on it Princess; I hope you win.” The President looked over at a bunch of Royal Navy sailors removing their shirts and putting on their best running shoes then looked at the competition; a 9 foot giant, a human sized cat and Argentine Football Superstar Lionel Messi (Camil). He looked at Paul, saying, “My monies on Verron.”
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