Inadvertent Adventures

by Jones, Loren K.

  The reply to their broadcast in-system was stunning. The compressed message took ten minutes to receive, and took up thirteen gigabytes of storage. “Lords of Space, what the hell is all that?” Sterling asked as he began the decompression sequence. What it was turned out to be lengthily messages from DA-CC, GMM, Maritz Mines, the Confederate Government, and just about every news service in the confederacy.

  Sterling opened the government message first. “To Captain Stevenson and the crew of the space ship Admiral Ann’s Revenge, from the Planetary Affairs Commission,” Commissioner Terras said as he smiled, “we are pleased to announce that the planet Frisland is habitable by humans, and shows no sign of a sentient native species. The crew of the Admiral Ann’s Revenge is granted full rights to the planet Frisland as well as the other five planets of the Farflung System. Upon receipt of this message, we request that you come to Atlanta to begin annexation negotiations. On behalf of the Planetary Affairs Commission, this is Commissioner Terras.”

  Sterling grinned at Ann, and she smiled back just as broadly. Ann opened the ship-wide intercom and said, “It’s ours. Planetary Affairs has granted us full rights to Frisland and wants to annex the Farflung System.” The sound of someone screaming with joy came from the direction of the wardroom, and Ann giggled at Sterling. “I don’t know who that was, but I agree.”

  The DA-CC message was next. “Captain Stevenson,” Countess Alexandra said from the screen, “we have the report from Mintze concerning the planet Clementine. Per our agreement, we have already dispatched the mining base ship Neander to Farflung to begin extraction, and the ore carrier Beowulf to begin shipping. When you receive this message, please come to New Frankfurt to begin negotiating for rights to the planet Frisland. There is an attachment to this message that is personal for Kat. Please deliver it to her. On behalf of DA-CC, congratulations.”

  “After we deal with Planetary Affairs,” Sterling said as he looked at Ann.

  “There’re messages from Maritz Mines, Germanicus Mining and Minerals, and about a dozen other mining concerns,” Ann noted. “Those will wait. Well, maybe we can talk to Maritz while we are here. There are also requests for interviews with every news agency from Confederate News to the New Kashmir Enquirer. This is going to take forever to sort out.”

  Sterling nodded. “I’ll separate out the personal mail and send it to the queues. Then we can begin looking at the mining rights requests.”

  *

  The first message for Katrina was from her mother. She opened the file and smiled as her mother’s image smiled up at her. “My darling Kat, how we’ve missed you. I know you are a grown-up now, but I really want you to come home for a visit. As you already know, your father and I have gone our separate ways. His actions forced me to respond.

  “Your sister Cynthia has provided you with three new nieces. Yes, I said three. The triplets were born on November third, thirty-five thirty-two.” Kat looked at the chrono that had automatically reset when they reached Beloofte. It was October ninth, thirty-five thirty-three.

  “Katrina, I know you wanted to go see the universe, to explore the Confederacy, but you’ve done that now. Come home. We miss you terribly. I love you, darling.” The recording blanked and Katrina sat back. Her mother hadn’t said something. She could see it in her eyes. Sighing, she stored the message and moved on to her other mail.

  The second message was from her father. She considered just deleting it, but curiosity was her major vice and she opened it anyway. “Katrina,” Brandon began, “while I cannot force you to return to us, I must urge you to do so. Come home and all will be forgiven. This adventurous life you have chosen is likely to end in your death. Johan told us of the injuries you sustained in the initial accident that led to the discovery of Frisland. It is irresponsible of you to—”

  She stopped the recording and snarled at the screen. “Father knows best. Father decides. Father can kiss my ass,” she said at last and deleted the file.

  The last was from Aunt Alex. “My little Kat, oh, how you’ve made me proud! You are now a one-tenth owner of a star system! Brandi is beside himself. He wants to take your proxy for Farflung and begin expanding DA-CC in that direction, under his control.” Kat bared her teeth at her aunt’s image. Now she knew what her mom hadn’t said. “Kat, you are not bound to let your father control your assets. He lost all legal rights when he disinherited you. I will be negotiating with Ann and Sterling Stevenson on behalf of DA-CC. Your father will not be in charge, no matter what machinations he has in mind.”

  Katrina stopped the playback and sat back, nodding to her aunt’s image. “So, my ever so beloved father thinks he’s going to manage my life after the way he treated me. Fat chance.” She started the playback again.

  “Kat, I don’t know if this has occurred to you yet, but your percentage of the Farflung system is going to exceed the value of all of Brandi’s stock in DA-CC. It has occurred to him. That’s why he wants control of your assets. If he has them, he can take control of DA-CC again.”

  “Like hell,” Katrina snarled.

  “I think you just said something profane, and you should be ashamed,” her aunt’s image said, then laughed. “I know you, Kat. You are so very like me at your age. I’ll remind you of something else: Your good captain’s big brother is Secretary of Commerce Fairmont. She, and by extension he, are likely to have a lot to say about how Farflung is run. And she seems to have your best interests, and indeed the best interests of her entire crew, in mind. I’d personally recommend giving her full authority over your percentage of Farflung. That’s all for now. You should receive this message when you return to Beloofte. I’m sure more will happen between now and then, but we’ll catch up when you return to New Frankfurt. Until then, be well.”

  Countess Alexandra’s image faded and Kat sat back. “Father and his grasping for power are getting old.” She looked at her computer and shook her head. She hadn’t really considered what her percentage of the Farflung System was going to be worth, other than a lot, but she wasn’t surprised that her father had.

  She called up the reports on Clementine and Leander. Her computer had access to the entire Beloofte Planetary Net, and she started assessing mining futures and the stock of the local mining conglomerates as well as that of reports from other systems.

  Sometime later, her intercom chimed. “Yes?”

  Carrie-Marie’s voice asked, “Are you cooking today, Kat?”

  “What?” she asked, then looked at her chrono. “Oh, shit! On my way!” She hit the “save file” command and all but ran for the wardroom. She found CM waiting for her. “Sorry.”

  “You have time, but just barely,” CM said as she watched Kat slide past her.

  “Sorry, sorry, sorry,” Kat chanted as she hit her menu selection and punched the “Really Quick” tab.

  “What were you doing, reviewing your mail?”

  “Yes and no. I already listened to all of the messages, and I was checking out some things Aunt Alex said.” Katrina was measuring ingredients as she spoke and pouring them into a big pot. “My father is going to try taking over my assets so he can control one tenth of Farflung.”

  “Kat, that’s not-”

  “I’m not going to let him, don’t worry about that,” Katrina interrupted. “Aunt Alex suggested letting Captain Ann and Sterling handle everything, and I think she’s right. I was checking mining projections and stocks on the net when you called.” She turned to look at CM. “My best guess, and that’s just based on the report on Clementine, not Leander, Frisland, or Jarnsaxa, is that each of us is worth about sixty billion Confederate Credits now.”

  Carrie-Marie looked at her as her lip quivered. “B-B-B-Billion?”

  “Yeah, about sixty billion. Each.” Kat grinned at the stunned expression on CM’s face. “Of course, that doesn’t consider cost, that’s just what the raw materials are going to be worth. Figure at least fifty percent loss on extraction, processing, and transport, and the fact that we’re onl
y going to receive a small portion of DA-CC’s profits for a while. Still, that’s-”

  “That’s still a few billion each,” CM finished for her.

  “And that’s just Clementine,” Kat continued.

  “Leander has even more valuable minerals,” CM pointed out.

  “With a proportionately higher cost of extraction because of its location and the amount of radiation and radioactive materials to deal with. I haven’t done the calculations yet, but I’d guess another ten to fifteen billion each. It’s Frisland that’s going to really be valuable, though.”

  “Colony rights?” CM guessed.

  “Among other things,” Kat agreed. “Depending on what we-well, really depending on what I can do with the local flora and fauna, we may have a full resupply station right there for exploration between Farflung and the edge of the Confederacy.”

  “More than DA-CC is going to have to be involved, Kat. We’re going to need a space station at Frisland and Clementine, and probably Jarnsaxa as well. The Tivor Carva can act as a refueling station for now, but something else is going to have to be done.”

  “Yep, and I’ll bet Captain Ann and Sterling aren’t going to be as generous in the terms as they were to get Mintze and Tivor Carva out there. Not with a habitable planet and every multi-system conglomerate begging for a piece of the pie. DA-CC got a great deal on the first round, but I’m betting that Frisland and Leander get better deals for us.”

  Carrie-Marie grinned and sniffed. “That smells good. What did you make?”

  Katrina grinned and replied, “Chili.”

  CM laughed and said, “I’m glad I’m not on watch with Bart tonight.” Katrina had to laugh with her.

  Chapter 31

  REPRESENTATIVES OF MARITZ MINES OF BELOOFTE met the Admiral Ann’s Revenge as soon as she docked. Three women and four men were waiting when the mandatory health checks had been completed and the hatch opened.

  “Captain Stevenson,” a well-dressed woman said as she stepped forward, “I am Elmalene van der Horst, Vice President of Extraterritorial Mining for Maritz Mines.” She smiled when Ann took her extended hand.

  “I’m pleased to meet you, Madam van der Horst,” Ann replied. “This is my husband and First Mate, Sterling Stevenson.”

  Everyone on the dock nodded briefly to Sterling, then Madam van der Horst spoke to Ann again. “Captain, were you contacted by David de Klerk in Farflung?” When Ann looked puzzled, she continued. “I thought the timing seemed too close. He probably arrived after you left. It is our understanding that you haven’t made any agreements concerning mining on your inner planets other than number three. Is this still the case?”

  Ann nodded her head deeply. “It is, though we named the third planet Clementine. DA-CC has exclusive rights there for five years. Leander, the second planet, has no claims on it as of yet.”

  “Ah, good.” Madam van der Horst sighed. “We were afraid that DA-CC might have made arrangements concerning the other planets as well. And what of Frisland?”

  “Frisland will be opened for colonization and exploration soon, but the Confederate Government has asked us to begin annexation negotiations. We won’t be making any arrangements until the annexation is settled.”

  The men and women on the dock exchanged glances before Madam van der Horst spoke again. “Very well, Captain, but as to your second planet, you called it Leander?” she asked, tilting her head to the side. When Ann nodded, she continued. “We would like to open negotiations concerning Planet Leander. I am accompanied by the six vice presidents who will be involved with your system if we can reach an agreement.”

  Ann gave Sterling a curious look before she turned back. “We would be pleased to open negotiations with you, Madam van der Horst. If you and your colleagues would care to join us, we have a full set planetary scans in our computers. We were able to convince the Mintze to leave their survey instruments behind.”

  Again the men and women looked at one another, then as one stepped forward. “That was a bold move on the part of the Mintze’s captain. We would like to review your findings, if we may?”

  Ann and Sterling bowed slightly and led the way into the ship. Since these negotiations were going to affect everyone, Ann led them into the wardroom. She spotted Katrina in the galley and said, “Miss Von Rubenstein, please arrange for refreshments to be brought in from the station.” She indicated the table at the front of the room because it had the briefing controls.

  Kat came to attention and replied, “Yes, Ma’am,” and turned away.

  “Von Rubenstein, Captain?” Madam van der Horst asked.

  “Yes,” Ann replied with a smile. “Perhaps now you see part of why we gave such favorable terms to DA-CC in our initial negotiations, and why Captain Banner of the Mintze was willing to leave us his scanners.” She and Sterling took one side while the seven members of the Maritz team took the other.

  “I do indeed,” one of the men murmured. “If it’s not prying, what is her relationship to the DA-CC Chairman?”

  Sterling sat forward slightly and answered. “She is the niece of Countess Alexandra Von Rubenstein-Habsburg, and the daughter of former chairman Brandon Von Rubenstein.”

  One of the other women sat forward now. “So DA-CC essentially controls ten percent of your system already.”

  Ann snorted in amusement. “Not on your life. Katrina controls one tenth, not her aunt or father.”

  “Even so, for one so young, her family must exert a large amount of control.”

  Ann’s eyes were brimming with laughter as she replied, “Not so you’d notice. Let’s leave Miss Von Rubenstein out of this for now. She will, as a voting stockholder, have a say in ratifying any agreement, but she and the rest of the crew have left the negotiating to us. Now, Planet Leander.” Ann used the controls at her side to call up a hologram of Leander. “The planet is a rocky body with a thin, poisonous atmosphere. Surface gravity is one-point-two-two standard Earth gravities. It has a twenty-nine point three hour rotation, and a two-hundred and eight day period. Leander shows every indication that it is tectonically active, and we observed twelve active volcanoes while were doing our survey.” Ann marked the volcanoes in red.

  Sterling took up the briefing. “It’s proximity to Farflung results in a high radiation field in orbit, but it also has a strong magnetosphere that helps compensate to some extent. Still, any orbiting station will have to be well-shielded. Fortunately, Leander shows high concentrations of heavy elements, including lead for shields. There also seems to be an abundance of uranium and transuranic elements.” He paused as the people on the other side of the table grew excited. “Thought you’d like that.”

  Ann took over again now that Sterling had dangled the bait in front of them. “We will not be granting exclusive rights to Leander like we did with Clementine, but we are inclined to grant favorable terms to any organization willing to invest in opening the Farflung System.”

  Ann and Sterling sat with the Maritz Mines people for seven hours before Ann nodded and stood. “I think we have an agreement. We have to present it to the crew for acceptance, which we will do this evening. I will contact you in the morning with our decision.” She smiled and nodded toward the door, and the seven vice presidents took the hint.

  Madam van der Horst stood and nodded her head deeply to Ann. “I will present this to our Board of Directors and Chairman as soon as we land, Captain. While we would have preferred an agreement like the one you made with DA-CC, I feel certain they will be pleased with what we have arranged.”

  Ann and Sterling escorted their guests out of the ship and stopped beside Thom at the port. “Good news, Captain?” Thom asked when he saw her expression.

  “Very good, Thom. I’ll give everyone the details at supper so we can vote. For now, just be aware that they are willing to send a mining and refinery ship to Leander orbit.” Thom chuckled as Ann and Sterling turned back toward the ship.

  Katrina and Carrie-Marie met them in the wardroom. Kat stepped for
ward and placed a fresh pot of coffee on the table. “Real coffee, Captain.”

  Sterling pushed past Ann and poured cups for both of them. “Oh, Kat, you’re an angel,” he all but sighed as he took his first sip. They had run out of real coffee a month before they arrived.

  Ann was laughing, but she was sipping her coffee as well. “CM, double loadout of coffee from now on. Store it in an empty berthing compartment if you have to, but I never want to drink that concentrated swill again.”

  Carrie-Marie smiled over the lip of her cup. “Yes, Ma’am. From what I overheard, the Maritz deal sounds good.”

  “It is,” Sterling agreed, “but we’ll give everyone the full details tonight.”

  *

  That evening the entire crew gathered in the wardroom, including Doctor Mandel. He, however, didn’t have a say in the matter. Only the ten members of the crew who were on board when Farflung and Frisland were discovered held an interest in the system. The good doctor sat and fumed in impotent rage as he sipped his coffee, glaring at the rest of the crew.

  Ann stood and smiled at everyone, then began. “Maritz Mines wants to begin mining Leander. Because of the remoteness of Farflung and the need for materials in-system, they are sending out the robotic mining and refinery ship Langenhoven to begin extracting shielding materials. It’s going to be a one-way trip for the old Langenhoven. The ship will be the center of an orbital refining operation, and will be staying in Farflung to supply the system needs as well as refined products to send back to the Confederacy. They are also going to send out the old Kosviner Line cruise ship Tashmeryn as a safe berthing and rest station. It would seem that Maritz owns a lot more than just mines. The Tashmeryn will be in Frisland orbit, and will be the Maritz supply station as well. We have permission to use the Tashmeryn facilities for R and R. Two guesses whose idea that was.” She paused to grin at Sterling, but he just grinned back. “In return, we are granting Maritz three years free run, with a ten percent net payment from that point forward. We are not granting them exclusive rights. This is not as generous as our contract with DA-CC, but it is close. And it’s the last time we’ll do it. Any further contracts will require payment from the start, but we felt the offer from Maritz was generous enough to warrant a little generosity on our part.”