the conference room and worked on her personal tablet, one from the Kaatan, and kept half an ear open to the discussion underway. The test flight had been a complete success and orders were already rolling in for both the AX-2, now officially dubbed the Groves Industries A-1, Phoenix, and its innovative forced ion power-plant. Everything from planetary government for both R&D and research to private concerns looking for high speed orbital transport.
Minu looked up as one proposal was mentioned about a startup in the Boglands that wanted to explore the moons. She gave a little private smile at that one. Sorry my friends, Remus is already spoken for. But then another made note of mining on Romulus, and she thought that was a good idea.
Her tablet chirped. Another email requesting an interview from the wife of CEO Groves. She deleted it unread. This was Aaron's time, not hers. She'd jabber at the talking heads in a few weeks, once things had calmed down. With any luck, they'd completely leave her alone by that point anyway.
The Chosen were interested in a dozen. Six for the Rangers, six for the service in general. Cherise had mentioned eight, the number was a pleasant surprise. Especially since the Phoenix was too big to fit through a Portal. That relegated them to service on Bellatrix only.
Aaron complained he was not a businessman, but evidence was beginning to prove him wrong. Construction firms all over the planet were already beginning work, and the final assembly plant in New Jerusalem was nearly complete. “In six months we'll be completing one Phoenix a week,” he announced to tumultuous applause of the board and visitors. “And the design team tells me they already have two variants in the works. One cargo, and one a research platform.”
She smiled at the additional applause as others in his team added details and the coming months’ plans began to take shape. All through it Aaron stood at the head of the conference table, strong and in charge. She could see his legs were bothering, but only a little this time. She knew well how excitement and adrenaline could carry you through almost anything uncomfortable.
Her tablet chirped and she prepared to delete another solicitation from a journalist, only to find an email from the Plateau Historical Society. She read it with interest.
Mrs. Minu Groves
The Plateau Historical Society would like the chance to visit the ancestral Harper retreat on Sanctuary Island (so named by Mindy Harper in Year 29 of the colonization). A great deal of information is still missing about your storied ancestor from the planetary records. Your previous ancestors have been unwilling to allow us to visit and examine Sanctuary Island and its buildings. It would be a great service to history, and to generations to come if you were to allow this visit to take place.
Alexandra Porter
Director – Founder Research
Plateau Historical Society
Minu smiled because her father had always called them the Hysterical Society. “They take things way too seriously,” he quipped more than once at some ludicrous request on their part. She had only once seen him get angry at them, when they had wanted to do some genetic testing on Minu.
“They go too far with their prying,” Chriso had raged. Her mother had been indifferent. She'd married into the famous family, not been born to it like Minu.
Something interesting had happened at the meeting which caused some excitement and discussion, and she'd missed it while reading the message. With a pang of annoyance, she gave a quick reply. “Yes, contact me and we'll set it up.”
A few minutes later, she'd completely forgotten about the entire message.
* * *
The celebration gala was subdued, in keeping with the decorum of Groves Industries that Aaron insisted upon. More of a reception than a celebration, it still had more than a few trappings of success. Giant ice sculptures in the shape of the Phoenix adorned both of the
Minu looked up as one proposal was mentioned about a startup in the Boglands that wanted to explore the moons. She gave a little private smile at that one. Sorry my friends, Remus is already spoken for. But then another made note of mining on Romulus, and she thought that was a good idea.
Her tablet chirped. Another email requesting an interview from the wife of CEO Groves. She deleted it unread. This was Aaron's time, not hers. She'd jabber at the talking heads in a few weeks, once things had calmed down. With any luck, they'd completely leave her alone by that point anyway.
The Chosen were interested in a dozen. Six for the Rangers, six for the service in general. Cherise had mentioned eight, the number was a pleasant surprise. Especially since the Phoenix was too big to fit through a Portal. That relegated them to service on Bellatrix only.
Aaron complained he was not a businessman, but evidence was beginning to prove him wrong. Construction firms all over the planet were already beginning work, and the final assembly plant in New Jerusalem was nearly complete. “In six months we'll be completing one Phoenix a week,” he announced to tumultuous applause of the board and visitors. “And the design team tells me they already have two variants in the works. One cargo, and one a research platform.”
She smiled at the additional applause as others in his team added details and the coming months’ plans began to take shape. All through it Aaron stood at the head of the conference table, strong and in charge. She could see his legs were bothering, but only a little this time. She knew well how excitement and adrenaline could carry you through almost anything uncomfortable.
Her tablet chirped and she prepared to delete another solicitation from a journalist, only to find an email from the Plateau Historical Society. She read it with interest.
Mrs. Minu Groves
The Plateau Historical Society would like the chance to visit the ancestral Harper retreat on Sanctuary Island (so named by Mindy Harper in Year 29 of the colonization). A great deal of information is still missing about your storied ancestor from the planetary records. Your previous ancestors have been unwilling to allow us to visit and examine Sanctuary Island and its buildings. It would be a great service to history, and to generations to come if you were to allow this visit to take place.
Alexandra Porter
Director – Founder Research
Plateau Historical Society
Minu smiled because her father had always called them the Hysterical Society. “They take things way too seriously,” he quipped more than once at some ludicrous request on their part. She had only once seen him get angry at them, when they had wanted to do some genetic testing on Minu.
“They go too far with their prying,” Chriso had raged. Her mother had been indifferent. She'd married into the famous family, not been born to it like Minu.
Something interesting had happened at the meeting which caused some excitement and discussion, and she'd missed it while reading the message. With a pang of annoyance, she gave a quick reply. “Yes, contact me and we'll set it up.”
A few minutes later, she'd completely forgotten about the entire message.
* * *
The celebration gala was subdued, in keeping with the decorum of Groves Industries that Aaron insisted upon. More of a reception than a celebration, it still had more than a few trappings of success. Giant ice sculptures in the shape of the Phoenix adorned both of the
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