Part 19

Are you seriously telling me that every single one of these costs 150,000 kubars?
Look. Mister. I'm trying to keep my patience here. I really am. But this is the sixth time you've asked me that. If you want to come back in, say, two years, maybe the answer will have changed. But I doubt it.
So yes. They are all 150,000 kubars. Do you want me to write that down for you? Or maybe I should carve it into my face.
And you're absolutely sure that there are no second-hand deals going?
Not to my knowledge, sir. Well, there was one, but...



...I'm not entirely convinced it would suit your needs, sir.
Alright. Any recommendations, then?
I recommend you make your mind up before I go out back and shoot myself.
Pilot?
I suppose it would depend on the approach you wish to take, sir.



This model might suit for dedicated cargo shipping, sir, but I fear that cargo isn't always a reliable means of turning a profit. There won't always be something worth buying, sir, even with your advertisements. And of course, with an engine that slow, you'll find your competitors beating you to every planet, sir. They'll have bought up everything before you have the chance, I imagine.
Personally, I think that a focus on passengers might be worth considering, sir. The owner of the Noble Venture always swore by it.
Okay. How about this?



Ah. Something like this might be too extreme, sir. Even with the passenger capacity, the costs of twelve crew members and such a small fuel tank may prove fatal, sir. And it might pay not to have too small a cargo hold, sir, for when the especially good deals arise.
So what do we do, then?
Perhaps a happy medium exists, sir?
Hmm...
How much is that one?



One hundred.
And fifty.
Thousand.
Kubars.
Right. I guess we'll go with that, then.
Excellent. I'll just go and get your ignition codes set up. Will you be paying by cash?
Oh, I'm not gonna be buying anything yet.






What?
Well, I need to go talk to a friend first. To get the money.
You've had me standing here for four hours.
Four and a half, sir.
I missed my lunch break and everything! Now you're just going to walk out?!
Relax, will you? I'll be coming back.
OH. RAPTURE. I SHALL COUNT THE DAYS.







Hey, I was thinking about something you said earlier. About competitors? I figured it was time I dug up some info on just what we're up against here.
Wise of you, sir. May I see what you've found, sir?



GIZZY SHIPPING
Independent
Freewheeling
Chaotic



TRADING CORP. IV
Corporate
By the Book
Neutral



VANDERGRIFF LTD.
Old Guard
Cautious
Conservative



PUFFER INC.
Start-up
Naive
Incompetent



ROKE TRANSPORT
Entrepreneurial
Innovative
Risk Taker



HOFF MIESTER
Ruthless
Back Stabbing
Aggressive




Why do they have theme tunes, sir?
I dunno. For radio ads or something, probably.
I should not be inclined to come within a hundred kuters of Hoff Miester if I heard that on the radio, sir. Much less purchase anything from them, sir.
Well then I guess they don't really know what they're doing. So they won't give us any trouble.





Gonna have to do something about that.
Sir?
The company name.
Ah.





Do you need to be alone, sir?
No. No I don't.