ARMS War for Eden

by Arseneault, Stephen

  Tawn selected Newly Abandoned.

  Harris frowned. “Looks like too much of a junker. That would draw attention on its own.”

  Corporate Shuttle was set.

  Harris laughed. “Dripping with credits. Too posh looking.”

  Aid Ship was next in line. “Not for traveling. Could come in useful at some point though. What else?”

  Tawn made the next selection.

  Harris laughed. “Looks just like the old Bangor. What’d they call that one?”

  “Slug and Stump Gunrunning Spy Ship,” Tawn replied.

  Harris smiled. “At least they had a sense of humor. Let’s go with that for starters.”

  The skin was set and the updated ship taken to Belmont, the city where Trish and Gandy were waiting.

  Gandy hopped into the cabin looking around. “New benches, that it?”

  Harris pointed at the control consoles. “Mostly here. New sensors. And we have exterior shielding that should ward off plasma strikes for a bit longer. Railgun two is also operational.”

  Gandy shook his head. “I still can’t believe the government didn’t find that and then arrest us after you took down that NE ship.”

  Harris shrugged. “Who could say. They know it’s there now.”

  Trish asked, “So what’s the plan?”

  Tawn replied, “We’re heading out to Eden. The Earther colony there will be looking to retool and expand. In six months that might be the capital. If we hustle, we could be a major supplier.”

  Trish scowled. “We’re helping the Earthers?”

  Tawn sighed. “They are expanding whether we sell them supplies or not. If we take control of that effort, not only will it be profitable for us, but we could cause timely material delays if need be. If we can stall that well coming fully online for a few weeks to a month, it gives us time to come up with a better plan.”

  “So we haven’t given up on Eden?”

  Tawn half smiled. “If we’re not successful slowing the colony growth, maybe we can slow the opening of the mines, should it come to that. So no, we’re not giving up yet. But we’ll want to play nice in the meantime. One of our goals is to build trust with the Earthers.”

  Gandy sat in the cabin. “None of this makes sense. We killed a hundred and fifty of their colonists. We shot down a destroyer. Why would they let us anywhere near that colony?”

  Harris crossed his arms as he sat back in his chair. “Maybe they still don’t know or believe we shot it down. The latest news reports have been saying it crashed on its own. And that the crash was planned as a way to get leverage in the Eden talks.

  “We invaded. They lost a ship while stopping that invasion. As to the hundred and fifty NE soldiers, we’ll find out if that’s an issue. If so, we focus our efforts elsewhere. One thing we have to remember is Eden is a truce world. Domicile and New Earth are not supposed to interfere.”

  Tawn said, “We’ve been busy while you two were vacationing. We’ve been lining up legitimate suppliers and cutting deals. If they allow us, we’re hoping to be the major supplier on that planet. Maybe even delivering the well drilling equipment ourselves.”

  ***

  The Bangor landed in the intense daytime heat of Eden at the colony of Boxton. A handful of other ships were parked on the newly poured concrete tarmac.

  The administrator working in the welcome room greeted the new arrivals. “Welcome to Boxton. Are you settling? I wasn’t expecting anyone today.”

  Harris replied, “No. We’re here to do business. I have word you require well drilling equipment?”

  The man nodded. “We do. The funding for that is being lined up now. Once that comes through, we’ll be putting out for bids. You suppliers?”

  Harris smiled. “We are. And I can provide financing for the equipment if needed. We want your business and are willing to take it on at cost to get ourselves established.”

  “Wow,” the man replied. “If you’ll excuse me for a moment, I need to fetch my boss. He will be making the actual decision.”

  As the man left, Tawn turned to face Harris. “I thought we were going to slow this effort down?”

  Harris nodded. “We will. But first we have to earn the job.”

  The boss walked into the room several minutes later. “I’m Garp Huukov. I’m told you can supply water-well equipment?”

  Harris held out a powerful hand for a shake. “Harris Gruberg. My associates and I are suppliers. I see this colony as a tremendous opportunity to grow our business. And I was telling your administrator here we’d be willing to finance the drilling equipment as well as supply it at cost. We would consider it an investment in our future for doing business here.”

  Garp gestured toward the door. “Come to my office where we can sit. Have you eaten?”

  Tawn grasped his shoulder, as a reminder to stick to business.

  “We have, but I can have an appetite at times. Let’s discuss our options first. Afterward we can eat if you like.”

  Garp nodded as they walked. “Wholly acceptable.”

  The five turned into the office of Garp Huukov and were seated.

  Garp leaned forward on his desk. “This equipment… what size well head are we talking?”

  Harris scratched the back of his neck. “We can go from a thousand liters an hour up to about four million. I have the suppliers back home already lined up.”

  Garp asked. “You’re Domers, aren’t you?”

  Harris nodded. “We are.”

  “And aren’t you against the expansion of New Earth colonies out here? You know there’s been violence, right? We lost a bunch of colonists just a short time ago.”

  Harris sat forward. “We heard. Our government is against any Earther expansion, that’s no secret. But the rest of us don’t care. We’re not at war. And we all have to earn a living.”

  Garp sat back in his chair. “Technically, we are still at war. That was a truce they signed. An Armistice. A cessation of hostilities. The war never officially ended.”

  Harris smiled. “Our government is busy with its own problems. I can get that equipment out here in as few as three days. My government will be under the impression it’s going to an outer colony, which it will be when the drilling is complete here. And you won’t actually be purchasing the drilling equipment. Just leasing it.”

  “And what about the well head?”

  Harris replied, “My government couldn’t care less about the sale of a well head. They just don’t want the well drilled. Besides, if we don’t supply it I’m certain some company from New Earth will.”

  Garp tapped his fingers on his desktop. “This is interesting. It’s the second offer I’ve had for drilling equipment in two days.”

  Tawn asked, “Who else has been out here, if you don’t mind my asking? We like to keep tabs on our competitors.”

  Garp opened a desk drawer, pulling out a tablet. “Let’s see. Rumford mining supplies. It was a tall, redheaded gal. She offered a competitive package, but nothing like yours.”

  Tawn nodded. “We know her. We’ve had a few shady business dealings with her in the past. Our last venture didn’t go so well for us.”

  Harris said, “Look, Mr. Huukov, we want this business. And I’m prepared to offer you a piece of the pie, so to speak. We plan on moving a tremendous amount of material out here in the coming months. We have the ships, we have the personnel to do it, and we may be willing to negotiate in a percentage for parties who assist us in growing this business.”

  “Is that a bribe?”

  Harris leaned forward. “I like to call it a business investment. And for those involved… they may earn a few extra credits, but they’ll get the job done out here faster and for less.”

  Garp rubbed his chin with his hand. “That’s quite the interesting proposal, Mr. Gruberg. Getting that well up and running early might actually go a long way toward cementing my position here as the colony buyer. I have the authority, at least initially. That well would certainly increase any suppo
rt given by my bosses.”

  Harris held out a hand. “Equipment could be here in three days.”

  “Are we talking the four million liter equipment?”

  Harris smiled. “If that’s what you want.”

  Garp walked out from behind his desk, taking Harris’ hand and shaking it vigorously. “And before I give any go-ahead to you to begin this process, what can I be expecting as a cut?”

  Harris released his hand as he sat back. “In the past we’ve paid consultants as much as 2 percent of cost. However, given that I’m feeling generous today, I’ll bump that to 3 percent of cost and 2 percent of profits. That extra 2 percent gives you incentive to pay a fair price for our goods on future deals, thus ensuring a fair profit is made by us all.”

  Harris stood. “Can I see your credit store?”

  Garp asked, “Why?”

  “I’d like to pay you a consulting fee for today’s session. How does a thousand credits sound?”

  Garp was silent for several seconds before holding out his store with a big smile. “It sounds fair. Very fair. Does that include the conversion rate to New Earth credits?”

  Harris smiled. “Certainly. You mentioned food earlier?”

  Garp gestured toward the door. “I did. And I’m feeling generous today, so when we get there order whatever you like. It’s on me.”

  Trish said, “That might be a mistake.”

  Garp turned. “Why?”

  Trish pointed. “I’ve seen these two eat. They just might eat that thousand credits, or more.”

  The meal was consumed and the business crew walked back to the Bangor.

  Trish asked. “How is it they don’t seem to know who we are?”

  Harris replied, “Bax did say all records and logs were scrubbed. And these are new people at the colony. Maybe that info just wasn’t passed down.”

  “Either way,” said Tawn, “we’re snaking this from under Bax. She’ll be pissed.”

  Harris nodded. “Couldn’t have gone better. I actually want to have the first of that equipment out here tomorrow.”

  “You told him you’ll be taking it to some other colony afterward,” Gandy said. “Where would that be?”

  Harris though for a moment. “How they set for water at the Retreat?”

  Tawn replied, “The colonel was in the process of ordering an additional well if I recall.”

  “Perfect. Looks like the Retreat will soon be getting a four-million-liter-per-hour well drilled.”

  Tawn shook her head. “That’s way more than they need.”

  Harris smiled. “Bigger is better. And since it won’t be costing them anything, I’m sure the colonel won’t refuse it.”

  They stepped up into the Bangor. Coordinates to free space were entered and the craft lifted up through the atmosphere.

  Trish looked over the nav display. “We have another ship coming down. Transponder says… it’s the Fargo.”

  ~~~~~

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  Stephen