Book 2: Chapter 28: Preparations for Industrial Revolution

Book 2: Chapter 28: Preparations for Industrial Revolution

USD: ~18 days after Tears of Fire arrival to 92 Pegasi

Location: Ackman Station, Mooring Arm D-2, Observation Deck

Alex and a MilTech Arms technician watched the outer hatch of the Tears from inside the mooring arm of the station. Eight of their combat bots were floating in space around the hatch in a show of force. As much as she had liked Wyles, she wasnt letting anyone onboard the ship that she didnt trust. So, their cargo drones had neatly organized the pallets and single missile and were carrying the bundle out into vacuum.

The MilTech Arms shuttle had stopped a polite distance away from the ship and awaited the goods. Its pilot had already opened the hatch and a few men in EVA suits were floating outside, suit lights illuminating the shuttle's cargo bay that ran down its spine. She wondered how much it would cost to buy or make one.

It would have fit in the Shrikes cargo bay, barely. Although then it would have taken up all the space. Maybe Nameless could figure out how to design extra hangar space between the outer and inner hulls. It didnt really need to be vacuum sealed, since most of their workforce was robotic. She made a note to ping him about it later.

As the cargo bots reached almost halfway to the shuttle the technician spoke, breaking Alex out of her musings.

Maam, if youre ready I can do the funds transfer now.

She turned to him and nodded, producing her datapad and handing it to him. She had trusted Nameless to integrate the CECs chip into the ship computer, and now she could easily make transfers without having the chip present.

Which was good, because if anyone ever got physical access to the chip, they could essentially take all the money inside of it without permission.

The datapads scanner read the mans retina and then he placed his palm on the screen. A few seconds later Alex heard a pleasant di-ding sound and a green entry on her HUD.

|Incoming Balance + 20,109,120 SE|

|New Total: 18,359,120 SE|

Mentally, Alex translated that into 215,989 kebabs or 367,182 cheeseburgers. She was set for a long time of good food! If she had intended to stay idle, that was. She didnt. As soon as she had woken up, she had started setting up a catalogue of things that they could purchase on the station that would be useful.

The first one was already awaiting retrieval on the MilTech Arms shuttle.

Right, let me go ahead and pay for the mining lasers.

Boss said to hand them off to you free as a first transaction bonus. Says to remember him fondly and lets do business again, soon.

Humm. I see your boss is a smart man.

Theres a reason MilTech is considered one of the best jobs on the station, Maam.

Alex glanced back toward her ships airlock. The mess of pallets and random station tidbits obscured some of the view, but the two combat bots she had left on guard duty at the ramp were clearly visible from where they stood. The Portmasters rules be damned, she wasnt going out on the station without Elis watching her back.

The Mooring arm seemed safe enough though, since the Tears was so close by.

Tell him his trick worked; If I need any new toys, Ill come to him first.

She looked to the transfer taking place through the stations glass for a final time before deciding to go back to start her ordering spree.

Everything seems to be in order, and I am needed back on the ship, so Ill be heading back.

Of course Maam. Honestly surprised you came yourself and your quartermaster didnt handle it.

Alex smiled, of course she didnt have a quartermaster, but she couldnt tell him that.

Just wanted to see things through to the end, see the new toys.

Yes Maam. They are a decent pair of mining lasers; ore calibration settings are all tip-top. I did the diagnostics and testing myself last night.

Thats good to hear. Thanks for your work.

Im sure youll put them to good use.

Oh, she would. She would.

USD: ~18 days after Tears of Fire arrival to 92 Pegasi, after the transfer

Location: Ackman Station, IND Tears of Fire, Mess Room

Alex felt herself on the verge of panic, circling a seated Elis who had forbidden her from coming any closer.

Elis, how can you do this!

Elis ignored her, instead focusing on the round mirror in front of her as she continued to use the pair of scissors to finish the final touches of her hair trimming.

Running out of energy, Alex fell to her knees, hands going down to touch the beautiful vivid red locks that had piled up on the floor. This is a crime.

Elis finished, and shook her head, It had grown out while in cryostasis, dont know why that stupid thing couldnt prevent my hair growth, it stops everything else and worked for others. Probably something to do with whatever stupid ancestor decided to add red hair color to my genome.

Alex looked up and pouted.

Stop being so dramatic and dont look at me like that. Long hair is not military reg. It gets in the way and is a liability. It did get in the way, even. First fucker yanked on it pretty good.

Alex sobered up upon the mention of their unknown assailants and stood up. Ok. If its that important, I wont complain. Its your hair anyway, so I dont have any right to complain anyway, and Id rather you be safe. But but it was so pretty being long.

Turning toward Alex, Elis tilted her head and showed off her new short bob hairstyle. She flicked one of her side bangs with a grin, Are you saying its not pretty now?

Alex opened her mouth in surprise, then scooted around to check it from multiple angles.

Oh! It looks nice. How did you learn to do it yourself?

|Type: Sole Proprietorship|

|OWNER: Alex, GCode: 8Y-384YN83023NB|

|Application Fee: 2,000,000 SE|PREPAID|

|Detailed Incorporation Details (Minimized)|

Portmaster Whitely frowned. Alex watched him through the screen as he looked down to read the contents she had sent him.

I must say, Captain, that this is the fastest Ive ever seen someone go from nearly two million credits in debt to pre-paying two million credit letters of incorporation.

You can approve it, yes? Ive read all the relevant laws and had them checked by my shipships staff. Everythings in order.

Captain, this wasnt what I envisioned when I pictured our future relationship. I had hoped things would calm down after our meeting.

Im sorry for troubling you so often. Ive been through a lot over the last few... weeks.

Sighing, Mr. Whitely seemingly decided and tapped something on his datapad.

|Corporate Incorporation Approved|

|Please see configuration options|

Alex turned off the scrolling text that began to run across her vision, deciding shed examine it in more detail later on a datapad instead of her HUD.

Thank you, Portmaster. Let me move to the next point of business. I would like to make a contract with the station. You see Ive reviewed the regulations on the station prohibiting combat bots being deployed on it. Unfortunately, I have a lack of shipboard marines, so we rely heavily on them. I would like to offer you a defense contract where you approve us to deploy two combat bot units under Station Authority command but controlled by us to Mooring Arm D-1 while we are moored at a cost of 1 SE per day.

Ive seen the reports. Ive already seen those two bots at your airlock.

Yes, so this would make it so you dont have to turn a blind eye, you can just look at it and know everything is above-board.

The man looked exasperated, Fine, Captain. Fine. We can do that.

It only took a second to approve the contract that Alex had already prepared.

Thank you! Now can we return to the manufactory?

The space is offered for rent for 1,000,000 SE per week, but thats hardly the value of the industrial plant. I believe the stated value was 120 million SE before it was mothballed. I would say that the station could sell it to you for approximately 80 million SE. Do you have the funds?

Alex smiled, That is a bit more than our budget Im afraid. However, I have an alternative proposition. I would like to purchase it for 10 million SE

For the first time the Portmaster looked annoyed for real, Captain Alex, please I have accommodated and accepted many of your requests out of courtesy and a hope for mutual courtesy, if you are going to continue to abuse this

Alex held up a hand, Please, Portmaster, let me finish.

Mr. Whitely took a breath and then nodded to her.

While 10 million SE is much below the cost, I have reviewed the relevant data on the matter thoroughly. The reason that the manufactory is still sitting in this section unused is it has no real economic value anymore, although I have a use for it. The reason it hasnt been scrapped is because removing it is going to threaten station stability. Ive pegged the costs of the materials to repair the station at 30 million SE. Ive also deduced the labor costs for that work would be an additional forty million SE. Allowing for a ten million credit fee for the manufactory, your price seems incredibly reasonable and at cost.

Exactly, and so you must understand why I cannot sell it to you at such a price.

In addition to the 10 million SE, I will acquire the materials and provide the labor and expertise for repairing the sections of the station that need reinforcing after its removal. I think this is a good deal for you, we will do all the work, you will make a small profit, and you will have a section of the station newly freed up for rent. If you wish you can provide us blueprints if you want it built for a specific purpose and we can do the base work without fittings for you, or if you would like we can add the fittings for a reduction in prices equivalent to their costs.

I thought you were the Captain of a warship, not a construction crew.

Alex smiled at him quietly. It took a few moments, and he turned his attention to his screens. Alex expected him to do his own examination of the specifics, and she had prepared herself for giving him several days to consider, but she was surprised when he nodded.

Captain, I believe we can make a deal with these terms. Shall I draw up a contract and have my construction master contact your Ships Engineer to discuss the specifics?

Nameless, do you think you can handle that?

[Notice: While human personality simulation and voice synthesis is possible, it is a highly expensive use of processing time.]

So yes. Great! Youre our new Ships Engineer.

That would be fine, Portmaster. I will shake your hand next time I see you.

It will help the station; it is not exactly a favor to you.

It will help both the station and Starlight Revolution. I hope youre not bothered by all this; I believe we will be working together a lot in the future!

I am less bothered, and perhaps baffled by how rapidly you are moving in ways I didnt expect. Have you considered that by following this course of action you will become a very public face? While slow the news will eventually reach the core.

Ive come to the furthest frontier already, there is nowhere else to go for me, and I dont think hiding would help now.

Maybe not, Still, there are ways people can disappear and live a quiet life. If you would like I could help you with that option.

Alex smiled at him, Thank you for the offer. Really. I just dont think it is an option for me.

Portmaster Whitely nodded solemnly. Very well, Captain. It was interesting, but if there is no more business to discuss

Actually, Portmaster, I would like to ask about a license fee for an orbital station near the asteroid belt?

Mr. Whitely closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead.

Alex replied with her friendliest smile.