WCGW Chpt 102

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==Chapter 102 - What Could Go Wrong==
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19 May 3042
Skye (Federated Commonwealth)
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Archon Melissa-Steiner Davion did not leave her Monarch Dropship, instead she summoned Duke Simon DeGrange, Shipil Company CEO, to her. It took 20 minutes for him to arrive, where he was patted down and led inside by her security detail. She greeted him in one of the plush lounges onboard, she gestured to a cushioned seat as she took another nearby.
"Thank you for meeting with me Duke DeGrange. Please take a seat, thirsty?" Archon Melissa Steiner Davion said
"It is my pleasure to always be at your service Archon. No thank you, I am fine." Duke DeGrange replied while taking the offered seat.
"Very well, down to business then. I have a business proposition for your company. One that is vital to our nation." Archon Melissa-Steiner Davion said while taking a sip of waterbr>
"Shipil Company is always at your service Archon. I cannot boost production much more though." Duke DeGrange replied
"My briefing says you have 3 lines making Seydlitz Light Fighters. I want you to shut one down, retool and begin construction of the SL-26 Samurai." Archon Melissa Steiner Davion said
"Highness? You have me at a loss. I have never heard of the Samurai?" Duke DeGrange replied
"You will soon be delivered everything you need to put it into production from Fairchild Dornier." She handed over a slip of paper "That is a guaranteed contract for 300 SL-26 Samurai Medium Aerospace Fighters. You will also be receiving a license to manufacture them from Fairchild Dornier. I expect you to make this happen, I would hate to have to go to one of your competitors for this. But I am wandering, it has already been a long trip for me. For these 300 fighters, you will pay Fairchild Dornier 50% of the profit on each produced. After that, the normal 5% per fighter fee. My staff estimates you will still make roughly 150 Million from this deal, minus some retooling expenses." Archon Melissa Steiner Davion said
"Archon Steiner, this is most unorthodox way of doing business. Normally the LCAF makes a proposal and companies bid to build a fighter. The final price would include retooling expenses, license purchases and all other fees. Your basically setting the price and telling me to build it." Duke DeGrange replied
"That is exactly what I am doing Duke DeGrange. The Lyran Commonwealth needs this fighter. It is that simple. I am told that we now possess the recovered technology to put this excellent fighter back into operation. By doing so quickly, a proven design already, it will greatly aid us in upgrading our existing Aerospace fleet down the road. We have enough Seydlitz, now we need this fighter. My own experts estimate that you can build 20 a month once your retooling is completed. Fifteen months of production, then you can go back to building Seydlitz if you want to. It is getting done, either by Shipil or another company. I am rushed for time, so I need a decision right now Duke DeGrange." Archon Melissa Steiner Davion said
Duke DeGrange was backed into a corner and knew it. If he said no, now that the LCAF and AFFS had merged into the AFFC, he was looking at fiercer competition on any contracts. He did not need resistance from the Archon added to his future problems. "Shipil Company will gladly accept the contract for the LCAF."
"It's the Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth now Duke DeGrange. I am so glad that you see things my way. Now, you should send some of your top engineers to Fairchild Dornier, there they can touch and crawl over a functional SL-26 Samurai. I am sorry to cut this short, but I really must get back on the road to Tharkad." Archon Melissa Steiner Davion said
Once Duke DeGrange was gone, Archon Melissa Steiner Davion said "Lisa, send another message to Hanse and tell him that my part is done. It is his turn."
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22 May 3042
New Avalon (Federated Commonwealth)
Count Edwas Tiehala, CEO of Jalastar Aerospace, was ushered into First Prince Hanse Davions private office and the door closed behind him. A cough caused him to turn slightly as First Prince Hanse Davion entered from a different door. The exhaustion he felt after the hasty trip to New Avalon fled his body as First Prince Hanse Davion said "Count Tiehala, thank you for coming at such short notice. Please, have a seat, you must be tired after such a trip."
"Thank you, Highness. The trip was very tiring on my old body." Count Tiehala replied
"Tell me, does Jalastar still have that vacant assembly line?" First Prince Hanse Davion asked
"We do, Highness. I cannot decide what to retool it for." Count Tiehala replied
First Prince Hanse Davion handed over a sheet of paper "This is a contract to build 300 SL-26 Samurai Medium AeroSpace Fighter. You have a vacant line, and now you have a design to fill that empty hole in your profit line. Complete design specs and everything else you need to know to build it is already on the way to you from Fairchild Dornier. They should have a production license for you. The contract you hold in your hand has special conditions; Fairchild Dornier will get 50% of the profits for this 300 fighter contract. Once that is completed, you will be paying the normal 5% price. Now, I know your going to tell me that the terms are crazy and that you will lose money on the deal. Then I am going to tell you that if I took the same deal to Lycomb Davion here on New Avalon, they would jump on this deal. And I admit, it would have been easy to do, but I cannot afford for them to lower production on what they already produce for the AFFC. Jalastar already has an empty production line, so this does not impact your current production at all. The Federated Suns needs this fighter and needs it quickly."
"For the Federated Suns, Jalastar Aerospace accepts the terms of the proposed contract." Count Tiehala replied
"I knew I could count on you, Edwas. Send your top engineers to Fairchild Dornier. They have a working Samurai there they can look over while you begin the retool phase." First Prince Hanse Davion said with a broad smile
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