Apr 01 06:54:03 109 PA - Try to Help Collect a Debt Without Shedding Blood
From Chronicles
Apr 01 06:54:03 109 PA.
SMART OFFICE BLOCK
The sun has risen only minutes ago, but Gabriel is smartly at the entrance to the unique office building in the western 'Dregs. The weather has turned once more, so he is again wrapped in his custom trench coat, but otherwise is clad normally. His immediate plan is easy. Speak with the secretary who seems to be the standard issue, announce himself as a reminder and ask to see if his employers might have some time to speak with him on an unrelated matter.
And the secretary is there as always, doing her nails between sips of coffee as she waits for her work day to truly begin. Looks like Gabriel will be the first to queue for her attention so far.
"Hello," is always a good way to start a conversation after having knocked any offending dirt or snow from his boots. Nails, how very cliché. "I'm Gabriel, from the Ivory Lady. Or Odyssey, if the name change goes through. Is there any chance that you could check with our employer to see if they have a few minutes to spare? It regards the existing debt issue with the refugees."
She raises her brow at that inquiry, indicating mild surprise. "Really? You didn’t make the shortlist of volunteers they thought would step forward to help with the collections. But they can be wrong about these things. So just to review before the final confirmation: We are hiring third parties to collect on the debt owed us by the Tolkeen Refugees. Hirees are entitled to 50% of whatever funds they retrieve and the offer is open until we have received 15 million credits. Not including the 50% payback," she explains dutifully, keeping eye contact to ensure Gabriel follows.
Gabriel listens somewhat sadly. Still, he asks, "Is there any definition of 'collection' existing? I have a friend who'll likely be coming through shortly to sign on with the direct method. Any chance that they'd speak to me about a broader view? Two minutes of their time, and if they aren't interested, I'll leave them be, because they are correct - I won't be on the short list to step forward to shoot it out."
"'They' are not awake yet. Not in any form that you would want to meet with I can assure you. But you're probably willing to come back at a better time anyway so let's skip ahead to that hmm?" The secretary notes, turning pages from sign up forms to appointments.
"Yeah, sure. I can come back later today, if they have an opening. Most of my time is spent up refurbishing the club at the moment anyway, so even if they just happen to have some time free between appointments, I can make it," Gabriel confirms.
Some hours pass and the designated time comes around. The afternoon is much different, with a short lineup of clear mercenaries waiting before the secretary seen this morning for their turn to sign up. Before Gabriel can spend much time in the line though she waves him to the hall on the side. "Third door, knock thrice."
"Thanks," Gabriel says, bobbing his head once as he goes down the hallway. Another new door, how fun. He removes his greatcoat and places it neatly over his left arm before raising his right hand to rap on the door three times. Thrice, no more.
The door opens after a moment, revealing the young lanky gentleman from Gabriel's initial interview. Behind him sits that same room, but he steps out to close the door behind him and meet Gabriel in the hall instead. "I'm told you wish a quick exchange." He states for confirmation.
"Only to see if you want to hear more, yes." Gabriel does away with pleasantries to make best use of his one-hundred and twenty seconds. "They have no intention of paying you anything. You have every intention of getting everything, minus half as a retrieval fee. You need to show strength and get money back, I know that. Right now, it's just on the road to open conflict. Marcel's dug in like a tick, and he will fight. You're hiring people to fight. Lots of people might die. So first, perhaps try sitting down with Marcel, and make it very public. You're negotiating on behalf of yourself *and* the refugees against one man from Iron Heart who is willing to throw their lives away to prove a point. Gives you good PR, like putting me in management." He holds up a hand, "I know, this is very course, but I don't have long. Try putting up a light siege. Everything that goes in and out is under a tariff that goes to you, and all that needs to happen to lift it is for Marcel to sit down and negotiate payment. That's the rough version without any explanation as to why. How'd I do?" He can't help but check his watch.
"Not bad," the young man commends with a slight nod. "We'd still get paid, the only matter is the manpower for such a siege to be effective exceeds our resources. Putting that aside let's consider just talking to the refugees. Will anything short of a siege convince them it is in their best interest to pay?" He asks, pausing a moment but not actually waiting for a rebuttal just yet. "We don’t think so, it's our believe that when Emily Woods signed the original land agreement this was assumed to happen sooner or later and they signed accepting the inevitability."
Gabriel's brow both furrows and raises. "I'm not sure why you'd have accepted such an agreement, then, but that's yours to make. If I might suggest two other options? Find Emily again. Miss Woods didn't have the iron fist that Marcel uses. She might be more willing to look out for their best interests. Of course, that would mean that she would need to be in a position of power," he says with a shrug. "Remove Marcel. He disappears one day. He signs a goodbye note that he's going to visit the Federation. He turns up dead." Yes, this is what Gabriel has done in the past. "You can blame it on the Coalition, they've had a bounty on him worth one-hundred grand ever since he defected. Then Emily slides in - or frankly, anyone that you could put into power - and you get your payment. Perhaps not in one huge lump sum, but over a reasonable amount of time. I'm honestly not sure how your mercenaries down the hall are going to collect any further money. Stealing weapons and equipment? They don't look like a bunch of safe-crackers. Put in someone, yours or theirs, who will be more receptive to negotiations."
"Emily is still residing at the city gates. Even though new refugees are no longer arriving. Rather she is now one of the main people organizing escorts back to Tolkeen. We imagine she will return once her people are safe," the lad notes to quell one variable at least before giving a shrug. "You seem to be volunteering for something. Very interesting proposal. Thing is we don’t know of anyone who fits the bill as you describe. Would you be willing to do that legwork as well? If so and everything goes well we will reduce the debt, to ten million."
"I am... considering one course of action to save more lives against few," Gabriel answers vaguely enough for listening devices but obviously enough that they both know what he's talking about. "I would require some assistance, of course. But first yes, I can do the legwork to try and locate a suitable replacement. If you could tell me more of what you know about them, it would help me find that correct person. I'm sure that you know about their compound and their organization far better than I could by asking random merchants."
"That will take some compiling. Give us a week to get the information to you. We can't renege on our word to the mercenaries as we explore this though. But I'm sure any lives saved are better than none to you," he explains, pulling out a ring much like the exquisite lady who visited him before had.
Gabriel nods, "I understand, I wouldn't expect you to turn them away. Again, bad for public relations. Thank you for listening, I'm sure I'm well over my time now." He looks at the ring, then the doors. Considers making a joke about cartoon hallways with lots of doors, but doesn't. "You can contact me at the club, or on 93.5 KONG encoding. I answer at all hours, when you have the information ready."
The lad simply nods before placing the ring on the door to slip back into the Family's mysterious headquarters.
With no one to talk to, Gabriel dons his winter gear, and heads back out to the club.
