Trade Run

Jack awoke from his nap and resumed his work. Terry, his computer, confirmed that no catastrophe's had occurred, and that they would be arriving on schedule. "How are you?" it asked in it's preprogrammed feminine accent.

"Just fine." Jack scratched his bushy red beard. "Sixty years of beauty sleep is just what I needed after that mess on Tantusti IV. How's the cargo?"

"Undamaged."

Jack floated aft to check for himself. The thousands of crates were tethered together, floating in the bay. Within a week he'd have all of that Tantusti leather traded for raw Almootinium, then just one more long nap before he'd be back on Earth able to retire in style. He had it all planned out, he'd buy New Zealand and marry two dozen women. Kelly and Jennifer and Amanda and...

His daydream was interrupted by Terry, "Should I wake the guest?"

Jack had forgotten about Almayo. A teenage Almootian, Almayo had convinced Jack to take him on one cold run so he could see what the future holds. In return Almayo had promised a small fortune which would become a large fortune after a few centuries of interest.

"Nah, wait till we're down. Landing's enough trouble without his mouth."

To Jack's great surprise, he was hailed by an approaching spacecraft. "Rest your reactor immediately. We will land you via tractor beam." Jack obliged.

***

Ambassador Smith poured two glasses of water. "Why'd you do it Jack?"

"He wanted to see the future. He paid me."

"Don't give me that song and dance. You're smarter than that, you knew what would happen, It had to be pretty clear to you. Their Crown Prince gets kidnapped, they declare war on Earth, we wipe 'em out and take the spoils without being the aggressor. Brilliant."