New Relations

[RingoW]

The ALG director pressed his fingertips to each other. "Good. You have seen the diagram. If we cannot compensate the loss of the Liberty contract, we must quit a lot of jobs. I want to avoid this at all costs. I'm not a samaritan, but i have to take care about the future of ALG and in connection the future of Rheinland. We are on the best way to take away the burdens of the Eighty Year war. An upcoming conflict would be a terrible setback for Rheinland. Ok. the farmers in Stuttgart might be happy to chase away Synth Foods once and for all."
Georg was laughing about the last comment.
"Never mind", the ALG director continued. "Rheinland may come over this setback very quick, as soon as this conflict will end, but only if the Rheinland economy remains strong enough. ALG is becoming the upper hand to Daumann, which is good for the economy. We have doubled the number of employees in the last two years. It stops hopeless people in joining the Red Hessians or Bundschuh and less pirates and terrorists are always good for the economy and of course our own profits. Fortunately we don't have the problems, like Daumann and Republican Shipping have, but we will, if we are forced to quit jobs. Thats why the head of the ALG is looking for alternatives. We already made contracts with a few Freelancers, to benefit from their contacts and established small tours to Zoner stations, but this is not enough. Now we have choosen you to be the first of a new ALG division we want to set up."
"Why me?"
We had different reasons. Your negotiation skills, your military experience and we know about your recent two runs to Crete."
The ALG director smiled, when he was seeing the surprised face of Georg Paulsen.
"Sorry, Herr Stuermer, but a buddy of mine told me about a distress call from Corsairs. They had or still have a food shortage and i cannot stay beside, when children suffer starvation. So i supported them with food."
The ALG director made a calm down hand move. "No need to appologize for. In contrary, maybe you was able to make the first step to get good relations to the Corsairs. Reinforce them! The relations and the contacts!"
It was taken a while, til Georg noticed the importance of this casual spoken words. "What? This would be treason. The Rheinland gouvernement would terminate ALG for and Daumann would help gladly with.
You can't be serious with your suggestion. RM recently had heavy fights with corsair invaders and you want to deal with them? It is a great difference between helping their children with delivering foods and supporting them fully, with all they need to strike against Rheinland."
Karl Stuermer was focusing Georg. "Herr Paulsen, open your eyes! We have to look forward. What do you think is more important for Rheinland. A remaining strong ALG or a tiny bit better supported opponent? I beg you, the support we can serve with, will be an unnoticable addition to the Corsair efforts, but it will be a great benefit for ALG and as you may remember, Corsairs are enemies of the scourge of Rheinland, the Red Hessians."
"Sure you could be right, but i'm not happy with and in doubt that the benefit will be that great to keep ALG strong", Georg was countering.
"Don't be scared, this would be the first step only. Once you have established good relations to Corsairs, you might get access to more contacts in the Border- and Edge Worlds. I have knowledge about a mysterious group out there, which has good relations to Corsairs, The Order."
"Never heard about."
"Really? Hm, I cannot provide exact informations about them, but i know they are existing."
Georg was thinking for a minute. "Good, let us imagine i agree with, how it will be handled? Because Rheinland governement nevertheless will consider it as treason."
"Well, you and maybe some others will get new employment contracts. Like in your trial periode, you will have the status of a subcontractor. Therefore you will get a neutral Trader ID as replacement for the ALG ID.
You will have, of course, normal tours furthermore, but they are planned to give you a lot of time between them. In this time you would go for this special task, being responsible to yourself officially. Inofficially the head of ALG wants to be informed about your progressions. This special task will be out of books. I will try to use all the influence we have to cover this operation from behind and to subpress upcoming rumors about. For everything else you are on your own."
"Hm. i must agree. It sounds well thought and i see no problems with Rheinland authorities, because i never will lay my hands on contraband. Also there are Zoner stations between Rheinland and Corsair territory. This way i can support Zoners too, which may result in further contracts with Zoners." Georg smiled. "And it will satisfy my curiosity, because all the time i'm curious what might be out there."
The ALG director was becoming hopeful. "So you do agree and take this task?"
"Why not, but there is something to be sorted out before, because it will affect my private life. First, there is my family. As you know its a hard time for me and my family. Second. You have said, wether i do agree or not, it will not have an effect to my job. So why should i take the risk?"
"In the best interest for your family, don't tell any details and , of course, you will benefit from. You will be a subcontractor, means you keep a certain percentage of the profit and if everything is going well, i vote for that you will become the head of this special division. Additionally you can consider your operations as a kind of patriotism."
"Patriotism? About the promotion i'm not sure, because at the moment i like to fly my transport. Gives me a feeling of freedom, but it may come a time i prefer a quiet desk job."
Georg stood up and was holding his hand towards the director, which also stood up and was taking the hand and with a handshaking they finalized their agreement.
"Btw, Herr Paulsen, a desk job isn't as quiet as you think. Its a very stressful job. I can't say how relieved i am, that you take this task. I have full faith in you and i'm sure will not disappoint the ALG. You never know, maybe one day even the Rheinland governement will benefit from the new relations."
"Ja, Herr Stuermer, maybe they will."
"Oh, a word of advise at last. It would be better to get another transport. Your Heavy Tanker will remain for the standard tours, along with your former crew. Your brother has a garage at New London? Maybe he can help you with."
"I'm sure he can. I will contact him. Can't wait to see what pile of scrap he will find."

At the end both were talking about the details and soon Georg left the directors office with mixed feelings. Once he was fighting against Corsairs in its RM time, he now must do all what is possible to get their confidence. He was hoping that everything really would go well. He was also concerned, how his wife may react, but the ALG director was right. It is really a subtile kind of patriotism to go that way and not everyone will recognize it.
The assistant of Karl Stuermer had the back to Georg once more. "Have a good day", he said loud and once more, Frau Schmidt was scared.
"Get out", she was screaming with a smile.
Georg went to his small quarter on Dortmund station. There, he started the Neural Net and was uploading the private communication frequence of his brother. A few seconds later, Georg saw the familiar face.

to be continued......