A change of pace

[Soban]

Corfu, Dry-dock A, "meeting" room 1

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As Cayran reviewed the shipment manifests, the intercom chimed, Colonel Vadim Biryukov had arrived. A nearby Zoner crewman asked how to proceed. Cayran answered without looking up:

“Standard protocol. No weapons, full scan—Nomads are about, and we take no chances. His men may escort him to the door, but only the Colonel, and anyone he expressly designates, enters the room.”

The screening would take at least half an hour. Jonathan returned to his figures. Elevating Corfu to a true Freeport—fortified, self-sustaining, and open for trade—would cost hundreds of millions, perhaps more. Fortunately, Phoenix holdings were profitable: iridium exports, and now osmium and its associated armaments, kept the ledgers healthy. With projected throughput, the outlay could be amortized within a few months.