Castaway Chapter 10

[Ed Man]

Sales Study
Chapter 10

The ship was finished and Peter had did a systems test, flight test, weapons test and pressure test it was licensed and ready to go. “Sam send Dana a message and tell her the ship is ready for her to inspect.”
[Sam] “She want’s you to let two of the test Pilots and a engineer field test the ship and when they leave Dana want’s you to come to her office she wants to talk.”
Peter told Sam to keep the ships speed under 200 and everything normal for a ship that size.
Peter welcome the men onboard and showed them around the ship. Peter had pulled the designs of several of the ships they had on file as his and used the improved designs he had changed making this a one of a kind. The old Falcon had the big wing design and Peter used the wings pulling them closer into the enlarged body keeping the sweeping wing look adding extra room inside the ship. With the larger build, extra shielding and two turrets the ship was ranked as a M3P. Peter watched the ship fly away then headed of to meet with Dana as he tried to decide on a name for his new ship.
When Peter entered the offices the receptionist spotted him giving him a big smile. “Hello Mr. Stone Mrs. Lena is waiting on you let me show you where her office is.” The woman got up and directed Peter down a hall and opened a door. “This is Mrs. Lena’s office if you need anything else just ask I’ll be out in the lobby.” “Thanks.” Peter replied as the woman walked away and looked back to see if Peter was watching as she turned the corner and smiled as Peter smiled back thanking to himself. I have been in space to long turned and went into the office.
[Dana] “Please come in Peter and shut the door. I seen the ship I am impressed with what I’ve seen so far but somehow I knew I would be. So far the pilots and engineer are liking your ship so everyone on board. We have decided to give you the position and your first task is to go and see what we need to be building to sell we need to turn this division around the need is their and I believe you’re the man for the job are you still interested?”
[Peter] “Yes I am very interested.”
[Dana] “Here’s the deal I’ll pay you a good salary but your real chance to make the credits is when we make the credits you’ll get a bonus every quarter as long as we make a profit and you’ll have stock options in the company if you want them. You turn this division around and you’ll be a very wealthy man Peter. If not we’ll drop the division or sell it off.”
[Peter] “When do I start?” [Dana] “Right now. I have a secretary, a aid and security agent all ready for you their ready to start setting up meetings with our customers and potential clients. Find out what they need and what we need to change then sell it to them. I know about the Argon Security Chief asking you to pick up the Teladi that was in on you getting shot and I want you to know I’m ok with you doing it as long as it doesn’t make any problems for the company. Remember Peter you represent our company now don’t bring about a scandal that will cost us.”
[Peter] “When do I meet my team and get a tour of the Company?” A man walked into the office. [Dana] “This is your Aid he’ll give you the tour.”

Peter went into a meeting room next door where he meet the team Dana had picked out. The Aid introduce himself as Tom the Secretaries name was Clair and the Guard called himself Mitch. They all had military training and were skilled pilots each one having skills that made up a good research team.
Tom had a engineering background. The secretary was good with electrical devices and their set-up and Mitch was a mechanic.

As the team was getting acquainted with each other Sam replied. “The test flight is over and the ship is docked. They were impressed with the ship and want to welcome you to the company.”
Peter moved the what was now becoming a business meeting to the ship and gave his new team a tour.
Then the question was asked. “What are you calling it?”
When Peter explained he hadn’t decided on a name and asked for suggestions they started making a list of names to pick from. The list was good but Peter decided on the name Tempest. After Peter decided on a name he showed them his Buster and asked that two of them go ahead to the Alpha sight in the Buster and start setting up meetings and they could decide on which two.
Peter watched as the Aid and Secretary settle on which one should go as Mitch knew he was going it all came down to who could do the best job where so Peter sent them all.
[Tom] “Who will show you the Company if we all leave?”
[Peter] “You three have already seen it so none of you need a tour and I’ll manage. You three need to get going my ship is not that much slower than the buster. Head right for the main sight on the moon as set up and get to work on setting up meetings I’ll be about 24 hours behind you.”
Sam transferred Peter’s gear and android from the Buster over to the Tempest. Peter went back to the lobby and walked over to the receptionist and without a word she slid Peter a note.
[Peter] “What’s this?” “It’s my phone number and address.” She replied with a smile.
[Peter] “Thanks but I need someone to give me a tour of the small vehicle division can you help with that?”
The woman made a call and asked. “Mrs. Lena wants to know what you did with your team and Aid?”
[Peter] “I sent them on ahead in my Buster to get set up and started.”
The Woman asked Peter to wait a minute. Peter watched as a man in a suit walked down the hall and over to the reception desk and set down as the woman got up. “I’m going to give you the tour Mr. Stone please follow me.”
She lead him down a hallway and out to a parking garage where several small transportation vehicles were setting.
“We make this line of vehicles here along with a long list of others we‘ll take this one I have one of these.” She stated walking over to a sporty looking one with two seats in the front and a bench seat in the rear opened the door and got in while Peter got into the other side and strapped in.
The Woman did a systems check, entered the destination and took off heading for the small vehicle division of the company. Peter watched her follow the flight path like she was threading a needle as it displayed on the inside of the windshield showing the flight path to the landing deck of the small vehicle factory.

The factory was bigger than Peter expected with several sections each able to make different vehicles. After several hours of looking over the factory the ability to make the vehicles was there, now Peter needed to get a new line of vehicles that would sell and get the sections operating while making a profit.

By the time Peter got back to the Shipyard the womans flirting had stopped and the just wanting the day to be over was well in play as she said. “I’m going to get a bite to eat and turn in good luck Mr. Stone.”
[Peter] “Let me buy you dinner it’s the least I can do for you having to show me the factory.”
[Woman] “I’ll take you up on that I now a place close to here it’s fast and simple.”
Peter got into her flyer and went to a restaurant. Peter looked up as the waitress said. “Hello Peter.”
It was Mary. “Hello Mary is this your place?” Peter asked looking up at the young cheerful girl as she stated. “This is it what can I get you two?”
After looking over the menu and placing their orders the Woman replied. “So you know Mary?”
Peter not knowing quite how to explain or what to say just said. “Yes I meet her a while back at the shipyard.”
The Woman picked around not saying much as she ate her food until Peter asked for the check so they could leave. Mary walked out and said. “You don’t pay for your meals here Mr. Stone thanks and please come again.”
As they went to the flyer the Woman asked Peter. “I never seen anyone get a free meal there what’s up?”
[Peter] “I saved her life.” The Woman stopped and looked at Peter asking. “Are you the one that shot the Pirate?”
[Peter] “Yes. I’m sorry did that make you uncomfortable?”
[Woman] “No not at all, I’m fine. I didn’t now you was the one that shot the Pirate.”
On the way back the woman just flew the ship and didn’t say a word making Peter fill awkward on the return trip until they landed and she got out and walked around to where Peter was and took him by the hand and stated. “I would like to go out on a date with you when you get back if you’re interested just give me a call.” Then she kissed Peter on the cheek smiled and walked away.
Peter headed to his ship no knowing what to think about the Woman, maybe she was just exhausted it had been a long day or she was just rude either way Peter just couldn’t see himself calling her for a date.

Peter filled his flight plan and eased the ship out of the hanger and headed for space. The night time sky changed a little as the ship entered open space but leaving the atmosphere at night just was not as startling a sight as the daytime flight. Peter waited till the ship cleared the traffic lanes then went to get some rest.
Peter spent the next day working on new designs and known issues with the vehicles as the he turned in to get some rest before reaching the Alpha sight Sam woke him up. “Peter there is a freighter under attack ahead of us it’s sending out a distress call for help should I respond?” “Yes!” Peter replied as he hurried out of bed and into the cockpit. The ship that was under attack was the same one that had pulled him out of space. “Sam give me an ubdate!” [Sam] “The crew will not eject and have forced the attackers to disable the freighter. The Pirates are preparing to cut into and board the ship.”
[Peter] “Tell the crew to lock all the hatches and hold up in the ships armory it will be the hardest to get into. I’m on my way!
Sam get the drone equipped for an assault when we reach transporter range transport it in behind them and capture or dissable the boarding crew. I’ll take care of the attacking ships.”
When the drone transported over Peter hailed the three pirate ships. “Stop your attack on the freighter and stand down or I will open fire!”
“You go on and forget what you seen or well take your ship you stupid ///// ###!”
The three ships opened fire on Peter as he reached range landing a few shots on the Tempest.
[Peter] “Sam open fire with the turrets on the two small fighters and missiles I’ll get on the Pirate Nova.”

Peter got on tha tail of the Nova as the rear turrett opened up Peter as he made his first run plasting away at the turrett tearing the shields down as he turned out to give the pilot a chance to surrender. “Give up Pilot or next time I’ll finish you off!”
The Nova turned in a death run and opened fire as Peter twisted around dodging all but two shots as the ship flew past. One of the Pirate harriers blew up as it took a shot the same time it was fireing a missile lighting the darkness of space up around them in a bright flash.
Peter fired a missile at the other Harrier as it turned deep to run into open space leaving Nova to face Peter alone. Peter was back on the Nova fireing into the turret as the shields dropped below zero and the turret was destroyed the Pilot screamed. “I surender don’t shoot no more!”
[Peter] “Eject now or I open fire!” The Pilot ejected and Sam transported Him into the hole and into holding. The missile had hit the Harrier disabling it as it slowly spun drifting further away.
[Peter] “Hows the freighter crew?”
[Sam] “The boarding crew has been stopped two were killed, one captured and one wounded. Four men were on the freighter two of them are dead the other two made it to the armory. The freighter is dead with no shields or power and the mechanic was killed in the attack they are asking for help.”
[Peter] “Tell them I’ll be back to help as soon as I check out the Harrier. Sam claim the Nova and send it to the Freighter.”
Peter set course for the Harrier, as they entered scanner range the pilot had ejected just as the missile hit and all that was left of him was a few small pieces floating in space. Peter opened the flight recorder showing the ship had turned to run because it was having problems with the systems and the pilot only discovered a missile was about to hit seconds before and unable to track or evade the missile the Pirate woman ejected right into the explosion vaporizing her body.
“Sam claim the Harrier and send it to the freighter with the Nova and transport a sample of the two dead Pirates for the alpha sight security.”

When Peter returned to the freighter and transported the captured Pirate into the hole with his buddy while the drone finished stabilizing the other Pirate and sent him into the hole with the other two. Peter looked over the damages on the freighter. “Sam how long to make repaires?”
[Sam] “The Nova has a one meg shield and small generator in its cargo hole, to install them and get the engine going would be the quickest fix at five hours. To repair the parts onboard would take at least 12 hours. The Nova is damaged but able to fly. The Harrier needs the systems repaired, it will take three hours to make and install the parts.”
[Peter] “Start making the parts we need and add them to the list of parts on the Nova I’m going to talk to the freighter crew and see what they want to do.”
The two crewmen had inherited the freighter when the captain was killed along with a small amount of credits to get them started. The rest of the captains savings had been left to his daughter that lived in the core systems. Tommy and Bob were the two original crewmen that had worked for the Captain. They had hired two more crewmen and spent the rest of their credits on a the load of ore they were carrying.
Before Peter could tell them the ship could be repaired the two had already decided to aboundon ship saying. “You don’t remember us but we were the ones that pulled you out of space and we been keeping up with you just to see how you did. We’re in a real fix here and was hopping you could help us out and buy our ship and load we’re going to have to aboundon ship. We’re broke and our ship is damaged so bad if we stay we’ll die.”
[Peter] “And what will you two do if I was to buy your freighter?”
[Tommy] “We haven’t talked about that we’re just trying to get out of this mess.”
[Peter] “What if I buy into ownership with you two as a partner and fix the freighter and later own you buy me out.”
[Bob] “I don’t know about Tommy but I want to get out of this business and go to the planet and live, I‘ll take what ever you‘ll give me for my part. Come with me Tommy we about died! It cost the Captain his life and I’m not going to die in space I‘m done with hauling ore.”
Peter watched Tommy as he stared at Bob who was ready to quit, dazed not knowing what to say for several minutes and then said. “I’m sorry Bob this is all I ever wanted to do, I want to keep the freighter.” Tommy looked at Peter and asked. “Can we work this out somehow so Bob get’s paid and I’ll still get to own part of the ship?”
Peter looked at what the ship was worth the way it was and what it cost new and to make a total repair the big ship it would be cheaper to buy smaller ships to take it’s place but replacing was not the question. Peter looked up from the data on the ship and said. “I’ll pay 500,000 for the ship and freight out right or 250,000 to Bob and Tommy keeps 25% owner ship in the freighter or I fix the ship and become your partner.”
The two set down and tried to convence the other to do what they wanted and after a while tried to come up with a arrangement that would make them both happy. Peter had started the repairs to get the power back up before the back ups run down when Tommy stated. “We decided to sale the big boat to you and buy a old Lifter and Disco from the dealer at the Alpha sites moon and head to the planet and do local runs.”
Peter shook their hands and started the repairs on the big freighter and five hours later they were on the move back to the Alpha site. Peter fixed the ships up so they could reach the Alpha site and was going to finish the repairs after the reports were filled and the security had signed off. Three ship in good shape would be hard to explain but three ship just running with damaged was normal.

The trip was going to be slow so Peter sent a message for Mitch to come and escort the three ship back to the Alpha site in the Tempest and let Peter take the Buster and get started with the meetings. Seven hours later Mitch hailed Peter. “Some people have all the fun requesting permission to transport over.”
[Peter] “Permission granted and it‘s good to see you Mitch.” Peter introduced Tommy and Bob to Mitch then transporting over to the Buster with the Pirates and headed out for the Alpha site at full speed. Peter was running way behind because of the skirmish with the Pirates and the freighter and after security took the Pirates off his hands and he filled a report he could get back to work for the shipyard.

Peter was met by two small security fighters on his way in. One followed Peter while the other raced to the freighter to get a report from the Crewmen and a copy of the ships data recorders for their commander.

Peter followed the escort down to the moons main base and into the security docking section. Two guards were waiting at the ship to escort Peter into a secure room till they reviewed the data and reports.
Peter was looking at a list of stops and the vehicles they used the team had sent him on his PDA when the Security Officer came it. “Mr. Stone why did you involved in the fight and help the freighter? Did you know the Pirates?”
Peter looked at the officer thinking what a dumb question to ask this must be his first interview. “No I didn’t know any of them. And the freighter was requesting help and I was the closest and only ship around. I’m a fighter pilot and I’m in a well armed fighter so I went to help and yes the freighters crew were the ones that saved my life once but I didn’t know it till after I responded to their distress call.”
Peter watched as the Officer looked through his papers. “I don’t see anything about them saving your life!”

A different officer stepped into the room. “I’ll take it from here.” He told the first Detective as he took the papers he was holding as the first Detective left the room. He looked at Peter with a slight smile on his face and replied. “Welcome to the Alpha Site Mr. Stone it’s very unusual for any corporate ships to get involved in anything. Most just disregard any calls for help and go on. I have looked over the data and the reports from the crewmen and everything checks out. The ships are yours as soon as you register them with the clerk and collect the bounty on the Pirates. Just one thing I don’t understand why buy the freighter?”
[Peter] “They did save My life. They pulled me and my ship inside that same freighter patched me up and dropped me and the ship off at the Trading Station. They helped me and besides I can us or sell the freighter it‘s not a loss to me.” The Officer showed Peter to the clerks office and left as he was called away to more pressing matters. Peter registered the captured ships and collected the bountys that added up to about 200,000 credits. The Nova Pilot was on the top ten list of most wanted bringing in a big reward so Peter decided to have the captured ships repaired and painted so no one could associate the ships or them with the Pirates.