Read Online Keystones: Tau Prime by Alexander McKinney - Free Book Online
Authors: Alexander McKinney
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liquid poured from his fingertip. Jonny stopped when the glass contained a generous measure and passed it to Calm before filling the three other tumblers.
With a silent toast they drank.
Jonny asked the Serenity ’s captain, “Does it meet with your expectations?”
Calm took another sip before he answered. “Careful. I may have to raise your pay.”
“You haven’t told me what my responsibilities are yet,” interjected Deklan after a moment.
“Ah, yes. I told Mr. Day that we needed a doctor and a lawyer on this little venture. Dr. Beal was already aboard at that point in time and recommended you as a lawyer with a useful Keystone ability.”
Jamie winked at Deklan and raised her glass in his direction.
“That doesn’t answer my question,” said Deklan.
“The one thing that wealth has taught me,” replied Calm, “is that lawyers are a necessary evil. I don’t know what we’re going to find, but I’m going to need you as a witness when we find it. When we return, you will be responsible for ensuring that there is paperwork documenting what we’ve done.”
“There’s no legal precedent for the exploration of wormholes,” commented Deklan.
“Exactly, but there is legal precedent for the annexation of planets, correct?” Calm spoke in a way that made it clear he knew the answer.
Calm obviously expected Deklan to secure for him the ownership of all discoveries he made while in the wormhole, including intergalactic real estate. The venture could be worth untold billions, if they were successful.
“Yes,” answered Deklan, “as in the annexation of Mars. Do you wish to annex the planets that we encounter?”
“And the Lagrange points.”
Those would be important too, Deklan realized. No one simply colonized planets, they were dangerous with unpredictable climates. Papers had been written on the subject. Even if they found “Earth-normal” planets, biospheres would have to be created or altered for human safety. Space-based habitats set in stable orbits within Lagrange points were the way forward for humanity. “Why me?” asked Deklan. “I haven’t practiced law in years.”
“You will draft documents that will then be worked over by a team of lawyers I retain here, but you have one advantage that my corporate lawyers do not.” Calm sniffed at his Scotch. “You, Mr. Tobin, will be an asset to my crew in other ways.”
“What are my responsibilities that don’t involve legalese?” inquired Deklan.
“You have a durability that Mr. Day and Dr. Beal lack.”
So it was back to his Keystone power of regeneration, or what Jamie earlier had called the Lazarus Syndrome. “I think we’re going to work well together,” Deklan declared.
Calm drained his glass. “Excellent. Unless anyone has any objections, it’s time to begin.” Hearing none, Calm executed the commands to undock the ship.
Deklan felt the tremble that came when the docking clamps released. The forward window showed the bay retreat as Serenity drew gradually away.
A controlled burn from the thrusters then took the ship into space. The Terra Rings leaped into view, massive spinning structures. Serenity swung around into the gap between Rings Two and Three before Calm engaged the Doppler Bubble Drive and left the Rings far behind. Instead of crawling between the two structures, they were coursing freely through open space.
Deklan watched as Calm brought them up to about half of maximum speed. At that rate it was going to take less than two minutes to reach the wormhole.
Calm wore a smile that suggested a nearly manic level of happiness. Jonny looked excited but not to the same extent as Calm. Beal’s perky smile seemed almost inappropriately relaxed. She was leaning back in her chair and had both hands behind her head, thoroughly enjoying the show.
Upon reaching the small fleet of ships stationed outside the wormhole, the craft slowed. “We have to make sure they see us,” Calm said, winking at Deklan, “if only
With a silent toast they drank.
Jonny asked the Serenity ’s captain, “Does it meet with your expectations?”
Calm took another sip before he answered. “Careful. I may have to raise your pay.”
“You haven’t told me what my responsibilities are yet,” interjected Deklan after a moment.
“Ah, yes. I told Mr. Day that we needed a doctor and a lawyer on this little venture. Dr. Beal was already aboard at that point in time and recommended you as a lawyer with a useful Keystone ability.”
Jamie winked at Deklan and raised her glass in his direction.
“That doesn’t answer my question,” said Deklan.
“The one thing that wealth has taught me,” replied Calm, “is that lawyers are a necessary evil. I don’t know what we’re going to find, but I’m going to need you as a witness when we find it. When we return, you will be responsible for ensuring that there is paperwork documenting what we’ve done.”
“There’s no legal precedent for the exploration of wormholes,” commented Deklan.
“Exactly, but there is legal precedent for the annexation of planets, correct?” Calm spoke in a way that made it clear he knew the answer.
Calm obviously expected Deklan to secure for him the ownership of all discoveries he made while in the wormhole, including intergalactic real estate. The venture could be worth untold billions, if they were successful.
“Yes,” answered Deklan, “as in the annexation of Mars. Do you wish to annex the planets that we encounter?”
“And the Lagrange points.”
Those would be important too, Deklan realized. No one simply colonized planets, they were dangerous with unpredictable climates. Papers had been written on the subject. Even if they found “Earth-normal” planets, biospheres would have to be created or altered for human safety. Space-based habitats set in stable orbits within Lagrange points were the way forward for humanity. “Why me?” asked Deklan. “I haven’t practiced law in years.”
“You will draft documents that will then be worked over by a team of lawyers I retain here, but you have one advantage that my corporate lawyers do not.” Calm sniffed at his Scotch. “You, Mr. Tobin, will be an asset to my crew in other ways.”
“What are my responsibilities that don’t involve legalese?” inquired Deklan.
“You have a durability that Mr. Day and Dr. Beal lack.”
So it was back to his Keystone power of regeneration, or what Jamie earlier had called the Lazarus Syndrome. “I think we’re going to work well together,” Deklan declared.
Calm drained his glass. “Excellent. Unless anyone has any objections, it’s time to begin.” Hearing none, Calm executed the commands to undock the ship.
Deklan felt the tremble that came when the docking clamps released. The forward window showed the bay retreat as Serenity drew gradually away.
A controlled burn from the thrusters then took the ship into space. The Terra Rings leaped into view, massive spinning structures. Serenity swung around into the gap between Rings Two and Three before Calm engaged the Doppler Bubble Drive and left the Rings far behind. Instead of crawling between the two structures, they were coursing freely through open space.
Deklan watched as Calm brought them up to about half of maximum speed. At that rate it was going to take less than two minutes to reach the wormhole.
Calm wore a smile that suggested a nearly manic level of happiness. Jonny looked excited but not to the same extent as Calm. Beal’s perky smile seemed almost inappropriately relaxed. She was leaning back in her chair and had both hands behind her head, thoroughly enjoying the show.
Upon reaching the small fleet of ships stationed outside the wormhole, the craft slowed. “We have to make sure they see us,” Calm said, winking at Deklan, “if only
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