Billy seemed surprised by Kane's words, wincing at the thought of facing down a large Crayter force. Honestly, I'd prefer if you didn't burn any bridges. As much as I'd try defending a station against a Crayter armada I don't particularly feel like that would be a great idea. Billy took another sip of his beer, savoring the bitter taste. He thought he may need to get the name of this beer and bring some back with him.
As for an agreement with Aquila, I would certainly want to have a support contract for any of the more technically advanced systems. I've already enlisted the Junkers as a general contractor type arangement for more standard hull repair and such if needed when the Nightmare is operational. Hopefully I won't need it, but can never be to prepared. Tapping a few buttons on his datapad, pulling up a credit transfer application.
So I think everything we have discussed thus-far is amenable and fair. If you'll pardon the pun, I guess the million dollar question question is, what's the salvage rights to the Nightmare going to cost me?
Power does not corrupt. Fear corrupts... perhaps the fear of a loss of power.
"I think it's best to direct you to the Ministry of Finance," Paracusia replied, looking up from their tablet. "I've already arranged for a meeting with them after we're done here." They smiled, though not in the most reassuring way, and added, "From what's been said of your resources, I'm sure you'll find the price quite affordable."
"Now, Aquila... Understand that they can't work on the ship at Sabah, for obvious reasons. Canberra technically has the facilities, but ever since Crayter relocated Sulawesi... let's just say no. Hopefully they'll be forced to move it soon due to an out of control asteroid." Their continued half-smile and neutral tone made it very hard to read the meaning of that last sentence; a hope, a threat, a joke? "Purely interior work can probably be done at any moor you can find, but anything involving exterior work would be vastly simpler with a drydock. If the Junkers or Zoners have a dock available, that should be viable."
Billy nodded as the member of the Octavarium Intelligence Commission talked. Realizing the discussion of finances would fall to another meeting, he closed the credit transfer application on his datapad and set it down. As Paracusia finished talking, Billy raised his hands, palmed up as if to say hold on.
I have requested the Junkers allow me to subcontract specific portions of this ship construction work to outside organizations, including Aquila Defense Systems. Since I have rented the requisite drydock space on Vieques, I can't think of a better place to conduct all work than at the Junkers' shipyard. Given the secluded nature of the shipyard and the ever present radiation field of the Puerto Rico system I think it will be possible to...obfuscate any work being done there. Of course, travel and housing for any ADS staff that would be working on the Nightmare will be covered.
Finishing his beer, Billy looked up at his hosts. Well, this has been a productive meeting. Interesting beer by the way, I may have to buy a few kegs for the workmen on Vieques. Do either of you have any further questions for me? I don't wish to keep you longer than necessary, as I'm sure you have more important things to attend to.
Power does not corrupt. Fear corrupts... perhaps the fear of a loss of power.
Paracusia glanced over at the Taskmaster-Adjutant, who had just poured himself another glass, and shook his head. "No, I believe that covers it. He wouldn't be working on a second glass if there was still work to do." The agent tapped their tablet a few times and added, "You'll be able to meet with Finance in an office at a lower level of the Market Layer, and I've arranged for someone from Aquila to meet you there afterward. You should be able to get directions from the network."
They turned their chair toward Kane and subtly nodded in the direction of the door. "Harry and I have some matters to discuss while we're here anyway. Enjoy your stay at Canberra."
Quickly picking up on Paracusia's not so subtle hint to scram, Billy gathered up his datapad and small holographic projector, and placed them in his pocket. The meeting had been short but ultimately very productive, and ultimately he had gotten everything he originally planned on pitching for. Quickly standing up, he pushed in his chair.
Certainly, I'll leave you two. Once the Nightmare is complete, please let me know if either of you, or Taskmaster Escher would like to visit. I'm certainly sure we can accommodate you.
After a series of nods from the Octavarians, Billy turned and walked out the door, noting the door click locked after shutting behind him. Walking down the corridor, he paused at the reception desk, looking at the Bouncer.
Say, I had a pint of glass in that room, you wouldn't happen to know what it was would you? The bouncer grunted but stayed silent, handing Billy a sheet of paper. Looking down, Billy saw that it was a purchase invoice for two kegs of Lyneham Gold Lager, paid by the OIC and ready for pickup at the spaceport. Shaking his head, Billy folded up the piece of paper and slid it into his pocket. Don't mess with the Octavarians, and good things will happen. Walking into the corridor Billy looked for a sensibly priced eatery.
Power does not corrupt. Fear corrupts... perhaps the fear of a loss of power.
Natio Octavarium Ministry of Finance Office, Conference Room D
The Ministry of Finance had made Billy an extremely low offer for the salvage rights, which Billy took without questioning. He was unsure if that was the actual market price of a Cruiser's worth of scrap, or if the Octavarians had given him a discounted rate. Not looking a gift horse in the mouth, Billy signed the documentation and the meeting concluded without any pomp. Accountants had a certain cold efficiency Billy certainly didn't feel comfortable with, it was a far cry from the types of individuals he was used to dealing with.
Billy was left in the conference room alone, waiting for the Account Manager from Aquila Defense Systems to show up. In the meantime, he used his datapad to send a message to the ruling Outcast organization, Hispania Imperial.
Power does not corrupt. Fear corrupts... perhaps the fear of a loss of power.
A rather mismatched pair entered the conference room shortly after Billy's message was sent. One was a pale blue-eyed redhead wearing a maroon blazer over a deep green blouse, with a maroon skirt cut slightly above the knee. The other, a slightly disheveled-looking man with closely cut brown hair in stained maroon coveralls with the right sleeve neatly cut off, revealing the cybernetic replacement arm. The two sat down opposite Billy, and the man rested his artifical arm on the table with a quiet but noticeable thud.
The redhead spoke first. "I'm Alice Whittington," she introduced herself, with an accent common to Bretonian spacers that was a mild mix of Cambridge and Leeds with just a hint of Dublin, and motioned toward the man, "and this is Darren Wilson, one of Aquila's lead technicians. He has some experience with large-scale projects, so I brought him along as a technical advisor."
The man nodded when he was introduced. "I was on the team that got Canberra up and running, and I've been involved with several projects since. Don't mind the stains, there's nothing caustic. This time."
Alice sighed at the end of that and shook her head. "We hear you have a very interesting ship that needs some very interesting work. Why don't you tell me about it?"
Certainly. I've got a Destroyer Class warship in need of some significant work. Pulling a holographic projector out of his pocket, he placed it on the table and activated it. After sputtering for a second, a large holographic projection of the Nightmare displayed.
The Nightmare is a Outcast RM-2A Storta Destroyer, laid down in 815A.S. at Valletta shipyard. You can actually find some of her history on Octavarian historical sites as it was originally a Vagrant Raiders flagged warship. Tapping a button on a small keyfob, the holographic projection changed, zooming in highlighting some of the more damaged areas of the ship.
To put it simply, She's been through a nightmare. Smiling to himself, Billy continued. The Reactor is completely dead, most of the electrical conduits have overloaded and the weapons mounts are either fused, destroyed or simply missing. What's left of the internal computer systems is antiquated and generally not up to modern standards. In her death throes, the system performed a full system wipe, so we don't even have the backup combat or nav systems software. Clicking his keyfob again, and the display changed some of the red highlights to yellow.
The Junker Congress will be doing a good chunk of the more basic stuff, along with trying out some fancy new Reactor Technology I don't quite understand. Basically, anything highlighted in Yellow is their concern. However, I don't really trust the Junkers to install any sort of Combat system. Nothing personal against them, they just don't have the experience with heavy artillery. Basically what I would like is a floor to ceiling overhaul of all combat, navigation, and sensor systems onboard. Of course you'll need to work with the Junkers for any integration points but as far as I know everything outside of the Reactor subsystem is commercially available. Billy paused for a second, and pulled a small data storage module from his pocket, and slid it across the table towards the engineer.
There's a full list of schematics and scans of the current situation onboard the Nightmare. I've gotten word they have already transferred the hull to Vieques Shipyard and have begun repressurization efforts, and cutting out the old reactor. I've asked the Junkers to leave any weapons systems as is. They did request to keep any scrap from the project, but ultimately that decision will be up to you should you take this contract.
Power does not corrupt. Fear corrupts... perhaps the fear of a loss of power.
"Oh yeah, this is a project," Darren muttered, looking over the display. "A full power system replacement alone is a lot of work, I saw that with another cruiser. Odds are the on-board electronics also got fried, though given the age of the ship we'd want to replace those anyway." He looked closely at the wireframe model and scratched his chin with his natural hand, adding "probably gonna have to replace the weapon hardpoint electronics too, just to be safe. Not a hard job with a shipyard. Unmount any surviving weapons, give each a full inspection. They're well-shielded against power surges so I expect their internal electronics are safe, but they're probably damaged from micrometeor impacts and such while the ship was dead in space. Decent chance they're fixable though."
Seeing that Darren was done, for the moment, Alice explained, "So, that's a rather large order. We can do it, of course. We've been cleared to install an early release of the Limelight R40 array. It's not a prototype, don't worry, all the testing is complete. It was developed for another contract that never quite got off the ground for reasons outside our control. Limited release exploration-spec array, thoroughly retunable in software to adapt to whatever navigational hazards you may encounter with preset configurations for the Barrier and Walker Nebula. In the interest of full disclosure, you're not getting special treatment here, it's just the best fit for the project; most Limelight systems are scaled to civilian ships, and the few exceptions are Fleet-issue or satellite-mounted." She clearly knew the catalogue well and enjoyed this part of the job. "Our Limelight arrays hook directly into navigation and combat systems as well, for increased precision and more efficient navigation. Now, your onboard electronics for fire control, shield distribution, and navigation will be something of a custom job, since we've never worked on a Storta. They'll be patterned off those in use on Unforgiven and Black Cloud II, with the necessary adjustments for a differing weapons layout, maneuvering thruster array, and such. A pretty standard package, our techs should have no issues with the setup."
"Believe it or not, she didn't rehearse this," Darren said wiith a smirk. "Basically all of that checks out though. Probably oughta replace the civilian amenities - new bar, new bunks, new showers, new bar - but for now we can focus on getting the ship operational again."
Alice nodded as she did some math on a sheet of paper and wrote down a price estimate. "Now, this is a high estimate - there's a good chance it will cost less. This covers sending our factory ship Fort Resolution out to Liberty with a crew and light escort, fabrication of expected components, installation, necessary customization, and configuration. The cost may be brought down by any reclaimable metal or components, any reusable equipment, and finishing the project ahead of schedule." Handing the estimate to Billy, she added, "If that's all agreeable as it is, we can fill out the forms now. Unless there was something we missed in our analysis?"
Looking at the Aquila Defense Systems quote, Billy nodded and looked at Alice. This is an adequately priced quote. However, I do have some questions. This Limelight R40 sensor array, you say its original purpose was for exploration? Pardon me for being blunt, but combat is generally more demanding than a few errant asteroids, and I intend to take the Nightmare into combat situations. And then there's the issue of field maintenance and repair. I assume given this is a custom installation a good assortment of proprietary components are used, both hardware and software. What's to stop you from jacking up prices after the array is installed?
Scanning through the quote again, Billy spoke to Alice. Your Co-worker does have a point. While I do expect the Junkers already have a plan to update some of the internal amenities for the crew, I fear they won't preserve the Vagrant Raider's legacy, keeping the metal unpainted and generally...ugly. So would it be possible for ADS to upgrade all the crew amenities while still preserving the legacy of the Raiders? I recognize that the Vagrant Raiders is no more, but call me nostalgic.
Power does not corrupt. Fear corrupts... perhaps the fear of a loss of power.