"Assume a partner. What do they need to bring to the table?" She waited while he leaned forward to bounce the ball between his feet, attention in another place, far from the here-and-now of the station.
"Minimum of twenty-five mill and a bank willing to carry the contract. No, a bank won't want the risk. They'll need a venture capital group backing them, but even one of those would be hard to find."
McTavish caught the ball in his fist and looked at her. "It's a pipe dream. They can't raise that kind of money. They have nothing left to draw on."
"Find the solution first, and then worry about implementation details. If Independent Mining continues, Browning could keep his job, couldn't he?" she asked.
"That would depend on the health regulations Independent Mining implements, but for his own sake, he needs treatment whether it's a company requirement or not. If their company gets a decent health insurance plan, his medical costs would be covered."
"Good. I'll have Browning call a meeting of the miners late this afternoon so you can update them." She struggled to keep the smile off her face. He was doing so well. But the difficult one was still to come. He was a stickler for law and order. "That just leaves Miss Patty to sort out. What will you do about her?"
McTavish looked confused. "Wait, I'm not sure how you think we've sorted out the problems of the station and Browning. The miners don't have the funds or the investment partner they need, and without Independent Mining, Browning doesn't have a job or health insurance."
Kama sighed. "You're a smart guy, McTavish. You'll figure it out. Now about Miss Patty?"
"She broke the law. Justice has to be served," he said, his back stiffening and his face defiant.
"How is justice served if Miss Patty goes to prison?" she shot back.
"How is justice served if she goes free?" he countered, anger edging his voice. "We're a society built on laws. Break the laws, and you'll be punished."
"Let the punishment fit the crime. Prison is the wrong punishment. You can find a more fitting one."
McTavish bounced the ball hard, once, twice. "Damn it, Kama. I can't make everything perfect. I'm not that guy."
She stood up and ruffled his hair. "Think about it."
He opened his mouth to speak, closed it, remembered his manners and scrambled to his feet.
She left him standing there. As she slipped through the door, she heard the ball hit the deck. She resisted the temptation to skip down the corridor grinning.
Stopping at the deserted com center, she hoped the tech was busy somewhere else and not among the injured or dead. She opened a connection to Oasis. After a moment, a thin, elegant man with golden skin like tanned leather appeared on screen. His white hair was swept back from a high forehead and widow's peak, and his nearly black pupils seemed to see through everything they focused on. He wore an impeccable, understated black business suit.
The man smiled when he recognized her.
"Kama, it's good to see you. Samir tells me you've done well on your assignment. Will you be coming home for a visit? Your mother will ask when she hears I've spoken to you."
"Hello, Varun. Tell her things are up in the air, but I'll try to come by soon," she replied. One eyebrow flinched, or at least she thought it did. "I wanted to discuss the Sharma Network with you, specifically Oasis' plans to bring on partners."
Varun's lips moued. "Recent events have upset our plans. We weren't entirely pleased with the idea of including EcoMech in the Sharma Network even before the death of Leon Goldman. Now with all the churn and a relative unknown at the helm, EcoMech is not an acceptable candidate to join us. It's a pity; it will delay development by a year at least."
She leaned forward. "You couldn't be more wrong. EcoMech has exactly the leadership we want to partner with. Rafael McTavish is an honest, trustworthy man who shares our goals for humanity."
There was no question of Varun's eyebrows lifting this time. "Is this Kama speaking? Kama who hates corporate executives above all else?"
She ground her teeth. "You don't have to rub it in. I've learned my lesson. All corporate executives are not the same, especially not this one. He's risked his life to help the people here, and he protected our interests, too."
"You seem quite taken with this McTavish." When she didn't rise to his bait, he said, "I will consider it."
"That's not good enough," Kama replied. "McTavish is about to take his first actions as CEO at EcoMech, and they won't be popular with the board. If he's to avoid repercussions, he has to offer them something for appeasement. It's important that he be in a strong position because I believe that the same person who blackmailed Leon Goldman will come after him. It's in Oasis' best interest to see that he succeeds and continues to lead EcoMech through our partnership."
"And so this appeasement offering is to be our request that EcoMech join the Sharma Network." Varun stroked his chin with long, thin fingers, perfectly manicured. "I can't extend such an offer without first seeing what McTavish is capable of, without taking a measure of the man."
Kama smiled. She had him where she wanted him. "Then be here in six hours and see the man in action for yourself. I guarantee it will be worth your time."
Varun's eyes narrowed, and he gave her a smile that bordered on a grimace. "You've sharpened your negotiating skills. All right, I'll come to the station."
"Safe travel, Varun. I'll see you when you dock."
Chapter 21
Rafe claimed the side of the oval conference table farthest from the door. He'd refused to do another meeting in a storage bay. He and the board of Independent Mining would sit at a table and negotiate like businessmen.
Footsteps announced the first arrival, and Rafe waved Bob Coleman into the seat to his left. He wanted Kama at his right hand, but there was no sign of her. He hoped she'd be pleased with his solutions to the problems she'd posed. God knew the EcoMech board wouldn't be happy with them.
At precisely four, the miners filed in, more of them than Rafe expected. Browning took the seat directly opposite, and other miners sat nearby or stood along the wall behind him. Kama was the last to enter, accompanied by a tall, slender, white haired man dressed in the same kind of anonymous Oasis jumpsuit that Kama wore and a tattered baseball cap at odds with his otherwise flawless grooming.
Rafe eyed the stranger. Some aura or inward strength of character—more than just his anonymity—attracted the attention of others. Conversations stopped, eyes followed him until he passed. The man made him uncomfortable.
He tried to catch Kama's eye to direct her to the seat by him, but she steadfastly refused to look at him. She and the aristocratic tech took two seats next to the wall, leaving the seat to Rafe's right empty.
Her companion turned clear black eyes on Rafe, looking him up and down in a non-threatening, but somehow disconcerting way. He'd never seen a more knowing gaze. He felt as though he'd been stripped bare and put on public display, with all his physical and moral faults showing for the world to see. He squirmed in his seat and reached to check the straightness of his tie before remembering he wasn't wearing one.
"Gentlemen and Kama, if everyone's here, let's get started," Rafe said. "I won't beat around the bush. I'm aware that Independent Mining would like to own this station. However, your company doesn't have the financial resources to purchase it outright."
Grumbles came from the miners standing against the wall, and he could hear his words repeated in the corridor where the muttering grew louder. Browning waited, stone-faced. Kama calmly contemplated the tabletop, looking like a cat that just stole the cream. The old tech seemed unimpressed. Well, this was just the warm-up, and what did he care what some old tech thought? But Rafe squirmed again anyway.
He nodded to Bob, who handed filmies across the table.
"This is a business projection of the likely outcome in the event that EcoMech accedes to your request for another employee buyout, on the assumption that you're able to raise sufficient capital.
"Now, for those of
you who find reports like this as dull as I do, I'll summarize. It's doomed. You have no money, no credit, and no investment experience. The facility's equipment is outdated, and now large sections of it are also damaged. You'll saddle yourself with vast debts just getting control of the place, and within twelve months the banks will foreclose and leave you with nothing. And that's a best case."
Browning's brow furrowed, his eyes darkened with anger, and his lips drew into a thin line. The rumbling in the hallway grew louder. Kama hadn't even looked at her copy of the presentation.
Her unusual companion flipped through page after page in quick succession. Rafe wondered how much of the complex business proposal a mere tech would understand. The old man's penetrating stare returned to Rafe, a hint of mystification crossing his strong, handsome features, before he glanced sideways at Kama who remained serenely—no, supremely—confident. His expression cleared, and he met Rafe's eyes.
"Mr. McTavish," he said, in a dark baritone that demanded silence, "I believe you have something else to show us."
Rafe narrowed his eyes. Who was this guy? "You're right, I do have another proposal."
He nodded to Bob, and the assistant passed another round of filmies across the table.
"Assuming that Independent Mining can raise the necessary twenty-five million credits needed for a down payment, EcoMech will sell you half of the station, keeping half ownership for itself." He swept his arm around the room. "Given the condition of the station, you need a partner, one with deep pockets that can put its financial weight behind repairing, upgrading, and marketizing the station. EcoMech retains fifty-one percent of the operation; you, as Independent Mining, own forty-nine percent."
Browning's eyes narrowed. "How's that any different from just working for EcoMech? It's the same thing, except we take more of the risk. I get what you're saying about the need for a partnership, but we want the controlling interest."
"You have very little experience in the world of business," argued Rafe, thinking that the EcoMech board would throw him out for selling the miners forty-nine percent and lock him in an asylum if he gave them control. "You could piss the place away in a year through nothing but inexperience. Then where's EcoMech's investment?"
"EcoMech will have seats on the Independent Mining board," countered Browning. "Send us someone who knows what they're doing, and we'll listen to them. Educate us. We can learn just as well as you."
Rafe considered Browning. He'd thought the smelter supervisor would drive a hard bargain, and he was right. They'd make a decent businessman out of the man yet.
But first, he'd make sure the miners knew what they proposed to bite off.
"Go into this with your eyes wide open. This proposal has holes big enough to fly a shuttle through. It has best-case assumptions at every turn. You need to start producing ore of a better grade right away, but keep costs... well... virtually nonexistent. It'll take incredible hard work and even more luck to make this a reality. Every man who signs on will have to give it everything he's got and be risking everything he owns. It's not a deal for the faint-hearted. It doesn't come with any guarantees. And you'll still need the twenty-five mill down payment."
Browning's face split in a big smile. "Well, Mr. McTavish, I have news for you. I just got the message an hour ago. A group called the Madison Trust has decided that we're a worthy charity project, and they've given us a grant for twenty-five million credits to be used for facilities acquisition. I have no idea how they heard about us or who they are, but we sure aren't going to look a gift horse in the mouth."
Rafe did his best to look surprised by the announcement. It had taken him most of the afternoon haggling with the lawyers to get the payout from his mother's trust arranged so quickly. Kama's eyes met his across the table, and the hint of a smile curved her lips. The elderly gentleman stared at her, not completely hiding his astonishment despite his obvious effort.
"Congratulations, Ed," Rafe said. "Keep in mind that your grant will be sufficient for your down payment only. The station needs upgrades and repairs, and as half owners, EcoMech will expect Independent Mining to pay a fair share. You'll be on a very tight budget."
Ed's smile grew larger, something Rafe hadn't thought possible. "We've got that covered, too, Mr. McTavish. Right after we got the message from the Madison Trust, we got a message from something called the GAW Foundation. They've given us a grant for thirty million credits to 'fix the place up' as they put it. You'd think it was raining money today."
It was Rafe's turn to be amazed. Kama stifled laughter; amusement danced in her eyes. The tech transferred his stare from Rafe to Kama, a resolute look on his face. He leaned back in his chair, and crossed his arms over his chest, gazing at the ceiling. Then the ghost of a smile played around his lips, and Rafe thought the tech might be resisting the urge to laugh, too. What did they both find so amusing? And what the hell was the GAW Foundation?
"Okay," he said. "The miners take fifty-one percent, EcoMech gets forty-nine. EcoMech's legal team will draft the documents and send them for your review."
After a moment of silence, one of the miners in the back row said, "That's it? The place is ours?"
Browning shook his head, mirth shining from his eyes at the vast understatement. "Yeah, boys, that's it. The place is ours."
The room erupted in a roar, taken up by the miners waiting in the hall. Everyone rose from the table. Rafe reached over and shook Browning's hand. In the crowd, he glimpsed Kama slipping out the door with her companion. When the noise in the room died down some, Browning turned to Rafe. "I think this calls for a celebration tonight. Can you stay for it?"
Rafe thought about what awaited him back on Harvest. "Sure, why not? Bob, would you tell Captain Benson we'll be delaying our departure until midnight?"
Bob nodded, grabbed filmies from the table, and threaded his way through the crowd. The men gradually funneled out, taking their celebration into the station.
Alone in the conference room, Rafe slumped in his chair, exhausted. The board wouldn't be happy. EcoMech wasn't in the investment banking business, but they'd essentially be holding the loan for the buyout by allowing the miners to make the purchase over time instead of requiring them to find a bank to back them. He didn't care. He'd done the right thing. That's what mattered.
Browning could keep his job, and with better health insurance, he could get the medical help he needed. Rafe would have to find Miss Patty. He had a solution for her, too. He'd done it, just like Kama said he would. He felt wonderful. He wished she were here with him to bask in the glow of victory.
At the sound of footsteps, he looked up. Kama and her mystery companion came around the table to stand beside him. Kama set a mug of steaming coffee at his elbow. He looked into her face, blinked, and looked again. Radiant light seemed to pour down on him from her whole being.
"Mr. McTavish, are you all right?" The mystery companion had a strong hand on his shoulder.
"Yes," Rafe stammered, wrenching his eyes from Kama. He struggled to rise from his chair.
"No, don't get up," said the tech, seating himself. Kama placed a mug of tea by his elbow. "Kama tells me you've had some pretty serious injuries over the past few days and need to rest."
"I'm fine," Rafe said.
"Liar." Kama took a seat on the opposite side of the table and grinned at him.
"I understand that you're aware of Oasis' plans to develop an exciting new technology." The tech sipped his tea. His black eyes gazed past Rafe's body into his soul.
"I'm aware that Oasis is contracting for large quantities of minerals used primarily in the building of jump gates," Rafe said. He wanted to check with Kama, afraid he might be saying too much, but he felt like he didn't dare take his eyes off the tech. "I don't have any details beyond that. I do know that jump gates are impossibly expensive to build, which is why the only ones in existence are owned by Earth Authority, the only entity large enough to be able to afford them, and since they're controlled by Earth, all ou
tlying jump gates connect to a dedicated partner gate in Earth orbit, where EA taxes the buggery out of everyone who uses them."
"You don't disappoint, Mr. McTavish. That's precisely the issue, isn't it? All jump gates must be one of a pair, each dedicated to maintaining its own end of a wormhole, each requiring billions of computations per second to keep the gates synchronized and the wormhole open. All that investment in materials and labor to create an unwavering road between two points with no ability to take a turn in a different direction.
"But suppose for a moment that jump gates didn't come in dedicated pairs." The tech's soft voice became almost hypnotic, like a storyteller spinning a fantastic tale. "Suppose instead, a jump gate in orbit around a destination could, at will, connect to any other jump gate in the system; for example, Harvest could be connected to the asteroid belt today, Mars tomorrow, and Oasis the day after."
The enormity of what Rafe had seen in the Oasis contract dawned on him. Kama was right. If Oasis had the ability to create the kind of non-dedicated jump gates that the tech described, it would change humanity. The colony worlds would no longer be shackled to Earth and constricted by the EA tariffs for every gram of cargo that passed through. They could trade freely, one colony to another directly. New worlds with lower traffic volumes could share a single terminal gate in Earth's solar system, making it cost effective for corporations to invest in expansion. EcoMech's board would kill for that kind of gate in Harvest's orbit.
"Excuse me," Rafe said, "but have we been introduced?"
"Ha! Told you he'd get it," Kama laughed. "Rafael McTavish, CEO, EcoMech, allow me to introduce Varun Sharma, Chairman, Oasis. Well, I'll leave you to it." She gave Rafe a wink that set his heart racing, and sauntered out of the room.
"Chairman—" Rafe spluttered. He tried again. "Chairman Sharma, what brings you to this part of the galaxy?"
"Like you, Mr. McTavish, I've been hoodwinked and manipulated by Kama," answered the chairman with a smile. "She indicated that EcoMech under your leadership might make a suitable partner to join Oasis in the founding of the Sharma Network, a series of dialable jump gates initially shared between existing colonies but eventually used to open new destinations. I had reservations before meeting you, but I believe her assessment of you is correct."
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