Standing up from his chair, Silvan looked from Yevan to Kal.
Firstly, i would like to thank those who have brought us much needed supplies. Our lives are better for it. Secondly, Mister Kal, Not once in everything i have said did i say give the station to the Corsairs. Not once. I merely stated what it is they want. Simply and without any sugar coatings. They want a military presence in this system. Now that being said, I suggest we start figuring out our response to that particular issue.
Mr Pushkin, Ill kindly thank you not to put words in my mouth, as i did not say that we shouldn't do any repairs on the station. I said we should should do minimal repairs to make it livable, but nothing major.
As to the victory of the joint fleet recently, congratulations to them. word of that event had not yet reached my ears. However, one victory does not win a war. The real question concerning them is, how many victories can they achieve? But let us not delve into petty arguments of the futures of the war around us. You all say that you want peace, correct? That you dont want part of this war? I assume that would be why you are here and not on the lines with the fleet. You say that this station shouldn't become a station of military means? I ask you this, if the joint fleet is successful, if they drive the Corsairs back, what then? The Corsairs will never be completely gone and this station would have to become what you say it cannot be, a military bastion. The only difference is that instead of the Corsairs, it would be every other edge world group that sits here with their weapons of war. And it would never end, that is the life this station is headed for.
On the matter of the representative, I'm sure you all expect me to nominate myself. I am not going to do that, as i see that i am not well liked to put it lightly. Therefore i leave that decision to you gents. If you want me to do it then i shall, bu i am not so blind as to ask those that dislike me for favor.
Also this here He points to the crate brought in earlier shows that the Corsairs are not as bloodthirsty as you think. We may have more going for us than i realize on the war front, Mr. Kal. But we also have more peaceful solutions than you realize.
Now then, i am going to go install some of these filters and whatnot and see if we cant get some breathable air around here.
He tosses a capsule of nanobots to Yevan
Perhaps you could use those to fix that little scuff in the ceiling?
Kal seeing that tension were high saw that he needed to diffuse the situation so he spoke.
"Mr. Argus before you leave let me say this, we are all tired, stressed, and have this station and it's people as our utmost priority. I apologize for any misunderstanding. I just do not recall saying you wanted to turn over this station to the Corsairs. All I said was that they did not need it for the reasons you stated".
"On the other hand I did misspeak about them having the entrance to Theta covered concerning the Outcasts because they can still come thru Sigma 17 to gain entrance to Theta. Also, if I gave you the impression that you are not liked I apologize to you and extend the proverbial olive branch to you".
Throws back the rest of his wine and wipes his chin. "I just want us all to understand we have many options, that we do not have to give in, and sometimes in conveying that I am blunt. Please accept my apology."
Runs his hands thru his hair and sighs. "I nominate Yevan Pushkin as our representative".
Kal stands and follows Mr. Argus out of the room. Kal heads to his ship so he can make contact with traders to help with the supply effort.
Gheis continued to stand in the cantina's entryway while now a trio of men talked and split the bottle of wine between them. The alcohol would probably do them all a little good, things had been really tense over the past few days, he could imagine. Two of the men walked out the way Gheis had come in; he assumed they were heading back to the docking section. The last one stood, holding his glass.
"So, uh, not to be a burden, but could we get a couple people around here who can help get my ship unloaded? The sooner I get emptied, the sooner I get out, and the sooner I get back, yeah?"
Gheis walked over to his pack which was resting in the chair where one of the other men had dropped it, emptied its contents onto the table, and shouldered the pack again.
"Give me a knock when your people are ready, I'll be aboard my ship. Mind you not drink too much, there'll be time to party later, after all." He turned toward the door and started to walk out, hoping he could find his way back to the docking section. "Oh, one last thing." he turned and spoke back to Pushkin, "If you want any more ships to dock out here, you might want to tow some of the other ships out to make some room. I'd rather not tear the docking arm clean off when I come back."
He strode out, feeling a tad sorry for the man who now seemed to be calling the shots for the Freeport.
Yevan reached into his pockets and produced his keycard. "Alrighty. Let me get that Falcon out of the way. About time I took a step outside and checked the weather. Maybe I'll get in touch with an old friend and get us some help."
He coughed. "I'll be sure to tell a few folks to move their fat whales around so that there's proper parking room."
Amigo Silvan, I regret to disagree with you but you will be the director of Freeport 9.
I could give you many reasons, but I'll stay on the essentials: you started this action, you met all of us and, following a logical line, you have a plan.
I am dismissed, I have enough work to make the repairs and I have been the last to arrive.
My teams have a good work rate and I'll summarize:
Communications array: we have a limited scope, we reach Corfu but not beyond. Within hours we can reach the entire system.
Living quarters: I have not given priority, the cabins are available from the Geneve and Barcelona.
Cargo Bays: we have not done any work.
Defense system: operating at 100%, but I doubt that hold more than one hour a full-scale assault.
Solar panels: 50%, although we can not do more without spare parts.
Water Recycling: The system is totally useless, we need a new one.
Bar Room: I think we need something more of wine.
Other structures: there are five operating rooms running at the base, three more in the Geneve and one in the Barcelona.
I need you now give me your shopping list to import the material, to send to Gustavo, and priorities for repairs.
And if you have nothing more to add, I'm going to repair the cable TV before the kids kill me.
"Oy, boys!" Yevan cried while running through the corridors of a battered Freeport 9.
"Guess what? I managed to get ahold of GMG while I was about on a space walk. Clear the docking ports! Clear them solid! We've got hot cocco and good old H2O comming right up!"
"If that wasn't enough, I managed to crack a deal with the Guild. 10 million credits a week will be paid to the GMG in exchange for 5 tons of Food, Oxygen, and Water. I've offered to pay them myself, in case anybody's worried that I'll be going for their pocket books."
"So there it is," Yevan gestured while tripping over fallen debris. "I do believe we're going to have a mighty shin-dig tonight!"
"well let s watch this gift the corsairs gave to us" and Dankien put the data disk in a computer.
"ok so this is track one" After a few seconds all can hear the music. "hey that s quite good" And Dankien keep talking while the music is playing.
"I like the idea of sealing the jumpholes, however it s obvious that corsairs won't like it. In fact I did a proposition to ZTC earlier, it is summarized here" Dankien takes a piece of paper where one can read:
I suggest we block paths linking corsairs systems to ZTC systems. The blockade could be done by using mines that could be placed on these jumpholes: o-41/o-theta ; o-gamma/o-theta ; o-gamma/o-kappa. Because many mines would be required and we don't have time to build them now, we should recycle those in the minefield around Sparta/Corinth. Of course we would have to install it very fastly so Corsairs couldn't attack during the installation. Many ships would be involve in this secret operation, not only zoners but also GMG and BHG (would be pleased to weak Corsairs), Outcasts (would of course enjoy this situation) and maybe Order (because I've heard some tensions between them and corsairs too). Ships would be used to tract mines from o-74 to mentioned jumpholes.
Then what would happen? The only way for corsairs to reach us would be through rheinland and sigmas, so they could not expect to send large fleets of ships to assault us and we should be more efficient to defend ourself. Moreover, GMG, BHG and Outcast would assist us.
More interesting: Etna and Yaren bases would become isolated and it would be easy to attacked them and force corsairs to surrender. As a gift we could give Etna to Outcasts and keep Yaren for Zoners (it would create too much tension with BHG to give it to the Order because Dabadoru is very close).
As a revenge Corsairs would obviously attack and take control of Freeport 5.
So finally, we would lost direct access to omega-systems and Freeport 5.
While reading the second track begins to play.
"Track 2 sounds very melodic! Too bad that corsairs seem to enjoy war more than guitar"
"you know what? if we forget about past events, I don't mind that corsairs have a base in omicron theta. Especially if it s located near gamma jumphole. Maybe we could let them build something and ask them to help in the repair of freeport 9?". And Dankien put Track 3 and write on a paper: can someone check if the corsair gift contains any microphone and transmitter that they could use to spy us?.
Rhyme walked back into the... Whichever place, gently rubbing a core spot on his head.
From the insanely loud rucus you gentlemen are stirring I imagine it's time for angry talk... Seems like I took an impromptu nap... So what's the scuttlebutt now?
"The Corsairs want this here base so they can celebrate Cinco de Mayo with an orgy of Dreadnaughts," said Yevan in passing. "Also, GMG just dropped us off enough food, air, and water to last us for a week."
Yevan patted Timothy on the back. "So keep your chin up, partner. If the next antimatter blast doesn't rip this station to shreds, we might get to live for a few more days."
"Also, pardon my manners but I don't believe we got properly introduced. The name's Yevan. Hope you're feeling better from that bump on your head."