ALJ Chpt 50

frameless|right|300px|link=A Long Journey
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==Chapter 50 - A Long Journey==
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1 July 2786
New Earth (Terran Hegemony)
Helen Froy, owner CEO of Froy Industries, had received the agreement from Mackolla Enterprises to purchase Froy Industries in the mornings message batch. The CEO, Gerald Mitchell had agreed to all of her terms and another message confirmed the deposit of the funds in her account. It was more than enough to handle all the transportation costs for the move, which she had included in her asking price to prevent getting stiffed. Now, it was up to her to accomplish the movement of her company to Mackolla. She had started making arrangements before she had even finished reading the message slip. As she finished making the local arrangements, but before starting the task of hiring all the Dropships and several Jumpships for the move, her eyes focused on the bottom line of the message.
 ".....I would be interested in any other small outfits that you can think of making the move to Mackolla also. I am willing to help with movement costs, and if the company is really worth it, possible purchase."
Who is this Gerald Mitchell and the seemingly endless amount of money, she thought silently. Her brain was already sorting all of her own vendors into possibilities, mainly because they knew her and she knew them. It was about the only hesitation she had in the move to Mackolla, she would be losing easy access to vendors she had worked with her or her father for decades. The very first vendor that popped into her head was Smythe Mining and Metals, it was where she sourced all of her metal and ore from. Froy Industries accounted for 70% of their business and her moving would probably put the out of business.
The next was Excellent Electronics who manufactured most of her electronic parts and circuits, before final assembly at her factory, another long term vendor where Froy Industries accounted for roughly 60% of their business. They also accounted for 10-15% of Smythe Mining and Metals business. 
Then there was Trimble Precision Machinery who manufactured all of her production equipment along with a wide range of hand tools, specialty tool and specialty equipment, who also made up another 10-15% of Smythe Mining and Metal's business.
Her moving was going to really hurt those three companies. Plus the owners were all her close friends. She had to make the offer, it was the right thing to do, she just had to sell it to them.
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6 July 2786
Mackolla (Federated Suns)
The third Tracker arrived but would have to wait it's turn in the repair bay since it was still occupied by the second Tracker undergoing the much more extensive customization and conversion. Work putting the Trackers at Site 222 back into working condition was getting faster on each ship the workers started on. So much so that another fifty workers had been sent to help take apart the Athena Cruiser. This news was relayed to Warrant Officer Bart Cooks who could but shrug since his hands were full and he was not about to hurry this project up any. He wanted it done perfectly and all of his people were keeping meticulous notes on every issue encountered along with how they solved the problem. Besides, the small machinery shops could only work so fast in manufacturing the needed parts.
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Taurus (Taurian Concordant)
Colin Blaine was tired as a dog when he stretched out on the bed in his hotel room after taking an hour long shower just enjoying the hot water. Tomorrow his task began as he would have to make contact with only god knew how many people until he arranged the meetings he really wanted. Today had been grueling at the special attention his Federated Suns passport had brought upon him by the customs people, he just wanted a good night sleep, after over a month with no real gravity, he absolutely loved the feeling of Taurus' gravity. Even if his legs and back ached from their own weight much less his two luggage bags.
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