009: Talking Turkey at the Bartizan

[terrymixon]

Roscoe will get everyone with him seated and get food for them. Then he will sit and wait for Colonel Skeet to arrive so that the negotiations can begin.

[Tiglath]

Roscoe will get everyone with him seated and get food for them. Then he will sit and wait for Colonel Skeet to arrive so that the negotiations can begin.

Skeet enters looking slightly jaded but nevertheless professionally prepared for the business meeting.

Oh, he sneakily snuck in per favour of an edit!

You're good to go.

[terrymixon]

Roscoe will get everyone with him seated and get food for them. Then he will sit and wait for Colonel Skeet to arrive so that the negotiations can begin.

Skeet enters looking slightly jaded but nevertheless professionally prepared for the business meeting.

Oh, he sneakily snuck in per favour of an edit!

You're good to go.

Boo! Edits bad!

Roscoe looks at them all. “Are we expecting anyone else? Someone connected to The Warlord, perhaps? If not, we’ve never pitched something like a mercenary ticket, so will a professional kick this off?”

[Tiglath]

Roscoe will get everyone with him seated and get food for them. Then he will sit and wait for Colonel Skeet to arrive so that the negotiations can begin.

Skeet enters looking slightly jaded but nevertheless professionally prepared for the business meeting.

Oh, he sneakily snuck in per favour of an edit!

You're good to go.

Boo! Edits bad!

Roscoe looks at them all. “Are we expecting anyone else? Someone connected to The Warlord, perhaps? If not, we’ve never pitched something like a mercenary ticket, so will a professional kick this off?”

Polly Iyhula enters the hangar escorted by Warlord Ikazuchi's Bannerman Kongō and flanked by two more Aslan warriors who are followed demurely by the diminutive form of Sazanami “Ripples on the Water”.*

Skeet waits a moment to greet Polly in person and get her and her attendants settled then begins a response to Roscoe. Then with a nod to Colonel Frank Cross he begins "Crown Princess, Prince Consort, my Lords and Ladies you have tendered to hire..." Skeet smiles "... The Collace Grand Company of mercenary soldiers for an endeavour as yet fully undisclosed outside the Imperial borders. Our understanding is that you require Imperial standard or better equipped mercenaries who are interstellar capable and available in the size of a Regimental battlegroup. This is a mercenary ticket on an unprecedented scale but the Grand Company is up to the task". He grins "Why rob the bank when you can steal the planet it stands on, eh? "

"So, what do you get for your yet to be negotiated but equally unprecedented fee? The Collace Grand Company deploys as: 4DC Mercs - a battalion battlegroup, SEMC - a battalion battlegroup and Teahleikhoi three conventional grav assault infantry battalions plus their Regimental HQ and attached artillery batteries. Each component of the Regimental battlegroup brings its own Logisistics "tail" and Technical units although Frank and myself can help each other out due to mutually shared gear. The medical gear you have demonstrated will be of great benefit and also very good for morale".

Looking to Roscoe he says "Here's the form. Having agreed to meet we settle any fees due for that - which, as current chair, 4DC waives. So we now agree to talk. We all sign confidentiality and non disclosure agreements and then you tell us what, where and when the ticket is. We then decline or accept and we go forward or amicably part ways. Duran will draw everything up. We like the "boiler plate" approach to contracts with additions and agreements recorded and signed in person at the time. The spirit is what counts and we all have an aversion to corporate lawyers - as should you unless you like Megacorps knowing your business".

He adds "To cut to the chase we're looking at a billion credits a corner for the Grand Company. Princess I believe your credit's good for that".

Polly interjects smoothly "When fees are discussed it must be acknowledged that the Teahleikhoi contingent is more than twice the others - but let that matter remain for now".

Polly's point is greeted by weapon hilt thumping acknowledgement and sagacious nods by her male escorts who, so far, seem to be following proceedings with avid interest.

(OOC: * Frank has never seen her with such a prestigious entourage. The Clan are making a statement).

[Tiglath]

The dark-skinned woman leads the way with her absurdly handsome husband and her family in tow. She bows slightly to the couple. "Major, and I'm sorry I didn't catch your rank, T'Lia, may I present my mother, father, sister, and brother."

Prerna takes a breath and smiles. "Forgive me, I lost some good friends in the Eleven Eighty Eighth. We," she gripped her towering wife's hand, "have settled at least some of that score with SUSAG. In any event, as the Colonel says, welcome to the Bartizan." She turns to Jaelah's family. "I am Major Prernanayaratl, and this is my wife, Tliablzhdilatl, or Prerna and T'Lia for short."

T'lia replies "I am currently serving with the SEMC in the rank of Flight Lieutenant. It lets me keep my pilot certification current".

[terrymixon]

Roscoe looks at them all. “Are we expecting anyone else? Someone connected to The Warlord, perhaps? If not, we’ve never pitched something like a mercenary ticket, so will a professional kick this off?”

Polly Iyhula enters the hangar escorted by Warlord Ikazuchi's Bannerman Kongō and flanked by two more Aslan warriors who are followed demurely by the diminutive form of Sazanami “Ripples on the Water”.*

Skeet waits a moment to greet Polly in person and get her and her attendants settled then begins a response to Roscoe. Then with a nod to Colonel Frank Cross he begins "Crown Princess, Prince Consort, my Lords and Ladies you have tendered to hire..." Skeet smiles "... The Collace Grand Company of mercenary soldiers for an endeavour as yet fully undisclosed outside the Imperial borders. Our understanding is that you require Imperial standard or better equipped mercenaries who are interstellar capable and available in the size of a Regimental battlegroup. This is a mercenary ticket on an unprecedented scale but the Grand Company is up to the task". He grins "Why rob the bank when you can steal the planet it stands on, eh? "

"So, what do you get for your yet to be negotiated but equally unprecedented fee? The Collace Grand Company deploys as: 4DC Mercs - a battalion battlegroup, SEMC - a battalion battlegroup and Teahleikhoi three conventional grav assault infantry battalions plus their Regimental HQ and attached artillery batteries. Each component of the Regimental battlegroup brings its own Logisistics "tail" and Technical units although Frank and myself can help each other out due to mutually shared gear. The medical gear you have demonstrated will be of great benefit and also very good for morale".

Looking to Roscoe he says "Here's the form. Having agreed to meet we settle any fees due for that - which, as current chair, 4DC waives. So we now agree to talk. We all sign confidentiality and non disclosure agreements and then you tell us what, where and when the ticket is. We then decline or accept and we go forward or amicably part ways. Duran will draw everything up. We like the "boiler plate" approach to contracts with additions and agreements recorded and signed in person at the time. The spirit is what counts and we all have an aversion to corporate lawyers - as should you unless you like Megacorps knowing your business".

He adds "To cut to the chase we're looking at a billion credits a corner for the Grand Company. Princess I believe your credit's good for that".

Polly interjects smoothly "When fees are discussed it must be acknowledged that the Teahleikhoi contingent is more than twice the others - but let that matter remain for now".

Polly's point is greeted by weapon hilt thumping acknowledgement and sagacious nods by her male escorts who, so far, seem to be following proceedings with avid interest.

(OOC: * Frank has never seen her with such a prestigious entourage. The Clan are making a statement).

"Quite acceptable," Ciencia said. "Unless the group objects, I'll start this off on our side. First, the nondisclosure agreements. Roscoe, will you read over the boilerplate to make sure it covers everything in plain language?"

He nods. "Of course."

When presented with a copy, he'll verify it is good and say so if it is.

Once everyone has signed, Ciencia will start. "Doctor Metz is an unprecedented genius and has created many innovations, and one of them is an evolution of the jump drive that he calls the hop drive. Even at its lowest build--which is all that it can do at this time and potentially for years to come--is take a ship 10 parsecs. It is the same size as a jump 1 drive and is otherwise comparable. He has also developed fabrication technology that can build a ship--or anything--in a very short period of time and that will allow us to recruit colonists.

"That's important because the group has decided to settle a strip of unoccupied and unclaimed worlds in the Reaver's Deep sector to found and build an independent polity that is friendly with the Imperium but not part of it. My father has agreed to recognize that polity once we succeed in settling it. All this may sound strange for me to say, but I would be part of this at arm's length and wearing two hats. You might also wonder how I could be involved with that and still perform my duties here, or how my father could know and approve. I am willing to share that information, but not until the mission is underway. Too many listening minds that might learn of the details before then.

"One of the systems is a large planetoid belt and it is being worked without any claims by Sternmetal Horizons. The group has had negative interactions with them before and the system is important from an industrial standpoint, and we want them evicted so we can officially settle and claim the system. The whole area is on the edge of the rift, so our backs would be to empty space while the unsettled and potentially violent Reaver's Deep sector is in front of us. As we would be making these worlds at the same tech level as Vincennes, we will be a tempting target. Hence our need to be protected."

She looked at them. "That is the overview. We want to claim these empty worlds and hold them against all takers. Roscoe, could you expand on that?"

He stood. "I have a map if we can display it. I received word that a free trader out of Glisten arrived last night. It is the first of the hop-capable ships to arrive, and word of the ship's capabilities are already spreading. This will no doubt be unsettling, but it is a merchant, not a warship."



"Here are the systems in question. Kyshana is the one where Sternmetal is working. They manipulated the Traveller's Aid files to make the system look unreachable by removing references to gas giants and tweaking the closest of the worlds to seem very unpleasant. In total, there are seventeen worlds we intend to settle, and a number of them are garden worlds. Why they have remined unclaimed, I don't know. Some are less pleasant, but that might be worked with to improve them. I've provided labels. There are two charismatic dictatorships close by and two multisystem polities, one of which is of concern. Even without them, the area is rife with pirates and worse. It is not a peaceful zone.

"The technological level of the military equipment we will be using is TL16 as the innovations are to high Imperial tech using the best Vincennes technology to enhance it. As the forces we will recruit to train will be learning for that equipment, we will provide you with some to become familiar with and use. If you want to make a tranche pf equipment part of the payment, we are flexible. Doctor Mezt used his fabricator to make some and leave it in the hold of our ship. The demonstration is to use the fabricator to create armor while you observe and to duplicate other things you might with to show this isn't some kind of trick. I believe that is a good opening statement. Questions?"

He will wait for questions or comments.

[shaidar]

Frank Cross

"That is a large number of worlds, training troops to defend them will take a significant amount of time. Have you decided on an order and timescale for colonisation?"

[terrymixon]

Frank Cross

"That is a large number of worlds, training troops to defend them will take a significant amount of time. Have you decided on an order and timescale for colonisation?"

"The three systems closest to Kyshana would be our initial focus though we would need to send people to the others to form a claim before others do," Roscoe said. "Those three systems are Beltene, Bhasad, and Wisaaran. Beltene is listed as barren with frequent asteroid impacts due to a nearby asteroid belt. In fact, the belt is a safe distance away, though close enough for easy access. The atmosphere is thin, but not nearly as much as the reports indicate. It is in fact a garden world. It is listed as having no gas giants, but does in fact have one. Bhasad is a pleasant world. The writeup makes it seem marginal, but it is in fact a very pleasant place. It contains one asteroid belt and three gas giants. Wisaaran is a mostly water world and is large. It is listed as very cold but is in fact only cool. It is listed as having no asteroid belts or gas giants but has one of each.

"In occupying these three, Kyshana is cut off, so that seems most prudent. The other worlds are important enough to not let slip away, but that cluster should be our focus. We are looking to recruit a large number of colonists from inside the Spinward Marches and even here on Collace if there is interest. Millions though we have room for more. Yamaguchi Starport in Glisten is bigger than you can imagine and hop-capable. It could move billions of people, though that seems unrealistic. These will not be pioneer worlds. We will be building high tech cities and infrastructure at speed, though I'm sure the first few years will be bumpy. In other words, the timescale will be rapid."

[Tiglath]

Skeet replies to Roscoe "Well... Well, I'm sold so far and I think I've heard enough to not even ask how we're going to get to Reaver's Deep and back".

He winks at Ciencia and smiles "So far so good, Princess".

Polly Ihyula does her best to not look stunned "Teahleikhoi sees no impediment. Please continue".

[terrymixon]

Skeet replies to Roscoe "Well... Well, I'm sold so far and I think I've heard enough to not even ask how we're going to get to Reaver's Deep and back".

He winks at Ciencia and smiles "So far so good, Princess".

Polly Ihyula does her best to not look stunned "Teahleikhoi sees no impediment. Please continue".

"You arrived after we presented the autodoc and surgeon bots, Miss Ihyula," Roscoe said. "Allow me to present you with an extra large version that is more than capable of holding The Warlord if he were ever to become injured. It comes with six Surgeon Bots and all have exceptionally high medical skills and are trained to work on humans, Aslan, Droyne, and Vargr. I believe that the settings currently are made to heal injuries but to leave external scars so as not to remove a warrior's honor. If I misunderstood that, it can be changed. Please accept this gift with our warmest regards."

Metz looked around the room. "I seem to have made one set too many. Colonel Cross, would you accept the extras for use in your public facing medical services group? They could help a great number of people."

Roscoe nods and then looks a bit uncertain. "That is our general pitch of what we want to accomplish, and we are otherwise uncertain exactly what threats we would face in the area the on the ones we've mentioned. The area is directly between the third Imperium and the Aslan Heirate, but I don't believe that that is necessarily a direct threat to us. We don't want to become too closely bound to one major power or another though we would certainly like to have our neutrality respected and be friendly with both.

"We can transport your forces to the area in a matter of just a few months, but we would likely want to recruit colonists before we leave. Let's say something more reasonable in number where we could put a good amount of people in each system. If we brought anywhere from a million people to say ten million, that would give us a workforce and people that could be trained as long as we recruited them for that purpose. We would want to get your input on how best to proceed in the process because while we can envision the colonization effort and what is required, few of us are former military and none have insight into your needs and concerns. This will be a collaborative effort."

He shrugged slightly. "What else should I be saying before you decide if you are interested and we discuss remuneration? Also, as some forms of payment are less certain these days we can pay the contract--if we strike a deal--in Imperial credits, precious metals, crystals and gems, radioactives, or a mixure of any of those if that would be preferable."

"Perhaps it would be beneficial to see the military hardware that they would be using," Metz said. "As I knew that I would be presenting this portion of our pitch, I took the liberty of fabricating a number of vehicles that would be of use in displaying the potential last night while I still had access to large amounts of raw material that I could purchase at the high port. While I am not a military designer, I am exceptionally skilled at taking existing plans and modifying them successfully. In this case, I was able to get my hands on plans for some of the next generation front line vehicles being tested by the Imperium and upscale them using advances in technology to make them even more capable. Would you care for a demonstration of the fabrication technology as we promised to show it to a number of your associates here. If you wanted to be paid in TL16 military gear or a mixture of any of the above, that is doable as well."

Ciencia held up her hand. "Hold on. Where did you get detailed plans of what the Imperium is using?"

"They were just laying around and I decided to put them to use."

Her eyes narrowed. "Those plans were on a standalone computer in my quarters. You didn't go in there or send any of your little robotic minions, did you?"

He sniffed. "Of course not."

"Then exactly how could you possibly just find them laying around?"

He waved his hand dismissively. "Let's not get bogged down in the minutia. The plans for the prototype tech level 15 tanks and grav carriers were a good place to begin expanding the technology and making the vehicles larger so they could be better armored and faster. As I said, while I'm not a military designer, I have quite a bit of advanced software that helps me make certain that everything that I'm building works as expected. There will undoubtedly be some glitches, but they will be minor and if you want to use some of this hardware--or all of it--during your live fire exercise, the controls are all Imperial standard."

"We're not done discussing this," the Princess said with a growl. "I suppose that I can't exactly argue that it's not the right thing to do but you should have asked me first. Don't go taking my things."

"Anymore."

She sighed and turned back toward Colonel Skeet and Colonel Cross. "Would you like to see some advanced military hardware and use it if the mood strikes?"

[Tiglath]

Skeet continues to smile "By all means proceed with your demonstration". He glances upwards "I'm told that the sea fret's finally boiling off". He then adds "Although I've been a merc more or less ever since I mustered out my service with the Imperium was with the Scouts - not that that makes me any kind of expert on colonization".

Polly is impressed by the gift of the autodoc and attendant medical robots "You have the thanks of Yūgure "The Twilight" and Warlord Ikazuchi “Thunder” Commander of the Teahleikhoi himself!"

[joertexas]

She sighed and turned back toward Colonel Skeet and Colonel Cross. "Would you like to see some advanced military hardware and use it if the mood strikes?"

Jaelah raises her hand. "We still have business with SuSAG, and security interests here in Collace and our neighbors here in the District to consider. While that might not require as much manpower with the advanced tech, we will need a force here to manage it."

"I agree," Prerna puts in. "This is our home, and we have picked a fight that we need to resolve before moving on to Reaver's Deep."

Jaelah continues. "Part of the fight, apparently, is that the Zhodani government is concerned about us. We don't need another war when we're trying to uplift the people here. I don't think the Imperium can do much without attracting more ire, nor can the Aslan, present company excepted all the way around. I'm sorry to bring all of this up, but I'm taking care of my own people."

"Again, I agree," Prerna says firmly.

[terrymixon]

She sighed and turned back toward Colonel Skeet and Colonel Cross. "Would you like to see some advanced military hardware and use it if the mood strikes?"

Jaelah raises her hand. "We still have business with SuSAG, and security interests here in Collace and our neighbors here in the District to consider. While that might not require as much manpower with the advanced tech, we will need a force here to manage it."

"I agree," Prerna puts in. "This is our home, and we have picked a fight that we need to resolve before moving on to Reaver's Deep."

Jaelah continues. "Part of the fight, apparently, is that the Zhodani government is concerned about us. We don't need another war when we're trying to uplift the people here. I don't think the Imperium can do much without attracting more ire, nor can the Aslan, present company excepted all the way around. I'm sorry to bring all of this up, but I'm taking care of my own people."

"Again, I agree," Prerna says firmly.

Roscoe nodded. "Yes, of course. I suggest that we conclude the demonstration and, if they are willing to sign on, we discuss that in more detail. Is that acceptable, Jaelah? Does anyone else have anything to add to the discussion and negotiations that cannot wait until the demonstration is complete? I'd imagine there will be a longer talk once we have laid these cards on the table."

[helvorn]

Dzofin was quite impressed with the display of medical and technological prowess. To say that he was all ears during the discussions was an understatement. He could tell by body language and his sense of smell that these new humans were deadly serious and capable. The power that they were so casually discussing meant disruption and change which would provide opportunity for him to further improve his status. When the discussion moved to the creation of a new interstellar state his tail wagged furiously. Now this would be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to make it big.

He did have one objection after looking at the technical specifications for the medical equipment. Dzofin raised his paw. "Doctor Metz, I noticed that your medical equipment is not set up to speak the most common Vargr language Gvegh. You may want to fix that. Certainly I will be pleased to be of service to ensure that all of your equipment will be compatible with my species."

[helvorn]

William spoke up. "Once the overarching agreement is completed we can work out the detail of the training and cadre side of the contract. It would be good to put the travel time to use in training both our new troops and yours on the upgraded equipment. Some of that can be done before we leave so that the forces left here are proficient in the new equipment. Also we may leave some of our recruits here to train alongside your stay-at-home contingent under live fire conditions."

[terrymixon]

William spoke up. "Once the overarching agreement is completed we can work out the detail of the training and cadre side of the contract. It would be good to put the travel time to use in training both our new troops and yours on the upgraded equipment. Some of that can be done before we leave so that the forces left here are proficient in the new equipment. Also we may leave some of our recruits here to train alongside your stay-at-home contingent under live fire conditions."

Metz nodded. "With appropriate gear, of course."

[terrymixon]

He did have one objection after looking at the technical specifications for the medical equipment. Dzofin raised his paw. "Doctor Metz, I noticed that your medical equipment is not set up to speak the most common Vargr language Gvegh. You may want to fix that. Certainly I will be pleased to be of service to ensure that all of your equipment will be compatible with my species."

I'm sorry, helvorn. I inadvertently hit edit and deleted the leading part of you post when I thought I was replying. I hate that this system lets me edit any post in the forum. This has bitten me before, but I've managed to recover. This time I couldn't. If you could add in your original comments again, I'll try not to do this again.

"I'm sorry, but I may have misspoke," Metz said. "It can speak Gvegh, and all the medical equipment is fully programmed for your people. All the robotic equipment I make can speak the tongue as well. My apologies for the unintended lapse in failing to mention that. Please, give it a try."

[joertexas]

Roscoe nodded. "Yes, of course. I suggest that we conclude the demonstration and, if they are willing to sign on, we discuss that in more detail. Is that acceptable, Jaelah? Does anyone else have anything to add to the discussion and negotiations that cannot wait until the demonstration is complete? I'd imagine there will be a longer talk once we have laid these cards on the table."

Jaelah looks to Prerna, who nods affirmatively. "Yes, that's fine."

[helvorn]

He did have one objection after looking at the technical specifications for the medical equipment. Dzofin raised his paw. "Doctor Metz, I noticed that your medical equipment is not set up to speak the most common Vargr language Gvegh. You may want to fix that. Certainly I will be pleased to be of service to ensure that all of your equipment will be compatible with my species."

I'm sorry, helvorn. I inadvertently hit edit and deleted the leading part of you post when I thought I was replying. I hate that this system lets me edit any post in the forum. This has bitten me before, but I've managed to recover. This time I couldn't. If you could add in your original comments again, I'll try not to do this again.

"I'm sorry, but I may have misspoke," Metz said. "It can speak Gvegh, and all the medical equipment is fully programmed for your people. All the robotic equipment I make can speak the tongue as well. My apologies for the unintended lapse in failing to mention that. Please, give it a try."

I updated my original post. No worries. I made a comment about the Vargr language because it was not listed on the technical data sheets. More me using a typo to insert a post!

"I'm glad to see that the equipment is fully functional Doctor." Dzofin spoke to the larger crowd. "I may be able to work with my people to bring Vargr colonists as well. The Vargr wanderlust is well-established."

[terrymixon]

I updated my original post. No worries. I made a comment about the Vargr language because it was not listed on the technical data sheets. More me using a typo to insert a post!

It’s a flaw in the spreadsheet, I think. It doesn’t list them. I’ll see if I can correct that tomorrow.