ALJ Chpt 51

frameless|right|300px|link=A Long Journey
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==Chapter 51 - A Long Journey==
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18 July 2786
Taurus (Taurian Concordant)
Colin Blaine was seated in a very expensive conference room waiting. It had taken days and ten thousand dollars in payments to get this meeting arranged. Problem was, he had no clue who he was actually meeting with. He had only told the last contact that he had a very promising business venture to discuss that could benefit the Taurian Concordant greatly. When the door opened he stood as four obvious body guards entered and took positions close to where he stood waiting. An elderly woman entered the room and sat down in a plush chair at the head of the conference table. She gestured that he should seat himself. Colin Blaine knew exactly who this was and had not expected this in the very least, Nicoletta Calderon, Protector of the Taurian Concordat. As former SLDF, he also knew that SLIC suspected her as an accomplice of Amaris.
"Why is a citizen of the Federated Suns and officer of a corporation spending vast amounts of money buying up all sorts of things with military applications offering something that could benefit my nation greatly?"
"Protector Calderon, forgive my stunned look, but I was not expecting you to be at this meeting. I was expecting one maybe two corporate executives." Colin Blaine replied
"That did not answer my question." 
"You are obviously well informed since you know I represent Mackolla Enterprises. One of our divisions has recently located several ships. These ships could replace normal Jumpships being used inside the Hyades Cluster and allow them to be used on a more profitable mission." Colin Blaine replied
"I assume one of these ships found is a Merchant Jumpship, the one your company ordered the replacement core for." 
"Yes, one ship located was a Merchant Class Jumpship. We also located four Aquilla Transports. We are offering you these four ships." Colin Blaine said
"Ancient ships, but the Taurian Concordant was founded using Aquillas. Does First Prince John Davion know that one of his company's is offering the Taurian Concordant ships that can be militarized?" 
"No, the First Prince does not know, or should I say, we have not informed him. The ships belong to us, not the Federated Suns. We feel your nation can use them the most but also fulfill some of our own needs in making a deal." Colin Blaine replied but was also uncomfortable with how the conversation was going.
"What needs are you needing fulfilled for these four ships?"
"There are quite a few Merchant Jumpships that ply the trade lanes in the Periphery and along the Federated Suns border that are in need of core replacements. The Federated Suns lacks the ability to manufacture Merchant KF Jump cores at a price that leaves us some profit, but your Concordat Aerospace Limited is able to meet the price point we desire so that our operations are profitable. We....." Colin Blaine paused when she raised a hand.
"Bring in Sonya Quin, she now needs to be in on this discussion."
It only took a minute before a woman in her forties entered the room and was gestured to a seat. "This is Sonya Quin, CEO of Concordat Aerospace Limited. You may continue, Mister Blaine."
"As I was saying, Concordat Aerospace Limited can provide the Merchant KF Jump cores at a price that leaves us some room to make a profit performing these core swaps. We have already purchased one and are quite happy with the time frame we were quoted. We are in need of thirteen more Merchant cores. We offer one of the Aquilla Transports in exchange for those thirteen cores." Colin Blaine said
"Mrs Quin, can you work the numbers and make sure it is a good deal."
"Protector, it would take almost thirteen years to deliver those Merchant KF Jump cores and that is if I bump every other order to fulfill one that large. We might even have to purchase several more core forges and they are very expensive." Sonya Quin replied
"That is not what I asked, Mrs Quin, is it a good deal or not?"
"The Aquilla is an ancient design and has not been produced in centuries, but they were known for their durability and some still sail to this day. Thirteen jump cores is almost four billion dollars. I have to place this into perspective, purchasing a core forge would cost almost a billion dollars and I would probably need two more to fulfill an order of this size in a timely manner and keep our current schedule. That would eat into any profit you would think we are making. I do not see this as a wise decision." Sonya Quin said 
"There you have it, Mister Quin, the deal would not be profitable for the Taurian Concordant."
Colin Blaine did not know if he could salvage this meeting or not but he had to try so he said "What if we offer one Aquilla Transport for three Merchant cores and two core forges? We have tried to purchase our own but no one will sell us one, they are in very high demand and nation states or the largest corporations are at the front of the line it seems. If you could purchase us two core forges, we could at least grind the existing cores and recast them. It would take longer to complete the repairs but it would still be within a profitable margin we could live with. But we would like it kept quiet."
"Afraid the First Prince might take them away from you?"
"Something like that, Protector Calderon. War is already breaking out over the Terran Hegemony and is likely to get worse. We would prefer not to draw that much attention to ourselves." Colin Blaine admitted
"Is that why your company is purchasing production licenses yet are not purchasing any sort of equipment to actually manufacture what your licenses would allow you?"
"It is a long term strategy, one that we hope will pay off in the future." Colin Blaine answered honestly
"Mrs Quin, is that deal profitable for us?"
"Yes, Protector, that a fair deal." Sonya Quin said
"Very well, Mister Blaine, the Taurian Concordant will purchase two core forges for your company and Mrs Quin will provide you with three Merchant cores in exchange for two Aquilla Transports and we will keep this very quite."
Colin Blaine sat there for a minute as his mind raced, he knew they were raping him and there was nothing he could do about it. "I can agree to those terms." He was not sure if he would get everything they wanted now, but at least the core forges would pay off down the road and that was his only saving grace.
"Very good. You said you were offering four Aquilla, you have two left. What do you want for those last two?"
"Honestly, I was hoping to trade one for a new Snowden Mining Station and the other for a production license for the Snowden Mining Stations. I am not sure I can archive that goal now." Colin Blaine replied
"Your honesty is refreshing, but it is obvious that you are not very skilled in business negotiations. Mrs Quin?"
"Taurus Majoris Mining owns the rights to the Snowden Stations Protector. I do not think they would agree to a simple swap. It would be creating a competitor to what is a monopoly on those stations." Sonya Quin said
Colin Blaines heart sank, Sonya Quin was just too damned good for him to beat. "We would offer a 1% royalty on each station manufactured."
"Protector, that is still not good enough."
"Mrs Quin, if you were to make the decision, what would you ask for in exchange?"
"Protector, if the decision was mine to make. I would except nothing less than a 2% royalty for each manufactured PLUS a non compete clause for twenty years but would try for thirty years." Sonya Quin replied
"Mister Blaine, your counter offer."
Colin Blaine could feel the blood draining from his face as he said "A 2% royalty with a 20 year non-compete clause would be acceptable. We still retain the right to manufacture for our own use."
Protector Calderon looked at Sonya Quin who said "Twenty five year non compete with a 2% royalty on each Snowden manufactured even for your own use. We will even throw in a license for the mining 'mechs."
This has gone horribly wrong Colin Blaine thought as he shook his head yes and said "We have an agreement."
"Mister Blaine, you need to know this, go break this agreement and the Taurian Defense Force will make you pay a dreadful price for such an action. Uphold the agreement and the next business agreement will have more favorable terms for your company." Protector Calderon said as she stood and offered her hand which Colin Blaine accepted. What have I done?, he thought.
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