[The Forge - Production Bay Alpha]
The ground shook as the massive blast doors opened. Heat washed over the command center as the first batch of products rolled off the assembly line.
They weren't cars. They were Void-Cruisers. Ten jagged, heavily armored warships, gleaming in fresh black and gold paint.
"Print time: exactly one hour," Valerius stared through the reinforced glass, his scarred face illuminated by the forge's fires. "Unbelievable. The Federation would need a planetary shipyard and thousands of workers to do this."
"We just needed a few rocks," Alex took a sip of his coffee. Outside, the Rust Brotherhood was still towing asteroids into the planet's maw to keep the furnace burning.
"Dawn," Alex tapped his console. "Inventory check."
"Current Fleet: 10 Class-B Void-Cruisers," Dawn reported. "Manufacturing cost: 0 GC (Raw materials sourced via scavenger labor). Time remaining until Iron Bank Interest is due: 6 Days, 22 Hours."
"We need 50 Million Credits," Alex adjusted his tie. "If we sell these at market value, say... 2 Million each, that's only 20 Million. Not enough. We need to mark them up."
"Nobody pays above market value for standard Cruisers, High Command," Valerius pointed out.
"They do if they are desperate," Alex smirked. "Dawn. Scan the Galactic News Network. Filter for: Active Warzones. Sort by: The losing side."
[The Target]
A massive holographic map of Sector 4 materialized.
"Target Acquired," Dawn highlighted a wealthy, green planet. [Planet: Veridia Prime.] [Primary Export: Quantum Gemstones (High Net Worth).] [Status: Under Siege.] [Enemy: The Grox Swarm (Biological Hive-Mind).]
"Veridia Prime is a mining colony," Dawn explained. "They are incredibly wealthy, but they relied on the Intergalactic Banking Guild for defense mercenaries. The Guild abandoned them when the Grox Swarm invaded."
"Rich and defenseless," Alex's eyes flashed with predatory capitalist energy. "My favorite kind of customer."
"Open a secure channel to the Veridian Governor," Alex ordered.
[The Pitch]
The screen flickered, revealing an alien in torn, elegant robes. Dust fell from the ceiling of his bunker. Explosions echoed in the background.
[Designation: Governor Sylas of Veridia.]
"Banking Guild?" Sylas screamed into the camera. "Are you finally answering our distress beacon? The Swarm has breached the outer atmosphere! We need the mercenaries we paid for!"
"The Banking Guild is busy," Alex said calmly, leaning back in his chair. "I am Alex, CEO of the Pantheon Group. And I hear you have a pest problem."
Sylas stared at the human. "A human? C-137? This is a joke! Our planetary shields are failing, and they patch me through to a primitive?"
"A primitive who can save your life," Alex snapped his fingers. Dawn displayed the live feed of the 10 Void-Cruisers sitting in the Forge.
Sylas stopped shouting. His eyes widened at the pristine warships. "Where did you get those? Are you a pirate?"
"I'm an entrepreneur," Alex corrected. "I can have this fleet in your orbit in exactly two minutes using a Bifrost Gate. But it will cost you."
"How much?" Sylas pleaded. "We will pay anything! Five million? Ten?"
[The Subscription]
"I don't sell ships, Governor," Alex smiled a cold, corporate smile. "If I sell you the ships, the Swarm might just blow them up, and then you're dead anyway."
"Then what are you offering?!"
"War as a Service," Alex proposed. "I retain ownership of the fleet. My Admiral, Valerius, will command them. We will break the siege. In exchange, you don't pay a flat fee. You pay a Subscription."
A digital contract flashed onto Sylas's screen.
[Contract: Pantheon Protection Tier 1] [Cost: 10 Million GC upfront.] [Ongoing Fee: 20% of Veridia Prime's total planetary GDP for the next 10 years.]
"Twenty percent?!" Sylas choked. "That's extortion! That will bankrupt our economy! You are worse than the Swarm!"
"The Swarm wants to eat you," Alex pointed out, checking his watch. "I just want your money. You have thirty seconds before your bunker doors fail. Take it or leave it."
An explosion rocked Sylas's screen. The screeching of biological monsters echoed through the comms.
"Fine! We accept!" Sylas slammed his hand on the terminal, signing the digital contract.
[System Alert] [Contract Signed. First Payment Received.] [Current Balance: 12,500,000 GC.]
Alex stood up. "Admiral Valerius," Alex turned to the scarred alien. "Take the new Cruisers through the Bifrost Gate. Go earn our subscription fee."
Valerius grinned, drawing his plasma sword. "With pleasure, Boss."