ALJ Chpt 44

frameless|right|300px|link=A Long Journey
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==Chapter 44 - A Long Journey==
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11 May 2786
Mackolla (Federated Suns)
The second Tracker arrived at the Zenith Jump Point and began the in-system transit to the Olympus Recharge Station. The first Tracker Gunship had departed for Morgan's Holdfast on 7th of May. It was fully manned, but this also left them short crew for any other Trackers. Warrant Officer Bart Cooks was looking forward to this conversion, if everything went right it would be one hell of a corvette. This one was going to take longer since they were going to strip the standard armor off and replace it with Ferro Carbide, but he was looking forward to the project.
On the planet, Gerald Mitchell had taken note of Warrant Officer Cooks displeasure in the Aquilla Transports, so he was trying to figure out how what to do with them. Only the partially converted Aquilla could not be sold right now, but the other three could bring in upwards of 15 Billion. Which was needed quite badly. But who would want them? Who could use them? It would either have to be a Nation or major Company, no one else would have the money to even entertain the purchase price. He called for Colin Blaine to come see him.
It took an hour for Colin to arrive in his small office. "Colin, who do you think would be interested in those Aquilla Transports?"
"They are ancient, so it would have to be one of the Periphery states in my opinion. The closest is the Taurian Concordant. They do have a ton of planets that are inside that jump range, it would at least free up their normal range ships for other uses. But we do have Dropshuttles equip them with, not sure if they can be adapted for KF Boom or actual Dropship Collars. What kind of deal are you thinking boss?" Colin Blaine said
"Well, cash is always needed, but I think we should think more long term. We are going to need Merchant Jump Cores, so do you think they would bite on a trade? We bought one and it is almost here, but do you think they would foot the bill for the other dozen in exchange for one Aquilla?" Gerald Mitchell asked
"Not sure, but if my quick head math is right, we are surrendering a bunch of money for those cores. They should be worth about 4.5 to 5 Billion each, a dozen cores at 300 Million is only 3.6 Billion." Colin Blaine replied
"It is, but it also saves us the time of hauling the ground Germanium to the Taurian Concordant to be recast into jump cores. We can haul it quicker to Panpour and sell it to Challenge Systems or to Boeing Interstellar at Galax. Both are closer than the Hyades Cluster. Could save us millions in costs. I am regretting selling that Snowden, but the sale is finalized already, and we are just waiting on the cash to be deposited. My research has told me that mining asteroids is more profitable than mining on the surface. We could really use that ability back." Gerald Mitchell said
"Okay, I can see the reason now and I think they would bite on that kind of deal. The Snowden is a totally different animal, though the cost of a Snowden is not that different than for an Aquilla. You thinking of trading an Aquilla for a Snowden, one for one?" Colin Blaine asked
"Heck no, I am not that stupid. I will trade a single Aquilla for a new Snowden. But I am willing to trade an Aquilla for the production license, all design information AND any production equipment for the Snowden Stations. I can at least make our money back in the long term that way. The last Aquilla will have to be put back into its original specs before we let it go. Do you think the Taurian's will go for that kind of deal?" Gerald Mitchell asked
"Only way to know is make the offer." Colin Blaine replied
"Pack your bags, son, you're going on a trip to Taurus. I am too old for that kind of travel." Gerald Mitchell said with a smile.
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