Zeo, Travis and Brendan spread out around the command table, but they were all focused on me. I noticed the boys were waiting for Zeo to start the business talk. We were all shifting our eyes between each other. I even glanced down at the table to see the warehouse at 10% before looking back up at Zeo.
“Alright, fine. I will go first.” Zeo declared as she let out a huff of air.
“Okay, I should probably start by letting you know how big a deal this event is. I did a little research on your planet while we were walking across your city of nothing, and your planet has a lot of ideals that the rest of the universe just doesn't have. Out here it is more strong rule and weak obey. For instance if I, the scion of a celestial marquess clan was to go visit a galactic king leader then he would be grovelling and offering up anything and everything to make me happy. Mostly to ensure I don't get within the same solar system as him, but you get my point, right? Anyway, for someone like me to come all the way to the guildhall of a solar Tak is unthinkable to the Celestial clans. Which is why we can not let it be known that it has happened, and that is why our three clans have made an agreement. The military is separate from clan affairs. In the military you are our commanding officer that can't be changed now that it has been established, but out here we can't be seen anywhere near you. Unless you wish the spite and fury of galactic and sector clans to come down on you. So basically don't see anyone in person where they can scan you.”
I watched the two boys nod their heads quickly as they put a serious look on their faces. I let out a sigh but nodded my head and indicated for her to continue.
“We were telling you about the celestial kings, dukes, marquess, and counts, but we did not mention the Taks of those ranks. Well that is because we know where most of them are except for four. The three Celestial Duke-Tak and the six Celestial Marquess-Tak clans have not been seen in a long time, and we all thought you might belong to one of them. That is why we were being careful with how we treated you, and my clan even agreed to show you face by sending our scion all the way out here just to deliver a few gifts and hopefully establish this mining deal. Now the mining deal is very good for you when we thought you were a Celestial Marquess-Tak. However, my father has decided since you were not the one to deceive us, and we need to keep up appearances, not to mention He had already agreed to it for this solar system… we are going to honour that deal and still offer it to you even though you are a Solar Tak.”
She made a move with her hand like she was tapping something on her hud and then sending it to mine. A few seconds later, there was a ding and a contract appeared on my hud.
“As you can see, the Walker Mining Corporation is willing to offer you a share in the MWOA254 branch of the Walker Mining Corporation. Allowing you to receive fifty percent of the weekly profits hauled out of the solar system. And offering to leave ten percent of what is mined behind in your warehouse for your guild's personal use before anything is hauled out of the solar system to be sold. We are asking to be allowed to operate with three barges at first and use ore that is mined right here in your solar system to build more barges. We will pay for your dry docks time and use with either credits or ore if you would prefer that. Considering you are not a celestial clan, I personally suggest you take the credits, as you will need them more than the ore. We wish to scale our operation up to a total of two-hundred and fifty barges within ten years. However, since you are a Solar Tak my father also wishes to advise you to suggest making an addendum to the contract and allow our company to scale that amount of barges up to a thousand within ten years to get more of our people into this solar system. That would then encourage our clan to request a defence contract with you where we can offer to send warships here to help defend the solar system and our company's interests as well as your guild's territory.”
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I saw Brendan shift with a slight bit of tension in his face as Zeo made her offer, but it was Travis who spoke next as he tapped at something on his hud and flicked it to mine.
“My Clan's company, the MWOA254 branch of the Johnson Mining Corporation, wishes to make the same contract offer as the Walker Mining Corporation except we are offering sixty percent of our sales and twenty percent of the mined ore to be left behind for your guild's personal use. We are of course also offering the same for the use of your dry dock.”
Brendan was shifting uncomfortably as before only stopping just before he let out a long sigh, he then reached up and tapped at his hud before flicking his wrist sending his clan's contract to my hud.
“My Clan believed you were part of the Celestial Marquess-Tak and made a large offer in hopes you would allow a lowly Celestial Viscount to benefit from this Solar System. The MWOA254 branch of the Ripter Mining Corporation. Wants to offer you ninety percent of the weekly profits hauled out of this solar system. And offering to leave forty percent of what is mined behind in your warehouse for your guild's personal use before anything is hauled out of the solar system to be sold. We are asking to be allowed to operate with one barge at first. We request access to your gate at a reasonable fee so that we can bring in more barges or ore to build more barges, paying for your dry docks time and use with either credits or more ore. We are hoping to scale our operation up to a total of two-hundred barges within twenty years.”
He then gave me a pleading look to fix this contract to make it more fair, but it was Zeo who leaned over and whispered to me before anyone else could speak.
“Kenna, you can't accept that offer, it would be a huge slap in the Celestial Viscounts face. You need to offer a fairer deal that matches the other two that you have received to send the message that you are toeing the line but are still showing respect to those far stronger than yourself.”
I nodded my head to Zeo as she leaned back, and her face returned to a passive indifference. My eyes shifted to Brendan, and I decided to let him hang for a few minutes while I thought over the offers I had received. What a better offer would be that would not offend the stronger offers, but yet show my respect.
“Brendan Ripter, I reject your offer and instead wait for your amended offer. May I suggest The MWOA254 branch of the Ripter Mining Corporation offer me sixty-five percent of the weekly profits hauled out of this solar system. And offer to leave twenty-five percent of what is mined behind in my warehouse for my guild's personal use before anything is hauled out of the solar system to be sold. And that you offer to be allowed to operate with three barges at first, with permission to be able to scale the operation up to two-hundred barges in ten years. Of course, using the ore mined in this solar system to build them at my dry dock for a fee.”
He smiled and nodded his head as his fingers were dancing across the air in front of him, a few moments later he tapped at his hud and flicked it towards me.
“Is this contract more acceptable to you, Kenna? It has everything you have requested from the MWOA254 branch of the Ripter Mining Corporation”