Portal To The Stars

By Terry Compton

Volume 3 in the Alcantaran series.

Ron, Gus and Tik now have the Alcantaran Key. They have a wealth of technology far beyond most people's imagination. They want to put some of this technology to work and return to trading but the Bugs are at it again. They and their allies are threatening Earth and Vesta IV. The trio has had enough. It was time to teach aggressors that messing with their planets comes with dire consequences.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Terry Compton
• Release date: Oct 9, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465883438

Terry Compton

Terry Compton has raced stock cars, rode horses across the Scapegoat Wilderness, fished and hunted most of his adult life while working at several different jobs. He is an Air Force veteran and served in the Air National Guard for several years. He is currently retired from being the owner, chief welder and installer for an ornamental iron business where he has made several award winning metal creations and is now turning this creativity to writing.Terry loves to read science fiction, westerns and mystery stories. Some of his favorite authors are Clive Cussler, Robert Ludlum, Tom Clancy, Andre Norton, Poul Anderson, Robert Heinlein, Louie L'Amour, Zane Grey and Anne McCaffery. He is currently learning about 'indie' authors who are publishing e-books.Terry currently lives in Montana with his wife and a dog who thinks she is a short furry people.

Book preview

Portal To The Stars

Terry Compton

Published by Terry Compton at Smashwords

Copyright 2011 Terry Compton

Cover images courtesy of NASA/Hubble

Covers by Joleene Naylor

Star traders Ron, Gus and Tik now reign over the Alcantaran Key. Controlling a wealth of advanced technology far beyond most people's imagination, they are ready to put it to work trading. But the Bugs are at it again, threatening Earth and Vesta IV. The trio has had enough. It is time to teach aggressors that messing with their planets comes with dire consequences.

Smashwords Edition

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This is a work of fiction. All characters or incidents are a figment of the author's imagination and any resemblance to any incident or any person living or dead is purely coincidental.

Chapter 1

Pete Collins stooped over his desk holding onto the edges for all he was worth. He tried to keep control on his temper and not leap over the desk to attack the pompous, arrogant alien and his two escorts standing in front of the desk. Even if he got these three, he knew that at least six more waited in his outer office.

He had been the head of Earth's Space Authority for almost three years and had never had anything even close like this happen before. Even dealing with a crooked president hadn't made him this angry.

Admiral Bayark Calix, aide to the commander of the blockading fleet, continued his announcement, We will board any spaceships attempting to land here on your backward planet. You will set up appropriate facilities for us here and furnish food that meets our approval….

What kind of facilities and what kind of food will you need? Pete asked in a restrained voice.

Silence, low life. Only speak when you are given permission. Admiral Calix will explain everything in his own time. Your responsibility is to take notes and get it done. Failure will mean your life and that of your family, one of the escorts lectured.

Pete had had enough. He pushed the button on his desk signaling duress. This signal would contact the National Guard and his friend Colonel Mike Nelson. The Colonel would have a squad here within five minutes.

They had planned and trained for this but had never had to put it to the real test. If he carefully controlled his temper, he could wait until they arrived. He had to keep reminding himself, Just hold on. Don't jump the desk and don't strangle this pompous alien.

Pete didn't pay attention as the Admiral droned on with his instructions, instead he wondered where Ron Calvin, Tik Michi and Gus Ghaolh could be. His granddaughter, Bri, was with them on the Galactic Antiquarian and they were more than a month overdue.

After the big battle at Tarzana, when they had rescued the hostages held by pirates, they were supposed to have been on the way back here to Earth. Xiamen and Kota Kinabula had gone back to check out the area around Tarzana but hadn't found the Galactic Antiquarian -- or Auntie as everyone called her.

Kota said the remote detectors showed another battle between Auntie and some Bug warships but it looked like she had jumped to hyper-space. The Bugs' warships weren't so lucky. Xiamen and his crew had flown into the area and found nine more warships sitting in ruins.

Six more had taken off for parts unknown. Kota told Pete that Auntie had sent two messages before she jumped to hyper-space and that was why they searched the battle area. He wouldn't say what was in the messages but Pete knew it was something very important about the Bugs and their plans.

This month long delay with no word just wasn't like the trio. Ron had tried to talk him out of letting Bri go with them but Pete knew she was safer with them than anyone and Bri had been determined to go into space.

Anyone who could get an ancient Alcantaran spaceship working, sneak it off of the Bug's mother ship and then make a killing at trading had to have something going for themselves. Besides, Ron and Gus both had their families with them. They wouldn't do anything too risky with families along, would they?

Pete's computer, tied into the security system, showed a small spaceship land out on the field. It looked different from any that he had seen land here before. How in the world did it get past the blockade? What would this pompous alien Admiral think if he knew it sat out there?

Pete tried to keep an eye on the computer to see what the spaceship was going to do while watching the three aliens in his office. They didn't seem to notice that he kept monitoring the computer screen. Maybe it was so backward from their standards that they didn't even know what purpose it served.

Suddenly, Pete broke into a grin. The aliens noticed the grin and looked at each other in wonder. What in the world could the Earthling be up to? The Admiral stopped in the middle of his demands.

Pete spitefully said, Admiral, what are you going to do about the Alcantaran Ghosts?

There is no such thing. Just because you backwards planets have myths and legends, don't expect us to believe them.

Oh, I don't know. I've heard a few stories from the Dar Es Salaam Traders about the Ghosts and I think they believe in them. Aren't they part of your Charter Alliance?

Admiral Calix puffed his chest out, Not for long if they insist in trying to protect your planet.

Why don't you just cut all of this BS and tell me what you're really looking for. Maybe I can help you or maybe I'll let the Ghosts take their toll.

Hmmprh! Are you threatening the official delegation from Uyoki?

No, not threatening, just promising. I think your little speech clearly declares war on Earth, am I right?

Ah…ummm…Not exactly declaring war. We are just laying down terms for you.

Do you have anything from the Charter Alliance giving you authority?

We don't need it as a sovereign galaxy. We are permitted to protect ourselves when attacked.

Oh, and just when did Earth attack you?

When you kidnapped our ambassador Puri Sasha.

How did we do that? We don't have any spaceships that will do hyper-space jumps. We have a few shuttles and rockets that are used for orbital exploration but I fail to see how they could capture an advanced spaceship such as yours.

That’s neither here nor there. We suspect that the Dar Es Salaam Traders are working with you in this nefarious deed.

Oh, now you're declaring war on the Dar Es Salaam Traders. May I quote you on that?

The Admiral's face developed a nervous tic. He didn't like the direction of this conversation. Why did this Earthling think he could taunt me? Does he know something I don't? I need to get one of my escorts in here right now. I needed to send a message to see if something has changed.

Pete's door suddenly swung open. Ron Calvin stood in the doorway with his hands on his hips. Pete could see all of the other escorts lying on the floor of his office. Ron said, Oh, I'm sorry, Pete. I didn't realize that you had company. Should I come back later?

No, I think these detestable beings would like to meet some Alcantaran Ghosts. They don't really believe there is such a thing and they have just declared war on Earth and the Dar Es Salaam Traders.

I'm sure the Dragon Lady, I'm sorry -- I mean the honorable Kita ao Te Kinobala will be sorry to hear that. Have these 'detestable' beings damaged anything on Earth or harmed any of her citizens?

Not yet. They've just threatened us and the Traders.

The Admiral and his escort turned a sickly shade of green. Pete didn't know if they could sweat but he was sure they would be if they could. The Admiral blustered, Who is this intruder? Captain, arrest him and take him to our spaceship for interrogation.

Pete and Ron just grinned. The Admiral turned even greener and sicker looking. He knew that something wasn't right but just couldn't put his finger on it. The Captain called out, Escort, arrest this Earthling.

When there was no answer, he yelled again even louder. Ron started chuckling which set Pete to chuckling, as well. The Captain stepped to where he could see out the door. His mouth dropped open in surprise at the sight of his troops lying on the floor. He hadn't heard any weapons or a commotion.

He shrank back with a look of terror on his face. His hand dropped to his weapon and then he looked at Ron. Something in his eyes and demeanor told him that he would be dead before he could even start to point the weapon at anyone.

The Admiral turned to face the Captain and saw the look of defeat and terror in his stance. The Admiral looked out of the open doorway at all of his troops lying on the floor. He knew now that the reports and rumors of the Alcantaran Ghosts were true and he was looking at a Ghost or someone that could summon them at will.

The other escort hadn't seen out the door, so he decided that no mere Earthling could threaten his Captain or Admiral and get away with it. He started to reach for his weapon. Suddenly, the new Earthling had a blaster pointed right at his chest. He hadn't even seen him move his hand. His hands went above his shoulders in the universal sign of surrender.

I think for everyone's safety, Pete should get everyone's weapons. I'd hate to mistake a perfectly peaceful move as threatening. Right now, I'm just a little jumpy and I might not be able to just wound that someone. This blaster leaves such a nasty hole in a being's chest.

Pete walked behind the three aliens and took their weapons. Ron told him to frisk them for hidden weapons and Pete gladly obliged. He was none too gentle as he did it but didn't find anything. He didn't take their communication units because he really didn't know what he was looking at when he found them.

Colonel Mike, come on in. We have some more prisoners-of-war. Do you have any shield generators here to keep them in?

Colonel Mike Nelson walked in the outer office door followed by ten of his best troops. They had rifles at the ready and from the look in their eyes, the Admiral knew that any one of them would shoot to kill if given the slightest provocation. They were even more dangerous than Ron Calvin because they were so nervous.

Colonel Mike said with a grin, We don't have any shield generators. We can just take them outside and shoot them. There's a garbage dump just down the road. Once they are in it, no one will ever know what became of them.

Now, now Mike. They might have things to tell us. When the Ghosts get through with them, they won't be any trouble. I saw what they did on Europaische and Tarzana. It sure wasn't pretty. I hope for their sakes that they don't try to hold out too long when they're questioned. I would hate to send a shell of a person back to their home planet. Being a living vegetable just doesn't seem right, Ron answered with a bigger grin.

The Admiral and his escort looked like someone had just slugged them in the gut. They were definitely a very sickly shade of green now.

Ron said, "Why don't you have your men take them outside and line them up next to the building. I think you should stick around because I think Pete has some questions and you might want to hear.

Kita is out in our spaceship checking out the other one and as soon as she makes sure there are no more threats from it, she can get a shield generator for you. Tell your men to shoot them in the leg joints first if they try to talk. They may be trying to use comm units to call for reinforcements.

Mike stepped outside to give orders to his men and they herded the aliens outside. Six of his men started dragging the unconscious escorts who were lying on the floor outside with the others. When they were done, Mike stepped back into Pete's office.

Pete, we need to help you with some security measures around here. I would suggest some weapons in the drawers or other places that would be easy to get to and then a shield that covers the visitor's side of the room. There should be one shield that will cover this entire office building. Did you get the other shields set up for your banking system?

We did get that in place. I'd gladly put the other shields up but we have a blockade keeping other ships out. Speaking of a blockade, how in the world did you get in?

Well, we came in really fast and I don't think they were looking for us. We have a couple of secrets they don't know about, so we just set down. They were also broadcasting something about Earth being quarantined but they didn't say why. I tried to call you but I guess your blockade jammed your communications.

Yeah, they jammed most of the radio-type communications and its starting to create a panic here on Earth. We still have landlines, so I buzzed Mike to see if we could capture these three. I didn't know what he would have to do with the ones in the other office. What happened to them?

I met Mike outside and he wanted to blast his way in. I talked him into letting the Ghosts have a try first. Evidently, these aliens hadn't heard about the Ghosts because they sure went down fast.

Oh, Mike, I don't think you've been formally introduced. This is Ron Calvin. Normally he's flying in Auntie. This is Colonel Mike Nelson, our local National Guard commander, a very good man to have around in a crisis. Mike was with us when Xiamen first landed.

Ron and Mike shook hands. Pete invited them to sit down. Ron sat down and mentally called to Kita Te Kinobala. She reported that the other spaceship was empty. He told her to set a shield generator out and one of the National Guard troops would come and get it. They needed it for housing some prisoners.

Pete went into the other office to check on his secretary. She had been hiding under her desk and gladly got up when he came out. He told her to take the rest of the day off and go home but she wouldn't hear of it. As long as he continued working, so would she. Pete gave up and went back into his office.

Pete had just barely sat down when the door opened and a nine-foot tall purple alien walked in. Pete knew that the alien was a Dar Es Salaam Trader but he hadn't met her.

Glad that they had built this building to accommodate tall aliens like her, he studied her. Having the familiar feathery-looking hair that would wave when she got excited or upset, she looked an awful lot like Xiamen had when he first landed here on Earth.

Ron stood up and said, This is Zibo's aunt, Kita Te Kinobala. Zibo married Xiamen's nephew, Kota Kinabula. Kita is the Charter Alliance Representative for Dar Es Salaam. Kita, this is Pete Collins and Colonel Mike Nelson. Pete, why don't you fill her in on the fact that her galaxy is now at war with those jerks out there? By the way, where are they from?

Admiral Blowhard said he came from Uyoki. He accused us of kidnapping a Puri Sasha and they were using that as an excuse to blockade Earth. He made threatening noises about Dar Es Salaam, too. He said they had helped us.

Ron grinned as Kita made a growling noise and muttered to herself. She said, Let me talk to this Admiral. I'll educate him about accusing someone of a crime when his own sweet Puri Sasha is the real criminal.

Kita, I think we need to keep that a secret for awhile longer. We need to see if Xiamen and Kota have had time to check out our message. They need time to hide the ships and make sure they can't be found. There's too much at stake.

I know, but I'd still like to put the fear of God in that Admiral and the bunch up in orbit, too.

We will, but first we need to fill Pete and Mike in on what we found. Besides, I think Pete is dying to ask about Bri.

How is she? We haven't heard anything in over a month and I was getting worried.

I seem to recall advising you to make her wait but both of you insisted that she wanted to go.

I know but I can still worry. Her Grandma doesn't know too much about it but she has been asking how long it will take to get here.

Ron grinned and said, Bri is doing fine. Right now, you couldn't pry her away from that place with dynamite. She is up to her eyebrows in reverse engineering and studying Alcantaran artifacts. Let me explain and then I'll let you ask questions….

Ron briefly told the story of the battle with the Bug warships and the jump to the Key. He didn't tell them where it was located or when for security reasons. He played down the danger to Auntie and her crew but did tell them that the linings on the engines were now shot.

The twins, Gus and the other scientists were working to reline them. He told about finding the Key and having to get power going to it. It had taken over a month to get power built up and start bringing the computer and other equipment on line.

Ron didn't elaborate on all that they had found but gave hints of the technological treasures there. Pete and Mike both knew they would like to see this place. Ron said they had fueled this spaceship and checked it out and then he and Kita had come back to recruit help. Pete and Mike's eyes lit up like kids in a candy store.

"We are going to need machinists, sheet metal workers, crews for about a hundred spaceships and Captains for them. We need some horticulturists and a whole list of others.

"Kita is going to try to recruit some of the people we need from the Dar Es Salaam galaxy. Tik has already left -- or will very shortly -- to head to Vesta IV to recruit computer people. People from there seem to have a real affinity for the Alcantaran computers.

"One really big thing we seriously need is an administrator. I'd like to have that person come from Earth. Maybe you could help find some candidates. Mike, we need some military or retired military to help us with strategic planning and to help with attack plans. Someone with guerrilla warfare training would be very useful.

We have a few fighter-type spaceships and we need to know the best way to utilize them. Most of these trader spaceships are armed and can be very deadly -- as the Bugs have found out. I think this little blockade is just the start and we need to be ready to defend the Key, Earth, Prokne and Vesta IV.

Wow. I don't even know what to say. Give me the list and the minimum requirements for people and I can start sorting candidates. If we just put the word out that you need hands, we would have over 100,000 people here in Kalispell within a week, Pete said.

I can get in touch with military and retired military. I assume that you want more than just Americans.

Yes, this has to be a world-wide endeavor. Without support from the entire planet, we won't be able to fight the Bugs and other sewer crawlers nearly as effectively.

I thought you hammered the Bugs at Tarzana. Do you think they are still a threat? Pete asked.

Absolutely. They are trying to set up a federation and are drawing in galaxies like our friends outside there. Everybody has to watch their step because, for the next two or three years, you really don't know who your friends are or who your enemies are.

Kita jumped in. Right now, the only four galaxies you can count on are Dar Es Salaam, Earth, Vesta IV and Prokne. Prokne won't be a lot of help because they are so far behind technologically, so the others will have to pick up the slack.

Well, the first thing we need to do is clear this blockade and reestablish communications. This lack of communications is the pits and with no TV or radio, some people could try to take advantage of it and cause problems that we don't need right now. Is our Letter of Marque still good?

Yes.

Well, I guess that Uyoki ship out there on the spaceport now belongs to you and Mike, Ron said.

How do you figure that? We didn't capture it.

Kita, didn't you see Mike's men come out of here with the captives? Ron asked.

Yes, I did, she responded.

Well, the way we operate, the one who captures the crew owns the ship, Ron continued.

But we didn't capture the escorts. They were on the floor when we came in. The other three were standing here with their hands in the air. Mike said.

Kita, didn't you see National Guard troops dragging the escorts out and holding the other three prisoner?

That's what I saw. That's what the courts will hear, too.

As far as I'm concerned, Pete already had them buffaloed when I came in. You and your troops just took care of the rest. You two now own a spaceship. Earth gets 10% of the contents as part of the prize.

What about my men? Mike asked.

That's up to you two how you want to split ownership. We have over a hundred and fifty Alcantaran ships that we need crews for, so you will have to define your own ownership and find your own crew. There are some supplies that we'll need in addition to the crews. Pete, if I give you the list, could you start filling orders for us?

I'd be glad to. How are you going to stop this blockade? Don't they have the advantage when you're on the ground and they're up in the air? What do we do with this spaceship?

Ron smiled tightly, "When we get through here, I'm sure the Admiral will gladly give you a tour of your new ship. You need to see what you have and then you can make plans about what you want to do with it. There are Dar Es Salaam Traders looking to rent all kinds of spaceships if you don't want to fly it. We have several under contract right now with them.

As for the other question, with an ordinary spaceship, I'd say yes they have the advantage but ours is no ordinary ship. I could use some help though. Mike, do you have anyone else that would like to own a piece of a spaceship?

Mike grinned and asked, How many do you want and how quickly do you need them? What kind of weapons do they need?

Let's see. I counted five ships as we came in. Does that sound right to you, Pete?

The remote detectors counted seven coming in. There is one on the ground out there and five in orbit, so I have no idea where the other one went, Pete answered.

Well, we'll look for it after we take care of the ones we do know about. Mike, I need three or four troops per spacecraft. Use the weapons that you're trained on. Now is not the time to be learning about new weapons. I have shields for everyone and they will double as spacesuits. Mike, can you get fifteen or twenty troops here by 4:00?

The Colonel almost glowed as he answered, I'm sure I could have that many here in about an hour, especially if they knew they were going to become part-owners of a spaceship. I thought you might need a lot more and I would have to bring them in from other places.

Ron said, "Just bring them here about 4:00. I need time to show them how to use the shields and brief them on some of the protocol for living on spaceships. I have some things I need to unload before we take care of those spaceships and some other things I need to discuss with Pete.

I wouldn't spread the word about becoming part-owners of a spaceship just yet. Word of something like that has a way of leaking out and you'll start a stampede just like what Pete was talking about.

Well, we need to take care of what we have outside right now. Then I'll go start rounding up a privateer crew for you, Mike said.

Ron followed him outside and went over to the shield generator. He showed the troops how to turn it on and off. He set it to block all incoming and outgoing communication signals. The only thing that could get out now would be ESP and Ron didn't think these aliens had a clue about that. Mike left two of his troops and the others volunteered to help Ron. Mike went back into Pete's outer office to start calling some others.

Kita waited until Ron and Mike had left before she asked, Has my spaceship arrived? Where is the crew?

Your spaceship got here about three days after Ron called. Your crew has been sightseeing and just waiting. I think they are in the ship now. When the remote detectors alerted us, they got in and shut everything up. I haven't seen any more of them since.

Thanks, Pete. I think I better go alert them to the fact that we will be leaving in a few hours. I want to get out of here as soon as Ron removes the blockade.

Kita went to her spaceship and told the crew where she would be going and what they would be facing once Ron removed the blockade. She checked on the supplies in the ship and checked her messages. She got answers ready but didn't send them because she didn't want to alert the ships in orbit.

When Ron finished with the shield generator, he went to the Sara Qinte, the spaceship he used this trip. The ship looked like a giant elongated horseshoe crab without the tail.

The ship stood about twenty feet high, seventy-five feet long and thirty feet wide. The flat back of the ship could open to allow cargo to be loaded or unloaded. Large bulges running along both sides contained the four rail guns that fired the plasma balls.

Gus' twins had added four of their improved rail guns that fired the smaller depleted uranium rounds and two of the rail guns that fired the bigger rounds.

The twins had found the metal the Alcantarans used for projectiles and had made several thousand rounds already. They were getting robots set up but they continued to do a lot of the work.

The Sara Qinte didn't look much like a warship but she had the capabilities to take on a squadron of 15 or 20 of the Bug's warships, including the big battleships. The engines were one thing that made a huge difference. A new improved version, they could run circles around Auntie with her old engines. The twins were on the Alcantaran Key revamping Auntie with new engines and new lining for the engines. Auntie had more mass than this ship but she would be even more of a terror to Bug warships than she had with her old engines.

Ron opened the rear cargo doors and the National Guard troops helped him unload some equipment he had in the cargo bay. He told them to take it into the spaceport terminal. Most of it would be for Pete. The cargo bay had Shape Shifter technology and Ron reset a portion of it for seats for the troops. He set the buttons so individuals could adjust the seats to conform to them and be more comfortable.

After the troops finished carrying the goods into the terminal, Ron told them to have a seat. He showed them how to adjust them and told them they would be the instructors for the others. He said he needed to make some calls now, so he would be gone a few minutes and they should just get comfortable.

Ron went towards the nose of the ship to the situation room. This room, not nearly as big as Auntie's, could hold ten people comfortably unless they were seven-foot tall Sandghosts or nine-foot tall Traders. Then it became a little crowded. He told Sara to call the Key.

Are you calling for help already, big boy? Tik Michi said as she answered the call.

No, I just called to give you an update. I thought you would be on your way already. Are you afraid to drive that thing by yourself, little one?

It just took longer to check out. The twins improved the plasma ball rail guns, too. If we'd had these two ships when we attacked the Bug forces on Tarzana, there wouldn't be any of them left flying around. We'd have gotten that other mother ship, as well.

"Yeah, but we didn't have them, so I don't want to mess around with history by going back and attacking now. These ships can zip around so fast that it's mind-boggling.

"Anyway, I just wanted everyone to know that Puri Sasha's bunch from Uyoki is getting aggressive. They have Earth blockaded and I'm about to go educate them about the Alcantaran Ghosts. There was an Admiral and his escort in Pete's office when I landed. I helped him out a little but I think I got there just before Pete took care of three of them by himself.

If Kita had gone in before me, I think an Admiral and his escort would be a lot more courteous around Dar Es Salaam people. She was hopping up and down mad. I'll send you signatures from these spaceships so you can check the remote sensors at Vesta IV before you go in. We don't want to lose you.

I'm touched, big boy. Are you sure that it's not the spaceship that you're worried about losing?

Naw. We've got several more spaceships but only one of you. What would Sim do if you were lost? There would probably be entire planets destroyed by his search or reprisals, Ron teased with a big grin.

You're lucky we're so far apart. I'd show you a thing or two about destruction. Sim and I are just co-workers that happen to be friends.

If you say so. Let the others know, would you? If we can get a few more people there to get the Key back closer to its former glory, I'm about ready to go Bug hunting. They just keep messing with us and I'm getting tired of it.

Me, too. You know that you have more patience than I do. Are you going to blast the blockade or try to capture it?

I want to try to capture the ships. We need ships for protection around Earth, Vesta IV and Prokne. I have the perfect opportunity to add six and maybe seven ships to the arsenal right now. If you find some at Vesta IV, try to take them intact for there.

Aye, aye, Captain. You know that I'm such a sweet adorable little person. They'll probably just hand them over if I ask. I'll try to be so well behaved that I won't make any headlines or history.

Ron snorted and told her good-bye. Next he called Kita mentally. He told her to get ready and he would send the information she needed now. He was going to send the coordinates and procedures to get her spaceship to the Key, as well as, sending the list of people and equipment they needed. Thinking about calling Kota and Xiamen, he decided to wait until he cleared the blockade. No sense in warning those in the blockade.

Ron went back to the cargo bay to see if any of the troops were hungry. He told them he would fix something for lunch and then they could change the guard around the aliens. Two of the troops went with him to help and they carried the food back to the others.

When they finished eating and the guard had been changed, the troops followed Ron inside to help set up the equipment. Ron had brought communication equipment to leave on Earth that could communicate with them on the Key. The equipment would also communicate with ships during hyper-space jumps.

Ron had never heard of any other civilizations that had that capability and neither had Kita. Talking to Pete, they found a room for the equipment. Once it had been set up, Ron protected it with a shield keyed to Pete and himself only.

Ron showed Pete how he could add others as the need arose. Ron set up 3-D viewers in Pete's office and in the outer office. Activating ten remote sensors that Pete could program to watch any area he needed, he installed an Alcantaran computer to run everything. Locking it to only work with Pete, Ron knew that setting would keep anyone else from ever being able to get into the computer.

The Bugs had found out how good the Alcantarans could lock something up. They had tried for years to open Auntie's secrets with no success. Ron set the viewer to show some of the planet and galaxy scenes from Sara's computer. The troops and the secretary were enjoying every second of the scenes.

OK, Pete. Here is a unit to take to your house. It will project a picture just like this equipment and the person on the other end will be able to see you. You can direct it to only show your head or to show no picture at all. I have something else I wanted to talk to you about in private, too.

I thought you might. What have you got on your mind? Come on in and shut the door.

"We've talked it over and we'd like to ask you to be the administrator for the Key. You have some unique abilities that make you the perfect candidate. There are some things on the Key that need real wisdom about when to release them and to whom. We think you are the one who could do that.

The Key has the ability to put Earthmen all over the universe. We want to do this in a responsible way and share some of the technology that we've found. Some of it will be for our use only. It's too dangerous to risk getting it in the hands of the Bugs or other civilizations like them. What do you say, would you consider it?

Pete leaned back in his chair in surprise, Wow, I don't even know what questions to ask. I'm honored that you would consider me. How soon would I have to take over? What about the spaceport here? Would I have to live on the Key?....

Whoa, I thought you didn't even know which questions to ask, Ron said with a chuckle. "We need you right away but maybe you could do double duty for awhile until you get someone trained to take over here.

You could live here on Earth and commute to the Key. We could set you up with one of these speedy little spaceships and it would only be a two or three hour commute each way. That would be up to you to decide. Maybe it would be more efficient to spend two days on the Key and two days back here, I don't know. We're learning about this, too. I know eventually that the Key administrator will be a full time job with lots of assistants to help you keep up. I do know that this is a once in a planet's life-time opportunity.

Who would be flying this spaceship?

You would, of course. You will be able to go wherever you want. Take Linda for a ride on the sand dunes of Prokne or visit Europaische or a million different planets. If you let me know, I'll even bring my dune buggy and give you a ride.

Pete laughed and said, No, thanks. I've heard tales of you and the sand dunes. I don't need a heart attack. What would you do for protection of the Key and here on Earth?

"Rather than building a Navy or other armed force, we'd like to train traders. Five armed traders can do more damage to other people's Navy's than a whole fleet of warships can now.

"From what we've found on the main computer, there are thousands of galaxies and planets to be explored. Some of the planets are uninhibited and others have civilizations that are just now ready for trade -- just like Earth. There are whole regions that have never seen anything like us or the Dar Es Salaam Traders.

Earth can become the center of this trading empire. The Key and its secrets will just help us to keep it going. We need someone with vision to set policies that will carry us for the next 500 or so years. We don't expect you to do it all. We'll help but we want to be out there setting up trade routes. You would be free to hire whoever you need from whatever galaxy. We might cast the skinny eye on you if you went to the Bugs, but other than that, get whomever you need.

What would the Key do for money to operate?

You would have technology to license that would bring in revenue streams other galaxies would kill for. Bring some of the spaceship building and retrofitting here to Earth and take a percentage of the profits for a number of years or charge a flat fee. Set up two or three ships to go out and rescue stranded ships. If you could fix some of them in place to be able to get back to a spaceport, think of the towing fee you could charge. If they don't want to pay a fee and abandon the spaceship, salvage it. Just operate everything under the TINSTAAFL rule and you'll always have money coming in.

What's the TINSTAAFL rule?

There is no such thing as a free lunch. Somebody always has to pay somehow.

I can agree with that philosophy.

We know, that's why we're asking you to be the administrator. Think about it. Talk to Linda about it. She'll be a big part of this. Now, I have to go train some National Guard troops to be spaceship guards.

Ron went outside to meet Mike and the new troops. He told everyone to follow him to Sara. Seating them, he went into his presentation. Using a 3-D viewer to show what the inside of the spaceships would be like and what they should expect, he also told them to expect the unexpected.

He passed out voorwarp units and showed how to activate them. He told them how to turn them on and off. Explaining how they would act as spacesuits for about an hour, he went on to say these units were improved from the model he had started with. Finally, he had told them everything he could think of. Ron fixed something for everyone to eat but he was the only one that seemed to have any appetite.

Just after dark, he called for Kita to come over. She would be the back-up pilot and help him in case something didn't go according to plan. They got all of the troops ready and set up the 3-D viewer so they could see what was happening.

Ron climbed into the pilot's seat and Kita climbed into the co-pilot's seat. They made a strange looking pair but a pair very competent at what they did. Ron set the shield to invisible and blasted off.

Chapter 2

Ron felt that old feeling in his gut. Not really afraid, he still had butterflies because they were going into combat. He hoped there wouldn't be any casualties but these aliens had brought the fight to him. Pushing his nervousness and other thoughts to the back of his mind, he concentrated on what he had to do.

Ron flew to twenty-thousand feet and then abruptly made a 90 degree turn to head out to space over the North Pole. Pushing the speed, in just a few seconds he entered outer space. He zipped to the opposite side of Earth to take on the spaceship there first. Slowing down, he moved in on the ship.

This warship was much larger than his ship and as he came closer, it seemed to loom over them. Ron flew close to the nose of the ship and then circled to the top of the ship. Gently, he put Sara down right on top of the ship. Using a tractor beam, he locked them together.

Kita, why don't you stay here and be ready to blast off if something unexpected happens.

Why do you always get to have all the fun? she smiled at him.

I guess because I'm so lucky.

Ron got up from the pilot's seat and headed to the situation room. When he got there, he fired up the scanner to see where people were in the spaceship. Downloading the information to a small hand-held computer on his wrist, he checked the loads on his stingerray, then went to the armory to pick up two spare magazines. He quickly walked back to Mike and his troops.

Mike, I'd like you and two other people to come with me. Make sure your weapons are loaded and ready. We'll be entering a hostile environment.

Ben, you and John come with us.

Walking to the back air-lock, they stepped in. Ron cycled the air-lock. As it cycled, he cautioned the others not to look toward the sky but to concentrate on the spaceship. He didn't want any of them to freeze up at the sight outside.

Soon they stepped down onto the other spaceship's hull where Ron told them they were going to drop right inside the other ship. He hadn't explained about a new capability