The First Colony Project 4

[kennethstrickland]

THE FIRST COLONY PROJECT, Ch. 4


Krells did not let up while training Drake. Drake also learned a few alien curse words while training. Krells made him go over an action again and again, learning how to use the hover lifts and the console to open the cargo bins to load and how to off load the cargo. It was forty-eight hours of paid training. At the end, he got tattooed with his blood type as his new employers understood it, and new to him DNA classification number, an alpha numeric that was also his ID number. Drake stared at it and wondered would that be used in Beauville.
Saturday came fast. Drake was on the ship with novels, his portable DVD player and desert island movies he hoped would hold him. He also had several of his favorite CD disks. Once on the way, he found that the lot was scanned and in the ship's computer.
"We're all going to be watching them boyo," he was told.
The ship lifted off for the Descara sector where they would pick up a load.
Drake watched on monitor as Earth faded into the inky darkness of space. Suddenly, he felt incredibly homesick.
________________________________________________________________________

The new building in New York had the American arm of the newly formed International Colonization Committee. Dedicated to coordinating all active space exploration from Earth, it was the new over arcing authority to supervise all independent trade and flight from Earth. Really, all it did for now was to tell all independent operators that they had a new authority to report to. It also did the one thing that many Americans did not want. They began to deal with the money exchanges between Terran money and the Intergalactic Credit. Braanon Mark was not happy either, but wiser heads saw those aliens [even in disguise] were openly going out very publicly and touring Earth. There needed a way to make the exchange. It was no longer an open secret. It was open among aliens and their hybrid children and Beauville and Four Corners. Aliens had been coming, there were also children that never allowed them to be known. Many disguises were abandoned, and they knew it could be dangerous. The truth they were hybrid could terrify some.
There was hybrid that had things like an amusement park. When they were revealed, people flocked to them out of curiosity. They found the usual attractions and some with picnic grounds. Some actually had hotels. There were mom and pop places for food and lodging around them. Some of them had tesseract expansions with additional attractions. Many were closed to the general public.
As these places became more open to the public, troublemakers came to the parks to harass the visitors. The owners brought out local private security with sedative guns and put the troublemaker asleep. They would be stuck in a cold cell until the charges were filed. Usually within three hours. But the troublemakers found out they were given probation or allowed to go free if they never came back the park. If the charges were pressed, the parents were sued. A lot of people never returned.
The worst sort of thing to happen was in a park called "Brass Ring". Every ride would allow a rider, if in position, to grab a brass ring for a prize. The catch was, if the riders didn't cash in for the immediate prize, they could collect rings and hold them for a bigger prize before they left the park. The rings were good for that day only, and the redemption store was at the entrance.
Many of the smaller parks found themselves with more customers. They also found themselves hiring more people to handle the larger crowds.
The various state governments found themselves seeing increases of alien activity, and some had no idea how to deal with it. Of course they kept an eye on the aliens. For blacks it was a bonus, they weren't being watched so closely. Of course, it turned out truly bigoted police found they were facing an alien who had no problem firing back. And many did, depending how they were approached. If a cop approached the alien with their hand on their gun, the alien drew their weapon and would not put it down until the officer did. Too many times, both were wounded or killed because neither would back down. It didn't help if the cop claimed they were afraid for his life. Especially if they were in an alien area, the cop was never seen as the "good guy", he was seen as an enemy by the locals. The police tried to recruit resident aliens or hybrid with little success. They tended to regard the police, who usually did not live in the area as enemies.
That would explain the flying cars. Those were used to avoid the police in travel.
Locals adapted the technology if they could get it, building their own vehicles. Many were fast and the police had nothing to catch them. The police tried to buy the cars, but the locals had no interest in selling to them. That meant the police had to find someone who would build for them. It took doing, but there were some full Terrans that began to look into the flying cars. They knew they had to get on the computer and do the research for plans. There was one catch. The plans were going to cost. Depending on whether you did a hard copy, which was unsatisfactory since the paper was only eight and half by eleven, or you got the plans and had them custom printed. Or you got a download and had them printed, or you worked from a computer screen. It didn't matter how you got it, since it was all expensive no matter what. You were charged no matter what for the plans.
Still, the feeding frenzy was not replicated since it was noted what was used for building the vehicles. Too many tests had to be done, and none were going to allow their car to be the cause of a death if they could help it. Of course there were a lot of home-built vehicles, and police could not get near the vehicles until they landed. If the police tried to intimidate someone building a flying car, it was bad luck for them since most of the builders got parts for cars or even turnkey vehicles that were licensed for the road, and the police couldn’t. There were people that made the parts for the conversions, but you had to know somebody who knew somebody. Those parts makers were armed and hard to find, some with so called "outlaw" tesseracts, fronted by places that looked like rundown store fronts. It was a different place once you got inside of course.
There was no way the flying cars could be stopped in the sky, unless the driver was pursued by a helicopter. Even then, the cars were faster than the rotor wings. The police got smarter about the pursuits. The drivers tended to have weapons mounted in the vehicle. If they were shot at, the drivers fired back. They also started shielding the cars to resist gunfire.
The police were at a loss to deal with this. Neither blacks nor other minorities ever really fought back. But these green skinned, these blue skinned, these red skinned, all of these colors did not care about the pink. They were considered colorless, sick with no real color definition of theirs. They did not care about the police and their guns. In fact, a policeman that shot an unarmed hybrid was gunned down along with his partner last week. The father found the address of the family and went to the house to make sure there would be no attempt at revenge by the dead policeman's family. He was stopped by his friends, not the other policemen. The standoff was broadcast live, and it took a lot of talking by the hybrid's friends to get him to go with them. The police learned a major lesson that day. The country learned it as well.
Blood would be shed over the killing of an unarmed hybrid. They did not care about the police or their excuses. It would be worse if it were a black hybrid, especially if he was only here for a visit with Terran relatives. Earth, especially America already had a bad reputation with off-worlders. A Black alien hybrid was going to get them killed.

Still, the meeting with the various committees, trying to find out who was alien, who was hybrid, was a major project for American authorities. The same could be said around the world. The Europeans had it better than the Russians or Chinese. The Russians and Chinese had it better than the Middle East. Too many ships were destroyed and the beings in them killed out of fear. It was better now that it was known there was money to be made if the crashed were returned alive. Many villages and their leaders found they got money for the return of the alien and the ship. It cost Braanon, but he was willing to pay.
As the Colonization committee met, they began to realize they had to have a part in the rescue of the ship that had the misfortune to crash land on Earth. Beauville was ground zero for the western part of the country. Four Corners became the hub for the east. In fact, the American government made it their business to go down there and make the point that Four Corers had to allow outside people to become a part of the effort of rescuing star craft. Four Corners did so reluctantly. The United States military went in, plunked down the bags and asked, "Where do you need us?" Like Beauville, they had to build the barracks to house the new people; there were also the arrivals from the Intergalactic Council. That shocked the Americans, but not the mutants. They were in the middle of expanding to allow new people in, but they did not expect the federal government like this. In any case, the barracks tesseracts went up, the people moved in, and the training began.
In both towns, eyes were on all aspects of their space programs. Any talk by the President of a "space force" was shut down quickly by Four Corners. They were not going to allow themselves to be used by the President toward his own ends. The trouble was, the military came into both towns, looked at the various mechanical equipment they had and immediately began digging through everything in order to build new versions for domestic use. Four Corners made it more than clear they would not be held responsible if the weaponry were to get to the public and they would consider any attack by anyone, an act of war, subject to complete and total retribution against the attacker, his associates and his family. “We will also do all that we can to level the state capitol of the attacker’s homer to the ground.”
That sent a shudder through the country. The demonstration was in an open area in Georgia. A one mile in circumference, one-mile-deep hole was burned into the ground not more than five miles from Atlanta's outskirts. People came from miles around to see the terrifying sight.
"We have lost a mayor. We are not losing anything more to anyone else. Don't pick a fight; we are gonna make it cost you. You are going to bleed with us." The town's mayor said at a press conference. The media people stared as Jim Mosley left. They knew he and the town were serious.
The UN on the other hand, opened up a resolution calling for Beauville and Four Corners and Australia to open up and allow for people from around the world on the various bases and rescue craft. They didn't really have the space, but somehow, they had to. They would show up anyway and demand to be trained and part of the crews.

The big race was coming up, and there were many noticing their children had little or no participation. They were watched as the towns prepped and built the two-racing craft. The Air Force Academy had two ships as well, and they all went to the lock down paddock in Tempe Arizona. The lot had guards to prevent any last-minute work on the ships. If they weren't ready, they weren't ready. All knew this. Even the pilots were pulled to one side the night before the race, given an excellent dinner and then sent to bed.
The planet watched knowing this was the last time that just these three entities would do the race by themselves.
There had been an argument before they called the pilots to their ships about giving an invocation. Previously, there had been a blessing by a Vicharian priest of his faith. Since that happened, the invocation was allowed.
The preacher, from a local church was announced. “Today's invocation will be given by the Reverend Matthew Jenkins of the Paradise Rising Baptist church."
"Thank you. Dear Lord, we ask you to bless these brave young people, who will take to your skies and outer space. We ask that you steady their hands and hearts and guide them through. We ask that they return safely and whole. While they have faced such a thing before, we remember that you will guide them safely through all they face and accept them as your children. In Jesus' name Amen." The Reverend Jenkins stepped down as the announcer said, "and now the call to the race by Avery Sloane!"
Sloane's story was dug into and found out. They even knew enough not to stalk the family, and Stone kept his wife and son at a safe distance from the media. He'd gone out on some of the earliest exploration trips with Beauville. His ship was attacked, and he was taken prisoner. Fifteen years later, he finally made an escape and got back to Four Corners with a new alien wife and son. Along with a half face metal mask, he'd fought his way back and still had the skills to use the weapons he'd learned. He'd had a part of shaping the star pilot course in Four Corners, and he'd take great pleasure in knowing his son helped the town win one year. Of course, it didn't hurt that he'd learned to pilot at a young age. Avery smiled and approached the microphone as the reason he was giving the start call was explained to the viewers. The metal half faceplate was polished, and it reflected the light. He still had the accent he'd gained while out in space, and he emphasized it when he made the call. Sloane smiled
"PILOTS…TO...THE...SHIPS...!" The crowd roared as the ships were brought up to heat and moved slowly to the line. Two trips around the racing tesseract, two trips around the world then off to fly around the moon and the earth twice. The course was changed for this year. It had originally sent around the system and then back to earth. Now that the world knew about it and they had a massive viewership this year, it was decided to shorten the race this year. It was another thing that was discussed.
The ships took the two warm up laps then the klaxon sounded, and the ships took off for their two laps around the tesseract then out to the course of two laps from the earth to the moon then back to the tesseract for the last two laps and the finish.
While the racers were off planet, someone tried to drive a fertilizer bomb laden truck into the race tesseract. While the truck did explode when the bomb was set off, there were people deciding to gloat over the interrupted TV broadcast of the race.
Their downfall was simple. While they were gloating, their broadcast was quickly traced. The real surprise was the would-be saviors of humanity were caught. They were placed in cold sleep cells immediately unable to talk to the press. Their lawyer only got to talk to them when the court ruling required them to be released so they could plan their defense. They got their time in court, but the schools and Markbase got search warrants and found the paraphernalia speaking of destroying the race if they could and calling for the destruction of all participants in the race, including the Air Force Academy. The possibility their sons and daughters would be targets was a major turning point. When the trial was over, the race lawyers wanted to send the perpetrators to Denton 5.
The defenders howled in protest.
"Denton 5 was another planet!"
"This is cruel and unusual punishment!"
"Yes, they should face jail time, but we have no idea what they will face on another world!"
Beauville responded by showing what Denton 5 was and what the convicted would face. The tour was as real time as possible with a holographic broad cast. The convicts there were allowed to speak, including some of the longest serving. That there was no chance for them to leave, they knew there was worse. Denton 5 was worse than local cold sleep. It meant you were to stay and attempt your luck there. Even worse for some, was staying awake and having to build your new home on the planet. The federal government and the UN demanded to get a delay of sending anyone there until they could investigate both Calavados and Denton 5. There were long furious arguments. Braanon gave in and allowed the tours and investigations. It would take two years, and the convicted would be kept in cold sleep despite protests. Braanon did not want the convicted to become martyrs and speak to the press.

The UN and the US were taken to Denton 5 and Calavados. They were allowed to see how the convicted lived. There were no allowances for cheap or free labor. They either learned or died. It wasn't just convicted felons from Earth; it was the felons from many worlds who worked everywhere but the star ports they were landed at. The various politicians were stunned at the relative primitiveness of it all. Humanitarians watched as the children of every kind of coupling ran around then stopped and stared at the stiff to their eyes clothed people from an ancestral world took in everything.
One boy, half blue skinned Lodakian convict and an Earth mother stared openly at them. He got close enough to touch one of the suits an investigator wore and rubbed the fabric.
"How do you wear such bindings?" he asked. He had a scar on the right side of his face. He spoke in what sounded like a broken version of English, with a heavy accent.
The man, Louis Frame replied, "It's quite comfortable, actually."
"You straight Terran; you talk funny." the boy said his eyes seemed to look right to his soul. He moved around him, looking him up and down. "Pale pink-white, piss dirt brown hair, Eye lenses." He saw the tie. "What's that's rope around your neck?"
Frame lifted his tie. "It's my necktie, part of my clothes."
The boy humped. "It gets caught you're choked. Stupid."
Frame let the tie hang. "I think it sets the suit off."
A muscular woman walked up to the two of them. "Kevos, you're to keep up with me! Delivery's been made, and you know better than to disturb these strangers!" She stopped short. "Sorry about that, but he's been hearing people from Earth were coming, and he wanted to meet one of you. I told him it might not be possible. He'd got a lot to do, and I'm sorry he disturbed you."
Frame smiled. "No disturbance and I've wanted to meet someone from Earth who has been here for a while. Louis Frame..." He held out his hand.
She didn't take it. "Well, Mr. Frame. You going to find them that some have been here for a while, and you can't do much about it. Most of us have learned to live here, and we've made lives. At the very least we ain't in some hot box doing and learning nothing or being leased out."
A big Lodakian walked up to them. "Thinking you was coming."
She looked at him. "Had to come and get the boy. He was talking to this freshly arrived."
"He doesn’t look like a convict..." the Lodakian stared at Frame who felt he was unwelcome by the man, "Come to get you I suppose."
"Ain't my husband." she said firmly. She looked at her son. "You've met your Terran, let's go!" The tug, by his father, on his ear told Kevos to follow his parents.
Frame watched as the family left. The big blue man took the bundle from the woman as they went to a waiting cart drawn by some animal that bawled as it waited for them. Kevos got into the back of the cart and his mother was helped up into the seat next to her man and they drove off.
Frame stared at them. This encounter wasn't much, but Frame knew it was a first contact. This was going to matter.

[jayphailey]

It also did the one thing that many Americans did not want. They began to deal with the money exchanges between Terran money and the Intergalactic Credit.

Who set up the galactic credit? On what authority?

Where is it accepted? Not accepted?

Is it related to anything physical and tangible? Or is it a fiat currency?

"fiat" means "Because I said so"

The US Dollar is worth a dollar because the UG Government says so and everyone believes them. THese sorts of currencies took over from currencies based on precious metals. A "Dollar" used to be a term for 1/20th of an ounce of gold.

The problem is that gold dollars aren't "stretchy" or flexible enough, and when it hit the limits of the stretch, it breaks things.

So

If the Galactic Credit is worth a credit because someone says so...

Who's saying so, and why should I believe them?