capital do you think Axel could raise?”
Gary said, “A couple hundred million, but then they could leverage outside money.”
Dante leaned forward, “I’ve got access to billions,” he said quietly. “We shouldn’t have to go very deep into that, because early on we’ll start getting licensing fees for,” he winked at Gary, “toys… construction lifters, heavy transport lifters, personal flyers, short hop commercial aircraft modification, suborbital transportation and probably several other things we haven’t thought of yet. We’ll use those licensing fees to finance our space exploration. Then we’ll move on to low Earth orbital industry, asteroid mining, moon and Mars hotels, vacations in Saturn’s rings…”
“Wait a minute!” Gary interrupted. “These sound like delusions of grandeur.” He shook his head, “You’re gonna have to show us some proof you can really do this stuff before we’re going to want to give up our careers to take a flying leap into the middle of all the smoke and mirrors you’re waving around. We’ve all heard about some manic-depressive dude, flying high in his manic phase, convincing everyone at a VC he’s hot shit when it’s just in his imagination!”
Dante reached out and whacked the disc which had been so quietly floating over the table that they’d all pretty much forgotten about it. It swerved out of position about a foot, then tilted and shot back to where it had come from, immediately resuming its motionless station. “ There’s your proof Gar’. And if you want more… read the damned news!” He sighed, “Sorry, I find it hard to believe, so I shouldn’t be surprised that you do too. If you think I’m imagining access to the money, look up my dad, Vaz Gettnor. That should convince you on that front. If you want proof of what thrusters can do, I’ll see if my sister might take us up for a ride in the saucer tonight or tomorrow.”
Rachel leaned forward and lifted an eyebrow, “I’d like a ride,” she grinned excitedly, “not just in the saucer, but on GSI. Hell, not only is this a once-in-a-lifetime business opportunity, but I’ve always harbored a secret dream of being an astronaut! If you’ve got anything for me to sign, get it out so I can apply my Joan Hancock. Then I’m heading back over to Axel VC to give them two weeks’ notice.”
Everyone’s eyes had gone to Rachel, now they turned back to Dante. “Me too,” Landon said. Seconds later the others chorused versions of the same sentiment.
***
Waiting for his next appointment, Raj Mehta stood, staring sightlessly out the window of his office. All of NASA had been in an uproar since the announcement of the new technology. Excitement over the possibilities represented by the tech had been tempered by dismay over the realization that many existing programs were now irrelevant. The Mars program had already soaked up enormous investments due to the extreme difficulty in just getting someone to Mars safely. All tentative plans had required astronaut radiation exposure levels that many people considered unacceptable. Returning the astronauts back to earth would require bleeding edge engineering. Now, the billions and billions of dollars earmarked for putting men on Mars just weren’t necessary.
Those who were heavily invested in those programs weren’t happy.
Raj had been the recipient of badgering, impassioned pleas, angry diatribes, and cold shoulders. Some demanded that the technology be suppressed, a stance that bewildered Raj, coming as it did from tech enthusiasts. Others insisted it be tightly controlled by NASA, apparently not recognizing all the other uses thrusters might find in this world. Mehta’s greatest fear was that NASA would be locked out. It wouldn’t be difficult for the inventors to restrict use to themselves or to the highest bidder, leaving NASA, once the world’s premier space agency, nothing but a footnote in history.
Raj stood as Sophie Bautista
Gary said, “A couple hundred million, but then they could leverage outside money.”
Dante leaned forward, “I’ve got access to billions,” he said quietly. “We shouldn’t have to go very deep into that, because early on we’ll start getting licensing fees for,” he winked at Gary, “toys… construction lifters, heavy transport lifters, personal flyers, short hop commercial aircraft modification, suborbital transportation and probably several other things we haven’t thought of yet. We’ll use those licensing fees to finance our space exploration. Then we’ll move on to low Earth orbital industry, asteroid mining, moon and Mars hotels, vacations in Saturn’s rings…”
“Wait a minute!” Gary interrupted. “These sound like delusions of grandeur.” He shook his head, “You’re gonna have to show us some proof you can really do this stuff before we’re going to want to give up our careers to take a flying leap into the middle of all the smoke and mirrors you’re waving around. We’ve all heard about some manic-depressive dude, flying high in his manic phase, convincing everyone at a VC he’s hot shit when it’s just in his imagination!”
Dante reached out and whacked the disc which had been so quietly floating over the table that they’d all pretty much forgotten about it. It swerved out of position about a foot, then tilted and shot back to where it had come from, immediately resuming its motionless station. “ There’s your proof Gar’. And if you want more… read the damned news!” He sighed, “Sorry, I find it hard to believe, so I shouldn’t be surprised that you do too. If you think I’m imagining access to the money, look up my dad, Vaz Gettnor. That should convince you on that front. If you want proof of what thrusters can do, I’ll see if my sister might take us up for a ride in the saucer tonight or tomorrow.”
Rachel leaned forward and lifted an eyebrow, “I’d like a ride,” she grinned excitedly, “not just in the saucer, but on GSI. Hell, not only is this a once-in-a-lifetime business opportunity, but I’ve always harbored a secret dream of being an astronaut! If you’ve got anything for me to sign, get it out so I can apply my Joan Hancock. Then I’m heading back over to Axel VC to give them two weeks’ notice.”
Everyone’s eyes had gone to Rachel, now they turned back to Dante. “Me too,” Landon said. Seconds later the others chorused versions of the same sentiment.
***
Waiting for his next appointment, Raj Mehta stood, staring sightlessly out the window of his office. All of NASA had been in an uproar since the announcement of the new technology. Excitement over the possibilities represented by the tech had been tempered by dismay over the realization that many existing programs were now irrelevant. The Mars program had already soaked up enormous investments due to the extreme difficulty in just getting someone to Mars safely. All tentative plans had required astronaut radiation exposure levels that many people considered unacceptable. Returning the astronauts back to earth would require bleeding edge engineering. Now, the billions and billions of dollars earmarked for putting men on Mars just weren’t necessary.
Those who were heavily invested in those programs weren’t happy.
Raj had been the recipient of badgering, impassioned pleas, angry diatribes, and cold shoulders. Some demanded that the technology be suppressed, a stance that bewildered Raj, coming as it did from tech enthusiasts. Others insisted it be tightly controlled by NASA, apparently not recognizing all the other uses thrusters might find in this world. Mehta’s greatest fear was that NASA would be locked out. It wouldn’t be difficult for the inventors to restrict use to themselves or to the highest bidder, leaving NASA, once the world’s premier space agency, nothing but a footnote in history.
Raj stood as Sophie Bautista
Similar Books
