New Age Ark: High Seas Flotilla of Ships Employs Refugees, Avoids Tariffs and Foils Pirates

By Jason O’Neil

In the preceding novel, Cyberclipper, a prince of Dubai, Yousif Latif, masterminded a perfect crime. He outfitted three three-hundred-foot megayachts with supercomputers to crack the encryption codes of two banks and a casino. He netted over six hundred million dollars and left the police with a cold case.

In this novel, the prince creates five magayachts as factory ships to train refugees around the globe with 3-D printing skills saleable for global employment. These new age arks remain offshore, thus avoiding tariffs and taxes while manufacturing parts used in revolutionary new vehicles called turbopods or T-pods. These vehicles carry a red box, which is an antigravity device enabling them to serve as an automobile, helicopter, and/or airplane. The refugees sign up for a three-month training course and nine months at sea, after which they return to their sponsoring country to become taxpaying employees for at least two years. It’s a win-win scenario for the individual, his family, the country, and of course, the prince who nets over nine hundred million dollars.

Thieves attempt to steal red boxes and also attack an ark to get both the parts and employees in Indiana Jones–like episodes.

In the boldest move of his life, the prince employs his trusted business partners—Matt Flynn, the turbopod inventor, and Foster York, the Aussie who builds the arks and the Airbus company of France to create an aquaclipper. This novel craft is a combination of a jumbo jet and cruise liner to provide the next generation of port-to-port transportation. Having lifelong luxuries beyond one’s wildest imagination, in the end, the prince learns what constitutes the only true pleasure in life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Sep 14, 2018
• ISBN: 9781546259855

Jason O’Neil

JASON O’NEIL has published 25 books on subjects as varied as balancing the federal budget to inventing new vehicles to debunking global warming caused by man. A key theme in his works is the elimination of the Slavery of Socialism in America.

Book preview

1. ESCAPE

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A t the window of this 26 th floor condominium at #2 Gold Street in the Financial District of New York City, Prince Yousif Latif gazed down at the shadowed Federal Reserve Bank he had successfully robbed earlier in the year. It was 2:00 AM, but the Prince of Dubai couldn’t sleep so he left the comfort of his partner, Katie Flynn, the former Harbormaster in Cabo San Lucas and now his constant companion and lover. The Prince was deep in thought about his next venture which would employ some of his ill-gotten wealth. So deep in thought, he failed to see two black Suburban SUV’s pull up to the front of the building.

The Prince doesn’t leave things to chance. He employs a young cousin to serve as the doorman and nighttime front desk clerk for early warning. In the reflection of the window, he saw a red- light blink on a console on his nightstand as a distinct alert chime could be heard. He immediately turned around, rushed to the bedside and shook Katie out of a sound sleep.

Wake up, darling! We must leave immediately, said His Highness with real urgency in his voice.

But Yousif, why? asked the bronzed 34-year old in disbelief.

I can’t tell you now. But we must go immediately, said the Prince as he wrapped a heavy, white terry-cloth robe around his partner. He then swept valuables off the top of the nightstand and the dresser and stuck them in the pocket of his robe. The couple adjusted their slippers as they rushed to the service elevator. The Prince pushed the button for the rooftop. It seemed like an eternity, but only moments later the couple was on the roof running toward the Prince’s Turbopod flying vehicle.

Hurry, Hurry, said the Prince as he motioned to Katie to unfasten the tiedowns as he started the twin turboprop engines. The Prince of Dubai checked his instruments and the sky around him. The engines responded to his control as they pivoted downward to provide the vertical thrust to lift off of the roof.

After she put her headphones on, Katie asked: Where are we going?

The Prince was quick to respond: Newark International Airport, my dear.

At an altitude of the same height as the illuminated World Trade Center building, the craft was soon over the Hudson River headed southwest to the airport. As the Turbopod (or T-Pod) entered the New Jersey airspace, the Prince called his Chief Pilot of his Gulfsteam V business jet, Jim Russell, with the following instruction: Be ready to take off for Miami in twenty minutes.

Yes, Sir, Your Highness, came over the radio.

Then the Prince turned to Katie and said in a comforting tone: Don’t worry my dear. It will be alright, and things will become clear in the near future.

Fifteen minutes after leaving the condominium, the T-Pod gently landed on the tarmac at a remote hangar at the airport. The Gulfstream had taxied to the tarmac where its door was lowered. The T-Pod drove by the airplane and parked inside the hangar. The couple was each handed a suitcase as they quickly walked to the black and gold business jet. The steward-server met the Prince and Katie at the door.

Good Early Morning, was the crisp greeting. We’ve filed our flight plan and will depart immediately. Please be seated and fasten your seatbelts. Once we’re airborne at a safe altitude, I think you’ll find the clothes in the suitcases to your liking. After all, Prince, you picked them out!

Prince Latif then thanked the Captain for his quick response saying: Jim, this doesn’t happen very often, but, when it does, you know me. It’s urgent!

The impressive Gulfstream lifted off the end of the runway rather quietly and seeming without much effort. A few minutes later, at an altitude of 10,000 feet, the seatbelt sigh went off, and the couple took turns in the lavatory getting dressed. Soon the escapees were sipping strong, black coffee when the Prince leaned over to his loyal companion to say: Katie, we had to leave New York because authorities want to question me about funds missing from a bank. And I’m in no mood to be detained now. Indeed, we’re going to Miami to initiate a new global venture where over the next three years, I’m going to need your support in many ways. Are you ready for some real adventure, my dear? asked the Prince with a pleading tone in his voice.

Yousif, you never cease to amaze. Yes, you have my support and affection, replied his trusted partner. And my intuition tells me you have something really big planned. She had doubts about the Prince’s bank story, but she didn’t reveal them.

The Prince smiled and glanced out the window already deep in thought.

2. MIAMI

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A t 5:30 AM the Gulfstream landed at the municipal airport serving Homestead, Florida, about 15 miles southwest of Miami. As the couple had breakfast aboard the jet, the Arab prince revealed the reason they were in Miami.

Katie, you know that the Turbopod or T-Pod vehicle was invented by Matt Flynn and his brother, now deceased, Murray.

Of course, replied Katie. Everyone knows that! It’s what transported us to the Newark Airport. And I’ve been saving for two years to buy one!

Well, today you’re going to meet Mr. Flynn, and I will present a business plan I hope he’ll accept, said Prince Latif.

Yousif, this is very, very exciting. Is there a role for me in your plan? asked the excited young woman.

Of course, my dear. You’re going to serve as a Deputy Project Manager, replied the Arab gentleman with a sense of authority in his voice. All of the details will be revealed in the next few weeks.

Now, if you’ll excuse me. I need an hour to prepare for the meeting. I suggest you accompany the pilots to the Signature Club’s gym for a cardio workout. A car will pick us up at 8:30 for the twenty-minute ride to Flynn’s headquarters.

Will do, Yousif, responded Katie. I knew your world would be exciting, but this is really cool! replied Katie. The Prince just smiled.

-//-

At 9:00 o’clock the Prince’s rented Maybach pulled up to the unassuming, gray two- story Butler building, once a VFW post. The Prince stepped out of the car. He was very impressive in his white Kaftan followed by Katie in a saffron-colored pantsuit that flattered her youthful figure. As the couple signed the guest book in the lobby, Matt Flynn himself entered the room to greet his guests.

Your Highness, I’m so glad to meet you, finally, in person. Our correspondence has been extremely interesting, said the Floridian entrepreneur.

Thank you, Mr. Flynn. I am, indeed, honored to be in your presence, responded Prince Latif. After all, you’ve earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom for your contributions to world commerce and safety. May I please introduce my associate, Katie Flynn."

Matt replied: Ms. Flynn you’ve got a famous family name. We probably can trace our lineage to someone in Ireland!

The trio laughed in unison.

Moments later the visitors were served coffee in the boardroom with its mahogany conference table with a small cluster of anti-gravity Red Boxes in the middle.

The Prince spoke first: I own several of your T-Pods made weightless by that incredible anti-gravity device, as he pointed to the Red Boxes.

Matt then replied: Yes, I especially remember the T-Pod we delivered in Dubai. It was black with gold, real gold, pin-striping.

You are correct, Mr. Flynn, replied the Prince. It’s been two years, and it’s still my favorite mode of transportation.

Your Highness, if we are going to do business together, please call me Matt, said the host.

Very well, Matt, replied the Prince. And in private please call me Yousif. I’m very comfortable with that."

The two new acquaintances shook hands again and took their seats at the end of the table with Matt at the head and Yousif and Katie facing each other.

Matt began: So you want to employ both the Red Box and the T-Pod in new ways. Is that correct, Yousif? asked Matt.

Yes, Matt, it is. You see, I believe we can make a lot of money manufacturing T-Pods, and maybe even the cases for the Red Boxes using 3-D technology, replied Prince Latif.

Yes, Yousif, you intrigued me with several of your emails, replied Matt.

Matt, your inventions have done wonders for humanity creating thousands of high-tech jobs around the world and even out of this world with your Turbospace T-Pods creating a station on the moon. My plan is to apply 3-D printed composite materials to create pieces, parts, subsystems and whole systems of a T-Pod in a very special factory, continued the Arab.

At this point, the Prince reached into his leather satchel and pulled out pictures of a megayacht which he slid across the table for Matt’s inspection.

Are you familiar with these craft, Matt? asked the