ALJ Chpt 17

frameless|right|300px|link=A Long Journey
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==Chapter 17 - A Long Journey==
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17 April 2785
Mackolla (Federated Suns)
They had spent the last two days just depressurizing from all the stress that had built up over the last year. Except for Colonel Colin Blaine, their cousin, they had spent most of their pre-SLDF life growing up here. Ever since their father had taken his entire savings of 38,000 Dollars and took a risk purchasing 15,000 acres for a dollar an acre in 2750 when the planet had first been opened up for colonization. Most of the remaining funds had been spent building the house and moving the family here. He had been stationed with the 53rd Jump Infantry Division on Lackland when the opportunity had presented itself. Even though Colonel (Ret) Gerald Mitchell had been born on Muphrid II, inside the Terran Hegemony, he had spent his entire career in non-Royal commands, but he did not resent it at all. The eldest son was the only one born inside the Terran Hegemony, he had been killed during the Periphery campaign with the 4th Royal Infantry Division as they had found out later.
Colonel (Ret) Gerald Mitchell was 73 years old but still as fit as he was at 45. He had retired in 2762 after a 30 year career in the SLDF in the Jump Infantry. None of his children had shown any aptitude for Battlemechs or Aerospace piloting, probably didn't run in the genes, but it didn't both him at all. Now his last two surviving children were home and safe, even if they were still in the military. Since retirement, he had been bored silly. Try as he might, he could not find anything to occupy his attention for very long and was always looking for something else to focus his energy on. He thrived on adrenaline, a result of his SLDF career. He set the four beers on the picnic table on the back lawn and took a seat.
"Okay kids, what is eating at you both?" Gerald Mitchell asked
"Money trouble." Lieutenant General Samuel Mitchell replied
"Yeah, that sort of trouble will put anyone in a funk. I know the feeling quite well." Gerald Mitchell said
"You in trouble, pop?" Commodore Patricia Mitchell asked
"Not yet, I can pay the property taxes this year, but next year is going to be a rough one. Pension checks halted in 2780 so we have been living on what we saved. Worst case, I sell the place and we move into a much smaller place. Prices have changed dramatically here. Back when I first bought the homestead, it was a dollar and acre, now you can get 25-30 an acre, so I will make a profit on it. But your not here to listen to my problems, so spill it kids." Gerald Mitchell said and then listened for the next hour as they explained the problems they had encountered. His brain absorbing the issues and assigning priorities to each problem being faced before he spoke.
"Not the worst deal anyone struck, but your dealing with a big old bull in First Prince John Davion. As rulers go, he is pretty good, but he is also a Davion, which means he expects you to go belly up and he gets everything in the end. Just might take a few years for him to see his deal bear fruit. As for the terms of the deal, your operating sort of in a gray area, not House troops being funded by the Government, you still own everything but not Mercs either. But you committed yourself to guarding Mackolla and surrounding systems plus defending the Federated Suns if it is attacked. So yeah, your on a leash unless you break your word, in which case I will beat you silly. So, let's take these one at a time.
One, sell that Jumpship. Gives you operating capital and buys you time. 
Two, form a company, civilian but with protection, lord knows there are a ton of former SLDF with nothing else to do that would jump at a decent paying job acting as security. Plus, as a Federated Suns company, and Suns citizen employee's the Federated Suns, ie you, are obligated to come to their aid if conducting legal business. Make it a holding company, so that your not limited in what you decide to dabble in. 
Three, put a chunk of cash into some sort of security, bond or something that will accrue interest but no serious risk, gotta take care of your people.
Four, take another chunk and buy a big plot of ground. I would suggest the continent of El Maouna Prime. Great farmland, or ranching, nearly year round growing seasons, never gets cold. Make that your base or headquarters. As folks retire, they get good housing and all that. Your in a grey area, not sure of the Feddies are gonna pony up a pension. You can hide that Royal equipment you spoke about, bury it good, cause if John Davion gets wind of it, well it could get tense. It's 83,570 square miles, uninhabited so no locals to bother you. You can probably get a good chunk of it for cheap, since it is totally undeveloped and you would have to start from scratch. That's 53 million acres and some change, bargain hard enough, maybe point out how dangerous it is to base troops near population centers and you might get it all handed to you for free. Governor Nelson is decent but there are also rumors that he is skimming from the tax money. But he is smart enough not to get caught, so be careful.
Those are my initial thoughts on your problems. I might get more, and I will continue thinking about it, but that is all I have right now really."
"Good thoughts, as for your first, we are already leaning that way and you pushed us over the edge. The second, well what the hell do we call it?" Samuel Mitchell asked
"Anything you want. Call it Mackolla Enterprises, Mackolla Consolidated, not sure I would tie your name to it. It will smell dirty to a bunch of folks including the troops. Get it all legit and you can even issue stock to your troops, make them part owners, pay a little dividend out. No one gets mad when they are getting some cash. If you do score with the salvage idea, well that just sets you up to expand the civilian side of things. After awhile, it will become almost a perpetual money maker for everyone involved." Gerald Mitchell replied
"Neither of us will have time to run a civilian company. I am committed to oversee the defense of Mackolla and the surrounding systems, Patricia, I doubt is going to give up her command or ship for the civilian world." Samuel Mitchell said
"Put Colin in charge, he is family." Gerald Mitchell replied as Colin coughed on his beer.
"I do not know a damned thing about business. But I do have contacts with a ton of manufacturers and suppliers here in the Federated Suns that might be helpful. I am willing to retire and help, I said help, let me say it again, HELP whoever you appoint, but not run the damned thing." Colin Mitchell replied
"It has to be family, too much is on the line. Dad, how about you? Your mind is sharp as a tack, plus your bored out of your mind. Care to take on the challenge of building a profitable business empire?" Patricia Mitchell asked
"Not what I was angling after kids, but I will do this until such time as one of you can retire from your military career and take it over." Gerald Mitchell said
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