Trauma Team's got talent

A.N. 4 out of 5.

You know what the stupidest thing about searching for Rico and Private was? That I only knew them by their nicknames and personal communication codes. So when I asked Human Resources to find me Rico and Private by giving them their comm code they looked at me like I was an idiot. But after a couple of days I had information about the candidates for my team.

The first one was Private, whose real name was Paul Hardy. Twenty-five years old. Born in Birmingham, Alabama. Served in the N.U.S.A Army. After serving in the Army he joined the RSVP, where his looks made him a very popular bodyguard. Earned enough money in three years, mostly from tips from female customers. He left the RSVP after a minor conflict because of a client who wanted intimate services. Completed elite fighter training at Fort Grim, Texas. Currently unemployed, worked solo a couple of times.

Great. Right now he's free so I can call him myself and offer him a decent job. Now let's see what we got on Rico.

Rico, aka Hans Visser. 24 years old. Originally from Arnhem, Netherlands. Started working for Biotechnica security when he was 18. Participated in several operations protecting farms and research facilities from competitors and local gangsters. For his distinguished service, he was sent for elite fighter training at Fort Grim, Texas. Currently continues to work for Biotechnica.

Shit. There's no easy way to get Rico in here with just a phone call and an job offer. I'd have to pull in Human Resources and Finance department. We might have to pay for contract severance.

All right, now let's see what I can offer them.

Well, the simplest thing is more money. My squad will be elite above elite, and the price will be corresponding so the salary isn't a problem. They can easily make twice as much as they did in their previous jobs. I can also offer them the services of some of the best doctors and surgeons, which in our dangerous world is very valuable thing.

And most importantly, I will give them the opportunity to become elite, not only in name but also in essence. I will give them the opportunity to prove to everyone that they are the best. I will give them the opportunity for self-realization. For without this hidden desire, they would not have agreed to undergo the rigors of training at Fort Grim. They could have made good money as decent soldiers, but they risked their lives to be better and to prove they were elite, not just another above average mercs,

but more importantly, to prove to themselves. All that was left was to convince them.

If there wasn't much of a problem with Private, he was happy to work with me again. But with Rico it was not so easy. Only thanks to the fact that I offered him enough money and said that in the Biotechnica he would only stagnate, scaring away all kinds of eco-activists and shooting thieves while guarding the farms. After long consideration, he agreed only with a condition that the contract will be only for 5 years with the possibility of extension.

So the problem with two security specialists is solved. But I need to find a couple more med techs. Lile, despite my experience working in the same team, I have put him on hold for now. He's still a mediocre guy, and lacks experience. We'll keep him as a potential candidate for the time being. Sam is missing, and I have no idea where to find him, and I doubt he'll want to work with corpos again. The only medical technician I definitely want in my team is Jorg. I should call him, see if he has any suggestions. At the very least, I'll get Ron to recommend someone.

I video called Jorg and waited for an answer.

"Hi, Marcus. It's been a long time. I hope you're still following the Way of the Scrooge, or are you lost and need the help of an accomplished brother in faith?" - Jorg said toward the end of his speech adopting a spirited expression on his face as if he was wise priest.

"I, am glad to see you, too, O great cheapskate, who has shown me the true way. Jorg do you remember what I said about my project, don't you?"

"You mean you want to create the equivalent of Max-Tac only without the loonies? So they let you do it?"

"Yeah, now I'm looking for people to join my team. I've already found a couple of security specialists, but I've got a problem with medical technicians. I'd like you to fill one of the vacancies."

"I'm sorry, Marcus, but I'm somehow accustomed to a more relaxed hospital job. When I get back to TT, I plan to be a doctor at one of our clinics. So I'll pass, with my new knowledge I can make more money in the office."

Shame. Looks like I'll have to initiate a casting call after all. Otherwise, I'd take Yorg and Lile as a compromise, but without an experienced medical technician, Lyle won't be as useful.

"I can see that my answer has saddened you. But you know. I've met two brothers here who may be okay with joining your team. I can vouch for their level of professionalism. They even served in the Soviet Army and then worked as medical technicians for SovOil. So they have not only medical but also some military experience."

Hmm, that's interesting. Jorg is not going to give recommendations to anyone he knows. Need to find out more about them, and do some background checks so we don't get any potential SovOil spies.

"Yorg. Tell me everything you know about them, including how you met."

"Well then, listen."

Oleg and Yaroslav Demidov were ordinary children of completely ordinary soviet workers. It wasn't until Oleg turned 15 and Yaroslav 13 that they lost their parents to a drunk driver who killed both mom and dad. With no relatives to take care of them, the brothers were sent to an orphanage. There the boys learned the harsh truth of life as orphans. Hunger, fights, and the other pleasures of crappy and barely working social security. But the brothers stuck together and decided that they would get out of that awful place and never know poverty again. They saw the only way out as getting a good education and a well-paid job.

If there were no problems with secondary education, then when Oleg started thinking about applying to the best medical schools, as good doctors always earn good money, a problem arose in the form of wild competition. Even getting into the not-so-great medical schools was unlikely. Usually such problems are solved by money or connections. But what money and connections do orphans have?

The only way out for Oleg was the army, after which he had a better chance of getting admission for himself and his brother, thanks various benefits for those who had served in the army still existed in the USSR, much to my surprise. The two funny years in the army passed quickly enough, and the brothers were finally able to get into not the worst medical school.

After graduation they planned to work in a good hospital, but again the harsh reality of life hit them hard. To make good money you need to have a reputation and/or a certain position in the medical hierarchy. Except that you have to earn a reputation for years, while rising in the hierarchy was more almost impossible for young medics. You're such a great specialist and you think you deserve to be the head of the department? But the head doctor has his own son or daughter, or other candidate, whom he considers more worthy, so stop dreaming and go back to work, shift is not over.

The brothers didn't like that very much, so they decided to go to work at SovOil. They thought they could earn money and spend it on further training, and then they could find a better job. But again, hierarchy and blat ( soviet version of cronyism) ruined their plans. Now they are looking for a job with a good salary and without the need to lick someone's ass.

And Jorg met them during a training course at the best military medical academy in Leningrad (and in the USSR). There they met while they were ostracized. Other doctors considered themselves to be white collar, who had no reason to mingle with whom they considered to be gunpowder-smelling butchers with medical diplomas.

It would be foolish to miss this opportunity to hire such specialists, whom even Jorg considered quite good. But it would still be necessary to have a check-up.

Over the next few days I interviewed Demidov brothers with the HR department. After learning about the salary, bonuses and incentives, brothers expressed a desire to join my team. And after verification by HR and the netrunners who approved their candidacy, all that was left was to wait for their arrival to Night City.

Finally, my team was complete. Now all that's left is the little things like training and equipment. I have a feeling the latter won't be so easy, though. Especially because of the damn Kang Tao's interest in the new TT unit. No folks, I have my own vision of what weapons we will use. Even if the quartermaster and the PR department will crucify me for it. Ah, well, let's deal with problems as they arise.

Man, I totally forgot about the implants. I'll have to talk about this with Ron and a couple of guys from Fort Grimm, using the most common builds isn't our option plus I need to think about new implants for myself too. I should also contact Jorg, maybe he found USSR something useful for us. But that's enough for today. I'm already exhausted after few weeks of searching for candidates. I'm going to rest and have drink in the Afterlife.

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