Euthara (4 page)

“Interesting,” Jon said. “What if I told you, I know for a fact; the drive has been copied and works as intended?”

Jao’uos stared at Jon for a long second then said, “So, the
Atlantis
survived after all these years.”

“Possibly,” Jon said, he really didn’t have anything to hide from the man; he was more interested to see what he knew.

“Oh, come on now, no need to be coy,” Jao’uos said. “If your people have copied the drive and it’s working it would have to be the
Atlantis’
drive. It’s the only one that didn’t have these key codes installed as it was experimental. It was a project my Grandfather worked on, and I only have very basic references about her construction. I even have a picture of her when she was completed and leaving our space dock. She’s something of a family heirloom you might say. Plus, I have heard stories of a ship fitting her description causing mischief for the Invaru and their allies. They say the ship is captained by a man fitting your description.”

“And?” Jon said.

“And what?” Jao’uos said. “That’s pretty much what I’ve heard. Information here on Euthara is a bit scarce, and we mainly get bits and pieces that the government doesn’t mind getting out. I also have agents in places that keep me informed about what’s going on, but that’s sporadic at best and takes some time to separate fact from fiction.”

“And if I told you I was Captain of the
Atlantis
and we stumbled upon her on Earth?” Jon asked.

“It would fit with some of what I heard,” Jao’uos said. “It would also make you the prophesied one.”

Jon frowned; it was happening again. Was there no one that didn’t know?

“I can see by your reaction that I’m correct,” Jao’uos said. “I believe you’re bound for great things in this galaxy. Others believe differently, that you’re going to destroy what we all know and love. But, if you look closely at the scriptures, that’s not what they say at all. They say you will bring about a long and lasting peace between the people of this galaxy and its inhabitants. There will also be a time of upheaval and destruction throughout the galaxy and its inhabitants from outside forces. You’re the pin that will hold us all together and drive these invaders away.”

“So I’ve heard,” Jon said dryly. He glanced over at Sa’oliq and Deatra, both of whom were grinning at him. He shook his head as he focused his attention back on Jao’uos. “Would it surprise you to know I don’t believe in prophecy? I believe we all control our own destiny. We alone choose our own path and have to deal with the consequences of those choices.”

“No, it wouldn’t,” Jao’uos said. He smiled at Jon as he continued. “Anyway you’re here now and doing what you must, and having chosen your own path what is it I can do for you?”

“Well, the Alliance Defense Forces would like to buy into your company, the Eutharis Mining Corporation,” Jon said.

Jao’uos raised an eyebrow and looked at Jon as if he had just sprouted another head and breathed fire. “You want to buy into a dead company? Why would you want to do that?”

“Let me explain,” Jon said.

“Oh, by all means, you have my undivided attention” Jao’uos said. He sat back in his chair as he stared at Jon.

“We’ll help supply people and parts to get the installations back into working order. We’ll barter contracts with other races for the corporation. You can then finish filling the contracts you have outstanding and start opening new contracts with the various governments,” Jon said. “All we want is a fifty-one percent share in the corporation for the first two years of operation.”

“Even if I believe you had the resources to pull this off, and somehow I think you just might,” Jao’uos said as he stood up and walked around his desk. “You’re asking me to hand over my corporation for two years to someone I don’t know and have only read about in vague reports. You’re asking my corporation to commit treason against the Eutharan Government by import and export, which is strictly forbidden. Yet at the same time I'll fill all my outstanding contracts to the government I’m committing treason against.”

“If you put it that way, yeah, I am,” Jon said. “Though, I don’t think it will be so complicated in the coming days.”

“Why would you think that anything is going to change in the next couple days?” Jao’uos said.

“Let’s just say I have the attention of the King and your government right now,” Jon said.

“Oh, you do, do you?” Jao’uos said.

“Yeah, it’s one thing I do really well,” Jon said. “I have this habit of getting people’s attention.”

“That I believe,” Jao’uos said as he laughed.

“Look, even if things don’t change, the ADF, as the controlling entity of your corporation can still fill the contracts on your behalf,” Jon said. “We don’t fall under any restrictions the Eutharan Government has in place. As such, if, in two years, things haven’t changed, we can retain control until they do change.”

“Do you have plans for every situation?” Jao’uos said.

“I like to think outside the box,” Jon said as he winked.

“I can see that,” Jao’uos said. “Think a way out of this one. Technically you will still be held under Eutharan law as the installations are in Eutharan space. How are you going to get around that?”

“I’ve done my homework,” Jon said. “Eutharan law only governs the home planet and the space that comprises the Eutharan system. The planets and moons are not governed by the same rules or laws. According to Eutharan Law, installations on a planet or moon are only governed by the laws of the owning race. These laws were lax so that it would encourage outside development and help the Eutharan economy. If the ADF owns fifty-one percent of your corporation, then our laws will govern those installations.”

“So you have,” Jao’uos said. “This will cause a lot of problems for me here on Euthara with the government. Nothing I can’t deal with though, as I still have some clout in those circles.”

“If it causes you too many problems the ADF will relocate you and your corporate headquarters,” Jon said.

“To Ghost Station?” Jao’uos said. “Actually, I might like to do that anyway. My family and the families of my staff might be better off there anyway.”

Jon liked this man, and it might benefit him to have Jao’uos close at hand. His little spy network might come in handy. Hell, he might even learn something from him. “Certainly,” Jon said not missing a beat.

Jao’uos slapped his hand down on his desk as he spoke, “I knew it! I wasn’t sure, but I had a feeling.”

“When would you like to leave?” Jon said.

“There will be time for that in a bit. What I want to know is, do you have any idea what it would take to get the installations back online and running?” Jao’uos said.

“I’m working on that now,” Jon said.

“You are?” Jao’uos said. “Never mind, I’m not surprised actually. You have a bit of clout around here, and I can tell that just by the information you have.”

“You control all the stock in your Corporation,” Jon said. “Am I right?”

“Of course, every stockholder I had sold them off when the collapse happened. By our laws I had to buy them back when they sat on the market for too long,” Jao’uos said.

“If you enter this agreement with the ADF and give us the stock in your corporation we need,” Jon said. “In two years we’ll give you two percent back and you’ll once again have control of your corporation.”

Jao’uos studied Jon for a bit before he spoke, “You really think you can pull this off, don’t you?”

Jon looked over at Sa’oliq, and she stepped into view as she spoke, “My people will help staff the installations, and you’ll be free to open contracts between our people.”

Jao’uos eyes widened when he saw Sa’oliq.

“The ADF will also be allowing you to open contracts and will help with the supplies and personnel needs,” Jon said.

“I don’t think you have any idea what you’re stepping into,” Jao’uos said. “Though I’m impressed by what I have heard so far.”

“Oh, I have an idea what it will take,” Jon said as he smiled.

“Really? Do you?” Jao’uos said. “You have an idea what it will take to get every installation in the solar system up and running?”

“Yes, I have an idea what it will take to get every installation owned by your corporation up and running,” Jon said. “I’m in orbit of the majority of them now and doing diagnostics to get a starting figure.”

“I don’t think you understand,” Jao’uos said. “When the crash happened, I bought out every single corporation when their stocks bottomed out.”

“Do what?” Jon said. Jon was floored by what he heard. He wanted to start out small and work his way up. “Well, um.”

“That’s what I thought,” Jao’uos said. “A bit larger than you thought.”

“I take it they’re still all separate just under your control?” Jon said.

Jao’uos eyes narrowed as he spoke, “Yes they are.”

“Good,” Jon said. “For me to do this you’ll have to sell controlling interest in the other corporations back to their owners.”

“Why would I do that?” Jao’uos said. Jon could see he didn’t like where this was going.

“Because I’m doing this to help your people get back on their feet, all of them, not just one man,” Jon said. “You took advantage of the situation, I would have probably done the same thing, in hopes that someday you could profit from it, and you will of course. You turn over eighty percent of the controlling interest to all corporations that you snapped up and keep twenty percent for yourself. You will make profit on each corporation that way and still be helping your fellow Eutharans.”

“Again, why should I?” Jao’uos said.

“I won’t help you, and I won’t allow anyone else to help you if you don’t, for one,” Jon said. “The second reason is your corporation will build the parts needed to get these other corporations up and running. You can even contract labor out to them for a fee. This should make you wealthy enough. It will also give you and your corporation a name for helping those in need which will drive your sales across the galaxy.”

“I still don’t understand, I would be employing enough people that it would help everyone anyway,” Jao’uos said.

“Look, the idea here is to build Euthara as a whole back up, not just a single individual or corporation. How much do you really know about those other corporations you bought out? You asked me if I knew what I was getting myself into. Do you know what you would be getting yourself into?” Jon said. “What about all the bad feelings it would create by those people you screwed over in the crisis? The ADF doesn’t want the negative attention that would be gained by helping you. How would that affect your name and corporation throughout the galaxy when word got out? How about when people started to expand beyond this solar system and put installations in other systems close by? How will that affect you if you’ve created enemies?

“By doing what I ask, you'll have helped them twice. First when you bought the shares which helped them with money in their time of need. Then you gave them their shares back when you realized things were about to pick up. You would create strong ties between you and those you help.”

Jao’uos turned and walked back around to his chair and sat down as he thought about what Jon had said. “You’ve made your point,” Jao’uos said. “I’m a shrewd businessman, and I’m not stupid. You’re right by saying at first I would profit, but in the end it would destroy me and my name and the ADF along with it. By doing things your way, I secure the corporation for my family down the line. I’ll start contacting and transferring ownership and controlling shares to the former CEO’s.”

“Good,” Jon said. “So we have a deal then?”

“I have one condition, and then we have a deal,” Jao’uos said.

“That would be?” Jon said.

“The ADF stops making the fold drives, and all drives created by you are locked down so they can’t be replicated,” Jao’uos said.

“I can deal with that,” Jon said.

“Including the
Atlantis’
drive,” Jao’uos said. He was watching Jon for a reaction.

“Certainly,” Jon said with no hesitation.

“My family and staff will be ready to be picked up at your earliest convenience,” Jao’uos said.

“I’ll contact you again when we’re in orbit and things have settled down a bit,” Jon said. “It will probably be a few days.”

“Fine, now what account do I transfer ownership of the shares to?” Jao’uos said as he smiled.

“Uh,” Jon said. It was the first time he was unsure of his self.

It was Deatra’s turn, and she stepped into view. Jao’uos gasped and immediately knelt with his head bowed as he said, “Your Highness.”

“Rise,” Deatra said. “You can transfer those shares to my account for the ADF under my care.”

Jao’uos stood up as he spoke, “Of course, Your Highness.”

“Princess will do, no need for all that,” Deatra said.

“As you wish, Princess,” Jao’uos said. He turned his attention to Jon as he continued to speak. “You Sir, have a bit more clout than I gave you credit for. Had you just made mention of the Princess it would have been a done deal from the start.”

“I understand that,” Jon said. He stepped up to Deatra and put his arm around her. “I wanted you to want to do it and not be forced to do it. I wanted to see what kind of a man I was dealing with.”

Jao’uos gasped when Jon wrapped his arm around Deatra’s waist. Deatra caught his uneasiness and laughed as she spoke, “He’s my bond-mate.”

“Oh my god,” Jao’uos said and dropped to his knee again and bowed his head. “Forgive me, My Prince, I had no idea.”

“For god sakes man, stand up,” Jon said as he chuckled. “I’m less formal than the Princess, you can call me Jon while were in private company. You also don’t need to bow when we’re in private company.”

“As you wish My Prince… Err Jon,” Jao’uos said as he stood up again.

“I think we’re going to get along just fine,” Jon said. “Prepare for your departure, I’ll call when it’s time. Take care until then.”

The viewscreen went blank just as the Tactical Officer spoke up, “Sir; we have an incoming hyperspace event. Ship is emerging now twenty thousand feet off our port bow.”

Jon dropped his arm from Deatra as he spoke, “On main view screen.”