Here is the next chapter for you, I hope you enjoy it. I may make this chapter a little longer. One little warning. The european billion and the american billion seem to be different numbers. When I speak about billions here I'm using the american number not the european. I promise there will be true action in the next chapter.
AN: Titan AE does not belong to me.
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It had taken them a week to decide who was going to go and meet the weapon's dealer. Akima had insisted on going since she was one of the people who had dealt with the guy before, Cale had decided to go as well since he was worried about Akima. That had left Bob and Nanami in New Earth supervising the formation of the army and the reform of the volunteer corps. Besides the two of them had become a couple after the asteroid incident, making Cale tease them for a month after he found out would have the house all to themselves earning a "Be good" from Cale with an overly paternal tone. Since Stith and Gune hadn't returned yet from their mission the "Valkyrie" wasn't an option to take them there, they would take the "Victory" which automatically implied Korso and Kate were going too. The final member of their group would be Lin who had a lot of interest in going with them, she also said that Mr. Wong had instructed her to go because the arms dealer owed him a favor and that it could get them a discount.
To be honest Cale didn't know what to make of the young chief of Neo Hong Kong's volunteer corps she had gone from being cold and distant but cooperative to be warmer, closer and even more cooperative with them. Cale supposed he wouldn't have minded if most of her help wasn't related in one way or another to Mr. Wong, but he always had an eye out for any suspicious movements on her part. Akima, Nanami and, surprisingly, Kate, had formed some kind of friendship with her though and Cale hope he was worrying for nothing, he just didn't like to rely on Mr. Wong so much, especially since especially since he knew the man did nothing for free and the planetary elections for New Earth's new government were coming up.
When the arrangements about who was going were made the "Victory" departed from New Earth with another two ships as escorts. Traveling in a ship again, made Cale nostalgic of his brief time on the Valkyrie when Korso was captain. Although it had almost ended in tragedy and it most certainly ended up in betrayal it had been one of the best times in his life. The new ship and new crew weren't as hostile as Stith had been though. He chuckled as he remembered how the Mantrin had treated him when she had met her even if she had become one of his best friends now. Thinking about it in the room he and Akima shared in the ship was interrupted as their door was knocked on.
"Kid" sounded Korso's voice at the other side of the door. "We are arriving at our destination come to the briefing room, we are gonna hold a meeting to decide who is going to get off the ship and negotiate.
Cale got off bed and headed for the door, opening it he followed Korso towards the briefing room. While the "Victory" had seemed just slightly larger than the Valkyrie before,Cale knew now that it was at least twice the size of Korso's old ship. Having a much larger tripulation than the Valkyrie too they crossed several crew members as they headed for their destination, who saluted Korso and just eyed Cale like they hadn't decided what they thought of him yet.
"Don't let it bother you kid" Korso said. "They don't hate you, you just have to earn their respect."
After a few more moments they got to the briefing room which was below the ship's bridge. Kate, Akima and Lin were already there with some of Korso's crew. Cale sat besides Akima and she smiled at him. Korso walked towards the holoprojector and turned it on. The image of a large space station appeared before them.
"We are now approaching the Space Station "Europa"" Korso began. The image changed to that of an Akrennian. " This guy is Gronk, the station's owner and the Dealer we want to meet. He is one tough bastard and negotiator known to rise the prices the more desperate his clients are. Also he never plays fair so we shouldn't expect him to play fair, and with a station full of his men he is sure to have an advantage should the situation turn ugly. That's why we are going to decide who is getting off to meet him. My idea is to have Akima, Lin and I get out of here with a escort of about twenty of Michael's men, Akima and I have dealt with him before and Lin has experience from her time on the drifter colony." He looked at a bald, muscular african american man with a small beard on his face and dressed in a white t-shirt, military trousers and boots who nodded.
"I will pick up my best men, captain." The man said exitting the room
"Korso, I think I should go with you all" Cale protested not wanting Akima to meet such a guy without him present.
"Kid with all due respect you have no experience with this kind of meetings, you would be out of your element and Gronk would take advantage of that if you were to go." Korso said.
"But I don't like the idea of Akima meeting that guy without me." He said. Akima smiled softly at his concern even if she was a bit offended by his apparent lack of confidence in her.
"I appreciate the thought Cale but i've held my ground against worse guys than him." She told him putting her hand on hers.
"Besides we will have our mics on at all times" Korso added. "You will be able to hear everything we hear and help us if the situation requires it."
Cale sighed but nodded knowing that no matter what he said, he wouldn't convince them to let them go with them. And so he went to the bridge as the three ships docked on the western side of the station.
"We'll see you soon" Akima said through the comm system. Cale muttered a "Yeah" and stood besides Kate on the bridge.
"They are going to be okay Cale" the former pirate told him. Cale just nodded observing the station intently.
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Akima, Korso and Lin, surrounded but Michael, his men and several of Gronk's group, all armed with rifles or other kind of weapons, stood at a large office decorated in a rather extravagant way that ressembled the earth's 1960's years style. The Akrennian before them smiled as he entered the office from other door, that perhaps accessed his personal quarters. He sat on his desk putting a large window with a perfect view of space behind him. He motioned Lin, Akima and Korso to take seat. Once they did he finally greeted them.
"Akima! Korso!" He said happily. "It's so good to see you guys again. I don't hug you the last time I got close to one of you, I nearly got a bullet in the head. But consider yourselves hugged."
"It's good to see you again Gronk" Akima said chuckling as she thought of her last meeting with the nasty Akrennian, Stith had almost killed him when he had tried to flirt with her touching her too much for her taste.
"I see you've brought another friend with you." The akrennian said looking at Lin.
"Her name is Lin" Korso introduced. "She is a member of New Earth's security forces."
"I see" Gronk said, still smiling. "A pitty, most certainly a pitty. So tell me what can I do for you this fine day?"
"We need weapons" Akima told him plainly. The akrennian's eyes shone with greed.
"I see" he said. "I take it Tortuga's pirates haven't been able to provide enough weapons for the defense of New Earth."
"Indeed we are just adjusting to this new situation and we do not have enough weapons for our new task" Korso replied without taking offense at his insult.
"So what do you need?" The akrennian asked.
"We would like some planetary defense weapons, like tanks, IFVs and armored transports. Also some space fighters. We wouldn't mind if you could throw in some heavy space cruisers. Can you get them?" Akima said.
"Sure. I can get them. But those things are not cheap. How much money are you willing to pay for them?" Gronk replied with greedy eyes. Lin intervened.
"I am told you know and owe a favor to Mr. Wong." She said. "If you could make a good discount for those i'm sure he would forget about it." Korso and Akima observed their companion in silence but said nothing.
"So Old good Wong is still around after all!" Gronk laughed. "Yes! Yes! I owe him a favor. But I'm afraid that won't discount you too much. Only a 5%."
"How much would that be?" Akima asked glaring at the akrennian.
"10 Billion credits" he replied. Lin looked at the akrennian incredulously.
"That's nonsense!" She replied but Korso interrupted her putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Mr. Wong's isn't worth more than the millions I discounted." Gronk said smiling wider than before. Lin was going to reply but Akima spoke first.
"5 Billion" She said. The black merchant looked at her.
"Come on! I'm throwing 10 large cruisers from the old Earth Defense Forces! That's worth at least 9 billion and I almost get no benefit" He said clearly enjoying the discussion.
"6 Billion" Akima said, clearly unimpressed by Gronk's act. Korso smiled, knowing he had been the one to teach him how to negotiate like that. But he also knew the hard part was coming.
"Come on Akima!" Gronk said not smiling anymore. "You are the ones that came here wanting some of my material! 9 billion or no deal!"
"I see" Akima said completely calm. "I'll tell you what we'll pay you 7 billion. Take it or leave it! There are more dealers on the Black Market, after all. I'm sure "Black Knight Traders" would have a better offer for us!"
"8 Billion with my men doing one last check up" Gronk said. "I'm already losing money with that offer!"
"7.5 and that's the last offer. You can save the check ups on the materials we'll send some men to test them." Akima said. Gronk finally smiled again.
"Deal!" He said tending his hand for Akima to shake it. Akima did it without hesitation. After a few moments putting some data on his computer the Akrennian looked back at them. "So how will you pay?"
"2.5 billion now. The rest after we get the material. We'll put it in your usual bank account the one belonging to your "Charity Fundation" once we return to our planet." Akima replied. Gronk seemed to disagree with the terms of the deal.
"Why don't you pay before you leave?" he asked in a kind but dangerous tone.
"That one is easy." Akima said smiling. "We don't trust you."
"Smart girl" Gronk said. "But I'm not stupid enough to let you go without paying."
He signaled his men to ready their weapon, making Korso's men do the same in a few seconds there was a Mexican standoff between the two groups of men.
"It's in our best interests to pay you Gronk" Akima said not bothered at all by the situation. "You wouldn't give us the material if we didn't. But we don't trust you to let us go back alive if we give you even a part of the money"
"Alright" Gronk said smiling, knowing that what Akima said was true. He signalled his men to lower their weapons. "I'll accept your conditions but I'll consider this a personal favor to all of you."
Korso's men also lowered their weapons and Korso nodded to Akima, there was no way she could reject what the akrennian was saying now.
"Deal" she replied shaking hands with Gronk, hoping she wasn't makin a mistake there.
"I'll contact you when your order is ready, it shouldn't take more than a month." Akima nodded and was gonna say something when the alarms went off. Members from every party looked around confused as if they waited for something to attack them right there. Gronk shook his head.
"That alarm is from the radar room. We have some uninvited guests" He said. Akima looked at Korso and Lin worried, for some reason she had a bad feeling about this.