Uplift (17 page)

Carole thought to all. Could we not project a dimension through a field – maybe a helical projection like Corey projects into other dimensions?

That is an interesting premise, but I have never done anything like that before.

Duh. Carole thought. I hate to be inelegant, but of course you haven’t done it, or you’d be giving us the plans. Do you think we can develop the technology to build this? The zero point modules give us the power.

What would we do after we project through a field? How would we damage them? Richard asked.

We could project into their fusion power, and blow that up. We could project antimatter into their field – I saw information on antimatter in your little ‘you won’t understand this shit so I’m going to overload you’ download. Can we even make antimatter, and store it long enough to project it through a field? Carole queried.

I know we can make it, and store it safely enough. I suppose we could put a field around a miniscule amount of antimatter, and punch a hole in a shield. Then we’d relax our shield, and it would mix with matter, and explode. We could not do that even near a planet because the explosion might damage the planet — we’d have to do that in space. We can test with conventional explosives here on Earth.

Corey, Carole thought. You, and Richard do that. Corvette, and I will work on the space part. I see some ideas from the big bad download I can use. Richard. You need to introduce me as more than your girlfriend if I’m going to have the resources to do this. They think I’m just an old girlfriend, and I need protection too. Let’s meet the people.

                                                   ****

Hamilton Withers thought it was very odd that Richard was having everyone meet his girlfriend. Richard had his security folks there too – which had never happened before…odder, and odder. The one fact that had kept Hamilton from questioning Richard so much was…well…Richard kept coming up with cool idea after cool idea. Oh…and Richard was making him filthy rich. Every idea Richard came up with produced money – wow… nanites that gave you immunity to disease, and made you healthier. All this was free to employees. Hamilton guessed he’d not rock the boat, but Richard’s girlfriend looked in her twenties, and he was seventy in a month…whew…a manther – male version of a cougar.

Richard looked around the room filled with his employees.

I wonder if they’ll all take this without selling me out. Here goes.

“This is my fiancé, Carole Koth,” he said.

Carole’s head snapped around, and she fired off a thought to Richard through their intermediaries. You bastard. I conditionally accept, but damn, give a girl a heart attack. Carole smiled, and did a little wave to the group, but she was pretty conflicted.

Richard continued. “She is going to take over a new section we are acquiring. She will be working on air, and space vehicle development. Some of you will be working with her. I will be working to develop a way to pierce, and destroy enemies protected by one of our shields. Carole had some ideas. I…we… will pursue some new weapons. Feel free to approach us with new ideas – you people have already advanced our company in many areas. We will do more together. Questions?”

Hamilton couldn’t help himself. “Richard. Isn’t this a bit premature? We’ve been doing fine under you so far, and now we have someone we don’t know giving us orders. We don’t know her level of expertise, her management style. What does she know?” He blushed a bit. Embarrassed he had said so much.

“Hamilton. People are trying to kill her as much as me.” (pause) “Security. Hire more people – get recruits from the SF troops as their tours end. We have people on payroll that have been enforcing US treaties around the world – contracted for the US government. Get some of those guys. This is gonna heat up soon.”

“Heat up?” Hamilton asked. “What do you mean?”

“You know about my efforts about big agro, and the genetically modified seed crops…right? The nanite production is threatening the pharmaceutical companies. I know of drugs they have purchased from research institutions that would cure many diseases. They bought the licensing rights to keep them off the market. Why cure diabetes when you make so much money making insulin treatments? Why cure it? Our nanites are going to put the greedy bastards right out of business. Our nanites cure most genetic defects, and diseases. What do you think big pharma will do?” Richard asked.

“They will try to sabotage you, and fight the introduction of the nanites. They will try to make it so a doctor has to administer them, and clinical trials to ‘prove’ they work with no side effects. They will try direct attacks if that doesn’t work,” Richard said, and turned his attention to the rest of the group. “Be prepared to be threatened, approached – possibly, arrested. I want you all to add a subcutaneous locator, so security, and legal, can protect you. Any that wish to leave our employ, can do so at any time – just remember your non-compete, and non-disclosure contracts will be strictly enforced. Some of you are wealthy enough to live comfortably on what you’ve already earned. I will say that Carole, and I, will expand what we’ve done so far – if you have interests in other fields of research. Thank you.” Richard turned to the security teams. “Security – I want to see a detailed schedule for Carole’s protection before we leave. She will give you her travel, and work locations. Mel. Joel. I want you to coordinate.”

Carole directed her thoughts to Richard. You bought two aerospace startups. Corvette, and I will start at the one in Virginia. We’ll use the one in Florida later. Corvette – please let everyone at those companies know we will be coming to visit them, and set up flights to Virginia. Oh. I see we have our own jet. How quaint? We’ll use that ‘til we make something better.

Richard nodded, and reviewed the agro report that Corey was sending him. It detailed years of pending crop failures. Most were due to increased spraying for insects, and drought in many areas. Richard asked Corey, You sure about those figures? The toxic levels will accumulate, and people eating much of the GM fruits, or vegetables, will face fatal toxic levels from accumulated carcinogens. Deaths have reached hundreds of thousands, and would reach millions by the middle of the growing season. The seed sharing companies are the only redeeming feature. Of course, the poorer people are getting the GM foods right now, and will be more affected.

Corey thought
, My predictions are that close to one billion people will die from those foods, and several billion from the warfare that ensues over water rights – and land use.

Do not let Carole know about this, but start the elimination of corporate, and political elements that try to stop us. No one is immune. Politicians, lobbyists, judges, media, corporate personnel are all fair game worldwide. Our planet is at stake, and I want them to die of natural causes if possible, but I want them eliminated.

I have anticipated this, and have taken surveillance steps. Contracts have been let, and will be proceeding. Nano-phages, and genetically modified pesticide build-up will be the primary causes. Some will be induced cancers – just accelerating what is occurring naturally. I will attempt to use as few human contacts as possible – feline vectors for aggressive forms of MS, for example.

Pretty cruel way to go.

…Much better than giving the whole planet’s population to the Horde, or starving to death, Carole retorted.

Point taken. Richard directed the thought to her. I’ll have Hamilton start on our shield piercing ideas now. Let me know when you get to the facility at Wallops Island, Virginia.

AcuMint had purchased the Mid-Atlantic Regional Space Facility lock-stock-and-barrel.

    Wallups Island – Mid-Atlantic Regional Space Facility

Hershel Graham watched as the jet landed at the MARS facility on Wallups Island, Virginia. He, and his admin staff didn’t know what to make of the change in ownership. Everything had happened so fast, and then they get word that a new administrator was arriving today – a woman no one had heard about – weird. Her name was Carole Koth, and no one could find out any information about her other than rumors that she was the girlfriend – no – fiancé of Richard Patterson who owned AcuMint. God. What next?

Hershel watched as the entourage exited the plane – security types for sure the way they were dressed, and scanning the area. Were they wearing armor – good god? They were carrying weapons – some of those new pulse rifles, and one had a huge rifle slung over his huge shoulder. Oh god. They’ve spotted me, and are walking this way.

A very attractive young woman walked up to Hershel.

“Hershel Graham,” said the tall, athletic woman. “I’m Carole Koth. I look forward to working with you. We will be working on some exciting new projects,” she said.

Hershel was taken aback she knew his name, and felt put off by the security. He said, “Aren’t you going to pat us down, or something?”

Carole scanned the group. “No need Hershel. No one is carrying any weapons in your group except Wallace Taylor here,” she said, and walked over to Wallace. “An old Walther PPKS – decent little 380. Reliable. Good idea Wallace. Please meet my security staff, all of you. I know who you are (from Corvette’s feed), but you need to meet these security people. Hershel – would you show me what our two billion purchased, and introduce me around?”

Hershel stammered. Good god, he thought. Who is this woman? Maybe this won’t be so bad – lord – she knows a lot about us. “What exciting new projects?” he asked.

Carole grabbed his arm to pull him closer so she could talk so no one else could hear, “Don’t tell, but I’ve figured out a way to build an electromagnetic radiation pressure drive, and a new type of deep space craft. Tell me we have an empty hangar, or two.”

Hershel breathed deeply, and this woman smelled wonderful. Her hanging on to his arm got him a little excited, and at forty – that wasn’t an everyday thing. Antigravity, or close to it – I don’t think she’s kidding. Good god – this is going to be fun. God. He realized he hadn’t responded. “Umm…yes. We have a lot of space since we lost the European Union, and Indian contracts. We have lots of good people though,” he said worried that they would start laying off people.

“Oh good,” Carole said. “When we start hiring a lot more people – we will have a good crew to mentor them – great.”

Hershel enjoyed her holding on to his arm. God she smelled good. No layoffs – hiring more – current people would help mentor the new hires. Deep space drives! Hershel stood taller, sucked in his belly as best he could, and smiled so much his cheeks hurt. He showed her the whole facility, and she didn’t seem to miss a word. Falling in love with a boss, but Carole had won over this team – for sure.

Corvette laughed mentally when Hershel sucked in his stomach, and stood taller. Carole noticed, and smiled politely – she appreciated the effort.

DIMENSIONS

Carole, and Corvette conspired…no other words for it. They conspired how they’d manipulate the males to think that the ideas were their own. Carole’s near constant downloads on different alien technology had given her a unique insight in what was known at the time to Corey’s race. The fact that she had zero classical education in most areas, actually aided her. She knew the HPCs had mastered some inertia-less drives, and could essentially control gravity so she set out to duplicate gravity effects first. She also wanted a light durable shell for the ship; so first, she got Hershel to describe the type of special aluminum he was using in current spacecraft. She asked him if there was something lighter, and stronger.

Hershel replied that they had tried making a graphene shell, but they hadn’t been able to make it in large enough quantities. Carole drew out a small tablet computer, and drew a few diagrams. “Do you think something like this would work?” she asked. “You make the shape out of anything you want, and then spray on as many layers as you want. You’d essentially have a monolithic shell – though once you get it working let me know, and I’ll show you how you can make an entranceway anywhere on the surface.”

Hershel definitely thought he was falling in love with his new boss…how beautiful, and elegant – she wasn’t bad looking either.

The equipment would start arriving within the week. Corvette had ordered it the minute they had decided what they needed. Corvette generated training ‘stimulation’ modules on the new technology, and Carole presented the modules to Hershel.

“What are these Ms. Koth?” Hershel asked.

“These are some new theories, and items we need to test. Basic designs I’ve been designing with Mister Patterson. Please just call me Carole when we’re alone, or with your team. May I call you Hershel?” Carole said.

Think he’ll accept the training – it’s pretty radical,
thought Corvette
. Want to give them all another dose of pheromones?

Hell no. We’d have a bunch of slavering frat boys instead of scientists, and engineers. They’ll either accept the training, or we’ll get others who will.

“Sure. Honored to take it… Carole,” Hershel said. “We’ll get on these right now. How long will they take?”

“They’ll take about three hours to go through them once. You’ll need to run them twice to really get the drift – you realize that they are really recordings derived from people. You’ll get some wild ideas – unproven ideas, but you’ll get the gist. Don’t turn down any ideas from your people – we’ll get a lot of dead ends, but some breakthroughs too,” she said.