Here Comes the Money
Kudelia is leaving the party and tells Eugene:
Kudelia: I need more information about the Horikoshi brothers. I want to know who they were, who they are, and why they decided to help the children who were human debris.
Eugene: Of course, ma'am, but what's the reason for such a request?
Kudelia: I want to know who I'm dealing with, and their pasts.
Kudelia gets into a luxurious car, and it leaves the Persian palace. Kudelia sits in the back seat, and Eugene closes her door and gets into the front seat.
Driver: Where are we headed?
Eugene: To the Tehran spaceport.
The driver starts the car and heads towards their destination.
Dukovak is dancing with Yamazin when he sees Manfred dancing with Sephora and Illmari.
Dukovak: Damn Manfred.
Yamazin: Jealous?
Dukovak: No, do you want to continue?
Yamazin: For me, we could be here all night.
Yamazin and Dukovak continue dancing.
The night passes with Richtoffen watching Manfred from afar while smoking a cigarette.
A few days pass, and Eugene enters Kudelia's office.
Eugene: Ma'am, here is the information you requested.
Kudelia: Wait a moment, Eugene.
Eugene: What are you doing, ma'am?
Kudelia: Watching the news. It seems that the northern region of the African Union has decided to form its own senate. It appears that the scandal of using child soldiers in Persia has destabilized the integrity of the African Union.
Eugene: Yes, ma'am.
Kudelia: Do you really think the human debris abolition treaty served any purpose?
Eugene: It's hard to say if I'm honest.
Kudelia: Yes or no.
Eugene: With all due respect, I don't think it had any impact. An economic bloc continued to use child soldiers with Gjallarhorn's support.
Kudelia: I see.
Kudelia's phone starts ringing. To her surprise, it's a call from Rustal Ellion.
Rustal: Good day, Mrs. Bernstein. The reason for this call is to wish you success with the administration of the Martian Union.
Kudelia: I appreciate your wishes, but what is the real reason for this call?
Rustal: As you know, there was an incident involving the use of human debris, and Gjallahorn wants to launch a military campaign against space pirates in conjunction with the Martian Union.
Kudelia: Why should the Martian Union get involved in this operation?
Rustal: Because some of the rescued children were from Mars, and I don't think that news would bode well for your administration.
Kudelia stares into the distance.
Rustal: You don't have to give me your answer right away. Think it over, Miss Bernstein.
Rustal hangs up.
Kudelia: Eugene, could you tell me what you learned about these Horikoshi brothers?
Eugene: The older brother, Manfred, came to Mars a year ago. He's a robotics engineer and worked for 8 months at a mobile workers plant. The younger brother, Dukovak, worked with Gjallahorn for about 7 months until he resigned for no apparent reason.
Kudelia: Why did they resign?
Eugene: This is interesting. A week after they resigned, the Horikoshi Defense Corporation was created. And somehow, they managed to get a significant engineer from Gjallahorn to resign and join them.
Kudelia: Could it be a Gjallahorn puppet organization?
Eugene: I don't think so, there are more details I managed to get.
Kudelia puts her fingers together and forms a tent with her hands.
Kudelia: Tell me.
Eugene: First of all, the pilot Manfred tends to be particularly ruthless and cruel with Gjallarhorn's MS, as seen in the battle of Tehran. There was only one pilot who survived Manfred's MS, Richtoffen.
Kudelia: Do they have any other partners?
Eugene: Apparently, they have links with Miguel Amado Carrillo.
Eugene shows a photo of Miguel.
Eugene: That's all the information we have about them.
Kudelia: What about their parents?
Eugene: There's no record of them since the Neo-Mexican protests.
Kudelia: I think I'll have to talk to the lord of the stars. Where can I find him?
Eugene: Miguel usually frequents a semi-underground bar in downtown Chryse.
Kudelia: Let's go talk to him.
Night falls in Chryse, and Kudelia heads to the bar Miguel frequents. Several cars park, and bodyguards got out. Kudelia enters the bar with them. Miguel is drinking tequila, Kudelia enters and sits next to him. Several bodyguards entered. Miguel's men draw their guns and rifles, aiming at the bodyguards.
Miguel: Don't be scared, boys. If they wanted to arrest me, they would have brought an army if they had one, not bureaucrats. Relax. Hey, bartender, give these guys some beers.
Kudelia: Mr. Miguel, we'll meet again.
Miguel: Hey, what's honor about? You want to know something about the kids we brought up?
Kudelia: I want you to tell me what you know about two brothers.
Miguel: I know many kids who are brothers, could you be a little more specific?
Kudelia: Tell me what you know about these boys.
Kudelia shows the photos of Manfred and Dukovak.
Miguel: I might not know much.
Kudelia: Relax, you won't get them into trouble, you have my word.
Miguel: Look, with all due respect, a politician's words are worthless, be direct. What do you want from these kids?
Kudelia: I want to know if they have ties to Gjallahorn. I want to do business with them. I want to know what happened to their parents.
Miguel: Look, my queen, your least concern is whether these kids have ties to Gjallahorn. I suppose you need the services and products these kids offer.
Kudelia: I know they're a private military corporation.
Miguel: There's your first mistake, they don't just run a private army. They run an arms company; a month ago, they started producing Mobile workers.
Kudelia: What makes you think they don't have ties to Gjallahorn? If their chief engineer was part of Gjallahorn.
Miguel: I don't think you know how they hired Yamazin Toka.
Kudelia: What do you mean?
Manfred: The way she joined the company was unorthodox.
Kudelia: Could you be more specific?
Miguel: Rumor has it they made her an offer she couldn't refuse. It was her signature or her brains in the contract.
Kudelia: I see. And what about their parents?
Miguel: They died at the hands of Gjallahorn. Why do you think Manfred fights so wildly and cruelly against Gjallarhorn's MS?
Kudelia: Miguel, can I ask you a question?
Miguel: Shoot.
Kudelia: Why are you telling me all this?
Miguel: Because I know you need to arm the army of an entire planet, and I'm helping my pals. I know you want to do business with them because they have no ties to Gjallahorn. And Teiwaz wouldn't do much because they have a gentleman's agreement with Rustal. Because they are one of the few corporations willing to arm Mars.
Kudelia: The problem is that we not only need weapons suppliers. I need a company that can fulfill a task.
Miguel: Don't worry about that, my queen. Give me the details, and I'll let them know.
Kudelia: Very well, I'll contact the boys.
Miguel: Go ahead, but don't keep them waiting.
Kudelia: Could you provide me with a contact, please?
Miguel: Of course, my queen.
Miguel proceeds to give Kudelia the business card of the Horikoshi Corporation.
Kudelia: Thank you very much, Miguel. But could you tell me why you're helping these boys?
Miguel: Let's just say they reminded me of someone very close.
Kudelia: Thank you, Miguel.
Kudelia gets up and leaves the premises. Miguel raises his glass in a gesture.
Kudelia returns to her office, and upon arriving, she calls the number on the card.
Kudelia: Good afternoon, am I speaking with the Horikoshi Defense Corporation?
Dukovak: Yes, who is this?
Kudelia: I'm Mrs. Bernstein, president of the Martian Union. I would like to speak with the Horikoshi brothers.
Dukovak: You're speaking with them; how can I help you?
Kudelia: I have a job for you and a business proposal. Also, I would like to speak with your brother.
Dukovak: I handle closing deals. Tell me what you need.
Kudelia: Are you currently on Mars by any chance?
Dukovak: Yes, would you like to have a business meeting?
Kudelia: Mr. Dukovak, you read my mind. I want to have a business meeting with you and your brother tomorrow at 10 AM if possible.
Dukovak: That's possible.
Kudelia: Very well, see you tomorrow.
Kudelia hangs up the phone.
Eugene: Are you really planning to do business with those newcomers?
Kudelia: I have few options, and they've already proven their capabilities in New Persia.
Dukovak wakes up Manfred in the warehouse.
Dukovak: Manfred, guess what happened.
Manfred: Tell me what happened.
Dukovak: Tomorrow, we have a business meeting with Bernstein. Do you know who she is, right?
Manfred: Head of the Martian Union?
Dukovak: Exactly.
Manfred: And what does she want from us?
Dukovak: That we'll find out tomorrow at 10.
Manfred: You made an agreement without telling me?
Dukovak: No, rather a business meeting.
Manfred: You better not screw this up.
Yamazin: I guess I'm invited too.
Dukovak: Obviously, you're also an owner of the company.
Yamazin: Sleep well, guys, tomorrow awaits a long day.
The next day, a convoy of cars was outside the warehouse. A man in a suit knocks on the door, and Dukovak opens it.
Dukovak: Manfred, Yamazin, let's go.
Sephora: What about Illmari and me?
Manfred: You come with us, put on your uniform, and take your guns.
Man: I'm afraid we can't take those two young ladies with us.
Manfred: They're our security team; we don't go anywhere without them.
Man: Let me consult with Eugene.
Man: Mr. Eugene is coming to solve this.
Eugene gets out of the car and goes to the door.
Eugene: How are you, Mr. Horikoshi? They informed me that you're coming with your security team.
Dukovak: That's right.
Eugene: Very well, they will have to get into a different car. Is there any problem?
Dukovak: Not from my side. What about you, Manfred?
Manfred: I don't see any problem.
Manfred and the others get into the cars and arrive at Kudelia's office.
Upon arriving at Kudelia's office, she receives them.
Kudelia: Please, take a seat.
Before they sit down, Kudelia shakes their hands.
Kudelia: Mrs. Toka, it's a pleasure to meet you.
Yamazin: The pleasure is mine, Mrs. Bernstein.
Kudelia: Mr. Dukovak, it's good to see you face to face.
Dukovak: Indeed.
Kudelia: Mr. Manfred, it's nice to see you again.
Manfred: I could say the same.
Everyone sits down.
Kudelia: Alright, gentlemen, the reason I scheduled this meeting is because I have two job proposals for you.
Yamazin: Can we hear them?
Kudelia: Of course, the first proposal is about purchasing at least 5000 Mobile workers during these months.
Yamazin: How many months do we have?
Kudelia: As much time as you need, how long will you need?
Yamazin: At least 9 months, we have an order for 1500 Mobile workers for New Persia. Considering the factory works at its maximum capacity.
Kudelia: That sounds good to me. Now that we've settled my first request, let's move on to the next one.
Dukovak: And what is that?
Kudelia: I need a fleet of well-trained MS and pilots. I know you have a very limited fleet. The reason is that I need to participate in a joint campaign aimed at eliminating the main slave traffickers.
Dukovak: You know that's almost impossible.
Kudelia: I know, but it's the only thing we can do given the current situation.
Yamazin: We want all the salvageable reactors from the MS destroyed by our company or fleet. And an exclusive MS production contract with the Martian Union.
Kudelia: Your demands are quite high.
Dukovak: Yes, but you have few people for this job.
Kudelia: That's right.
Dukovak: And we're the only ones who wouldn't give you any trouble.
Kudelia: How do you know?
Dukovak: I study my potential competitors very well, and Miguel told me that they're a bit short on armed forces and contacts not related to Gjallahorn.
Kudelia: I see, you have two months to expand your MS fleet and your maintenance team.
Dukovak: Do we have a deal?
Kudelia: I'd say so.
Dukovak shakes hands with Kudelia.
Dukovak: I swear you won't regret this decision.
Kudelia: I know I won't. Good luck, guys.
Dukovak: Thank you, Mrs. Bernstein.
Dukovak shakes hands with Kudelia and leaves. Sephora and Illmari were standing outside the whole time, along with Eugene.
Dukovak and the company leave the room, and Eugene opens the car door for them. The car heads back to the warehouse.
Once in the warehouse, Yamazin asks Dukovak and Manfred:
Yamazin: Alright, guys, do you have any idea how we're going to expand our number of pilots and technicians?
Manfred: I have a friend from college who would like to work with an MS.
Dukovak: I'm going to look for ex-pilots I knew in Gjallahorn.