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3/27/2025, 1:59:30 PM
[3/3]
“Give and take. Benefits to the contract outside an account balance sheet.”
“Ah, of course. You have a secure link?” When Harman nodded Jask tapped his datapad. “There, you’ll have the details with you now.”
“And the non-competitor bonus is conditional on this agreement?” Harman asked as he flicked through the sensitive datascript, referring to the promised additional payment should the Federation’s active involvement in the Empire’s current unrest on Dis remain unrevealed.
"It is."
"...I'll need some time..."
"Yes, of course." Jask nodded again, his reptilian expression a great deal more hawkish than when he first entered. "But your people will seriously consider it?"
"...we will." Harman looked back down at the datascript carefully.
“Human. One more thing.” Jask’O’Irim looked pointedly at his undercover counterpart as he stood up, now looking every inch an intimidating eight-foot Drax ex-soldier and nothing at like a harmless Quexi xenophile. “This is an invitation to negotiate. We would require a meeting between the heads of our office before anything more formal is agreed to. Face-to-face.”
The Federation agent was gone before Harman could reply, still scrolling through the proffered terms. This is something that needed to go straight to the top. To the Captain.
==
This is exactly what the Black Company needs. Steady work, guaranteed safe harbour and even an air of legitimacy, almost like the Black Company’s glory days during their employ as the long-arm of the Republic of Earth. The Federation isn’t even asking that the Company to go exclusive with them, just that they turn away those contracts that are contrary to Fed interests. Sure it will cost the Company work in both Mandate and Imperial space, but the benefits far outweigh the downsides. And all the Feds want in return is that the Company not play their hand with any direct intervention in the shitshow that is going on in Dis right now. The Kriegers left there are smart, they’ll find a way out if the Company’s future depends on this. The Captain will meet with their Employer, the Drax General. [Federation Affiliation]
The Black Company’s greatest strength and refuge has always been its own independence. Tying themselves too closely to any one of the great alien powers comes with risk of its own, and getting closer to a particular long-term employer doesn’t make the human mercenaries any less expendable to those aliens writing the cheques. Besides, the Company still has people left behind on Dis. It may take the direct intervention of the fleet to break the Savis blockade and get them out. If the Company has to forgo a bonus and the promise of a steady future to get their people out the hard way it will. The Captain will politely decline a meeting with their Employer, the Drax General. [Black Company Independence]
“Give and take. Benefits to the contract outside an account balance sheet.”
“Ah, of course. You have a secure link?” When Harman nodded Jask tapped his datapad. “There, you’ll have the details with you now.”
“And the non-competitor bonus is conditional on this agreement?” Harman asked as he flicked through the sensitive datascript, referring to the promised additional payment should the Federation’s active involvement in the Empire’s current unrest on Dis remain unrevealed.
"It is."
"...I'll need some time..."
"Yes, of course." Jask nodded again, his reptilian expression a great deal more hawkish than when he first entered. "But your people will seriously consider it?"
"...we will." Harman looked back down at the datascript carefully.
“Human. One more thing.” Jask’O’Irim looked pointedly at his undercover counterpart as he stood up, now looking every inch an intimidating eight-foot Drax ex-soldier and nothing at like a harmless Quexi xenophile. “This is an invitation to negotiate. We would require a meeting between the heads of our office before anything more formal is agreed to. Face-to-face.”
The Federation agent was gone before Harman could reply, still scrolling through the proffered terms. This is something that needed to go straight to the top. To the Captain.
==
This is exactly what the Black Company needs. Steady work, guaranteed safe harbour and even an air of legitimacy, almost like the Black Company’s glory days during their employ as the long-arm of the Republic of Earth. The Federation isn’t even asking that the Company to go exclusive with them, just that they turn away those contracts that are contrary to Fed interests. Sure it will cost the Company work in both Mandate and Imperial space, but the benefits far outweigh the downsides. And all the Feds want in return is that the Company not play their hand with any direct intervention in the shitshow that is going on in Dis right now. The Kriegers left there are smart, they’ll find a way out if the Company’s future depends on this. The Captain will meet with their Employer, the Drax General. [Federation Affiliation]
The Black Company’s greatest strength and refuge has always been its own independence. Tying themselves too closely to any one of the great alien powers comes with risk of its own, and getting closer to a particular long-term employer doesn’t make the human mercenaries any less expendable to those aliens writing the cheques. Besides, the Company still has people left behind on Dis. It may take the direct intervention of the fleet to break the Savis blockade and get them out. If the Company has to forgo a bonus and the promise of a steady future to get their people out the hard way it will. The Captain will politely decline a meeting with their Employer, the Drax General. [Black Company Independence]
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