" In regular times, when food supplies are stable the market-economy does its job. In times of need the factions fund the distribution of food. For Europa this usually means a faction pays for a few thousand standard units of shipped in food. Loads them on trucks and hands them out in the city.
The entire operation for the outlying towns and villages often is more complex. Every faction primarily takes care of their alligned areas, if factions aren't able to supply their people for what ever reason they will switch to another faction to take care of them.
Nobody starves, but food crisis usually lead to political changes. Wich can be quite dramatic in some cases."
Since the limosine was off the main route again the traffic density had decreased slightly.
" I'm a bloodline Benitez actually, unlike for instance mi hermano Trueno. Mi Madre, Neive is the sister of Custo Benitez, who has served on the Benitez council as an Elder. Mi Grandpadre served as an officer for la famillias operations in Bretonia. His Mother is the youngest sister of Don Santigo. His father is Eduardo Lopez, who are another influencial family on Crete. Don Santigo is the late father of Don Carlos.
I was destined to serve mi familia in what ever way they demanded from me. Started marine training at age 16. Served as a marine for several years whilst getting advanced flight training. Went from Soldato straight to Elder after my godfather, the Don, asked me to join the council. Jose retired from his position as Commandante a few months ago and here we are... in limosine driving to an artifact quarry. So amigo, how did you become an honest businessman? How did BTE start? Do tell me, we still have a couple of clicks to go. "
There used to be pictures here
once known as Richard Farbridge, OBE and Ronaldo Benitez
"Ah yes it was Trueno, I do apologise. You would of thought I'd of remembered that dinner with the greatest clarity, it is not every night you drink Maldava rum and live to recall the night."
Brisbane chuckled as he recalled the evening with Trueno.
"How I became an honest business man? I'll let you know when I find out."
He flashed a mischievous grin at Ronaldo.
"Fair warning, you may be bored to tears but if you insist...Let's see, I guess my interest in trading began in my early twenties, at that time I was working on Newark as a mail runner of all things. Picking up mail and delivering it throughout the offices, not the best paying job but I did get to walk across the trading floor, that's where I got the idea to get myself a ship and start playing the markets. Good in theory, difficult in practice.
Eventually I ended up on freeport two with no fuel, no credits and a cargohold full of consumer goods that nobody wanted. I think I tried to unload them onto the bartender, or was I asking to buy drinks with them? Either way a woman overheard me and offered to buy my entire supply. An hour later I was heading to Bretonia blissfully unaware that I'd just smuggled goods to the Bundschuh. From there I began to branch out further, dealing with more people and visiting more places widened my perspective, slowly I started to see the flawed argument against what some would call smuggling arriving at my current situation.
He gestured to himself and surroundings with a fluent motion.
"The creation of BTE however is a long winded story, I'd be happy to regale you if we have the time."
" Ah si, trueno and his bottles of rum, the first batches were dangerous..."
The limosine turned off the road and came near a security checkpoint.
" We're almost there, this is the gate to the complex but we'll go to the digsite first. Perhaps you can tell me about BTE on the way back. "
A guard inspected the limo, the gates opened and they rode further.
" The Bundshuh, an honorable group. To bad they fight us and not the true danger for Rheinland. The Hessians will be the end of that house. not use. We'd merely occupy it and use the houses population and resources to our advantage. Bring us back to the place we belong in these colonies. "
There used to be pictures here
once known as Richard Farbridge, OBE and Ronaldo Benitez
Brisbane's voice trailed off as he craned his neck to get a better view at the complex. Ronaldo allowed him a few moments to gaze before bringing up the Bundschuh.
"An interesting group, more political than most I've dealt with though no less radical. I've noticed that they prefer to converse or use propaganda over brute force, which I believe is the Hessian part of the equation. I would tend to agree that the Hessian's would be a far worse choice for Rheinland than it's current shamble of a government. Though I'm certain you know far more than I do of that region."
He took a small breath through the nose and clasped his fingers.
"That brings me to a highly delicate issue, one we touched upon last night. I speak of course, of our dealings with those you consider enemies."
" Ah yes, doing business with our unfriendly neighbours. There is a difference between selling them a load of consumer goods and actually supporting their efforts.
Think of it this way. Would their civilian population die if they don't get this? If the answer is yes, your free to ship it. Anything that directly supports their war-effort is out of bounds.
Contracts with us and our allies should be sufficient to make a living though."
The limosine stopped at the edge of a large pit and the two stepped out. The view was astonishing. Below them was what appeared to be a large amount of buildings as far as the eye could see.
" This here, is our main pit. Its run like an archeological digsite, with supervising experts per dig team making sure its done properly. From here they go to the warehouse for cataloging and categorising. After that its off to the workshops or straight to the market. "
A large bulldozer drove by at this point. Making their conversation difficult.
There used to be pictures here
once known as Richard Farbridge, OBE and Ronaldo Benitez
"I see, naturally we'll need to hammer out the details when it comes to drawing up the contract but all in good time."
He followed Ronaldo, stepping out the limo onto a hardened track overlooking the pit.
"My word...An entire city..."
The thunderous growls of the bulldozer's engine and the churning of it's tracks rang in Brisbane's ears. He tried shouting, asking if they could head down away from the bulldozer, Ronaldo held his hand up to his ear. Edward gestured to the two of them and pointed down, he threw his thumb behind him towards the bulldozer then clapped his hands over his ears hoping Ronaldo would understand.
Ronaldo nodded and they made their way down a set of steps that ran down into the pit. About half-way down the steps was an observation deck where the two halted. The humming noize of diggers and trucks driving a few meters above them remained but atleast they could talk and hear eachother.
" Mi scussi, the production of the pit has temporarily been increased. We're filling a large contract for the hogosha at the moment. I believe they're funding some kind of artifact festival on New Tokyo in a couple of months.
So far we've uncovered roughly 20% of what is burried here, we'll be able to continue digging here for a while. A couple of nice finds are decorating my office."
There used to be pictures here
once known as Richard Farbridge, OBE and Ronaldo Benitez
"It's not a problem, I'm accustomed to the sounds of industry as you probably heard during your visit to Barrier Gate.
This is beyond anything I could imagine and only a fifth has been uncovered? Astounding."
Brisbane let out a low whistle.
"This festival must be quite the event if it requires an increase in excavation. Truth be told the Hogosha remain somewhat of a mystery. I've tried a number of times to gather information on their transactions, as a good business man does, but it's as though they don't exist."
" The Hogosha are a mysterious bunch, yet very very very influencial. They've got politicians in their pockets, they own captains of industry and their bosses make amounts of money I could only dream of.
Their business is something we enjoy. We sell straight to a semi-legal market and prices are set accordingly. Though it restricts us in our movements in Kusari and its market.
They DON'T like other people doing business in their market though.... Quite annoying. Unless you can supply them with something they don't have on their market yet ofcourse."
Ronaldo looked back at the digsite
"And this is one of many sites on this planet Amigo. Rumours have it there are more planets with sites like this"
There used to be pictures here
once known as Richard Farbridge, OBE and Ronaldo Benitez
"Hmm, that would explain the difficulties we've been facing. I assumed it was the normal Kusarian xenophobia keeping dealers from talking, on both sides of the fence. Standard trade within their borders is a challenge in it's own right, to access the black market I imagine would be insurmountable without going through the Hogosha."
Brisbane raised his eyebrows.
"More planets? If those rumours have even a shred of truth in them, it would mean these Daam K'vosh were a space faring race. Wouldn't that be something, aliens flying around Sirius whilst dinosaurs roamed the Earth. I don't suppose you've found any of their technology in your digs?"
