...
continuation from here
"That'll be 10,000 credits."
Rex pays the transport pilot as he walks down the readily extended ramp. Houston... a Liberty Police controlled planet. A few installations surround the landing pad, most related to docking yards for Police vessels, others dedicated to their respective departments. He looks around to see Gullwing, the transport he's going to buy. The name of this transport was sitting in his mind on the way over. Rex wanted to have a designation ready when he reprograms the transponder on board. Perhaps he loves starships as much as Scotty. Rex walks over and notices a man standing next to the transport ship. Eager to purchase the transport, Rex hastily walks over to him.
"My name is Rex, came from Starflier Base. I assume you're the one I'm meeting?"
"Good day to you, Rex. So, you're the chap Leon was telling me about...
You are indeed correct. I am the one you're here to meet and discuss the purchase of a transport."
Charles gives Rex a quick up-and-down glance - being a businessman first and foremost, first impressions go a long way. Then proceeds to hold out his hand to shake and formally greet Rex. Charles is flanked by two armed men whom seem to be focusing on Rex rather intensely...Charles turns to them.
"Now, gentlemen, you may stand easy...
Please excuse my security escorts. They can be a bit on edge at the best of times, and frankly, I don't think anyone can blame them with the increase in piracy and crime in Liberty."
Charles pauses a moment to catch his breath.
"So, down to business. You're organisation is after a transport of this classification. The Starfliers and Universal are already in business arrangements, specifically regarding Starflier Base, in Kepler. All I'm really here to do is see how much you're willing to, let's say, compensate us - for this asset?"
Charles locks eye contact and seems eager to hear Rex's reply.
Rex shakes Charles' hand and nods to his words. Without flinching, he looks left and right to see his personal security coming in from both sides. Nothing new for Rex. Once Charles' question was asked, Rex responds while taking out his personal communications device.
"We're thankful you've taken us on as clients, and are generous to sell us Gullwing. Let me find out how much Leon given me..."
A few taps on his device reveals to Rex that 14,990,000 credits remain in the purchasing account. After a brief puzzled look, he concludes that he used this account to pay the transport vessel for the journey here. In any case, he may as well spend the entire lot. Surely Charles would like a small bonus. The profits from trading would certainly make the money back. Rex puts his device back into his left pocket and looks up at Charles.
"Leon has wired over his offer for Gullwing. Before I reveal that, I'd like to ask some questions about this Albatross-Class Transport. You have said that St Albans has a few moored, I imagine they are pretty old if they are training vessels.. What is the manufacturing date of this vessel right here? "
Rex reaches for the sky with both hands in an awkward fashion. One would wonder why he's doing it, then you realize he is stretching his entire body. Once he was done, Rex's posture seems to be way more relaxed and easy.
"I can appreciate you wanting to know more about this transport, along with the rest of the training fleet at St. Albans. After all, you don't want to be purchasing something that may potentially decompress in space.."
Charles chuckles a bit and shuffles his feet slightly, presenting himself at a slight angle while glancing back towards the Albatross. Then quickly turns back to meet Rex's eye-line.
"Our fleet asset register shows this particular vessel as being about 30 years old. She's received bi-annual servicing ever year from new and has only ever been used for training and, if required, the odd small shipment run to various local bases."
Charles holds for a moment, then proceeds to continue...
"As I'm sure you can appreciate, our ships, alongside our personnel are the backbone of what makes our business operate so successfully. So, we naturally like to make sure our ships are running as best as they can be and well looked after."
Charles raises an eyebrow for a moment as Rex lifts his arms in the air, but seems relaxed still nonetheless.
Despite the awkward stretching to reach a comfortable stance, Rex's ears were sharp. Very much liking what Charles has said so far, he replies with,
"I'm not a fan of catastrophic decompression. Much appreciated to your candidness with how you treat your vessels, seems most - if not all - my inquiries and concerns have been answered. Now, onto the financials..."
Rex pulls out his device once again, a couple of swipes and taps pulls up the 'wire transfer' screen. Holding up the device with the screen turned towards Charles,
"Fifteen million credits is what we are offering to buy Gullwing. I assume the transponder on board is ready to be reprogrammed to suit us Starfliers? Oh, and what about a crew? A transport of this size surely can't be flown by a single person."
Charles coyly smiles.
"From my experience, honesty with clients or business partners is always a must. There needs to always be, hmmm, a circle of trust between corporations. This being said, if later down the line you have additional questions, you can always contact me through the normal channels and we can discuss anything else you may have."
Charles raises his eyebrows slightly. He seems keen and enthusiastic.
"Fifteen million? Done deal. The transponder is ready to be reprogrammed to as you require it, however that may be. As for the crew, well, as a training vessel we can typically operate one of these with about 5 crew members - a pilot, co-pilot, cargo master and normally two trainees. Though for your purposes, you'd of course have to figure out the capacity per your requirements - not to mention deploy such personnel yourselves."
Charles braces upright, adjusts his tie and aligns the epilates on his jacket. Then proceeds to hold out his hand and looks to Rex.
"Providing you're still adequately happy, Rex. Then we can shake on this small transaction and clear everything with the port master, sign all the required paperwork and transfer this fine asset to the Starfliers. So, what do you say?"
"There's a few on Starflier Base that are bored of seeing the storm in Kepler. Perhaps a handful will join me on board Gullwing."
Rex extends his hand to meet Charles. They shake hands and Rex steps forward to take in the beauty that is his new ship.
"Fifteen million..."
After a brief moment, Rex turns to Charles with a big grin on his face. Showing his personal device flashing the word "Transferred" on it's screen.
"You've made me very happy. I got Gullwing! Let's get this mundane paperwork done so I can start flying."