Euron's next scheduled appointment is with Tristan Botley, who enters the Colonel's office in his business suit and carrying an attaché case.
"Euron." He says.
"Hello, old friend." Euron responds, shaking his hand. "It's good to see you again. How was the trip here?"
"Nerve-wracking." Tristan sighs. "Things are not going well back home. The Word of Blake has completely taken over Gibson. I've heard reports of orbital bombardments, nuclear attacks, insurrections. It's like all sides have thrown out all the rules of war. Personally, I'm glad we all got out in time."
"I've heard similar things." Euron admits. "That's why I brought all four of the families here. Sure, being in the Periphery brings its own set of difficulties, but I'd rather be here than in the Sphere right now."
"Putting all that aside," Tristan says. "what's this opportunity you told me to see you about?"
"Glad you asked." Euron returns to his reason for summoning Botley. "I'm currently undertaking a reorganization of the Ironborn's resources and assets. Part of this involves you, Tristan. I want to offer you the position of Chief Operating Officer of the Kraken's Arms."
"Kraken's Arms?" Tristan quirks an eyebrow.
"It's a machine shop, factory and warehouse that we run in in Hilo City. It produces both standard and Light Gauss Rifle ammunition for both the Ironborn and the other GSF commands. Given your previous business experience, I believe that you are the best choice to run this important industry."
"A Gauss slug factory?" Tristan is skeptical. "I think you forget that I worked in acquisitions and sales, not production. My knowledge might be lacking in how to run such a business."
"I have no one else to turn to." Euron explained. "Harald has been running the day-to-day operations up to this point, but it forces him to split his time between running things there and his work in our BattleMech maintenance bays. He can't keep working that schedule indefinitely. Also, I know you're good at balancing books and maximizing efficiency. Eventually, I want to expand the operation to include LB-X Autocannon ammunition once we can get our profit margins high enough. That's where you come in. You can get the factory techs working like a well-oiled machine, making and selling top quality ammo for the GSF. This should produce the money we need to get another production line set up to make LB-X ammo."
"I see." Tristan considers.
"Also," Euron continues, "I'll be willing to pay you handsomely for your efforts. My new contract with the governor should provide enough extra cash to pay you sufficiently to provide the lifestyle you, Maria and House Botley deserve."
Tristan thinks a bit longer before answering. "A regular source of income would be desirable given my family's current position. Also, the girls still need to complete their educations and attend university. Very well, Euron. I'll be the foreman for your factory. Tell Harald I'll need to see our current production reports and profit levels so I know where we stand at the moment."
"I'll make sure he knows." Euron nods. "Oh, by the way, Tristan. I was able to convince the governor to provide Lourdes with a scholarship to attend medical school once she's ready. I remember how much she wanted to be a doctor."
Tristan smiles. "That should make her quite happy, though she still has to finish high school first."
"Of course."
"There's one more thing, Euron." Tristan seems pensive. "You know a group from Syn's Hussars came with me from Zion? One of them was a MechWarrior. Meifeng Zhou. You should meet with her. There are...some things you should know. Personal things."
"Personal how?" Euron looks confused.
"Well, we're...together." Tristan scratches the back of his head.
Euron looks at Tristan with a frown. "Does Maria know?"
"Yes. She does." Comes a voice. It belongs to a young, pretty Asian woman in her mid to late 20s, who has quietly entered the office. She stands 5' 3" tall and wears a uniform with the insignia of Syn's Hussars on it. Her hair is cut to chin length in a bob cut and her dark eyes are warm and expressive. "Who do you think introduced us?" She looks to Tristan and then back to Euron. "Meifeng Zhou, formerly of Syn's Hussars. At your service, Colonel."
Euron takes a moment to digest this news and the implications of what this Meifeng has just said before turning on his base intercom and saying: "Can someone please find Maria Botley and send her to my office."
"Right away, sir." Euron prepares for a very uncomfortable conversation. He's known Maria for years and realizes that if there is any untruth in Tristan and Meifeng's pronouncement, she'd be likely to leave three corpses behind in his office (including Euron himself). "You two stay here until we get to the bottom of this." He says to Tristan and Meifeng. The pair seem pretty calm, though Euron is internally cringing.
This is going to be interesting.Ten minutes later, Maria Botley walks into the office. Even at the age of fifty, her body shows the signs of her beastly workout regimen. She stands in at an amazonian 5' 10", taller than Tristan by an inch or two, and a full head higher than Meifeng. Her long dark hair is shorn on the right side of her head due to the burn scars she received 10 years ago which also mar part of her cheek and underneath her chin. Her sleeveless top leaves her arms bare, showing off her toned muscles. Around her neck is a small piece of metal that Euron recognizes as part of the armor plating of her lost
Phoenix Hawk,
Vivienne, named for her mother, who she inherited it from long ago and now keeps as a momento.
"Maria." Euron begins, as he thinks how to talk to her about what he's just heard. "There are certain...matters regarding your husband I need you to verify for me."
Maria looks over at Meifeng and her husband. "You told him, didn't you?" When Tristan nods, Maria shrugs and turns back to Euron. "It's true. They're ******."
Euron quirks an eyebrow as Maria continues. "I met Meifeng about a year ago when she was with the Hussars. Totally random meeting. We got to talking and we hit it off immediately when we found we had a lot in common. She knew about Tristan from his work in the acquisitions department at Free Worlds Defense Industries in grabbing new and rare 'Mech designs and tech, so I introduced them. After their meeting, I could see she had a crush and so I debated whether or not to murder her."
Euron shakes his head.
Yep, that's Maria for you."I didn't, as you can see. Instead, I decided to get to know her better." Maria licks her lips almost lasciviously. "Much...better."
Euron's eyes widen. "Soooo, then you-"
"I wined her, dined her, then dined
on her." She smirks lewdly.
Euron looks at Tristan and Meifeng. The woman nods and blushes while Tristan scratches the back of his head. Euron rolls his eyes at the confirmation.
Classic Maria. He remembered the woman from when he first met her. Maria had always been open and even crass about her wild youth, where she would seduce both men and women before eventually settling down (or so Euron had assumed) with Tristan and bearing him their four children. Now it seemed that, now that she was past her child-bearing years, she'd gotten an inkling of that youthful spirit back, despite her age.
"So," Euron said, a strange look on his face. "you three are, what exactly? A trio?"
"Well," Maria breathed. "I told Meifeng she should follow Tristan back to Zion where he worked. I also told her to tell Tristan what we'd done and to be honest about her crush on him. Also, that he needn't worry about me if he wanted to have a little fun with her if he felt so inclined. So, we worked out an arrangement, and it's worked ****** fantastic ever since."
Euron isn't sure what to think about this. "Do your kids know about this?" He asked.
Maria chuckles. "Lorren doesn't. He left with you before the affair got to that point. Tristifer and Lourdes suspect, but don't know. Only Isolde knows everything, and that's only because Meifeng is training her to be a MechWarrior."
"And she's okay with it?"
"She was a little shocked at first." Tristan admits. "But after she got to know Meifeng, she began to accept it. And now, with both Maria and Meifeng training her, she's readying to become a MechWarrior."
"Speaking of which," Maria changes the subject. "I hear you got a couple rides that need pilots. Which one's mine."
"I'll get to that," Euron tables the subject. "but first I need to know a few details of this...arrangement. Such as, what happens if Miss Zhou were to bear Tristan's bastard? I'm sure the kids wouldn't be happy about that."
"That's already been worked out." Meifeng finally speaks up. "Any Issue of Tristan and myself will not inherit the Botley name, nor any of the family's estate. They will take my last name and become a separate family of the Ironborn."
"It's a better deal than what a concubine would get." Maria admits. "We'll help raise the kid, plus if Meifeng ever wishes to leave our little trio and get married legitimately, we'll help get her settled, but nothing more."
"I see." Euron thinks. "Just so you know, you
are going to tell your children about this, come what may. And they will swear themselves to secrecy about it. The last thing I need is a secret like this getting out the hard way and damaging morale or standing with the Governor. While it may not be illegal in the Confederation for a man to have a concubine, this is the effectively the Draconis Combine, where they may not look at it so favorably. Also, you will absolutely NOT let this get out to my uncle Aeron. He will NOT understand AT ALL!"
"Yeah, yeah, I remember what a prude he is." Maria exclaims before muttering under her breath. "Damn Lutherans." A stern look from Euron silences her.
"As for your request about a 'Mech." Euron switches gears. "You're not getting one."
"What?!"
"At least, I won't be
giving you one." The Colonel continues. "The ownership of the
Grand Dragon and the
Falcon Hawk will be determined by the result of a competition. The top two contenders will get the 'Mechs."
"Oh yeah." Maria frowns. "And who's going to be in this little competition?"
"Any member of the families who wants to participate. So, Maria, if you want your old rank back, you're just going to have to get in line." Euron finishes
Maria stares into Euron's eyes, flashing a toothy grin. "Oh, I'll get in line, Colonel. Just don't feel bad when I show everybody up." Turning on her heel, she walks out.
Once Maria is out of earshot, Euron shakes his head and looks at Tristan and Meifeng. "I feel like I need to give you two should have my sympathies."
"The sympathy is appreciated, but not necessary." Tristan says. "Her attitude is one of the reasons I married her."
"She is...unique." Euron admits.
"She is indeed." Tristan nods.
"Do not worry." Meifeng adds. "We promise our arrangement will not become a problem for your men."
"For all our sakes, I hope not, young lady." Euron says. "Dismissed."
Tristan and Meifeng leave the room.
Euron groans, scratching his hair. "I need a drink."
