A Day Out of a Diary of a Stock Brocker

Korin stood leaning on the window. He looked at the other end of the station. He stepped away and addressed his colleague. “I don’t see any way out, Eretes! Earth is in debt over two-trillion units!”

“Don’t worry. I have faith we will find gold on the caves of Thron.”

“We have been mining for eight years!”

“You forget, the new mining machines will be utilized in days,” said Eretes.

A short woman in white apparel came through a circular hatch. “Sirs, we have an incoming transmission from the head of the Intergalactic Revenue Service.”

Eretes went to a video screen and an image of a creature with three eyes and an oval head with mandibles appeared.

“Greetings Mr. Sorcha,” said Eretes.

“Two of the prime planets Earth does trade with are calling your planet’s debt.”

“Postpone the charge for another month.”

Mr. Sorcha narrowed his eyes and shook his head. “Why one more month?”

“Just take our word for it?”

Sorcha sighed. “Very well.”

The image vanished.

“Let’s hope that new machinery yields better results.” Korin said, running a palm down his face. “I’m tired. Jet lag from Earth to Embrian is taking its toll.”

Korin walked through the hatch and laid down.

Korin was jolted wake by Eretes who shook him. “Korin, we have a problem!”

“What is it!”

“Embrian is demanding payment or it will attack Earth!”

Korin jumped up. “Have you contacted Earth!”

“Yes, they are sending a peace envoy.”

Korin gripped his scalp. “War will inevitably break out!”

“Get a hold of yourself! We must think. What about planet Geosis? They owe us after we rebuilt their economy after the depression of 2137.”

“Yes, yes, that’s right!” Korin contacted Geosis by video.

“Hold on! Let me do it. You’re too emotional.”

Eretes, typed on a typing panel. A few seconds later, an agent of the Earth embassy for Geosis appeared on the screen. “Eretes, hello.”

“So, you have not heard the bad news, Mortius?”

Mortius shook his head. “What do you mean?”

“Embrian is calling in our debt. They have made threats if we do not comply.”

Mortius gasped. “What! Why are you telling me this?”

“We need you to talk to the economic division of Geosis and ask for the most they can afford.”

“Has Embrian given a timetable?”

Eretes shrugged. “No. We must act as soon as possible.”

“Very well! I will get back to you within the hour!”

The image left.

“When I signed up to be a financial representative for Earth, I did not know it would entail military threats,” said Korin.

The two interplanetary stockbrokers waited.

A transmission form Geosis was indicated on the screen and Eretes brought up the image.

“Eretes! I have solicited as much from the economy division. It is not much-only thirty-million units.”

“We own almost 700 times as much!”

Mortius shook his head. “I assume Earth has already made provision for possible military retaliation.”

“I fear interstellar war is coming,” said Korin.

“There is something more. Earth wants you to be part of the envoy to Embrian.”

“What can I do!”

“They think you’re the best broker we have. A space shuttle will be passing by your station in a few hours.”

The image vanished.

“God speed, Korin.”

A shuttle docked with the station and Korin walked into it where he met a crew of twelve men. The spacecraft zoomed away to Embrian.

Korin sat on a seat and a member of the envoy approached him. “You must have the most boring and stressful interstellar job.”

“I get good stock options,” said Korin. “But this situation is beyond my abilities.

“Well, they selected you for a reason.”

“Yeah, whatever.”

In three hours, they reached the Embrian solar system.

“Get ready, Korin,” he said to himself.

They entered Embrian space and a human spoke through a com. “You are clear for planetary landing.”

They entered the purple-red atmosphere and made for the landing port. They made contact with the surface. The crew, including Korin, put on oxygen masks and walked out a hatch and walked down a metal ramp.

Two humanoid aliens seven feet tall escorted the crew into a mechanical castle.

Soon they reached the negotiation room and sat at a table and waited for the Embrian delegate to enter. Within fifteen minutes, he arrived.

“You have five days to make the payment. Then we will take military actions against your world. That will be all.”

And that was all that was said.

The delegate walked out, leaving the whole crew speechless.

The two escorts motioned for them all to leave.

A dark, dreary mood came over Korin.

As he walked to the shuttle, Korin felt someone put an object into his left hand. He looked around and saw no one. He held a small book with the alien writing on it simply showing Interstellar Stock Broker. Korin knew the Embrian tongue and opened it and read. It was morning on the side of the planet.

He read the first few lines and he narrowed his eyes. Once in the shuttle, Korin told what he just read to the captain of the shuttle.

“Do you think it is true!” said the captain.

“We might as well check!”

“Very well. I will enter the coordinates to where this mysterious, hidden planet is. Since the planet is so remote and far away, hyperspace is needed.”

In a burst of light, they arrived on the planet.

They stepped from the shuttle to the ground where the atmosphere was breathable.

They approached a cave and shouted for joy.

“Verementium! The rarest metal known! The diary was right!” said Korin. “I’ll contact Embrian and tell them we have the payment.”

Korin ran inside the craft and relayed the message.

Everyone made a sigh of relief.

“Disaster averted! I must tell Eretes.”

Korin told his friend via transmission and he was elated. And so the most cataclysmic disaster ever to face Earth was avoided. And Korin was officially rich!