Ann’s Dolphin
Chapter 12
Josh docked close to the Dolphin and walked over to Salas and asked. “Has Ann seen it?”
Salas turned and replied. “Not yet I’m glad to see you Josh. The ship is a peace of art. Would you like to take a look at her?”
“Not now I want to wait on Ann it’s her ship and she should be the first to go aboard.” Josh replied.
“Salas I need a team of freighter and fighter pilots to keep a Dolphin and Buster running long runs and a Vulture doing in sector and local runs. And five multipurpose drones one for the fighter and two for each freighter. I need to put the ships to work generating some credits. I have an Orinoco escorting a Dolphin headed this way. The Vulture and Buster will be here tomorrow after I drop of some parts.
I want you to refit the Orinoco into a custom designed fighter I’ll send you the details later.”
Josh explained.
Salas was glad Josh and Ann had decided to base there shipping business in his home sector. His business would reap the rewards and Josh was a part owner and friend. Josh let Salas use some of his custom designs own other ships and improvements are extremely sought after. Pilots spend most of their time inside their ships and making them exceptional and useful means work for Salas.
Ann had just finished a delivery and docked as Salas said. “Ann come let me show you your ship.”
Ann was excited as Salas lead her inside the Dolphin. Ann looked like the kid who just found out he owns a toy store. The ship was spotless and had that new ship smell. Salas gave Ann the grand tour as Josh waited outside giving Ann time to appreciate the extras and to just take pleasure in looking around her new ship.
Salas came out and talked with Josh about the Orinoco. Ann came out about 20 minutes later and took Josh in to show him the ship.
After touring the ship Josh gave Ann the jacket. As she was admiring the jacket Josh told her about his deal with Umbel and the new ships.
Ann was excited things were going well for Rious Shipping.
Josh asked Ann to stick to local runs using the Wolf as escort till he got back with the Lifter and Zipper.
“Ann when our company ships start running I would like to take the Lifter and your Dolphin with the Zipper as escort until the Orinoco is ready. And jump to sectors rich in ore and silicone or other goods that bring a good price. Make all we can while we have the advantage of the jump-drive. Three or four months from now that will be over.” Josh explained.
Ann replied. “That sounds good to me I’ll keep working this sector till you get back. And don’t forget about being there when the factory opens. We are the owners you know.”
Josh smiled as he told Ann they would be there and asked Salas to max the speed and rudder on the Wolf.
As he entered the Lifter and undocked and jumped to The Wall to get the equipment for the ships and talk to Robert. And look at there station.
The station was taking form the major shape of the structure was complete. Josh was excited to see the additional section and dock. This was a place he could develop the technologies lost when their ship was destroyed. Replication and energy was first on the list. Josh had the fundamentals worked out he just needed a secure place to do his research and this was it.
His Father and Roman had taught him how every piece of equipment worked and how it was made.
Josh thought it to be boring lectures on technology at the time but now understands the importance of their efforts. And now wished he had lessened better to the specifics.
Josh flew to transporter range of the Lifter and hailed Robert. “This is Elk sir can I help Robert is asleep and I will wake him if you want?”
“No just let him rest I’m going to transport some equipment onto my ship and wanted to notify you first.”
Josh replied as he transported the equipment.
“Yes sir what ever you want. Sir I want to thank you for giving me a job and a chance to clear my name.”
Elk declared humbly.
“You’re welcome Elk. Don’t mess up and in 6 months you’re a free man. Bad people use good people all the time. The people you were dealing with were going to kill you as soon as you landed according to the Pirate running interference at the Gate. He said you knew nothing and was just a pilot with a good record they could use. I’m glade to have you with us and hope you’ll stay when your probations over.” Josh stated as he pulled away.
“Josh you have just been sent a message from Caption Mitchell.” Sarah stated.
Josh opened the message on the monitor. “Josh two trusted informants were found dead floating in Teladi Space. I thought you should know having worked with them. The Teladi Company is investigating their deaths. Argon Security has suffered a great loss, Sincerely Caption Mitchell.”
Josh Jumped to Ceo’s Buckzoid and dropped of the shields and equipment to Yakima. The ships were all most ready to go. Yakima informed Josh that 1 and 5meg shields were in high demand and he would take 25-1meg shields and 8-5meg shields at stock price if he could find them within the next 7 days.
Josh had Sarah installed her upgrades onto the ships so she could trade on the way to Kingdom End.
Josh entered the Lifter then undocked and jumped to Seizewell. Docked at the Equipment Dock and went to inform Umbel he was there with a freighter.
“Umbel I want you to look at these two stores. The bigger one is ready to place your stock in and open tomorrow. I know it’s a bigger store but I’m willing to give you 10, 000 credits to help you stock it. You can always move to a smaller store later if you want. But when you get there and the people see and fill the quality of your suits and jackets you’ll be looking for a bigger store.” Josh declared.
“I like it there’s plenty of room for our workshop and stock in the back. And if things get tight there's room to live in.” Explained Umbel.
Josh had Sarah send the drones from the Lifter and Zipper to start loading the contents of the store and their personal belongings in the Lifter.
Josh showed Umbel the ships and explained he had some work to do onboard the Zipper. Umbel went back to her shop to finish packing. Josh entered the Zipper and sent a message to The Wall Trading Station Manager. Informing her which store they wanted to lease.
Fixed himself a snack and started outlining the refit for the Orinoco. After two hours later Josh sent the design to Salas. Then informed Sarah to finish the trading and send the Orinoco and Dolphin to Salas for refit.
“Sarah I want you to work with Salas and modify the Dolphin to go at least 125m/s increase the rudder to 8% and mount a rear turret with a APA canon and leave it showing. Increase the power plant to cover the extras and mount a third shield and rework them into fast charging.
Install a nice crew cabin and max the cargo bay.
And hurry up and get the Vulture and Buster to Salas no backtracking.
Mount a rear turret on the Vulture a G.I.R.E. and a bigger power plant. Rework the 25 and 5meg shields into fast charging. Increase the speed by 20% and the steering by 50% max the cargo and repair the cabin.
Take the Buster and remove the weapons and shields and let Salas sell it. Have Salas buy a Piranha s-class with a crew cabin max the rudder and get the speed up to 225m/s. Max the cargo and install the weapons and rework the two 5meg shield to fast charge and install them. Take the 1meg shield and sale it to Salas.
Pay for it out of the Rious Shipping account. Pay for the Orinoco out of my personal account.
Can you do all of that?” Josh asked.
“Yes if I can use the Vulture and Buster for trading till the Dolphin is ready. Then use the Dolphin and Buster while the Vulture is refitted. The cost will be held to a minimum this way if not complete paid for.
The Piranha will only take 2 hours after delivery. Salas has 2 used 5meg shields I can rework and have ready then replace them with the Busters.
The freighters and the Piranha can all be completed in 28 hours. Then all the drones can work on the Orinoco and it will be finished 18hours after the others or 46 hours total. And cost 800,000 credits to complete, manufacturing all the weapons and shields with raw materials and parts.”
Sarah replied.
Josh liked the proposal and told Sarah to go ahead and do it all as planned. Josh leaned back in his chair and stretched closed his eyes to ease the tenseness and fell fast asleep.
Five hours later Sarah verbalizes. “Josh wake up it’s time to leave the Lifter is loaded and Umbel and her Daughters are ready to board the Lifter and go.”
Josh exited the Zipper and went to welcome Umbel and her Daughters onto the Lifter. “Please come aboard and make yourselves at home. This won’t take long your one of the first to experience a sector jump. When we clear the Station I’ll engage the jump-drive and exit into The Wall through the North Gate. So our trip will only take about 2 hours instead of 24.”
“What do you call your ship? And is it safe to jump what if we end up some where else?” Umbel asked.
“Each Gate has a code the jump-drive links to that gate using its code. Each Gate has its own unique code.
So yes it’s just as safe as going through a Gate.
The ship I been thanking about calling her the Excel.” Josh explained.
Josh let Umbel and her Daughters watch from the cockpit as they jumped into the sector.
“Here we are Ladies. That’s The Wall Trading Station your new home. Please return to your seats this is a busy sector. I’ll put the view of the sector on the monitors. And you can access sector activities or local broadcasted shows on the monitors if you want.” Josh stated as he set a headed for the Trading Station.
Josh hailed Robert and asked that he bring two of the drones to the Trading Station to help unload and setup Umbels shop. The Excel docked and Josh escorted Umbel and her family to there quarters.
About that time Robert landed and delivered the drones to the Excel and hailed Josh. “Josh I’m at your ship with the drones. Is there anything else?”
“Yes please meet us at the new store I want introduce you to the owners.” Josh explained.
Their quarters were nice and spacious and within walking distance of the store.
Josh explained that store and living quarters were a package deal. Umbel left her daughters to situate their personal belongings in their apartment.
While She and Josh headed for the managers office and signed the business contract.
Josh bought a security drone from the Stations Security Officer and had it sent to the store.
Josh contacted Rose and asked that she meet them at the store when she could.
As they entered the store Josh said. “Umbel this is Robert Lank he’s in charge of the pilots and ships. And this lovely Lady just entering is Rose Shell our Station Manager.
Purchase all company uniforms and clothing here from Umbel. Mrs. Sama and her daughters are custom tailors and the best I’ve found and I’m glade to be a part of their business.”
Josh said with a smile as they greeted each other. Josh asked Robert to go with him to the Excel and bring him up to date on how the Pilots were doing.
As they were on their way to the ship Sarah relayed a communication. “Josh you just received a message on a secure channel from the Ancient One stating. The One that was going to kill you has been eliminated and that threat is gone. I’m see that you now have a station with your own secure section.
A wise decision but always remember a threat is coming to these sectors that could destroy them. So prepare yourself and the other Races.
I see you have designed a self-sustained power plant good work. I have sent you highly developed outlines of the power plant and replication units that were on your Families ship. Do not share these technologies with the inhabitants of these sectors at this time. So use this technology wisely mass use could destroy their ability to support their self's. Remember that not everyone from your home sector had use of a replication unit.”
Josh slowed to a stop as he listened to the message. Robert could see he received a call and waited at a distance to give Josh some privacy. Robert thought Josh looked distant as they went to the Excel to talk and replied. “Is every thing all right? If you want I can send you a report?”
“I’m sorry that message took my thoughts away for a while, no I want to hear your evaluation and thoughts on the Pilots.” Josh replied.
“They are a good group of Pilots. Doing the trading before the station opened gave me a chance to get rid of the troublesome and treacherous Pilots. So far I’ve fired five and replaced them. We now have a full crew of pilots ready to go.” Robert stated with confidence.
“After Umbel opens her store go in and pick out a flight jacket. Have our company logo put on it and charge it to the company. I have one and Ann has one we both like ours. They just fell good. I‘ll drop the drones off to you as soon as I’m unloaded and can leave.” As Josh showed Robert his jacket.
“Well I need to get back to the Lifter and check up on the Pilots. Elk has turned out to be a great assistant I’m glade we got him. You know we’ve kept the freighters busy. I know there’s more credits made away from the core sectors. But if you could provide us an extra freighter and light fighter and run it through Rious Shipping we could keep it busy doing local runs.
I’m a freelance merchant at heart and would love the chance to keep it up. Nothing could take me away from this job. But I can do both from my office and still have a lot of down time just to look at the walls.” Robert explained as he was leaving.
“I’ll talk it over with Ann but I don’t see a problem. We don’t have any extra ships right now but give us time. You know the old saying good things come to those who wait.” Josh said with a smile as he shook Roberts’s hand as he left.
Josh looked at the files the Ancient had sent. They explained how each module was made and how it worked with the system and the theory.
With these plans their applications were endless. Josh planed to develop the technology into health application, ship repairs and building, air and food replication. And the power to keep them going.
Josh redesigned the Orinoco using the new technologies and sent the information to the control unit Sarah used to control the drones and asked Salas to secure the area around the Orinoco. And rename the new ship as the Exaireo.
“Josh the additions will take an added 50,000 credits and 12 hours to make and install.” Sarah replied.
“Go ahead with the additions.” Josh replied
Josh realized now one of the first things he needed to do was refit the construction and repair drones. But he needed the ship first and to get back to Ann and start trading.
Alpha Man Chapter 12
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Gvork
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collins50
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I Like the way you have created this story,