Argon Prime
Chapter 9
Ann and Josh had finally made it to the Argon Prime Trading Station and were enjoying a meal.
Josh suggested to Ann that they should look the part and both buy a dress suit before registering the factory. Josh explained that there picture would be taken together holding the certificate and it would be placed on file with a scanner record of each of them. So no one could pretend to be the owners.
Josh was waiting on Ann as he noticed a nice looking woman out of the corner of his eye as he looked up and realized it was Ann. Ann was an attractive woman. Josh had never noticed how appealing Ann was. The last two-days had been so frantic all Josh had thought about was staying alive and rescuing hostages. It was nice to just set and not worry about getting shot.
Josh knew that his problems were not over but at least he would have a safe place to go when the station was finished.
Ann and Josh entered the Argon Registers Office and registered the factory the officials were excited about growth. A new factory means jobs for the unemployed and an increase in trade for the other factories. And more taxes for the government.
Ann was excited as they left the office with their pictures and business plaques as she asked what’s next?
Josh explained that the station placement was next and that the TL was loaded and headed to The Wall as they spoke. They needed to take the Zipper and have the Lifter to autopilot to the sector.
As they left the TL was slowly headed to the gate as the entered The Wall. Josh and Ann determined that the best location for the station was above the ecliptic plain in the north east quadrant. Across from the solar power plants for easy trading and away from the trading lanes so it wouldn’t be in the way of traffic. The station would be easy to see and to get to and easy for Argon Security to patrol.
As they relayed the position to the TL as it had just entered the system. The TL’s Caption had to get the approval from the Sector Planning Commission before station deployment.
“Every things been approved and in order station deployment commencing.’ The TL Caption replied.
Josh instructed Sarah to deploy a drone to take pictures of the construction form start to finish for the stations archive records.
Josh and Ann watched as the station was going together when they seen Rob enter the sector with there ships. Hours had passed as they had just been watching the progress of the station and talking.
As Josh suggested to Ann that they should have a dinner on the Trading Station for the pilots so they could meet them. Ann quickly agreed and informed Rob about their plains. As Ann had made the arrangements with the station she notified Rob when to have the pilots there and then contacted Rose to inform her of the get-together. Rose gladly accepted the invitation and as she was already on her way to the station.
Things were moving so quickly two days ago Rob and Rose had just been rescued and were in medical.
Now they were the two main ones in charge of the station. Their physical wounds had been repaired but Josh was concerned about their mental condition. The counselor had assured Josh that getting the job of their dreams had made his job a whole lot simpler.
Josh wanted to use this dinner to assure Rob and Rose that were not just employees but hoped they could become friends.
The dinner was going well and the food was great. Josh and Ann had given their welcome and thanks speech to the pilots. Josh had spoken to Rob and was relieved to discover how sensible and positive he was. The party had gone on for a while and was nearing time to leave. Josh had talked to the pilots and had sat down beside Rose and was talking to her about the factory and found that Rose was a very positive, confident and well trained leader. She was not going to let her misfortune crush her dreams or character. Rose was determined to go forward for her and her son.
Rose was a good looking woman as several of the pilots had been looking at her throughout the party but was afraid to speak seeing that she was the general manager of the station.
As the party was closing Rose asked Josh to escort her back to her room, seeing she felt a little lightheaded.
Josh walked Rose to her room as she asked him would he come in she had a private matter that she wanted to talk about?
Rose started telling Josh how grateful she was for rescuing her and her son. How no one was willing to go after her son but Josh and how she would be eternally thankful! Josh reassured Rose He was just glade He could help. As Josh started to get up and leave. Rose placed her hands to Josh’s head and pulled him close and gave him a kiss and said please let me finish. Josh eased back in the seat next to Rose ready to listen. Rose was a little intoxicated but clearly had something to tell Josh.
Rose explained that she wasn’t getting any younger and she wanted to be loved and to love again. Her husband had been dead for a few years and she was ready to move on with her life. That her son was great but she wanted more children. As she kissed Josh again telling him that if he would have her she would do her best to make him happy. As she embraced Josh with a kiss.
By this time Josh was clearly enjoying her affection as he pulled her close while kissing her.
Only to realize she had just passed out in his arms.
Josh quickly scanned Rose and downloaded her activities for the day and discovered the doctor had given her a pill to help keep her calm thanking it would be a stressful business dinner for Rose.
The pill was no to be mixed with drinking and Rose had not been warned so she had two glasses of wine.
As Sarah explained one of the side affects of the mix was a heightened sexual behavior and drowsiness and a few others.
Rose would be fine. But she would have a pounding headrace when she wakes up. All Rose needed now was to sleep it off.
Josh didn’t want to embarrass Rose in any way so he left her a message as he laid her down on her couch and placed a blanket on her.
“I want to thank you for your charming offer but I can’t give you what you want. Please forgive me.”
Josh felt awkward as he left Roses room. This woman has some kind of affection for me Josh thought as he went to the Lifter to get some rest.
Ann had all ready turned in and was onboard Sarah informed Josh as he laid down and ordered the ship to be secured and to let him get at least 6 hours of sleep.
Josh felt the lonesomeness as he lay in his bed it felt good to hold a woman again.
“God said its not good for a man to be alone so he made a woman.” Josh thought about his childhood teachings and how he missed his family, but for now alone was all he could risk!
Josh thought about a girl he had loved. She was training to be a fighter pilot and was in her senior year when they met at a top gun pilot meeting. Josh was the new kid and she was the pest pilot of the group. Josh told her one night after a one on one training simulation he let her win.
She demanded he prove it and he did 5 times before she accepted that he could.
Josh asked that she keep it to herself and if they could train together?
A bond soon formed between the two that turned into love.
A Xenon fighter group killed her on a training mission. She and her wingman had gone after a scout ship headed for the gate as several Xenon fighters entered the sector and turned on them.
Josh felt as if a part of him died with her.
Josh changed his thoughts to something a little more pleasant and went to sleep.
As Ann and Josh got up they started talking about going to Boron space and getting a new Dolphin.
Josh showed Ann the new model of the Dolphin and Ann didn’t like it at all. She liked the older version better and chose to refit and upgrade an older Dolphin.
Josh and Salas had been working on a refit design all ready with three 25 fast charging shields of Josh’s design. The redesigned ship would be faster, maneuver quicker and have 3200 units of open cargo space fully outfitted with deluxe dual cabins, turrets front and rear a missile launcher and a thicker more resilient hull.
Josh had designed the freighter for himself and Ann was impressed with the modified engineering design.
Ann looked at Josh and asked how long would it take and how much is it going to cost?
Josh said lets undock and check out the station and our new pilots. Then we can jump to the Kingdom End Shipyard and talk to Salas.
I’ll call ahead and have him buy a Dolphin and send him the material list of what we’ll need and let him get it for us.
If our drones do all the work and we rent a repair bay from Salas to modify the Dolphin and construct the new shields from parts and material it will take about 14 days with 4 drones and cost about 600,000 credits.
We have two repair drones onboard that can be used and we need to get two construction and two repair drones. They can cut 6days off the refit time and I know where I can get them all for 125,000 credits and we are going to need them later on the station.
Going Forward
Chapter 8
“Thanks Ann I’m sure they’re still a lot of people that would like to get their hands on me for what I know or who I am.” Josh explained.
“Ann I’m going to have a cabin installed on the Dolphin like this do you likes it?” Josh asked.
Ann replied. “I would like that. What about the Split boy I don’t want to see him end up in an orphanage.”
Josh stated. “I’ll contact Noah and have the boy taken to the Goner Temple. They’ll find him a good home. I’ll put 50,000 credits in an account for the boys’ upkeep and counseling.”
Josh explained. “Ann there’s 3 1/2 million credits in gold tokens in the hole of the Dolphin and 1/2 is yours. But if you were willing to pitch in with me I would like to buy a wheat farm and place it in The Wall.
There are 15 worker drones and 6 security androids and 2 maid androids. Elk will be working for us for at least 6 months as a pilot. Caption Mitchell has released him into my custody after finding out he was just being used. If he stays out of trouble after 6 months of probation his sentence will be removed from his record and he can do whatever he wants.
I would like to offer Rob a job as the Senior Pilot at the Wheat Farm. Elk would be Rob’s assistant and Rob can tutor Elk in his piloting skills.
And I would like you to offer Mrs. Shell a position as our Sales and Acquisition Agent for the Wheat Farm.
We can order a Lifter to sell the wheat and equip it with our stocked equipment. And leave the Dolphin here to buy energy cells. One of the medium fighters and the bat for station defense. The Argon Navy has a Carrier in the sector for security so we should be safe.
I estimate we can do this for about 2 1/4 million credits. Then we take and go to Boron space as planed and buy you a new Dolphin.
The Argon Government has an opening for a Wheat Farm to be placed in that sector for an established corporation. I have a corporate license that I obtained three years ago for Galaxy Venture Enterprises.
Salas No my friend at Kingdom End does repairs and upgrades or buys and sales ships. I’m a part owner in his company and it’s underwritten through G.V.E.
I helped a friend get a restaurant started on the Argon Prime Trading Station and he is paying me back through G.V.E.
So what do you thank you want a Wheat Farm Miss Dane?”
Ann was astonished and overwhelmed at the fact she was about to get a Wheat Farm as she replied. “Yes”
Josh ordered. “Sarah file the request with the Argon Shipyard at Argon Prime. And that we will be there within the next 12 hours to make payment. And hire the sectors TL when our request is accepted and finalized.”
“Ann offer Mrs. Shell a 10% increase in pay over the company she was headed to.
And a quarterly profit share bonus of 1/2 of a percent of the Wheat Farms profits. I want her to be our General Manager over the Wheat Farm. The company she was headed to and the place she was at the jobs have already been filled. With Her qualifications we are fortunate to have the opportunity to hire her.” Josh replied.
Ann asked. “Are you going to talk to Rob about taking the Senior Pilots Position for the Wheat Farm?”
“Right after we get the approval for the station from the Argon Prime Shipyard. We should know something in about 2 or 3 hours. So get some rest if you can there’s an extra sleeper in here.” Josh replied.
“Sarah have a deluxe cabin installed on the Dolphin and have the cargo hole extended to the maximum. Ann and I are going to get some rest so secure the ship.
Contact Noah at the Goner Temple and inform him about the Split child and our donation so they can pick the boy up.
And wake me in 3 hours or when we get conformation about the station.” Josh ordered.
Ann and Josh made their way into their sleepers. As sleep came very quickly for the two not realizing how exhausted they had become.
Over in the security department Sherry and Caption Mitchell are having a discussion.
“Caption Mitchell I want to keep my bat and see that it’s repaired for me. Give Mr. Galen 100,000 credit for the Bat and tell him thanks I owe him my life. I told him my first name [Sherry] but nothing else.
You know I like him He intervened just in time. I was about to get passed around like a snack to them dogs!
When I get back to Argon Prime I’m going to tell the President about how slack security is in Ore Belt. The ship I was captured in was never scanned or when we were escaping not one Argon ship came to check on or to assist a ship being fired on.
Please can you just get me home I want to be with my family now I’m exhausted and I just want to go home!” Sherry stated.
“I’ll take you home personally Mama. You can rest on your way home I’ll have two escorts with me. And Argon Prime security has already sent a pair of Elite fighters for added safety.
I’m not pleased with the way security is being handled in Ore Belt and will place a formal complaint to the Argon Prime Security Commander myself.” Caption Mitchell declared.
Sherry’s capture was just a random act of pirating. They didn’t know anything about her all they seen was an easy target. An easy ship to sell and slaves was there interest, not a political prisoner.
Caption Mitchell escorted Sherry backs home to Argon Prime and her family.
Sherry was a family friend and an aid to the President. She was on a lobbing mission for the President when she was captured.
Caption Mitchell would be man of the hour thanks to Josh. Caption Mitchell was appreciative to Josh for going after the boy and saving the girl. Josh and Ann’s rescue of the Boy’s and Sherry along with a special thanks for there help in eliminating a Pirate gang was in Caption Mitchell’s report he sent to Argon Security Command.
Sarah had received confirmation about the station and had just awakened Josh. “The station has been approved. The TL has been hired and is on way to the Shipyard.
The Bat has been seized by Argon Security and has offered a 100,000-credit compensation for it.”
Josh replied. “Take the offer on the Bat and remove any of your programming from the Bat. Are the doctors finished with Robert and Rose?’
“Mr. Lank is in his room. Mrs. Shell is still in recovery. All surgeries have been completed and paid for.”
Sarah stated.
“Sarah wake Ann after Mrs. Shell is taken to her room and she’s alert and moving.” Josh stated.
Josh was on his way too talk to Rob about the job offer. The bat had been moved to a secure area. The other ships were starting to look good Josh thought as he walked past them. The Zipper had returned and was docked the supplies were being offloaded as Josh ordered.
“Sarah don’t installing the transporter and jump drive on the Dolphin. Finish construction and store them in the cargo hole of the Lifter.”
The Argon Government and Goners had designed their jump drive to us energy cells and wouldn’t work without them. Josh had helped in their development and was aware that the need for energy cells was a safety concept to keep pirates from taking advantage of its benefit. The jump-drive and transporter were going to be released for sales after security buffers have been installed on stations and buildings where security is a concern.
New weapons and ships were about to be offered to those with a good reputation with the race they were dealing with.
The new TP class and the Corvette were going to be made available before long. And a completely redesigned line of ship was about to come out.
The older ships won’t be able to compete or keep up with the bigger, faster and newer versions. So most will be decommissioned and scraped.
Wharfs were about to be built throughout the universe to ease with the transition off ship replacement and decommissioning.
Josh wanted to make sure that all the new features was a part of the station he was receiving so he went to the commutations office and requested a line to the shipyard.
The officer relayed to Josh his line to the shipyard was ready as he handed Josh the handset.
“This is Josh Galen I want to make sure that all the new features are a part of the package. And can you add an additional secured section to the station for research and development with its own small docking bay? Here’s the ideal size give or take 10%.” Josh relayed the information to the shipyard.
The shipyard had the newer features for the station and realized that if Josh knew about them he was someone with inside connections. So his request was granted for the additions and updates.
“The new upgrades and the additional section and docking bay will be added to the Wheat Farm. You will need an additional shield for the added section. The cost will be 250,000 credits extra for the additions. And an added 12 hours to add them and load the TL.
Do you want to proceed with the additions?” The Representative asked.
Josh replied. “Yes here is my account number I will authorize the transfer off full payment now.
When the TL is loaded send it to The Wall I’ll meet with the Caption there to decide on the deployment area. Are the new ship models available for purchase? I need a M5 and TS.”
“We have a new M5 none of the other models are out. But I can give you a 10% discount on one freighter because you purchased a station.” The shipyard rep replied.
“Good I want a new M5-S and one TS-S max out the rudder, speed and cargo on both ships. A deluxe cabin on both ships and a 4-passenger compartment added on the M5.” Josh ordered.
“I don’t have a 4 passenger for the Disco but I do have a 6 and you will lose 10 units of cargo space.
Do you want the 6 or do you wish to wait till we have a better selection. Or we can give you an older model with what you want.” The sales rep replied.
“I’ll take the 6 passenger on the new model. And send both ships here when there finished. I authorize the transfer of full payment on the ships now.”
Josh ordered.
“Sarah notify the Station Bank security to come and pick up and deposit the gold tokens into my corporate account. Calculate what has been spent on the factory and ships subtract the Lifter we captured and the addition to the factory and tell me what’s left.” Josh ordered.
Sarah informed Josh there would be over 1.9 million left. Josh was headed to offer Rob the Senior Pilot position. Rob was up and looking on the Universal Net for a pilots job.
Josh informed Rob about the job offer and its responsibilities and how Elk was part of the deal.
Rob quickly accepted the position and the salary. Josh told Rob to go to the Dolphin and review the supplies and get what he and Elk would need. And to start interviewing pilots and to hire at least 6 freighter pilots and 6 fighter pilots. And the jobs would start as soon as the factory was completed. Which would be in about 2 weeks from today. Josh opened an account for the Wheat Farm and placed 500,000 credits in it for operating funds.
Ann had talked to Rose and had hired here as Manager of the Wheat Farm. Ann asked Josh to meet her onboard the Lifter.
Josh instructed Sarah to upgrade the new Disco and Lifter using the supplies on hand that would take the last two 25 watt shields in stock. And move the remaining stock into the new Lifter. Except what it would take to outfit a new Dolphin and place it on Josh’s Lifter with the extra transporters and jump drives.
Josh entered the Lifter and sat down across from Ann and asked? “What do you want to call the Wheat Farm? And what do you want to name our shipping venture?
What did you want to talk about Ann?”
“We can’t leave the ships here while the station is being built. We need to store them at the shipyard the Dock Master has given us 18 more hours to finish the repairs and make way.” Ann conveyed.
“Rob can take the ships to the Goner Temple and have transporters installed on them while he’s interviewing pilots. Rose can start interviewing personal there also. The Goners know a lot of people who needs a job they are prescreened and rated and would be a perfect place to start from.
Sarah place two repair drones on my Lifter and the other two on the new Lifter.
Sarah download your upgrades onto all our ships and place your programming on one of the maid androids and take control of it.
And change it into pilots’ apparel and select some weapons and a scanner for security the android will be Rose’s pilot and assistant. And if needed protection for Rose and her Son. When it’s ready send it to Rose.” Josh ordered.
Josh informed Rose about the android and her ship for now was the new Disco. And instructed Rob to take the new Lifter as there command ship and the Dolphin and the two M4s to the goner Temple.
Josh explained to Rose and Rob about going to the Goners first and why and what to do to the ships.
Then Josh instructed Rob after he hired the pilots to go to sector The Wall and use the Dolphin to start trading and the fighters as escorts. Too keep a fighter on each freighter and use the Lifter as their base ship and keep it in The Wall as the station is being assembled. And limit the Dolphins trading to Argon Prime and The Wall. And Rose would have to rent a room on the Trading Station at The Wall and inform her personal when the Wheat Farm was ready.
Josh and Ann decided about a name for the station and the shipping business.
The station name and any others would be called Golden Enterprises.
And the shipping would be called Rious Shipping.
Josh and Ann had to go to the Argon Prime Trading Station and register Golden Enterprises Wheat Farm and Rious Shipping with the Argon Commerce Office.
Josh was thanking about all that had happened as they left the station headed for Argon Prime.
And how they can at last set down and eat that meal he promised Ann.
Ann replied. “That sounds good to me. When do we leave?”
Josh replied. “Now we’ll fly to Robs Lifter to transport any of the stock we can use and then jump to Kingdom End and you meet Salas No.”
Josh had Sarah fly them to Robs Lifter to get the extra parts while the Zipper flew escort. They talked to Rob as they admired the station and discussed the additional section and docking bay.
Josh told Rob that it was for research and ship repair and would be a self-sufficient section and not part of the Wheat Farm.
As Josh and Ann said their farewells and headed out and jumped to Kingdom End.
Alpha Man Chapter 9
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