29

Still in Taurus, I exchanged a long - and expensive - series of messages with my companies and mercenaries in New Vandenberg.

Like almost all the royal houses in power, the Calderon's had shares in the main military industries of their nations. In a support demonstration, Thomas gave me (temporarily, duh) the right to use his in VMI, increasing my control over the company. With this support, I launched two new lines - not full production lines, but different variants/assemblies. One was the factory production of the Talos modification that the V4RU was already doing, making this model cheaper - and with higher production - and freeing the V4RU specialists for other jobs. Of course, Smith (the V4RU manager) was not happy about this, but he had to settle for the small license that VMI started to pay the V4RU for the use of the model.

The other was the modification that PPL had released for the Toro - again paying for a small license - after all, both the Toro and the Talos were VMI drawings. Because both were 'only' variants, the creation of these new lines was much more economical - and faster - than a completely new and total 'Mech' line.

Having dealt with this, I set off again for Coromodir and sent instructions to the Revenants to go there as well. Another of the messages informed Vasseur of the new recruits that he should wait.

Even before he left, Edward informed me that the Federated Suns ambassador had not only announced the Galahad 3027 exercises but also invited observers from Concordat to attend - clearly so that these exercises would not create tensions between the two nations.

The trip took place without history, arriving in the capital of Aurigan Restauration in the middle of August 3027.

I was immediately greeted by Kamea - good news, I didn't have to suffer the usual - waiting for power games - who welcomed me alone in a small office in the palace instead of the usual social reception in the noble hall. Clearly Kamea wanted to treat something with me urgently and without much apparatus - good, that went against my plans.

Moments before I was received in the palace, I received a call from the new Taurian ambassador, informing me of the latest local news. The main one for me was that Anne-Marie had returned to Canopus, having been replaced as ambassador by a new and in the opinion of the ambassador, less capable and not so highly placed member of the royal family.

On the one hand, I was sorry, Anne-Marie was an interesting woman and a more than capable adversary, but if Canopus decided to make it easier for me who was I to protest.

My proposals for Kamea covered three areas:

V4RU proposed to repair all the Griffins that had been found in Panzyr. When Kamea countered that her nation couldn't afford it, my counter-proposal - the payment could be a Griffin company, leaving Restoration with two full battalions - took her by surprise as she clearly didn't expect it.

V4RU and VMI would participate in the repair and upgrading of the military-industrial complex in Mechdur, the payment is made in shares and not in C-Bills which I knew the nation of Kamea was greatly lacking.

And finally, the Revenants would perform various anti-piracy missions - basically eliminating the various surviving Directorate groups. Not surprisingly, Kamea again admitted that she could not afford my mercenary force, but this time she asked what my proposal was because obviously I already knew that.

My proposal was simple - if the pirates surrendered without resistance, Kamea would take possession of their equipment, but if they showed resistance, all the equipment of the said pirates would belong to the Revenants, that being the payment. Elements of liaison with Kamea could accompany my forces to confirm operations - and report places suspected of pirate activity.

'Why are you doing this Jean-Luc?' asked Kamea looking inwardly at me. 'First, you provide the information that prevented our nations from going to war, then you saved my life on the battlefield and now you propose to help my nation in this way? And don't think I don't know that the fact that Thomas suddenly decided to forego any compensation for Perdition is to do with you.'

"I think you're giving me too much credit, Kamea," I replied softly. 'Thomas knows perfectly well that your nation cannot afford to pay any compensation at this time, so he decided it was no use increasing the tension between the two nations.' Kamea's gaze showed that she did not believe much in it, but she did not respond. 'Second, I gain something from all my proposals, I do not do this for your beautiful eyes or for the welfare of your nation, even though peace at the borders of Concordat is beneficial to me.'

I don't think that's all,' replied Kamea with a strange gleam in her eye.

And suddenly she leaned over to me and kissed me directly on the lips.

What the hell did I get myself into as my last rational thought before I got too busy. Note to self - Kamea kisses very well.