Episode 33

"A Union, huh? Sounds like a recipe for a massive headache over rights and interests. I think I’ll pass," Taro said.

It wasn't that Taro was some expert on inter-corporate Unions, but he’d grown quite fond of the "do whatever the hell you want" vibe that defined Rising Sun. Anything that threatened to kill his buzz was an automatic hard 'no' in his book.

"Now, don't be like that. This contract is specifically designed to prevent those headaches before they start," Lyza’s voice purred through the comms. "It’s not like you have to sign in blood right this second, but I’d be delighted if you at least heard me out. I promise, it’ll pique your interest."

Taro gave a skeptical snort and muted the transmission volume.

"That's what she's saying, but what do you guys think? Can we actually team up with a stalker?"

"It doesn't matter what we think—we can't give an answer if we don't have the details," Marl said, resting a finger against her lips as she fell into thought. "Though, it is weird. A company that big usually just tries to buy you out or force you under their wing. Proposing to 'form' a Union is rare. Based on her tone, she’s actually talking about an equal partnership. Well, if you ignore the whole stalking thing."

Based on Marl’s assessment, Taro figured it might be worth at least a listen. He cranked the volume back up.

"Alright, fine. Let’s hear the pitch. What kind of 'cooperation' are we talking about here?"

Lyza, who had been looking a bit bored, snapped her attention back to the screen.

"Let's see... basically, a business alliance with a Third-stage Confidentiality Obligation. How does that sound? As for the Policy Decision Rights and Shared Asset Usage Rights, we’ll take sixty-five percent and give you thirty-five. Naturally, meddling in each other’s internal affairs is strictly off-limits. And you’ll have a right of veto."

"Hmm... Koume, what’s this 'Third-stage Confidentiality' thing?"

[YES, MR. TEIRO. THE THIRD-STAGE REFERS TO A CONFIDENTIALITY OBLIGATION THAT PERSISTS FOR FIFTY YEARS AFTER WITHDRAWING FROM THE UNION. IT IS EXTREMELY STRINGENT.]

"Fifty years? Jeez... Okay, and what are the pros and cons for each side as you see 'em?" Taro asked.

"Our main benefit is your military power," Lyza replied. "Considering the way the wind is blowing, it’s an incredibly attractive asset."

"There are plenty of other Corps with warships, you know."

"Mr. Teiro, please don't insult my intelligence," Lyza said. "Sure, some Corps have warships, but having the know-how to actually use them is another story entirely. A company that just panic-bought a fleet yesterday wouldn't know which end of a railgun to point at the enemy. Besides, my brother said it himself: that man has clearly received professional training and possesses top-tier skills."

Oh right, she saw the ship’s logs... Taro realized he had probably been more annoyed than he’d let on, but he decided to let it slide for now. "Fine, I’ll give you that one. Keep going."

Lyza cleared her throat, regaining her composure. "As for our downsides... well, there’s the matter of our voting rights and Shared Asset Usage Rights being quite small compared to our scale, which is nearly four times yours. To be honest, we’ll likely be operating in the red until this Union truly finds its feet."

"So basically, whether we’re setting up joint departments or buying new ships, we’re going to be freeloading off you guys?"

"In a manner of speaking, yes. That is your primary benefit. We can also provide technologies and data you lack. Do you have a way to transport fresh food? Are you interested in the logistics of precision machinery or Razor Metal?"

"Okay, I'll admit... that’s actually pretty damn tempting," Taro muttered.

"Then—" Lyza started, her voice full of hope.

"However," Taro cut her off. "If you want my personal opinion, I still feel like we’re the ones getting the raw end of the deal."

"Oh? And why is that?"

"Wait, you really don't get it?"

"I would be delighted if you could enlighten me."

Taro grabbed the edge of his flexible monitor and yanked it toward his face, his expression hardening. "It's because we're the ones putting our asses on the line, Miss Francois! You're leading two hundred people and you still don't understand that basic fact?"

An icy silence filled the bridge. Lyza stared at Taro, a sharp crease forming between her brows as her lips trembled with suppressed emotion. Beside Taro, Marl opened her mouth to intervene, but then thought better of it and closed it with a sigh.

"Oof—wh-what the? Marl-san, you're a bit close."

Marl had rested her chin on the back of his seat, peering at the monitor from right behind him. Staying just out of the camera's view, she whispered, "Don't stop now." Taro felt a bit flustered by the scent of her perfume tickling his nose, but he noticed her mouth was curved into a distinct 'U' shape.

I don't know why, but she's in a suspiciously good mood...

"Anyway, for those reasons, I think we can just call this whole thing off. See ya."

Taro knew he was being incredibly harsh, but given the whole stalking incident, he wasn't exactly in a forgiving mood. He figured this would kill the deal for good and reached for the 'end call' button.

"Wait..." Lyza’s voice was low, laced with a fury she was barely keeping under wraps. "I admit I was the one underestimating you. I apologize. However, I haven't heard your counter-proposal yet. Isn't it a bit premature to declare the negotiations dead?"

Taro was actually impressed by her mental fortitude, but he still had zero intention of moving forward.

"Yeah, look, sorry for being a dick... fine, you want a counter-proposal? Give us fifty-one percent of the Policy Decision Rights and Asset Usage, and leave yourselves with forty-nine. You swallow that, and we’ve got a deal."

It was a total poison pill. A condition so absurd that no sane CEO would ever accept it.

"Mr. Teiro... surely you don't think we can accept that? Even if I agreed, the rest of my board would riot."

"Well, then isn't it your job to shut them up?"

The two stared each other down through the screen. A few seconds passed that felt like hours. Finally, Lyza spoke. "Give me a moment."

Taro nodded and muted the volume. "Phew. Talking is way more exhausting than dogfighting."

"Good work, Mr. Teiro," Koume said. "However, Miss Lyza possesses remarkable willpower. Normally, an executive being treated like that by an 'inferior' would have thrown a spectacular tantrum by now."

"Wait, was I really that mean?" Taro asked.

"Honestly? You were actually pretty scary," Marl said, returning to her seat. "I mean, it might have been a tiny bit cool. Maybe. Possibly."

"I have no idea what you're talking about. But seriously, it’s a matter of principle. The idea of them sitting in some safe zone while bossing us around is the worst-case scenario. I don't care how much money they have; I’m not giving them the steering wheel."

Marl gave a noncommittal "I guess" and started recalculating their Overdrive. Taro was about to boot up BISHOP to help when the comm line flashed open again.

"Mr. Teiro. Regarding your condition... I accept."

Taro and Marl both froze, their mouths hanging open.

"Are you actually insane?" Taro blurted out.

"Do I look crazy to you?" Lyza replied with a sharp edge to her voice. "Though, thanks to you, I’ve had to cut twenty-five percent of Speed Carrier's personnel. Oh, don't worry about them—I’m just spinning them off into a new subsidiary at my own expense. But since you've forced my hand this far..."

She flashed a glamorous, dangerous smile through the monitor.

"You better be prepared to take responsibility, Mr. Teiro."

All Taro could do was let out a dry, pathetic laugh.

After that, the crew resumed their trek toward Alpha Station, trading along the way while maintaining a constant dialogue with the three transport ships under Lyza’s command. Even though they were technically a Union now, they remained separate companies, settling on a fifty-fifty split for all joint trade profits.

The two Corps began the awkward process of getting to know each other—boarding each other's ships and chatting at various stations. Despite being in the same industry, their skill sets were complete opposites, making the information exchange a goldmine for both sides.

"What in the hell is this map?!" Lyza screamed during one such meeting. "So you did have a direct line to the military this whole time! You traitor!"

Taro’s custom Network Map had caused a bit of a diplomatic incident. It took a massive effort to convince her that he wasn't a secret military operative.

"I’ve never seen so many shortcuts... and this is a Danger Zone? What does this symbol mean? Hey, you have to tell me more! I’ll pay whatever you want!"

In an era where Stargate travel via beacons had become a literal gamble, Taro’s map was more valuable than a hull made of solid gold. It showed the safe routes, the shortcuts, and even predicted which systems would soon be reconnected.

"Look, I'll send you info when you need it, but I'm not handing over the master file," Taro said. "If this leaks to the wrong people, we’re all dead."

Taro had actually considered releasing the map to the public once, feeling a twinge of guilt over being the only one with a working GPS in a cosmic fog. But Koume had shut that down immediately.

[MR. TEIRO. IT IS HIGHLY PROBABLE THE MILITARY POSSESSES SIMILAR MAPS, YET THEY HAVE NOT MADE THEM PUBLIC. THE PRIMARY CONCERN IS INFORMATION LEAKAGE. HAVE YOU CONSIDERED THE CONSEQUENCES IF WIND ACQUIRED THIS DATA?]

The Empire only maintained order because the fighting was confined to major Stargates. The military could coordinate via the neural network and protect specific, consolidated hubs. If WIND got Taro’s map, every inch of the border would become a front line. Combat in isolated sectors would be a nightmare, and the military’s strength would be spread so thin it would snap.

It was clear WIND was already piggybacking on Stargate beacons. If they got desperate, they might just destroy every beacon on the border. Cutting communication was effectively a physical blockade. If that happened, every system outside the central core would be wiped out. The death toll would jump from millions to trillions.

"Hey, Teiro. Look straight ahead," Alan’s voice crackled over the comms from the Stardust, which was scouting ahead. "See that blue, misty nebula? There’s a massive light right under it."

It had been ten days since they left Delta.

"That’s the Alpha Star System. We’ve finally made it. And if the intel is right..."

Taro narrowed his eyes at the monitor as the final jump countdown began. He braced himself, every muscle tense.

"The place is currently a total war zone," Alan finished. "Let’s grab the doctor and get the hell out of dodge."