Talks of Business

[Creutzfeuer]

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After he had leaned forward to listen intently, Pyke sat back up and straightened himself to the best of his ability. While trying to gain as much positional height as he could, letting the question hang some seconds in the air unanswered.

"You are not the first to tell me that this here star-system belongs to their space. This is the nature of man, no - of people who have to remind others of their imaginary strength.
Ownership of open space is an illusion, a self-serving lie to justify war, if intended.
Zurich is as much your space, Herr Hollywood, as it is the space of Rheinland or Gallia. You all derive the notion of power from claiming ownership to the void. Bah!"

Underlining his exclamation with a dismissive hand gesture and with his eyes fixed on the ceiling Ebenezer Pyke continued:

"Let me in on some mercantile wisdom I learned over the decades. First you offer something, then you apply pressure if needed. Not the other way around.
It makes your opponent much more amenable to compromise, the Gallic Government made the same mistake as you did. Hence they lost out on some potentially good business for now."

He leaned forward again, letting his arms rest heavy on the wood, before making a fluid motion with his left as if he would want to caress the table revealing a Sirius Credit Card now laying in the open.
Ebenezer smirked then went on with a voice as stern as the face he made:

"Let me demonstrate you, how to do this, Unioner. You are interested in getting a foothold not only on my station, but the system, right?"
Pyke quickly raised his hand.
"No, please let me finish first. - Thank you, Direktor. Well, either way you want more than just Credits, hence your so called better plan.
The station itself interests you in some way, else you would have stopped talking after naming your extortion sum.
So it is safe to assume that your insurgent army can not build or maintain an additional space station from your own supply and resources, am I correct?
I probably am.", he said without waiting for an answer.
"Now, after market analysis you create the offer - first! Here is such an offer, Herr Direktor:
You receive docking rights and services of refuelling for the Unioners equal to all other visitors, guests and business partners.
Additionally I will waive all fees for Unioner vessels for these services for one year.
Furthermore you are eligible to rent a section of the station coming with a percentage of available storage capacity of... let's say 25-thousand metric tons.
All proceedings of yours there are permissible under the prime condition of not infringing on the business or reputation of New Horizon Industries. And the rent is regularly due on the month's first. 5 Million Credits."

Pykes eyes suddenly widened and he stared down on the table, picking up the Credit Card while grinning from ear to ear. Ebenezer Pyke knew full well, this made him look like hungry predator.

"What a lucky coincidence for you, Herr Direktor! Just the amount of value as is on this Card! This could be seen as a stroke of luck for you. First rent is already paid. Splendid!"

With a sleight of hand the Credit Card disappeared again and the features on Pyke's face went dark. His voice not much more than a deep growl.

"This is what you do, before you convey any intention of violence! Business unimpeded, do you remember, Direktor Hollywood?"

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