Titan Stand

by Max Jager

  "So what else did they tell you?" Asked Clath.

  "Not a whole lot, they were just little kids at the time.

  "Well I'm probably around twenty yeans younger than they are,"

  "Well you Neistrian's certainly don't show your ages," replied Matt, "A lot of people back on earth pay a lot of money to try and achieve the same thing. Anyway, forget I brought the subject up," added Matt, We like you, you're an Endorian now and one of us, oh and the fact that you look so much like Yondu only adds to your popularity. Oh and don't worry, I don't think there will be any problems getting all that liquor, might even get it for free or at least a good portion of it."

  "Huh," replied Clath, "What are you talking about?" Matt just smiled,

  "Nothing, just an Idea I've got, I'll let you know after I've thought about it some more."

  Chapter 146

  Titan Stand Chapter 146

  The refueling stop at Fort Kamata took a little longer than expected, so everybody took the opportunity to get off and stretch their legs one last time. Clath and Steve Haines took off for the shop that sold translators as well as other fancy gadgets while Rekton went to talk with the owner of the bar. Major Morford stayed with Orlak, as he wanted to observe the fueling process. Matt and Liam went to check on any messages that might have come in. As both hoped, there were two messages one for each of them sent by their girlfriends. Basically, each wished them each a safe trip and that they were thinking of them. Holliqua also added,

  "Raider threat now very low in Eisel System, however know that you have a friend in the area…H."

  He knew that to mean that there was probably a Malhazar attack ship loitering in the area.

  As they were heading to the landing pad, Matt heard a familiar voice call his name,

  "Matt, over here!" It was his old friends Grak and Karlt.

  "Hey there Matt what are you doing here?" Asked Grak.

  "On another run back to earth, how about you two?"

  "We're just returning from Denedra on our way out to Tasir Var. Say Matt, Queen Breca is starting to get real impatient with you, wants to know why you haven't stopped by to see her."

  "I know, I know Grak," he replied in exasperation, "I've just been too busy. Here, just a sec, let me give you a note to give her hang on I've got some paper here.

  Anywhere else, sending a note torn from a ruled notepad to royalty would be taken as a major gaffe but since actual paper was a rarity out here the slight would be overlooked and might even been seen as something novel.

  "You're Highness;

  Grak has just informed me that you are eager to see me. I deeply apologize for my continued negligence and assure you that I fully intend to pay you a visit just as soon as I return from earth. I will also be bringing a few friends who are just as eager to meet you, until then; Matt

  P.S. Tell K that everyone is happy and well in Dinocki."

  Handing the note to Grak, he said,

  "I know this is not mannerly but it's the best I can do for now. Tell her I'm terribly sorry but I'll make it up to her some how." Saying goodbye to his friends he and Liam were sure they were holding the ship up but Clath was later.

  After they had departed, Matt told Orlak about the low threat from potential raiders, along with a possible Malhazar craft being in the area.

  "Well that's nice to know Matt," replied Orlak, actually I'm more concerned about our return trip, a whole freighter full of liquor will be mighty tempting, however Brand and Rekton assure me there won't be any problems."

  "Probably because they'll have all their bounty hunter and pipe hitter buddies out watching for raiders," thought Matt.

  Later, as he and Liam were eating in the galley, Major Morford came in for a mug of coffee. Sitting down, he held his mug up,

  "Thanks for bringing coffee Matt; I'm not sure I could handle anymore of that crap these aliens drink.

  "No problem sir, that zol' Mel stuff is pretty hard to take, but now that we've made coffee available, everyone I know is switching to coffee or black tea."

  Morford chuckled,

  "I don't blame them, but I'll be sure to have the supply people load as much as they can when we get back to earth." Then after downing another slug, Morford added.

  "Say Matt, when do you think we could get out to visit some of these other worlds? I'd like to get back to Ussen Ommo, and this Denedra you've talked about sounds very interesting as well."

  "Well sir," replied Matt, you're not the only one, I want to see Drok again and see how those purifiers are coming along. Not only that, Queen Breca's on my case to pay her a visit as well, so barring any unforeseen trouble it's looks like "road trip" time just as soon as we get back from here. I want you guys to meet her as well; I think you'd like her. I know Ellen and Doctor Black certainly want to go." Then the major asked,

  "Matt, how did you find yourself involved in all this, I've only heard bits and pieces, but here you are, a young man going on twenty, you have a spacecraft of your own lot's of alien friends, not to mention that you can make my boss sit up and listen, how did it all come about?"

  "Yeah, you tell him," exclaimed Liam, "I'm still mad at myself for not going with you that first time."

  He swallowed a slug of coffee, and began. From the day he was kicked out of school, to meeting up with old Greg, and being taken under Amber's wing.

  He then looked questioningly at the major,

  "Sir, is it wrong to have an android as your mentor, and guiding figure?"

  Morford smiled, and shrugged his shoulders.

  "No, I suppose not. She and those other androids certainly are something aren't they? I read all of Asimov's books when I was a kid. At the time, his robot series was real cutting edge stuff at the time, but when you're around the likes of Amber, Jezang and Gandric it's like comparing the horse and buggy to jet-age travel. Even Data from the Star Trek TV show seems pretty outdated to them."

  "Well all I know is that I couldn't have gotten as far as I have without them," replied Matt.

  "Don't underestimate yourself Matt," said the major, "You are living a science fiction adventure come true, I know you've certainly made a big impression not only with me, but my team as well. Without realizing it, you have possibly cut a good eighty years off our space program, and given it a real shot in the arm. Don't let Janson buffalo you, you've handed his agency a once in a lifetime opportunity, and though he might not show it, he's prepared to support you in any way he can."

  "Well I hope your right sir, because when I'm talking to him I feel like a little kid trying to argue with the principal." Morford laughed,

  "Don't worry Matt; we'll see to it that he treats you fairly."

  On another occasion, Matt came in to find Steve Haines making sketches, and wiring schematics.

  "Whatcha got there?" he asked. Haines looked up from his work,

  "Oh, I'm working on the electrical layout for our flying saucer. I told Gandric I would try to come up with something by the time I got back. Vizak has been helping me plan the general layout. It's really amazing, unlike the stuff we do at home you don't have to work out miles of wiring, like say for an aircraft or something, they have all these modules and short wiring harness's you can configure in any way you want. All you have to do is figure out what you want your craft to do, then figure out what needs power, and in what degree, then go from there."

  "So you guys are pretty sure you'll eventually have an actual flying saucer before long?" Asked Matt.

  "No doubt about it," replied Steve, "Gandric has a machine that recorded all the dimensions of that flying saucer model I brought expanded them up to what we thought was the size the original model was supposed to be. Now all we have to do is fit all the propulsion, and controls inside. You know Matt, I simply cannot get over the tech they have here to speed up design and engineering it's incredible."

  "Isn't it though," replied Matt, "But how about the propulsion system can you actually fit to it to make the thing fly?"

  "No prob
lemo, replied Haines, "According to Gandric and that friend of yours, Gabe, that's the easiest part. Some sort of anti-gravity drive with the shutters underneath controlling elevation and descent. Gandric says it probably won't go very fast but that won't be a big problem."

  "How about out into space?"

  "Gandric's not sure at this point, probably not very far, depends on what kind of life support we can get into it."

  "Well good luck with the project," said Matt, I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product.

  Finally, the K'Sha entered earth's solar system. As Matt and Liam were exiting their cabin, Major Morford came by.

  "Boys, go take a look we're just now passing Saturn with Jupiter coming up, I was able to get some incredible pictures that really show off it's rings, go take a look."

  He was right, checking the scanner readings and making the conversion revealed that they were a little over three thousand miles away. Morford talked Orlak into making a close fly over of Jupiter and Mars.

  "We've got a million photos of these planetary wonders," said the major, "But NASA always appreciates good high definition photos especially at a different angle."

  Later Matt and Liam sat in on a meeting with Clath, Rekton, Orlak, and Major Morford.

  "Where do you think your NASA will have us land?" Asked Orlak.

  "At this point it's hard to say," admitted Morford. "Naturally with a ship this big they'll want us at some isolated location. I'll request that we land at the Cape but if that's not possible then it will probably be Edwards out in California. They'll want to decontaminate the ship first of course."

  "Actually that might not be necessary," replied Orlak, this ship has the ability to decontaminate itself. Generally, since transports and freighters especially travel at relatively slower speeds the chance for picking up unwanted "passengers" is always present. The ship's hull and aft structure can be electrically charged to destroy any living organisms. Believe me Major it's pretty effective, we've been using it on ships of this class for quite a number of yeans now." Morford was highly impressed as Orlak explained that this process generally took place just before and during entry into the planet's atmosphere.

  "When we land, the K'Sha will be completely scrubbed."

  Clath and Rekton were more concerned about getting enough liquor to which the major offered.

  "Wherever we land first, be it the Cape or Edwards, it's going to take a little time to get all our equipment off. Matt you said something to me the other day about landing near your folks place in Colorado. As for all this booze you want to haul back, I'm sure Mr. Janson can get something lined up but it might take a little time. I was thinking Matt that perhaps you might be able to entice your local suppliers to help us out?"

  "I thought of that as well," replied Matt, "I know there's a big beer distributor in Durango and I'm pretty sure a liquor wholesale outfit as well maybe even two. As soon as we go into orbit over earth I'll call my folks and get things rolling."

  Well whatever we do," said Morford, the government will be footing the bill, but first we're going to have to establish value on all these trade items, and whoever supplies the liquor will have to be paid through a government account."

  "Well Mr. Janson told me just before we left the last time," said Matt, "He was going to set up an account everyone would be paid through. If it's only a fifty-dollar purchase from Wal-mart, they get paid through the account.

  Even my folks can't trade gold or diamonds anymore they have to go through the government account that hopefully Janson has set up."

  "Clath," asked the major, "I know your buying liquor, but any particular kind or just a general assortment?"

  "Brand and I argued about that," he replied. "Whiskey seemed to be the most popular but rum and something called tequila all sold out very quickly. Brand wanted me to sample other beverages and add whatever I thought might sell."

  "Well I'm no whiskey connoisseur by any stretch but you've got just regular whiskey, then there's bourbon Irish whiskey Canadian whiskey, scotch, and vodka. Now far be it for me to tell you what to buy, but there are some rather high end whiskeys, cheaper brands go for around twenty dollars a bottle while expensive brands can go for as high as fifty to a hundred dollars a bottle. Are you and Brand looking for cheap liquor, mid priced or expensive stuff?"

  "We talked that over replied Clath, "Naturally we aren't interested in anything cheap but possibly three quarters mid priced with the rest being the more expensive for special occasions. I have to think about this all the local supplies are generally one price but you tell me there are different levels of quality."

  "Well like I said Clath," said Morford, I'm no expert but generally people back home go with what they can afford and that usually means the cheaper brands to the mid priced. You won't go wrong following that advice." Clath looked at Matt.

  "What do you know about it?" Matt held up his hands,

  "Sorry Clath I can't help you, I'm not 21 yet I'm not even supposed to drink beer much less hard liquor."

  "Don't worry Clath," replied the major, "I'll see that we get someone who can help you."

  Rekton also expressed interest in looking around, as did Orlak.

  "As you remember," confessed Rekton, "Our last visit here was something of a disappointment."

  "Why don't you two stick with Steve and me," offered Major Morford, "We'll show you around wherever they have us land. Besides, you can help in getting a proper trade value out of all that metal on board."

  Once the K'Sha fell into a high orbit over earth the major began talking with NASA stating why they were here. As it turned out the Florida coast was suffering from a storm that was shaping into a hurricane, so they were requested to land at Edwards air force base in California. As Morford expected, they were told to land farther out for decontamination purposes. It was a little past two in the morning and the area was lit up with dozens of lights as well as several military helicopters hovering around acting as security. Clath was especially intrigued with them asking for a closer inspection. Janson was enroute from Washington. Matt and Liam were hesitant to call their folks right away as it was one in the morning in Colorado on a weekday so the time was spent chatting and posing for pictures with base personnel.

  Chapter 147

  Titan Stand Chapter 147

  It didn't take long for the media to discover that aliens had landed at Edwards; however, the air force was doing a pretty good job of keeping them out…so far. Matt and the others had been up all night talking to NASA, and base personnel who were having a very hard time believing the whole reason for their visit was to obtain alcohol. Right now, they were all in a room with the base commander, a colonel Everett who had been given a translator. Major Morford and Matt were speaking for the aliens, first having to assure the colonel nobody had any war-like intentions and indeed their mission was legitimate, and purely a trade mission. Basically, they were buying time until Janson got there on his way now by jet.

  The fact that Clath, Rekton, and Orlak were carrying strange looking sidearm's made him and his security people nervous.

  "Relax colonel," assured the major, "You've seen too many sci-fi pictures, and besides everyone here has been to earth before, have another cup of coffee and we'll wait until Frank gets here." Both Matt and Liam used the time to finally call their parents, getting them out of bed.

  "Dad…Sorry to wake you it's me, Matt. Yeah, we're out here in California at Edwards air force base, we would have landed at Canaveral but they've got storms."

  "Matt, we've moved, yeah that's right we got an offer from the realtor that was just too good to pass up. As you know, they have been building houses and condo's like crazy out this way and the offer was just too good to pass up. Yeah it included the gravel pit. We just bought a small ranch north of town just south of Hermosa, it's right on the Animas River, yeah that's right. The place sets way back, and it's gated there's a former pasture I had turned into a landing pad, lights the whole works. I assume you are pl
anning on stopping by?"

  "We are dad, but just not right away. One thing dad, we've come in a pretty big freighter so I hope it can land there. Yeah, well we're here to load up a ton of beer and liquor. It's got nothing to do with me dad, but a couple of my friends opened a bar on a big island and you know we brought a lot back last time. Well It seems that booze from earth is a big hit and everyone's been buying it they've sent a freighter to get more…a whole lot more. Oh one more thing dad, could you get a notice in the paper or something notifying any other of my high school class that's interested in going to Endor this might be their last chance. Also, ask Mr. Macy if he's made up his mind about going. Tell him we've got some unimaginable forests and could sure use his help."