Proving True

In three days we fall out of Transit at Atlas, as usual, the space around the planet is quite busy with traffic, interplanetary and interstellar. Shawna points at a blip on the local traffic monitor. “There it is, our home for the next eighteen months.” A label pointing at the blip reads Star Chaser. I reach over Shawna’s shoulder and tap the call out. A screen to my right fills with the basic data on the vessel. In a matter of minutes, we are within visual range of what we saw on the monitor.

There are four 200-ton cutters loading supplies, personnel and who knows what else on the largest starship I’ve ever seen in my life. Night Searcher was big; Azazeel’s cruiser was huge. This ship is larger than both of them together. Looking out the viewport, I had mistaken it for an asteroid or a moon. I’m still digesting the data on the ship as we are given landing instructions. The speaker grille of the ship’s holoCom crackles. “Courier Star Chaser 9, this is Star Chaser, you are cleared for ingress, starboard forward.”

“Star Chaser, this is courier 9, ingress, starboard forward, aye.” Shawna answers. “Okay, you,” she says to me, “this isn’t a peep show. Get out of my office or drop a credit in the jar.” I move back to the passenger area while Shawna pilots the ship to the designated hangar bay. Night Searcher had a deck dedicated to small craft. I could tell by looking at it through the viewport that Star Chaser has multiple hangars. I’m pretty sure that an entire fighter squadron, possibly multiple squadrons, could be berthed, launched, and recovered by this one ship. I’m reminded of that time, it seems like decades ago, or a day, when I stepped out of Balder onto the deck of Night Searcher.

A young woman in a yellow blouse and black skirt meets us at the hatch. “Welcome back, Miss Landers, Mr. Call. Welcome aboard Miss MacTaggert. You and your aide will be housed in area four, and your workstation will be in section Z. I am Purser’s Mate III Stapleton. But please call me Annabella. One of my tasks is to make your stay here as pleasant as possible. If there is anything I can do for you, please let me know. Passenger maps for Star Chaser can be downloaded from the Casual Communication page.”

I pull out my perCom and navigate to the casCom page. The map icon is very prominent. I select it and the maps begin loading to my handheld unit almost immediately. There’s also an incoming call for me. “Excuse me,” I tell Annabella. I turn away to take the call. “Sonia MacTaggert.”

“Good morning, ma’am. My name is Taylor Andrews. I saw your patent announcement recently. Congratulations on your design. I have a manufacturing facility and I’m prepared to offer you two million credits for production rights. When would be convenient for us to do the paperwork?”

I knew it was going to be lucrative, I didn’t expect this much this soon. However… “I’m afraid we can’t. In time I will be issuing provisional licenses for production, but that time is not yet. I will make note of your number and contact you at the appropriate time.”

“I see. Would twenty million change your mind? I can wire you six today, the balance within 48 hours.” A tenfold increase? Wow!

“I’m sorry, sir, but my mind is made up. I’m afraid I really have to go now.” I need to help unload my baggage.

“All right, the licensing fee, what will that be?” he asks.

Maybe I can raise a barrier high enough to dissuade him. “At this point I’m not really sure. I’m still evaluating, but the license is probably going to be a non-refundable million credits until your manufacturing quality can be evaluated. Once approved the license would be renewed annually for…maybe 50,000 credits provided your facility passes the recurring audits. What I don’t have figured out yet is a way to inspect your product to verify that it meets my standards. I’m about to leave on an expedition. I expect to have at least a timetable in place on my return. I’ll contact you then. Goodbye.” I thumb the disconnect button. I dislike having to be rude like that, but Shawna, Freddie and Athena are waiting for me at the cargo hold. And my resolve was weakening. Twenty million is a lot of money. Shawna has pulled out several bags. Freddie has looped his arms through the carrying straps for two duffle bags and has a weapon case in each hand. Athena has her luggage and mine. I glance at Shawna and tell Athena, “I can carry mine, help Shawna with her bags.”

“As you wish, ma’am,” Athena replies and grabs the largest of Shawna’s trunks.

“Thanks, baby,” Shawna says.