Page 51 of Jorhee

I nodded.

“So they have said, and it is understandable.”

“So, why not give it to them? Not this version, but the very earliest model of its kind. Patent it yourself there, but issue a free license to manufacture it to any of the manufacturers who wish to make one, as well as a few start-ups. Maybe even offer some venture capital as a grant to the smaller companies with a proven track record in the industry. Then, a few years later, if these take off like I think they will, offer a later—but still not as advanced—model to a few of those, with the understanding that it is a partnership. Make a new company they can buy into and share the cost of building and marketing them. Have the beetles painted in different colors to reflect the particular partner selling one of the shipments through their dealerships, but add a set of Dragonii wings to them as a badge or something.”

I considered his suggestion carefully.

“This is a thing that is done on your world?”

“Oh, yeah. One company comes up with a banging tractor or a combine another one wants, they go into partnership and build them under license. Everyone knows who designed it and that it’s just got the other company’s colors and maybe nameon it some which way. Sometimes it’s on its own, or the two companies make up a new name, or join them together just on that model.”

I made a mental note to send this information to Father so he could broach it with the Grand Council, who would then direct the Ministry of Trade’s negotiator dealing with Earth.

Jesse glanced around.

“You know, sometimes I can’t believe this planet is real.”

I looked at him in surprise.

“Did the information pack you received not mention this was a terraformed world?”

He glanced away, his cheeks pinkening.

“Maybe? I might have kind of not read it, on account of being positive this was a mistake and then I’d get quietly shipped off to one of the other two planets so the embarrassment could be allowed to fade away.”

I chuckled.

“Not any of it?”

“I read the part where it said it was pretty warm all year round and that it rained an average of three times a week, always before sunrise. Also that there were two tidally locked moons but only inland seas scattered evenly around the planet. Okay, letting myself say that, I feel kind of stupid now,” he laughed. “It’s rather obvious it’s a designer planet, huh? But how do y’all keep the weather so uneventful and predictable?”

“That I’m not entirely sure of. We weren't the ones who terraformed New Haven. Every now and again, terraformed planets that have been left unpopulated are discovered, and there are always at least two artificial moons with still-working apparatus that handles the weather.”

“Seriously? Any idea who?”

I shook my head.

“None at all. The control apparatus are always inside sealed structures that scan visiting ships. They never hail them. They simply scan and decide if they will allow the ship to orbit or land.”

“So, what? Sometimes they don’t?”

I nodded.

“Cartels and conglomerates have tried to set up shop, either to create a hideaway for themselves or to take advantage of the rich minerals or the lack of population to establish a manufacturing facility that would eventually poison the planet. Somehow they know, and a shield goes up over the planet. According to reports I’ve heard, the scan breaks into the ships’ databanks, no matter the encryption. Whoever put the system in place is not only ancient but so advanced that everything we have is like a child’s attempt compared to theirs.”

“But if it’s merely surveying for a peaceful company, it allows ships to land.”

I nodded, placing a hand on his knee reassuringly.

“They do, but the shield is why we only have need of a single Corsair. The Corsair is there to defend friendly ships in the system that would be outside the shield if it went up.”

“And the system is happy to allow it and the Mylos ships to approach because you’re both geared for defense, and it can tell from reading y’all’s databanks that y’all don’t start stuff, but damn well finish it if you can.”

“Precisely.”

“Just... wow.”

He licked his lips as I executed a three-point turn to take us back home.