Trade World Saga 1: Manual Interpretation
working on a field generator to hook to the fusion power supply when the enunciator chimed to indicate a visitor to his lab. Since Andrew was more cautious of late, he looked through the viewer and saw a neat man in his thirties with a briefcase.
    "Who are you and what do you want?" Andrew said through the door speaker.
    "My name is Brad Kyger. I sent you a message. Are you Williams? I was told he was here," the man said.
    "Yes, that's me. Come on in," Andrew said warily though the door.
    The man was a little short of two meters tall with short black hair and as the man walked in Andrew noted how erect and confident his stride seemed.
    "What do you know about our project and why have you come? Andrew asked.
    "I'll get right to the point. The World Government wants your assistance in the design of further power systems. Individual power systems like you propose will destabilize the world economy and threaten the peace of the world. I was sent here to negotiate a deal with you," the man stated and sat down and opened his briefcase.
    "You want to suppress the fusion power supply system then," Andrew said sarcastically.
    "Not at all. We, the world government, wish to mass produce your power supply at little more than cost. We would educate the population in its use and set up distribution to lessen the impact of sporadic production and distribution. Half the countries of the world don't have anything to power even if they had the generators. The other half would be destabilized; utility companies, airlines, automobile manufacturers. The participation of the World Government would give the credibility they need right now. I have seen your contract with the university and we have precedents that we can use to pay them off and still give them a small percentage."
    "Temporarily destabilized, but increased energy abundance would also mean many new jobs -- new inventions. What do you know about our project? I will not help you unless I have a written guarantee for funding and assistance on this project,” Andrew stated. “Plus we have some other projects we want to finish also.”
    "Well," the man continued, "I have a contract with me that shows clear cut guarantees and I'm empowered to make necessary deletions or additions."
    As Andrew looked at the copy and began reading the contract, he was amazed at the depth of knowledge the World Government had concerning their spacecraft. How could they have gotten this information? The university must have been so panicked by his offer that they turned all of the information over to the World Government plus some information gathered on their own.
    "Why is the World Government so anxious to help us when everyone else has an aversion to the thought of going into space?" Andrew asked, looking up from the contract.
    Lieutenant Colonel Kyger didn't hesitate and said, "The World Government is in its infancy. A destabilizing influence like your power supply could set up the warring nations' syndrome again. We need a distraction and a positive focus. Right now, we want to aid in setting up a strong government and your fusion generators could be that factor. We are interested in how your team has managed all these technological advances in this backwater university. Your project could help us do focus the attention of the world, it seems. How did you come up with the designs?"
    Andrew was affronted by the term backwater but figured it was essentially true for the University in the Arizona. "We keep control of our project. No exceptions," Andrew stated flatly, ignoring the implication the designs weren't their own work.
    "I know you need a chemist. I am also a linguist of sorts. We don't want control of your project but we do require free access to all information gathered from it. This project isn't going to get far as it is set up now. We can give you the logistical support the university isn't willing to commit. We already have a verbal commitment from them to release you from their contract. You'll

Similar Books

Horse Tale

Bonnie Bryant

Ark

K.B. Kofoed

The apostate's tale

Margaret Frazer