Quoted By:
<span class="mu-i">“I’m not surprised that quote appealed to your Drax military heritage.”</span>
<span class="mu-i">“If you put your lowbrow human bigotry aside for one nanosecond, you may remember that I told you I never made the cut for the Republican Guard.”</span> Jask replied primly, tapping the left side of his chest to emphasise his point. <span class="mu-i">“Chronic condition with the lung, remember?”</span>
Harman stared pointedly at the scars that marked the chitin alongside Jask’s next and some of his reptilian crest, which looked remarkedly like very faded shrapnel scarring.
<span class="mu-i">“Of course, how silly of me.”</span> Harman liked Jask, he had to admit. But Harman had to keep his guard up. <span class="mu-i">“Is our account closed?”</span>
<span class="mu-i">“Hmph, business already then is it?”</span> Jask warbled in faux-melancholy, a distinctly un-Drax-like effort for the typically no-nonsense species. <span class="mu-i">“My company is very pleased with your subcontracted work, the new project was completed within the desired ambits and has been well received by the market. The balance of your outlay shall be paid out in the next instalment through the usual channels.”</span>
<span class="mu-i">“And the non-competition bonus?”</span> Harman asked cautiously. <span class="mu-i">“That remains outstanding."</span>
<span class="mu-i">“Peace my friend, I come bearing good news not excuses.”</span> Jask leaned back under Harman’s raised eyebrow. <span class="mu-i">“Your subcontractors work has been very well received by the market, and I do mean very well received.”</span>
Harman only grunted, suggesting Jask get to the point. It wouldn’t be the first time that an employer had stiffed the Black Company on payment, but usually that was well before they had paid most of the contract out.
<span class="mu-i"> “In short, the board is so impressed with your subcontractor work that we are interested in monopolising this particular niche of the market.”</span>
<span class="mu-i">“An exclusivity clause, for the entire subcontractor firm?”</span> This time Harman’s raised eyebrow conveyed an entirely different meaning. <span class="mu-i">“For how long?”</span>
Jask stared at Harman unblinking. <span class="mu-i">“Indefinitely.”</span>
<span class="mu-i">“That would be… expensive.”</span> Harman breathed out slowly, figures of fleets and re-assigned platoons not to mention SECOM affiliates. And that was just money. <span class="mu-i">“Prohibitively expensive.”</span>
Jask again gave a very human nod, seemingly unsurprised. <span class="mu-i">“The board suspected as much, our offer is far more realistic. At a reduced rate we are content to let your firm continue to operate in the market independently, provided certain contracts with specific competitors, or directly targeted at friendly markets, are declined going forward. Call it a continuation of the non-competition clause, if you will.”</span>
<span class="mu-i"> “There would have to be some quid-pro-quo for our firm’s loss of opportunity.”</span>
<span class="mu-i">“I’m sorry, quid-?”</span>
[2/3]
