The Hand of Grethia: A Space Opera

by Guy Antibes

  “Oh! You people do know about us!” exclaimed Merinnia.

  “Look at the date of publication.” Jan asked.

  “That’s a long time ago and we are still thought of as a legendary planet. I would never have believed it.” Merinnia leafed through the book. “At least someone knew about us.” She smiled and looked at Jan. “Thank you. And thank the Freemen’s.”

  “Somehow, I feel I paid for that book a few thousand times over, Merinnia.” A grim look had replaced the smile Jan had at seeing Merinnia so excited about the book. “Now let’s review our scheduling.” The two began to focus on their enterprise.

  ~~~

  Chapter 40

  “Merinnia, it’s time to get to Marble Plaza and finish this product introduction.” Jan said anxiously.

  Merinnia couldn’t quiet down her nerves about the press conference. Her hands kept flying about as if they had a life of their own and her stomach continued to roll about.

  Everything had been a game until the break-ins. But now the enterprise would expand to take on a life of its own. Merinnia had felt a certain amount of control and comfort in being one of the trio who had been running Grethia Industries. Once in production, the company would expand into an incredibly large organization in no time and that wonderful, focused effort of a few people would change and be part of the past. That made her a little sad, but she realized that opportunity would always create change and felt good about her participation. Riban and Jan convinced her that she could always learn enough to be equal to the task. She just didn’t know what the task would be once their enterprise took off.

  The three checked each other’s appearance in Jan’s secret office and left for the long-awaited conference. On the way over, none of them talked about anything other than the event.

  ~

  All 1,000 people at the rented auditorium knew was that they would be party to an announcement about a revolution in transportation.

  Riban walked to the podium. He held up his arms to quiet the crowd. “Welcome. Welcome to Grethia Industries’ monumental announcement. Our new product has the potential to change the very way you live, work, and move in and out of your world. We have here among us reporters, investment analysts, and technical experts and other interested parties.” Jan standing behind the curtain recognized one of his father’s senior executives sitting unobtrusively in the rear. “We have replaced the technology of the ubiquitous air car with its parallel anti-grav technology. We have replaced grav lifts. We have given the universe significantly more time to get things done!” Riban said as the curtains were drawn to reveal an empty stage.

  “I would like to, at this juncture, introduce the driving force behind Grethia Industries, Mr. Jan Smith.”

  The crowd dutifully clapped. In the center of the stage, a faint shimmer in the air as what little dust was on the floor rose with the static electricity. Then instantly, Jan appeared before the audience. The audience was stunned. Jan walked to the podium and shook Riban’s hand. Then, Merinnia appeared and walked to the pair at the podium. The attendees went wild asking questions, exclaiming what they had seen to one another.

  Jan rapped his knuckles on the podium, “Ladies and Gentlemen. Please. Please sit down and listen to our announcement.” Gradually the tumult diminished. Jan began, “We, at Grethia Industries, have found a technology that will revolutionize travel within a planet and, later, between planets. I have found a technology that enables the transfer of matter, instantaneously and intact, from place to place with a minimum of power.

  “Grethia Industries, named after a legendary lost planet, brings a new paradigm shift to all of our lives.” The crowd went wild again. Jan waited for the tumult to die down again, “Throughout the ages, transportation has met with advances that brought people closer together.” Behind Jan, the curtains parted to reveal a screen and a multimedia presentation commenced that matched Jan’s prepared speech. Splashes of color, sound and images both two-dimensional and holographic filled the air behind Jan as he spoke.

  “People being able to be in the same room as another person is an element of communication that holographic projection and communicators have never been able to satisfactorily overcome. That’s how the human race is. As much as we would all like to think otherwise, those ancient survival senses of physical proximity, sight, smell, hearing, touch still require intimate presence to work when we communicate on a number of levels. This invention facilitates people to people contact.

  “Man started out walking from one place to another. Then he used beasts to carry him. Man invented the wheel, so now he could carry himself and his goods where he wanted. Trade was born. And with it came the need for goods distribution, for numbers, for mediums of exchange. Men could discuss ideas with one another because now there was a need for a written language because people physically interacted more and more. Then in a rush of technological advance known as the Golden Century on Earth, man’s legendary home planet, our ancients developed automobiles, airplanes, crude spaceships, along with communication devices and the electronics to run them. Parallel plate anti-grav technology was another great leap forward enabling a more three dimensional approach to transportation. We are now looking at an even more fundamental breakthrough, the portal.”

  Jan left the podium and picked up the mini-portal on the floor of the stage. The background images stopped. A low tone persisted, then faint percussion building up to a climax. “This device is a personal portal. It is powered by this new, higher capacity power cell.” Jan removed the power cell and showed it to the crowd before replacing it. “I will demonstrate again.”

  The murmuring rose as Jan set the portal and placed on the floor by the podium. The same charge in the air feeling was felt and Jan disappeared accompanied this time with a flash and a bang. He spoke from the back of the auditorium. “As you can see I can move from place to place. It takes much less than a second.” Jan knelt down picked up the portal he transferred to. He took it with him to the podium walking through an amazed audience. “Now you can see the transfer, side by side.” Jan activated the portal.

  The room felt the static, and then instantly Jan went from one portal to the other. “No side effects, little disorientation.” he announced. “These portable portals are to be distributed through dealerships we will establish throughout our known universe. Technically, the circuitry accounts for all relative changes in the location of the portal. The volume transfer must be unequal. For technical reasons, some of the energy of the transfer is derived from the unequal mass being exchanged. There are safeguards built in to the portals that will not allow an unsafe transfer to be made. The volume is tested for stability. Sensors envelope the mass as an entity so that nothing is left behind. It will not function if any thing does not meet the programmed parameters on either side of the transfer.” Jan let the buzz go on for a bit longer before he continued.

  “For example, a parameter for breathable atmosphere can be required so the transfer will not be a terminal event for the transferee. The circuitry is sealed and will self-destruct upon tampering for the safety of the operators. Two portals are required, one for sending and one for receiving and sensing the surrounding environment. The portals can be set for coordinates or for a specific portal location.” The audience had quieted down again. One could sense the thoughts and see in the faces of the audience that Grethian Industries would suddenly be one of the major corporations of the universe.

  Merinnia walked up to the podium. “The pricing of the portals will be released in approximately two weeks. We should have volume production up within six months, hopefully sooner. The price will be low enough for anyone of modest means to own a small personal portal, like the ones we used today.” She looked out at the audience and didn’t have to fake a smile. The response was heady stuff. She wished her father could be at her side.

  “What about interplanetary movement?” asked a reporter.

  “The range of the portal is roughly 5,000 kilometers. The circuitry will
not operate reliably past that distance with a simple power cell. The power required to send farther distances, rises geometrically. Our tests have shown that the transfer might also lose some of its integrity. Remember, portals will not permit inaccurate transfers,” Merinnia said. “More questions?”

  The conference lasted another hour. A few hardy souls were called up from the audience to experience portal transfer. Grethia Industries had arrived with a splash.

  ~

  “Now it’s time to set up my trap,” Jan said to Merinnia as he toyed with his empty glass at dinner. “I’m going to hire some detectives to trace the funds out from Trasket IV. With our launch activities, I don’t have the time to find out the details for myself, but I will make time to find out who tampered with my ship. Then all will be rectified. Somehow, I’m not looking forward to it.”

  “That’s because in order to completely close the issue, you’ll have to go after your father and the Freemans,” Merinnia said.

  “My father.” Jan raised his eyebrows. “Yes, he will always be there to torment me. No matter what happens. I’m afraid it’s a love-hate relationship. I can’t help but admire him for what he’s accomplished. He built up Smith Mercantile from nothing, with my mother’s initial vision, of course. But he was the driving force. I stand in awe of that power, that dynamism. Your father is the same way. Both of our fathers are men of extraordinary drive.” Jan fidgeted in his seat. What he was about to say made him extremely uncomfortable.

  “I’m going to have to get used to the idea of destroying my father. There’s no way around it. I’ll have to make myself deal with it. When we’re done, he’ll be reduced to nothing. I feel guilty about it. I feel sad about it. I regret having to do it. It’s distasteful, but I will do it. I must. I am committed to it and it will happen.” He looked deeply into Merinnia’s eyes and took her hands in his. “I just hope it doesn’t destroy me.”

  Merinnia looked back at Jan. “I can’t feel like you do. I love my father and he loves me. He shows it in odd ways, sometimes.” Merinnia smiled at her comment. “But he trusts me. He let me come out here with you. He trusts you with his daughter’s life. He wouldn’t do that if he thought you would destroy yourself.” She gave his hand a squeeze.

  “Jan, whatever you think of yourself, know that I understand some of what you’ve been through. We’ve shared a bit of our lives together, and I know we can support each other, if you only give me a chance to be there when the worst happens, let me help you. But remember, I am a girl from a barbaric world.” Merinnia gave Jan a smile. “Crushing your father, although distasteful to you, seems to me an appropriate thing to do. Besides, your father may be more resilient than you think. You won’t necessarily destroy him. He’s probably too strong to remain crushed for long.”

  Jan smiled ruefully. “Thanks, Merinnia. I will rely on you for that support. Just be prepared to let me work it through when the time comes.” Jan took a deep breath, disengaged his hands from Merinnia’s and rose from the table. “Let’s get out of here. Tomorrow, we start a new phase of our dastardly game.” He lifted a corner of his mouth in weak one-sided smile and the two left the restaurant.

  ~

  “Within two months, we’ve sold production out for two years. We have 200,000 offers for partnerships on 5,000 planets. It looks like Grethia Industries will be taking in 20 billion credits just in up-front licensing fees.” Jan sat back in his chair in his new offices. “I’ve been gone for the last six months getting these major deals done and it feels like I’ve been gone for six years. How are our manufacturing sites doing, Riban?”

  “We’ve had some difficulties getting materials locally. I can trace the difficulties to Smith Mercantile. It seems they have taken contracts for critical materials that they have not delivered. I can’t say it has affected our production, since your strategy of stockpiling critical materials before the introduction seems to have minimized the disruptions.

  “Merinnia has done a wonderful job getting those plants started and working with our Tewiston factors. When she and I went there, I let her do most of the work. I was able to let her negotiate on her own and she did a marvelous job. I can’t describe how invaluable Merinnia’s been to our plans. I had my doubts at the beginning, but no more,” Riban said. “She’s a wonderful person.”

  “I know.” Jan agreed. “She is due back in the office any minute, now. “

  “I’ll be glad to start licensing the technology and let others deal with the manufacturing problems,” Riban said with relief. “By the way, I have been summoned to an audience with your father, this afternoon.”

  “Good. You know the next step.”

  “I do. I’ll be back tomorrow morning and report.” Riban left the office with a wave.

  Jan rose up and went to the window. His new office intentionally looked out across the plain towards the Smith Mercantile Complex. It seemed like he worked there generations ago. He gazed at the buildings barely visible in the distance wondering if his father gazed back at him. A tone interrupted his thoughts. He turned from the window and looked at the holoscreen hovering on his desk. “Yes?”

  “Merinnia Wankle is here,” his secretary said.

  “Please send her in.”

  “Merinnia!” Jan walked to her when she entered the room. “It’s been months since I last saw you! How was your trip?”

  “I was so scared when I left. I’ve never been to a different planet by myself! But I got through it, with Riban’s help. He’s been so instrumental to our cause. The work is going well on the Sindell sector. Our licensee will be able to produce a million portals a week within six months. They have their own supply sources, so they won’t have to worry about SM’s meddling. The Tewiston people treated me like a queen.” Merinnia laughed. “And me, just a princess, although they didn’t know it!”

  Jan laughed and looked at his assistant. Merinnia had developed into an able executive in his company.In our company, he corrected.

  “My report is up on the infonet. It has all of the projections, key supplier commitments and the expansion plans that I worked out with Tewiston. I am still amazed that with all this, we have barely touched the surface in satisfying the demand,” Merinnia said.

  Jan nodded and grinned. It felt good to see her again. “Barely touched it. We live in a vast universe. Riban just left and mentioned the same thing. I think we are ready for the next step. I’ve been waiting for your final report to plug in the numbers from Sindell’s production estimates to add to our licensing and royalty stream. Now we can do something useful with all of the credits that are rolling in. You’ve done a tremendous job, Merinnia. Your father will be very proud. I just wonder how he’ll take to having such a powerful, independent daughter.”

  Merinnia punched Jan in the arm. “That’s what I did to my brothers when they got out of line!” Merinnia claimed playfully.

  Brothers, Jan thought.

  ~~~

  Chapter 41

  Artis Smith’s office looked out of his window towards Impollon. “Riban, you have not yet delivered the plans for the portals. It has been seven months to the day since the portals were introduced. What have you to say?” Artis Smith bellowed.

  “Sir, your son has let me run the Impollon operations, but Jan keeps the circuitry operations to himself. I have delivered a number of circuit modules to you for examination and I am sure you have purchased portals yourself. As you know the circuitry is protected. I have not found a way to get around them. Jan has had the work done secretly. I told you when you trashed the manufacturing facility that you would only make him more secretive. It made matters worse when he found the spying devices installed by the burglars.”

  “I’ve told you time and again, I had nothing to do with those break-ins!” Artis Smith angrily said. “And why would I install spy equipment when I pay handsomely for you to tell me everything that’s happening. Do I look that stupid?”

  “At any rate, I haven’t found out where they are made. X-rays, thermal
and sonic imaging all trigger the destruction mechanism. You know all this.”

  “What is the capital structure of the company? Can I buy him out?” Smith said.

  “Jan has some extremely well-heeled backers. The company is completely private, no public ownership anywhere. Now that cash is rolling in, Jan has no need to sell shares in his company. Another secret, I can’t find. It has something to do with Merinnia. Maybe she isn’t quite what she seems. She is entirely too capable to have been some farm girl.”

  Artis waved his hand dismissively. “She is merely a functionary. I had her checked out on Gyron III. Her story held up. Obviously, Jan found the original portal on her property and became infatuated with her. I even had my agents on the planet poke around where the pair claimed to have found the portals. The sites were really there. They were carefully excavated. I would expect nothing less from Jan. No other portals were found close by. Jan has covered his technology tracks well. What is Grethia’s cash flow like?”

  “The company makes about 70% of the purchase price after distribution. With the flood of licensing fees and the demand for the portals, Jan can fund any growth level he desires just with his internal cash flow. He has quite a money machine. He has the portals priced to maximize volume even with a decent margin. Once licenses are in place, all he’ll be making is the protected circuitry in tiny sealed boxes. If you have taken apart one of the recent portals, he has even reduced the vital circuits down to a bare minimum. His plan is to end up with secret circuitry manufacture, an auditing department and an R&D department, all marketing, manufacture, distribution and sales will be done by licensees. When he perfects interplanetary portals, he’ll do it all over again.

  “By the way, Jan is giving me a 1000% raise now that we are in production. Are our arrangements to continue?” Riban said, a reptilian smile graced his face.