You made me chuckle, although off-camera. An uncommon occurrence.
You'll understand why I won't divulge too much in terms of my thought process though. More interesting to leave things to interpretation, but hating something doesn't equate to disregarding its potential.
COMM-ID: Eliza Valdez Subject: RE: Testing testing 123 Priority: High
Absolutely. Leaving some things to one's imagination can sometimes make things much more exciting. And not just in business ventures.
As long as the payload reaches its final destination, I don't particularly care if it was you or those scrappers that gets the final stretch done. Oh and if your methods end up being intriguing enough, I might even consider arranging more packages to get misplaced. Sometimes an escape from the mundane can be a refreshing change.
COMM-ID: Eliza Valdez Subject: RE: Testing testing 123 Priority: High
Señor Serpiente,
I hope you've not died to food poisoning yet, because I might have found someone who would be willing to let you in the whole Cardamine deal in Liberty. In fact they're actually eager to get you in the business more so than me. But before I speak to them to clear the logistics regarding how you'll be picking up the load from the Independent Worlds, I'd love to hear what's in it for me and Malta if we do let you peddle the goods under the noses of the Junkers?
I figured you already knew that yourself, it's always been really simple. If we became the last stop before the dust gets shot up some white collared aristocrat's nose, then you'd stop feeling the choke.
Even if I did end up tightening the noose around the neck of every Junker in Liberty, your "product" would keep flowing into the same hands. But you've never wanted to give up the Junkers for our sake, no you're too far above rabble like us to care.
So what gives?
What's the catch?
What changed?
And don't worry about me I'm just fine, that culinary adventure was just a dream, remember?
COMM-ID: Eliza Valdez Subject: RE: Testing testing 123 Priority: High
As things stand right now the Junkers are more than willing to cooperate with all of our partners along the orange road. Your track record with everyone involved in the flow of powder is rather poor, and that's putting it lightly. So even if I wanted those grease rats out, they would still be more convenient to do business with than your lot unless you give me something actually convincing to work with here.
I was left with the impression that it was your side that wanted in on this. And you're right, we don't care about you. We don't care about the Junkers either. Only thing that matters is that more Cardamine flows to fill the demands of those with deep pockets in Liberty. I'm just giving you a chance to prove yourself you are worthwhile to work with. If you can pull an act that's more cohesive than what the rest of Liberty's rabble can offer.
And don't think there is no noose just waiting to be put around your necks too. The list of people who would be more than willing to tighten it once they figure you're a competitor on the orange powder business isn't very thin either, you should trust me on that one.
Man who told me that was wise beyond his years, but if you're wondering how this ties into how we're different from the Greasers - then it's still a simple matter of perspective. The Junkers have carefully engineered themselves the most profitable position possible while being in compliance with what Liberty considers the law. They keep it this way by selling out what they consider to be low level criminals, mostly Rogues who are still green and getting their bearings.
I take issue with that, because I see no reason to be doing the authorities any favors. Let alone by throwing my own people under the bus for a sentence at the Wall. And before you ask, yes, the Rogues are still my people. Regardless of the choices they make, I see no reason to do anything other than handle them on a case by case basis. And from their part, they're remarkably simple to deal with. Their only friends are drugs and money, and if we could offer them the exact same deal the Junkers are giving them, then they'd just smile and nod. In reality, there is no difference to them.
Nothing would change for you either, the product would keep flowing, the people you rely on to keep it that way would still be the ones making the burn, although in this case maybe to Pittsburgh instead of Rochester. And wouldn't it be better my way? The more things flow into our hands, the worse things get for the authorities. The worse things get for them, the easier it is for you. Just don't mistake the fact that we want in on this for desperation. When you've lived off of nothing for as long as we have, a few more decades doesn't hurt.
Centuries with a noose strung up around our necks, put in place by a long list of opponents. Yet we're still here. Have to wonder, are people just bad at tying knots?