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He thought about all Jill had just said. It all made sense but this whole idea was still in it's infancy. Who did he trust enough to be a partner and where could it all be distributed from?
In the past, the Junkers were like minded, independent type people who lived in the same conditions they did but that was back in the day of Arbiter Jack Crow who was no longer around. He really had no clue.
"I do not know," he answered. "Besides our Zoner partners, namely OSI, I cannot think of anyone to partner with. NCC is a partner but they are not a distributor and things between us and Phoenix are tense to say the least."
He thought some more before continuing.
"If we include OSI, they can distribute a lot better than us. To start, I would like to keep the product manufactured and sold at Med Force bases and I would even consider Nichols Trading Center in Omega 48. Perhaps we start by distributing them to Freeports to start. By doing that, our product gets to borderworld areas where if people wish to buy it, it is accessible."
OSI was the only group he trusted enough. He valued the friendship with The Brotherhood and Deterrence but he didn't want those considered hostile by so many involved. His instinct wanted to include Phoenix but they were also what some would consider rough water. Then there were independent Zoner shippers that could be hired to distribute as well.
He turned to Jill.
"We could have independent Zoners apply to be shippers too," he said in thought. He tapped his chin.
"I am concerned about piracy. We know of many that would rather steel than buy. What do you think so far?"
"Starting with Freeports makes sense. It keeps things accessible without tying us to one group too tightly. OSI is a solid option for distribution, but relying solely on them limits our reach. Independent Zoner shippers could be useful, but piracy is a real concern. If these kits are valuable, they’ll be targeted."
Jill took a slow sip of her wine, letting the thoughts turn over in her mind. The logistical challenges were piling up, but that didn’t make the idea any less worth pursuing. The key was to start small—test the waters before committing too many resources.
"Before we worry about full-scale production and distribution, let’s take a step back. We need to see if a portable kit like this is even feasible. A small project team—say, a handful of researchers and field medics—can prototype different designs. Test what works, what’s essential, and what can be compacted without losing effectiveness. Once we have a working model, then we figure out how to get it out there."
She glanced at Doc’s glass and, almost absently, reached for the bottle, refilling it before leaning back again.
"This way, we don’t sink resources into something that might not be viable. Plus, if we have a few working prototypes, we can run field tests—get real feedback from the people who’d actually use them. If it proves itself in the field, it’ll be easier to justify scaling up production and finding the right partners."
She studied Doc carefully, watching for his reaction.
"What do you think? Start with a focused research team, work out the kinks first, and then build up from there?"
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"Ah, thank you," he stated after Jill re-filled his glass. Naturally, he took a sip of the new contents.
"That would make sense. Build a prototype, see what we end up with and how well it works."
He nodded. "I think the field medics are going to be key here. They are that first line and they know what they need to make their job easier and give their patients the best chance. The researchers could look into the report database and provide statistics while engineers can develop the product based on all of that. Build a few and get the feedback from the medics. It would be a great start."
She was right about limited distribution involving OSI. "So, what is your opinion of the Junkers? They could be an option for distribution as they are an independent organization as well. While they are more involved with the criminal element than we are, it could make us look more favorable among those groups and between us with the way houses have been to us, I really do not care what they think."
"You’re right—the medics will be our compass on this. If anyone knows what needs to be in that kit, it’s the people who’ve had to work with whatever they could carry in the field. I’ll pull from our roster and start assembling a small project team. I already have a few names in mind from Hydrothera that might be the right mix of practical and technical. We’ll kick off with a feasibility review, then move into design and prototyping. If it passes that phase, we can look into production scaling."
Jill jotted a quick mental note of the logistics she’d have to line up—personnel, workspace, initial funding, field testers. The gears were already turning.
"As for the Junkers…"
She paused, swirling her wine again, thinking it over more carefully.
"It’s risky, but I see your point. We’ve been in the middle long enough to know neutrality doesn’t always earn respect. The Junkers have the reach and the resilience for fringe distributions. I wouldn't call it a long-term solution just yet, but they could be a useful vector for getting these kits to the people who actually need them—especially if it buys us credibility in places official channels won't reach."
She set her glass down gently, her fingers absently brushing the edge of the snacks plate between them—half a few dried fruits, nuts, and some crackers left untouched. The soft lighting in the living room cast a calm, golden hue over the space. The wine had mellowed, the tension of the day was fading, and she could feel the warm hum of collaboration settling between them.
"I’ll get things in motion on my end tomorrow. We’ll keep it quiet to start—just internal, see what we find. Once we’ve got something real, we can talk about where to take it next."
Jill looked over at Doc, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.
"Feels good to be building something again, doesn’t it?"
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He nodded. "Yes, it does. We have been needing some good around here and I think this will make it happen."
He helped her finish with the clean up from dinner and made sure to go over to a sleeping Anya. He smiled. The sight of Anya made him sigh as he didn't get to see kids near enough and of course there was the disowning of his eldest daughter that troubled him. He brought the blanket up to Anya's neck and tucked her in.
He met Jill at the door and took her hands. "Thank you, Jill, for being my partner here at MFE. I agree, let us keep this internal for now."
He then gave her a friendly kiss on the cheek and wished her a good night before returning to his own quarters.
![[Image: 7Md2x4D.png]](https://i.imgur.com/7Md2x4D.png)
