Alpha Man Chapter 16

[Ed Man]

The Wheat Farm
Chapter 16

Josh jumped to Kingdom End and docked at the Shipyard to get the drones he had left to help with the refits. Salas was talking to a customer when Josh walked up and seen that all the equipment and drones were in a storage area. Josh had the equipment and drones’ loaded on the Exaireo.

Salas came over and congratulated Josh about the Wheat Farm and that he wanted a tour of the Station when it was running. Josh told Salas he was welcome onboard anytime. Josh asked Salas to come onboard he wanted to talk.

Salas entered the Exaireo as Josh told him about the Carrier and the TL and Station onboard.
And how he wanted to place the Solar Power Plant in Sector Lucky Planets. The two talked about the new sectors and how things have changed. Then Josh got a coded message from Argon Prime. Salas left and returned to work as Josh had Sarah decode it.
“Mr. Galen please meet me onboard Argon One ASAP I have an urgent matter to discuss. Ban Danna out.”

Josh jumped to Argon Prime and flew to Argon One. As he approached he was hailed and told to dock they were expecting him. As Josh docked he stored his weapons and stepped of to an Officer that scanned him and quickly escorted him to Ban Danna.
“Please come in and have a seat Mr. Galen I have a few questions about the Xenon Carrier and the Ships. And a job offer for you.”

Ban Danna informed Josh that the Argon Government had sent a TL with scientist to examine the Carrier and purchase the ships and they were thankful. As he looked at Josh with a puzzled look and said.
“I know you were close to the Teladi Shipyard and all. But why no Argon space two sectors over we have a Shipyard and we would have done the Auction for free?”

“Well the main reason was not about money or race. Look I know the Teladi are money hungry. I wanted every race to get a set of the ships and the Teladi are impartial to anyone with credits. And are on good trading terms with every race. So every race can have a set to study that’s why I used the Teladi and set the price at 3.5 million credits and not the highest bidder takes all.” Josh explained.

“Good answer Mr. Galen. We been watching you and I am very impressed with you and your ship. We have been working on a similar weapon and have run into a problem that you have overcome.
The Argon Government would like to reinstate you as a technical consultant. And when the need arises as a tactical liaison at the rank of Major. You can take or turn down missions as you see fit. We pay individuals well for the help they give. And when you retire you get medical and a pension according the rank and amount of service.
I know you helped the Split and got a TL out of the deal. I don’t want to know about any of it. But I would like to see a scan of the ship if it’s all right with you?” Ban Danna asked as he looked at Josh.

Josh knew that they all ready had a detailed scan of the TL as he replied. “Here’s a scan of the TL before the assault. If you want I’ll take you onboard after the repairs are finished.
If you show me the design of the weapon I’ll see if I can help. And I will take that offer but I’m not a mercenary.”

Ban Danna smiled as they shook hands. And took Josh to meet the Man in charge of the weapons development. He was eagerly waiting to meet the man that had a working design.

Josh and the Engineer talked for a moment and as he pulled up the designs on the weapon. The two went right to work as Josh seen a few problems with the design right away. What you need to have and what you had has always been a designer’s nightmare.
You build something and try to make it work with you have. It has long been said that the first machine was made to build a better machine.

Josh had a working machine and could save years of trial and error in there design. He knew the parameters to make a working Photon Pulse Cannon and quickly laid out a design and what was needed to make it work. In less than two hours Josh had given the Engineer a good design to build from.
Now all he had to do was build a working version and fine tune and modify it till they get what they want.

A crewman escorted Josh back to his ship and told him Ban Danna would contact him later. Then he saluted Josh as he boarded the Exaireo. Josh thought as he returned the salute her I am an Officer once more. But at least now I get decide on the missions.

Josh left Argon One filling good this was what he wanted to do after his enlistment in the Navy was over. It was like going to a fine restaurant and getting a table without a reservation or waiting in line and your meal is waiting on you when you sit down.

“Josh are you busy I have a ship I’m trying to capture. I engaged a Pirate Dolphin hauling drugs and his escorts. I caped one Mandalay right away and destroyed another the other was an Orinoco. As I turned on the heavy three Pirates coming from the North Gate decided to help there buddy after he offered them credits. I have took care of the fighters can you stop the Dolphin running for the North Gate? I‘m in Priest Pity”

“I’m on my way.” Josh replied as he activated the jump-drive.

Josh entered to see the Dolphin dive behind a Demeter as he seen the Exaireo exit the gate. Josh closed on the Dolphin as he was trying to run deep hoping to avoid the Exaireo.
Josh moved to an intercept course as he checked the HUD. Ann had damaged an Orinoco that was trying to escape till he seen the Exaireo now he had changed course to the Confederation Station.

Ann was on the rear of a second Orinoco who’s Pilot had just ejected and had turned to intercept the other Orinoco.

Josh fired till the shields were near 5% and hailed the Dolphin. “I’m giving you a chance to cut your engines and shields and surrender.”

“Leave me alone!” The Pirate yelled back.

Josh fired two more shots into the Dolphin as the Pilot ejected. Josh clamed the Dolphin and ejected the smuggled goods.
Josh watched as Sector Security picked up the Pirate and destroyed the contraband.

Ann had stayed on the Orinoco his weapons were gone all that was left was a 5 Meg shield and it was on zero. The last shield went as the Pirate ejected.

“Our reputation needed to be improved with the Paranid. You took care of our reputation with the Split so I decided to fix our reputation with the Paranid. We now have trading rights for our company ships. I captured one Mandalay and two heavies the light ship is all ready headed for the Shipyard.
I would like to send the Dolphin and heavy fighters as a group to the Shipyard if that’s ok with you?”

“That’s fine with me. And good job Ann with the capturing and our reputation!” Josh replied appreciatively.

Sarah informed Josh that the Wheat Farm was completed. The final examination and safety inspection have been made and the Station Inspector is ready to give you and Ann the Station.

Ann and Josh engaged their jump-drives and headed to the Wheat Farm. This was a big moment for proud owners as Josh and Ann docked at their Station.
The two walked over to the Inspector as he shook their hands and welcomed them aboard their new Wheat Farm. As the Inspector was leaving he told the two. “Good luck and may you be successful.”

Josh moved the Exaireo to the smaller dock so he could unload the Drones and get them started on a power unit for that part of the station. Josh thought the section needed a name as He and Ann talked about a name for the addition as the ships and crew were landing and getting settled. The whole Station was busy with movement. Supply ships were delivering furniture to the offices and living quarters. Others food and supplies for the station. The Lifter had landed and the drones were storing the parts stock rooms in what was now called the Company Headquarters.
As the lifter left to dock at the Wheat Farm dock the Excel and Zipper landed along with Ann’s Dolphin in the H.Q. dock. The dock was designed with a large department for construction that was below and separate from the main dock above.

Josh and Ann ordered furniture for their offices and rooms as they looked at the empty sections.
The main station had venders moving in to accommodate the workers and visitors onboard.

Within a day Robert had the station full of energy cells. And Rose had started the wheat production. Things were running smoothly the ships Ann had captured had been repaired at the Paranid Shipyard and were docking at the H.Q. for refit.

After a few days of station life Ann had took the Aetos and her Dolphin and left to do some trading.
The Elephant had been repaired to flight status and was parked in the upper Northeast part of the sector.
The Carrier was still being studied but the ships had been picked up by each race and the Teladi had sent payment 15.75 million credits less there 10%.

Josh had started research in what he decided to call Wraith Regenerating Technology. W.R.T. could be used to repair a ship or skin on a burn victim. As Josh worked on the WRT Ban Danna hailed him and wanted a tour of the TL and Station if he had time.
Josh quickly offered the head of Argon Security a personal tour. Ban Danna docked on the TL and Josh took the Exaireo and meet him onboard. After Ban Danna toured key areas on the TL. He then wanted to see the Station. Josh treated Ban Danna to a meal fit for a king as they returned to the Station. The two talked about the productivity of the Wheat Farm. The Stations output was higher than other Stations. Josh told Ban Danna the power unit in the HQ supplied the Wheat Farm with extra power.
Josh showed Ban Danna designs for a Station that produced its own energy using the sun and generators for backup. Josh wanted to show Ban Danna all his toys but knew better. Josh then told him that he was currently working on an air and water production unit. Ban Danna was impressed and asked to keep him informed.

As Ban Danna was about to leave he told Josh that the Argon Government was going to pay him 1% of the profits from the sales of the PPC weapon for his help.
Josh thought for a moment and told Ban Danna to place the payments into the Argon Relief Fund for the widows and orphans.
Ban Danna shook hands with Josh as he got up to leave and told him. “I like you Mr. Galen I fill you are a man of character please don’t disappoint me.”
Josh smiled and replied. “I’ll do my best Sir.” As he saluted Ban Danna.

Josh wanted to share the technology he now had with the races but he knew he could not. Life was hard and people are worse. Josh determined to slowly introduce the technology into main stream life. Like dropping a pebble in a still pool the ripples are slow and have little affect and disappear quickly. If you just throw all the big rocks in at ounce you have is chaos and damage and big rock in the way. And so is life you must crawl before you walk.

Josh called for a meeting with the Wheat Farm heads. Ann didn’t like the ideal but she agreed to go along with it for 6 months and then rethink the ideal.

Josh took the floor and explained the Station production was 15% higher than other wheat farms. And to get a tax brake and help the needy from now on 10% of all profit will go to charity. The Station Heads all looked in shock as no one said anything.
Josh explained that in his faith 10% was a standard to give. And when you give to the needy you in a since are blessing God the Creator and he in return blesses you. And you cannot out give Him. Now all the Heads were looking at Josh like he just lost his mind. Josh went on as he gave each a disk with a copy of the Bible. Within this book is what I place My faith in Josh explained. As He closed the meeting.

Josh returned to his room and decided to take the Exaireo and check on the Carrier. And start hiring a crew for the Power Plant and get it going. As he was headed to the dock he was paged and told. “There’s a woman in personnel looking for a job that said she knows you here’s her interview. What do you want us to do?”
Josh looked at the video. “I know her tell her to wait there I’ll be right over.”
It was Lacy the woman Josh had rescued from the cannibals on the Dolphin.

As Josh entered the room Lacy replied. “Hi I hope you don’t mind me telling them we had meet I really need to get a job and I seen your name listed on Station Employees list. New stations always need help. I didn’t mean for them to bother you or get you in trouble. I just need a job.”

“That’s ok I’m about to go check on a ship the company is selling I’ll ask my boss if it’s ok you can go along. It won’t pay much but I could use the company and meals and a bunk are included.”
Josh explained to Lacy not knowing he was part owner. The office crew keep quite as Josh escorted Her to the Exaireo and had her wait inside as he got her a flight suit and stored her belongings.

Josh had the ship auto pilot as he had Lacy take a job placement test. The test would take a while to complete so Josh sat her at the table gave her a drink and snack. Then told her to take her time and do her best. Josh sat down in the pilots set leaned back to relax and went to sleep.

“Josh wake up your passenger has finished her test an hour ago.”

“How long was I asleep and where are we?” Josh Asked

“You been asleep about four hours. And you are in Teladi Gain.” Sarah replied.

Josh asked Sarah to give him the results of the test and recommendations. Sarah explained Lacy had an M5 and lost it gambling. She is a good pilot but is a rambler never staying anywhere long. She has had several jobs but never stayed with one long. She has freelanced more and not out of any one station. Her test show She is smart, outgoing, friendly and impulsive. Freelance work is her best placement.

Josh went to the cabin and talked to Lacy. She told Josh about the Mandalay She had lost in a bet. The two had a lot in common. She was lively and fun to be around and Josh enjoyed the brake from being the boss with Lacy he was just a normal guy on a long trip. And Josh wanted it to stay that way it was nice to here someone talk about there dreams and goals.
Most all people want mainly the same things, someone to love and a carefree life. Lacy wanted to live life to its fullness she explained as the sat and talked. She moved close to Josh and laved her head on his shoulder and went to sleep. Josh showed her the copilots bunk so she could rest. Josh jumped to PTNI HQ and docked at the Trading Station and ask Sarah to monitor the Carrier as he rest a few hours.

[Sephiroth-omega]

Cool Chapter Ed Man.

Though I have a few suggestions.

1) Please make links to the previous chapters (in chapter 17 links to all chapters from 1 - 16).

Or

Make a thread where only the story and one where all the comments are posted (so you have all chaps in one thread and could read all again if you wish, and dont have to serch for the previous chapters). Like Reapers Passage from Paranoid66.

2) Please could you make a thread where you post character (where Josh has found them and if they work for him (also what/where) and Ship descriptions (class wise: eg: M5 there you discribe all M5s that Josh has build/upgraded etc.). Because with all the helping and rescuing of Josh and Ann it is sometimes hard to follow who they are talking to.

Hope you post the next chap soon.

THX

Sephiroth-omega

PS: In which timeperiod plays that story? Pre-X2, X2, between X2-X3, X3??? I wasnt able to figure it out (or ive simple overread it) and so I'm not able to imagine the ships properly because i dont know which ones are used.

[Ed Man]

When you click on the creative univeerse forum and you will see Ed Man in the middle of the page click on it and click see all post.

The story line is between X-Tension and X2.
I am about to start a new story line about a rough and law less piilot that likes trouble. [/list]

[Gvork]

Thanks Ed Man. Galen and Ann are growing on me.