Blockade Snippet 4

Sitrep:
I just got Blockade back from Rea. I've incorporated some last minute changes from Poon and then wrapped it up and sent it to Goodlifeguide. So, the clock is ticking.

In other news, I've been trying to work on the droid now that the workbench is free. I've already messed myself up though, kicking myself over it. I'm not sure of a fix. And my CR-10 is acting up again. :P

I've tabled fixing it until I'm done with We the People.

Anyway, on to the snippet!

Still in chapter 3. On Garth:

-~~~///^\\\~~~-

Lu Chu'ng Hock, aka Rainbow 4, shook his head as he heard another complaint. "Look, Mrs. Patterson, I get it. I do. But it's not up to me or you. And I know you are upset. But I have to tell you, I'm really rather busy," he said, indicating the desk. As one of the resistance, he'd been tapped to help reform the government. His skills at leadership and business began and ended with his involvement with his family's line of restaurants though. He was feeling a bit overwhelmed by the project.

Mrs. Patterson sniffled and dabbed at her eyes with a hanky. "It's just, I had such grand plans!"

"I know," he said with a nod. "And you can still fulfill them, but it will take a bit longer to achieve them. Keep working on your goals. We're still going to get support from the Federation government to rebuild."

"We are?" she asked, looking up at him with sudden dawning hope. He tried to ignore the sight of greed in her green eyes too.

"Yes," he said with a nod. He didn't like being beholden to any government. None of the others in the government did either, but they weren't going to turn the charity down either.

"My late husband did a great job with his furniture and picture frame business …," Mrs. Patterson waved a hand.

"I bet he did. You said you are rebuilding it and looking to export?" he asked as he went and got her a cup of tea.

She nodded as he handed it to her. "Such a polite boy," she murmured, relaxing. "I'd planned to do enough business to export some of our goods. Dead Drop has plenty of trees, and I'm employing dozens of people …"

Lu nodded. That was certainly true and the main reason he's been forced to put up with the sniveling woman and get her to calm down and sort herself out.

"I was even exploring some light fixture designs. There is a lot of call for plastics and glass, but I know some contacts in the glass blowing business I can work with," she said. "But the nonsense over all the restrictions!" she waved a helpless hand, nearly spilling her tea.

"I'm sure you'll work your way through them. There are automated systems to help," he said.

"But, I thought that was where you came in?" she asked, lower lip quivering.

"I am supposed to oversee a small part of the rebuilding of businesses. I am still learning the finance side," he admitted. What he really wanted to do was to be in the military. But someone in the Federation State Department had pushed for him to be utilized on his homeworld for the time being.

He'd tried to complain, but he'd been quietly counseled to go with the flow for the moment and not make waves or future enemies.

"It's also this stupidity over incandescent lights over LEDs. And scanning? Security checks? Import and export fees?" she shook her head. "Taxes?"

He frowned. "I'm not sure about the lights," he said with a helpless shrug. The rest are a part of exporting or importing goods I believe." He pulled up the files and then nodded. "Yes. Everything has to pass through a security screening. They scan the goods. There are lists of goods that are banned."

She nodded.

"The fees are normal. We're discussing fees for our world too to help pay for the rebuilding," he said.

She blinked and pursed her lips. He could tell from her set expression she wasn't pleased over that news.

"Not a lot," he said hastily. "A half credit or less depending on the item. There are no export fees I believe, at least, not from us. And you don't have to pay import fees at ports where the goods pass through, just carriage and storage unless you go with a shipping company."

She nodded.

"Currently, we're one jump away from the frontlines, so we can't get much help from the growing Federation merchant houses. Once the front stabilizes in Garth, we'll be cleared for civilian traffic," he explained.

She nodded again.

"And, the merchant houses can help with the paperwork. You can negotiate with them through the ansible."

She frowned. "I don't like that. I don't like the idea of typing into that thing and trying to negotiate something so delicate. I mean it's so dry! So impersonal! We don't get to know each other, feel the other side out, make connections …." She shook her head.

"Well," he drawled cocking his head. "You could send someone to do the negotiating for you or if someone comes here wine and dine them here," he suggested.

She smiled brightly. "Such a devious boy," she gushed.

He chuckled at her charm.

-~~~///^\\\~~~-