CHAPTER 2
"Corporation: An ingenious device for obtaining profit without individual responsibility."
- Ambrose Bierce, Earth (Human)
IMPERIAL ROMULON WARBIRD VENGENCE, UNDER WAY
JUNE 2269
Relaxing in the guest quarters aboard the Romulon warbird Vengeance, Colonel Sir Jons Seins, Knight Commander of the Hydran (Sword Worlds) Marines picked up his PADD and let the device do a fast scan for listening devices or monitoring fields. Finding none, he frowned. There was simply no way that the Romulons would leave a foreign officer unmonitored. They had simply changed the fields to something that he couldn't detect.
Removing a small hourglass shaped decoration from his uniform, he set it on the desk and activated it. The Klingon device, a flat hourglass shaped bit of metal, began emitting weird multicolored lights and a loud hissing sound. Smiling to himself, Jons thought "Whatever they're using, that will block both audio and visual." and he activated his PADD and began reviewing his notes from this mission. Ostensibly he was returning from what was left of Romulus after delivering tons of Hydran medical supplies and Federation quadrotriticale grain to help with the humanitarian crisis that had engulfed the planet after the Dosadi raid that had devastated an entire continent almost 3 years ago. However, in addition to his overt mission, Jons had conducted a bit of business – business that would be extremely profitable for his own family and for his Duke and which, if played properly, could lead to just the right amount of instability between the various Star Empires of the known galaxy.
Scanning the information on his PADD, he examined a sort of 'wish-list' from the Romulons. Information on the Federation's latest cloaking-device detection technology as well as some of the more subtle refinements to phasers and shields topped the list. The Romulons were on the ropes and needed all the help they could get, Jons thought to himself. And they were willing to pay handsomely. Add to that the construction contracts for firms he had an interest in and things were working out rather nicely. His wife was an absolute marvel at managing the massive web of directorates, stock interests, and the various commodities that made up interstellar trade. For instance, the Federation had no trade with – and in fact had an active ban on trade with – the Romulon Star Empire. So, many Hydran companies acted as a sort of neutral third party, brokering deals both legal and illegal – from the Federation's point of view anyway. Hydran financial rules were extremely strict about privacy and virtually guaranteed that private business stayed private. One's duty demanded that confidences be kept. They did business with everyone – Klingon, Federation, Avatan, Romulon, Gorn, Orion, it didn't matter. Business was always non-aligned.
There was a soft chime from the door and Jons quickly killed his PADD, deactivated the sensor jammer and replaced it on his uniform. "Come." he said.
"My Commander wishes you to know that we will be de-cloaking soon to rendezvous with your cruiser. You will want to make ready to disembark."
"Very well, Centurion. Thank you."