Trading Time
Chapter 11
Josh told the officer about helping the Old Man with the Pirates and everything he was told. Jose knew to just tell it all just like it happened. To try to hide a piece of information or lie always came back to make matters worse. Deceitfulness would be found out sooner or later.
The officer replied. “The Boron Government would like to thank you for your assistance Mr. Galen.
Your freighter will be cleaned and repaired to flight status for your aid in putting an end to the Pirates that had been using our sector as a safe haven.”
Josh thanked the Officer and the Boron Government for there generosity. One of the Officers escorted Josh back to the docking bay where his ships were.
A Rep was waiting on Josh as he walked up and looked at the freighter.
Josh told the Rep that he wanted the speed and rudder enhancements on the Dolphin increased to the max.
Josh went to the office signed the contract and went to the Zipper to contact Ann.
Josh told Ann all about the new Dolphin to be added to there shipping business and the fighter. Ann had been busy herself using the Lifter buying and trading goods with the stations.
Josh told Ann about the Pirates and the Old Man’s story. Ann was thankful that group of Pirates were gone. As she told Josh to hurry back she missed the company and would fell safer with him watching her back.
Josh took the Zipper and headed back to the Equipment Dock to pick up the Orinoco. The trip didn’t take long in the Zipper. The Orinoco's top speed was just about 93m/s and the Dolphin only 70m/s.
Josh decided to buy a multipurpose drone for the Dolphin from Yakima so Sarah could auto-trade on the return flight to the shipyard.
Josh landed and went to Yakima and had him load 4 fighter drones, 5 wasp missiles and a multipurpose drone into the Orinoco. Sarah downloaded her upgrades onto the Orinoco and had it undock and made way to meet up with the Dolphin for fighter escort.
Josh asked about the Old Man but he had already undocked and left the sector heading south to the new Argon Sectors.
Yakima asked Josh to take him to the Equipment Dock at Seizewell to pick up some parts he needed to finish the repairs on a ship. His client was willing to pay 10,000 credits for the parts to be picked up and Yakima wanted to restock all he could fit into the Zipper.
Josh said. “You make it 12,000 credits and you got a deal and you can empty the hole and store it here for more room.”
Yakima rubbed his claws together as he thought looked at Josh and said you have a deal lets go.
Josh undocked and headed for the South Gate. As they entered Profit Share Josh had Sarah auto-pilot as he got up to get Yakima and himself a fruit drink to enjoy as they made small talk the rest of the trip.
As they entered Seizewell they were fired on by Pirates and told. “Drop your shields and surrender or die!”
There were three fighters, two lights and one medium.
Josh replied. “This is the Phoenix if you leave now I’ll forget this mistake and let you live!”
The Pirates replied laughing. “I think we’ll just take your ship and kill you!”
Josh ordered. “Sarah alert Sector Security we are under attack and returning fire and seek support.
Scan the fighters and find me some missiles.”
Josh was returning firing as Sarah responded. “Marking light fighter with wasp and dragonfly missiles.”
Josh quickly directed all fire on the light fighter taking a few shots to the shields as it blew up he turned about and picked up the missiles. And headed away to retarget and load the wasp.
As he turned about a missile was fired at him from the Pirate Buster.
Josh evaded the missile as the turret blew it up as it passed by. Josh fired a wasp at the light fighter causing it to evade and run as he fell in behind the Buster and rained fire on him.
As the Busters shields approach zero the pilot screamed over the COM as he bail out and slammed into a passing freighter.
Josh had Sarah claim the Buster and send it to Yakima’s Station.
Then turned to intercept the running light fighter and said. “I bet you wish you had taken my offer now! If you surrender now I’ll let you live and turn you over to Security!” The pilot ejected.
Josh ordered. “Sarah scan the ship and Pirate for bombs, traps or weapons he bailed too easy.”
Sarah replied. “The ship is clear. The Pirate has a fake leg that’s a bomb with a timer he can set of just before he’s picked up so it will go of inside the ship killing everyone.”
Josh asked. “Can you tell when he activates the timer on the bomb? And how long will we have?”
Sarah replied. “Yes I can tell and it’s a 15-second timer.”
Josh ordered. “Claim the ship and turn to pick him up and when he activates the bomb turn and run.”
Sarah replied. “And if he doesn’t activate the bomb before I have to avoid him what do you want to do?”
Josh answered. “We’ll inform Sector Security and let them deal with him.”
Sarah flew the Zipper to the ship and claimed it. Then turned as if they were going to pick up the Pirate and as they were closing Sarah stated. “Bomb triggered. Evading Pirate.”
The ship was clear as the bomb exploded sending little pieces of the Pirate all over the sector. Josh had Sarah send the Wolf to escort the Buster.
Josh stated. “Yakima I think they wanted to play cards with you!”
Yakima laughed at the remark. Yakima was a good fighter pilot but when you’re in the ship out numbered and watching it’s a little unnerving for anybody.
Josh docked the ship and was going to sell the missiles but Yakima said he would buy them just leave them onboard. Josh felt that Yakima wanted them onboard for defense incase they needed them again and that was fine with Josh.
Josh filled a report with security about the attack on his ship and the out come of the Pirates. Then received payment for ridding the Teladi Company of the Pirate intruders. Security had seen it all and knew what was going on and had it on tape. But not one of them made an attempt to stop the Pirates or help those under attack.
Security Forces would have made their rounds and if the Pirates were still around when they reached that area they would have engaged them. Or if you offered to pay for help that’s why they call it a Company and not a Government. Josh keep his thoughts to himself and the reward and went back to his ship.
Josh noticed an Argon woman haggling with a Teladi over the price of garment she had repaired. Josh stopped and watched at a distance to see what was going on.
The woman had mended a flight uniform for a price already agreed on and now the Teladi wanted her to cut the price.
“Josh walked up and said is there a problem here I need your help.” Talking to the woman then looking at the Teladi with a harsh look.
He paid and left as the woman said. “Thank you and what can I do for you?”
“You can show me your shop.” Josh replied as she led him into the store.
The small shop had clothes and a counter that had scented oils and candles and a few sweet smelling items Josh had never seen.
The woman led Josh to a row with leather coats and shirts. Josh picked out a nice leather coat and asked. “Can you make a protective covering that look like this?”
The woman said right this way as she led Josh into the back to a rack of jackets where the work area of the shop was.
“I have to keep them back here. We had a few jackets stolen so we moved them back here out of sight.
These are my two daughters and partners we sell and make clothing.” The woman explained.
Josh tried a jacket on and was amazed at the comfort, fill and weightlessness. Then Josh looked at the specifications he was impressed with the protection it had and the price was good.
Josh bought a dress jacket and an every day jacket for Ann and himself.
The woman was pleased to have sold the jackets and gave Josh a 5% discount for buying three as he paid for them.
She informed Josh that they wanted to move to Argon space and was about ready and if he knew of a good place to relocate.
Josh told her about the station He and Ann were opening and would need uniforms. Josh asked if she was interested in taking on a silent partner that could help her get into the Trading Station and two worker drones to help on the alterations.
The woman asked. “Who and how silent?”
Josh replied. “Me and 25% till I get my investment back then 20% after that till I make one million credits at that time you can buy my 20% back for its face value.
And your company as long as it business will give my employees a 5% discount on normal priced items.”
Josh told the woman to think about the proposal while he conducted other business. Josh went outside as Saran informed him the Orinoco had landed and transferred the drones to the Dolphin and were ready to set out.
Josh told Sarah. “Launch the Dolphin and start trading as they slowly make their way to Kingdom End for refit. Send the Wolf to escort Ann as she trades till I make it back and send her a message so she will be looking for it.”
Ann’s Dolphin was about ready and Josh wanted to see the ship and the launch.
Josh went back into the store and asked. “What do you think of the offer Mrs.?”
“My name is Umbel Sama and the store is called Darnel’s after my deceased husband. We started this shop together over four years ago. Pirates killed Darnel in space for our ship about two years ago. It was just an old Argon Disco he used to pickup supplies and delivering merchandise
I’ve been renting this shop monthly and we have 4 days left to move or pay another months rent. We want to leave Taladi space and start over in Argon space. I have two young single daughters and I want them to find happiness and the best place for that to happen is in Argon space. I had you checked out and see you do own a station and have a good reputation with the Argon. So yes if you get us a security drone for the new store and pay the moving expenses.”
Josh smiled as he held out his had and replied. “It’s a deal and I’ll have a ship here within 24 hours. So close up shop and start packing and finish what orders you all ready have and leave them at the Information Desk when you leave. I’ll give you 5,000 credits to show my sincerity because talk is cheap.”
Umbel smiled as they signed the contract and Josh transferred the credits saying. “I’ll wait till we get to The Wall and register it at the Trading Station where the store will be.”
Josh made his way back to the dock where Yakima was ready to go.
Sarah replied. “Josh I was reviewing the sector security tapes on the Pirates that attacked us and noticed they had captured a Vulture and hid it in a gas cloud out of sensor range behind the West Gate.”
Josh undocked and set course for the Vulture. As he told Yakima about the ship and promised to get him back to the Equipment Dock in less time that it took to get here. Yakima was puzzled as he said prove it.
As they closed on the cloud the Vulture showed up on the HUD as a derelict. The Pirates had placed mines around the ship.
“Sarah can you defuse the mines or fly the ship out?” Josh asked.
“No without the codes the mines will blow. If we try to scan a mine to get the code it will blow.
If the Vulture moves the mines will blow. If you fire on one and blow it up the others will blow destroying the Vulture. The transporter can be used to move two of the mines. The mines are linked in sets of three if you move one from the set distance all three will blow. I can move the mine to a contrasting point away from Vulture. They link on a 15-second interval.” Sarah explained.
Josh ordered. “Sarah I want you to take control of the Vulture first. Then move us to a safe distance and move the mines. Then get the ship out of there. Then move the mines so they will blow.”
Sarah took control of the Freighter moved the Zipper back, transported the mines and moved the Vulture out to safety.
Yakima was amazed over what he had just seen. As the Vulture reached a safe distance Sarah exploded the mines and asked. “Where do you want the ship to go for repairs?”
Josh asked. “Yakima I want you to repair the Vulture and Buster. And keep this and what I’m about to do quite. These options are about to come on the market and your one of the first to see them. Sarah sent the Vulture to Yakima’s shop and engage the jump-drive to the South Gate entering Ceo’s Buckzoid.”
As soon as the wormhole opened and they exited the Gate Yakima seen they were in his home sector. Josh explained all about the new jump-drive and transporter that was about to be offered to the public. And reminded Yakima to keep quite about what they had done.
Josh told Yakima to max the rudder and speed out on both ships and he would drop of two 5meg shields and weapons for the ships on his return flight. He needed to undock and take care of other business.
Josh undocked and jumped to Kingdom End and headed to the Equipment Dock to meet up with Ann.
Alpha Man Chapter 11
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collins50
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- Joined: Sun, 25. Dec 05, 19:51
I realy enjoy your story,