Freeport 1 was a bussling place, but if one knew where to look one could find what some called the quietest place in the sector.
Isaac pulled his freighter close to the the Cross-Vandermeer Comet, the cobalt that the comet was throwing off made scanners go haywire. It was a good location for deals to take place from prying eyes.
Medium-sized civilian transport slowly flew out of the thicker part of little gaseous nebula and approached standing by freighter. Once it came close enough freighter captain scanner the ship, learning it was empty and had freelancer transponder signal. Obvious black-colored patched up scratch on a top of the hull suggested the ship suffered from hostile encounter somewhere in the past service history.
Small control lightbulb signalized incomming commlink transmission.
- Introduce yourself, transport.
- We're selling fine Gallic tapestries. Would you like to buy some?
- Yes I would, do you have any in blue?
He knew the password and the answer to it, now much more relaxed just-arrived captain was sure this wasn't a trap and he's talking with the right person.
- I and my transport crew represent the man who contacted your employers about Corsair deliveries, pilot...
The markings on the vessel gave Isaac no clues at to who it represented leaving some questions still on the table. Nevertheless Isaac opened his comm again and cleared his throat. "We do deliver just about anything to just about anyone, provided we are either compensated in credits or...other items. In the past we have done numerous food deliveries to the Corsairs, of course given that many of our Freeports are the only source of food for the systems they reside in this isn't to unusual". Isaac paused for a moment before continuing. "While I have a burning curiosity as to who you are and who you represent that isn't why we are here. What can OSI do for you today?"
- Who do I represent? Small but fledgling business enterprise. My boss sometimes sends ships through Libertonian-Rheinland blockade, and earns much that way, given shipments aren't intercepted by either strudels or hamburgers. Free of custom fees let's say.
Let's also say some shipments bring in more money than others, but first you have to get the goods for them.
Which is where your role starts - them Corsairs are starving sometimes, and your small company can perfectly slip through blockades and deliver them some food. They're selling for lower prices when they are happy and with full bellies.
"Indeed we can deliver food, we can practically get our hands on anything, unless it comes from Rhineland, but that's a separate story for a separate day". Isaac paused again, his own ship scanners looking over the damaged vessel. "In addition to doing delivery service OSI has quite the expertise in ship building, repair, and advanced equipment building. Perhaps we could work something out to repair your vessel in-addition to this delivery contract. What ever got after you left quite a few nasty marks."
"Thanks, but we've got it covered. The damage part I mean. We'll conduct repairs at Freeport One, maybe Aland if it starts depressurizing too quickly...
But that's not the topic here. I'd like to ask could you regularly deliver two medium transports full of goods twice a month. That's the initial shipping contract my employer would be interested in. Bretonia would be a starting point, and we speak here about food, daily use goods such as soap, some alcohol. How long it'd take for your ships to reach Crete coming from Bretonian direction? Can you make it in around two weeks?"
"It would take a few days, a week at most". Isaac punched in the information into his ships computer, confirming his estimated delivery time-frame. "Additonally I assume by medium transports you mean 3,500 units a vessel, 14,000 units a month, or do you require some other quantity?"
"That's around the numbers I was thinking. It should be good for start; perhaps we'll want to order more shipments in the future if all goes swift. Perhaps being the keyword here.
What hostiles you could encounter on the way to Gamma and back? Would they be major obstacle and endanger shipments? I need to know the associated risk you predict for these missions, and how it'd affect the final price of the shipments."
Looking through the window, captain switched commlink to receive status, awaiting answer from OSI ship.
"Well, given the damage to your vessel you are no doubt aware of the Dangers that we could potentially face. From the Core, the RHA, and other unpredictable groups the Omicrons aren't that safe of a space. And of course that's not including the damage from the environment itself, after all Omega 41 isn't a walk in the park". Isaac paused for a few moments while he looked at the various reports describing the current political climate of the Omicrons. "I would rate a mission such as this at about 6 out of 10. Perhaps higher should the various groups at play decide to engage in actual hostilities."
"I take it it is no problem for you to obtain the necessary goods in Bretonia on your own? How would ten million credits payment per delivered shipment sound, is it agreeable price for your company?"