46

In April 3034 I was called to Taurus for 'talks' with the Lord Protector. Some days before that, Jaime Wolf had sent a message, agreeing with the terms spoken between me and his representative.

As was becoming customary, a Command Circuit was established for a quick trip between Coromodir and Taurus.

'Well Jean-Luc, although our campaign against Liao was a success, we have a problem. The fact that so much advanced technology was used was noted by several governments and questions and demands are being' with these words Thomas indicated the subject of the conversation.

'I'm not surprised. Until now only the Revenants used Royal Grade hardware, and never outside the Periphery, but the fact that the Guards used three regiments against Liao with better equipment than everyone in the Inner Sphere, on top of my Revenants destroying two Liao units couldn't go unnoticed' was my unsurprising response.

'Hanse Davion citing the deals that gave us access to NAIS and a multitude of businesses in his realm as well as the funds that he and Katrina Steiner injected into our economy 'demands' access to it. VMI on New Vandenberg in particular was chosen to be the company to be visited by several Davion and Steiner technicians for information sharing. We expect your employees to collaborate'. Edward added with a serious look.

'And my guess is that it was chosen because New Vandenberg is outside the Cluster, there are already Davion JumpShips visiting the system, and that way we won't have foreign agents looking at the most secret factories and shipyards in the Cluster...' I thought aloud, noticing the assents of both. 'It's good because the Wolf's Dragoons also want access to our technology with a good price for it and accepting a discount for future contracts with us as soon as their regiments are available and they will be giving is access to some models so far exclusive to them.'

'Well, if even mercenaries already know what we have, it's safe to say that the secret no longer exists for everyone', Thomas said resignedly. 'What we don't have is the production capacity to meet external orders at the moment, as you know very well, Jean-Luc'.

'Well...' I said with a 'disinterested' air, 'if Detroit were to receive some help to repair its production lines, and VMI was allowed to move the most basic production lines there it will free up capacity to expand the most advanced production lines in New Vandenberg.'

Thomas and Edward looked at each other and laughed.

'And the fact that this factory is in your wife's kingdom and that so far you didn't have the money to repair it has nothing to do with your proposal, does it?' asked Edward with a funny look.

'I can't deny what you are saying,' I replied with an innocent air, 'bit it will allow you to expand the advanced production lines in New Vandenberg without losing the more traditional ones. I'm sure Kamea will accept a partnership with VMI in Detroit, that is if she retains control of the company.

'And are you sure of that, because you have already discussed the possibility with her?' asked Thomas cunningly, to which I replied with a nod 'very well, the money will be made available as well as the authorizations. We have another more delicate matter to deal with you'.

"Oh?" What might be more delicate, I thought.

'Clearly Davion is preparing to attack Kurita in the next few years. Even if at the moment he is our ally, it is not in our best interests that they should win too easily for he will become too powerful.'

I nodded, not revealing that it should be in 3039 if it ran like the story I knew. 'And I suppose there is a plan to prevent such a great victory and that I will be involved in it?'

'Curiously the Ambassador of the Draconis Combine is also interested in getting access to our products,' began Edward 'For obvious reasons, we cannot officially give them access to as the Federated Suns would be furious, but if your companies were to suffer a leak, with data for Freezers and ER Lasers being lost on their way, not only the specifications but also info on the production techniques, I am sure that our dear ambassador would pay an appreciable sum of money for that information...'

'And if House Davion were to find out, the excuse would be that the ISF or the O5P got lucky and we would tell them that we've been investigating, but that we couldn't find the leak yet?' I asked calmly.

"Exactly. Thomas said 'that way you'll have get more funds, which you can invest wherever you like, we have an excuse in case Davion finds out and House Kurita will be stronger when Houses Davion and Steiner attack.

'And I thought Kamea had a twisted mind... I'm glad I don't get too involved in politics.' was my comment.

'Unfortunately, you'll be called more and more often to play the game, Jean-Luc.' said Thomas with the look of someone that knew too much about these games.