Previously - 5P - Job 1 - Droids Part Three
At The Admiral's Table Restaurant
After a fine meal was had by all, (meals had been delivered for Rose and Ted from the local ET Eatery) the team relaxed with a drink, while Martin finished explaining the next part of the operation.
"So there you have it. Any questions ?" Asked Martin.
"Er, yes." said a voice, coming from an unexpected direction, behind him.
"The name's Chris, Chris Don Royton, and that's Eric Vickers. I'm a freelance reporter and Eric is my cameraman / Bodyguard / Survivalist, I heard you were going to Camp Livingstone and wondered if we could come along too ?"
Chris continues, "We could only pay about a third of the standard rate of the journey to Camp Livingstone, but if you want, we could do interviews of you and possibly, your crew and get your profile boosted in the area Who knows what that might lead to."
"Are we talking about one way or return ?", asks Martin
"Probably there and back, unless things have changed after we get there. what I'm after is the local angle. You get the headlines on the news, but nothing more. I aim to provide that follow-up, the grit and the dirt, that sort of thing. Get interviews with the civilians, some of the grunts, the commander, if I'm very lucky. It should take us about a day, all told. Then we edit it on the way to your next drop."
Chris takes a drink, "Once we have it ready, we post short clips on the net to editors of magazines such as "Grunt", "Homesteader" or "Trailblazer" and the news corporations. After they have had their pick, we release the rest to Netblogs. Different material to different markets."
The Captain muses a moment, "Two return tickets at 1/3 usual rate, the Outbound to be paid in full, the Return fee notarized and deposited with "Safe flyer" until we get back, plus", he pauses slightly, "10% of any royalties you make from all of the interviews, before tax. Contracted with "Blog Bank", we get the fees straight from them. That way there are no messy lawyers and their fees involved."
Chris was surprised by the unexpected extra cost, "10% ?"
Martin explained, "Sure, you are cutting into our safety margin of supplies. No transport, no story. The regular supply run is not till the end of next month, the story will be cold by then. Look at it this way, I could have said 20%."
Chris looks at Eric, who nods at the unspoken question, "Ok, Captain Martin, you have two new passengers."
Martin smiles, "Good, now that's settled, let's seal it with a drink and you can get to know everybody."
Eric, "We would be delighted."
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Meanwhile, in an altogether shadier part of town....
A hooded figure knocks on a door.
The inset grille slides back and a gruff voice asks, "Who is it ?"
The figure replies, "Slinky, its me, Specs. Have you got a place where I can lie low ?"
"Sure mate, come on in,"
Assorted bolts clunk and the door swings open, revealing a dimly lit hall. Specs wearily goes inside, using the wall for support.
"You look a bit shaky, how did the job go ?"
The door shuts with a thud.
After a fine meal was had by all, (meals had been delivered for Rose and Ted from the local ET Eatery) the team relaxed with a drink, while Martin finished explaining the next part of the operation.
"So there you have it. Any questions ?" Asked Martin.
"Er, yes." said a voice, coming from an unexpected direction, behind him.
"The name's Chris, Chris Don Royton, and that's Eric Vickers. I'm a freelance reporter and Eric is my cameraman / Bodyguard / Survivalist, I heard you were going to Camp Livingstone and wondered if we could come along too ?"
Chris continues, "We could only pay about a third of the standard rate of the journey to Camp Livingstone, but if you want, we could do interviews of you and possibly, your crew and get your profile boosted in the area Who knows what that might lead to."
"Are we talking about one way or return ?", asks Martin
"Probably there and back, unless things have changed after we get there. what I'm after is the local angle. You get the headlines on the news, but nothing more. I aim to provide that follow-up, the grit and the dirt, that sort of thing. Get interviews with the civilians, some of the grunts, the commander, if I'm very lucky. It should take us about a day, all told. Then we edit it on the way to your next drop."
Chris takes a drink, "Once we have it ready, we post short clips on the net to editors of magazines such as "Grunt", "Homesteader" or "Trailblazer" and the news corporations. After they have had their pick, we release the rest to Netblogs. Different material to different markets."
The Captain muses a moment, "Two return tickets at 1/3 usual rate, the Outbound to be paid in full, the Return fee notarized and deposited with "Safe flyer" until we get back, plus", he pauses slightly, "10% of any royalties you make from all of the interviews, before tax. Contracted with "Blog Bank", we get the fees straight from them. That way there are no messy lawyers and their fees involved."
Chris was surprised by the unexpected extra cost, "10% ?"
Martin explained, "Sure, you are cutting into our safety margin of supplies. No transport, no story. The regular supply run is not till the end of next month, the story will be cold by then. Look at it this way, I could have said 20%."
Chris looks at Eric, who nods at the unspoken question, "Ok, Captain Martin, you have two new passengers."
Martin smiles, "Good, now that's settled, let's seal it with a drink and you can get to know everybody."
Eric, "We would be delighted."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile, in an altogether shadier part of town....
A hooded figure knocks on a door.
The inset grille slides back and a gruff voice asks, "Who is it ?"
The figure replies, "Slinky, its me, Specs. Have you got a place where I can lie low ?"
"Sure mate, come on in,"
Assorted bolts clunk and the door swings open, revealing a dimly lit hall. Specs wearily goes inside, using the wall for support.
"You look a bit shaky, how did the job go ?"
The door shuts with a thud.
"Well, tell ..Rusty.. it Ugghhh.." He passes out on the floor.
"Oh, great. FRANK, get the medkit, its going to be one of those nights..."
Later, Slinky makes a call.
"Rusty, Its Slinky. If you were expecting a package, I don't think its going to arrive. I have one of the delivery men here on my couch. I think they call him "Spats" or "Specs", something like that."
"I had heard there had been a foul-up from other sources. Is he going to make it?"
"Yeah, that is.. If you want him to?."
"No, no, he would not dare die on me, he still owes me for certain favours and I will collect, sooner or later, off him or his associates. Look on the bright side, it means you don't have to dump his body anywhere. I will pass the news along to any interested parties."
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Next - Job 1 - Departure for CL
Ivor Cogdell
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Next - Job 1 - Departure for CL
Ivor Cogdell
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