Privateer Education> Sales & Finance

[Rue Wydown 0]

Privateer Education>Sales & Finance

 

 

Holovision Announcer: "You too can go from civilian to pirate in seven easy years…."

 

Rue had always wondered how long it would take before those salty space dogs might fully trust her, an outsider. Trust that she could adequately care for their injuries had only taken a few weeks. Creating alliances (or what passed for friendship in this environment) had taken a few months. But it was her ability to earn enough trust to leave the ship that had taken far longer. Even then, she had been assigned an unwilling babysitter (or handler as Mason Rhomer preferred to be called) to monitor her movements.

 

Rue couldn't blame them. She supposed she'd have done the same if the roles had been reversed.

 

Six months after a few tentative steps off her leash, Rue was invited to accompany her mentor in crime, an old space dog, Edward B Thatcher, (Or better known as Thatch), on a market trip. A new level of Ruth's education began. Thatch was slowly introducing her to the black market traders, the subtle art of negotiations, the not so subtle art of the strong-arm sale, profit margins, exit strategies (or escape plans), aliases, Imperial intelligence tactics, and inventory management.

 

In short, how to make an illegal profit under the prying eyes of the Terran Empire.

 

What held Rue's interest most was the medical and pharmaceutical supply trade. Her service as a civilian health advisor had taught her that often goods could be found on the black market easier than legal means. They could also be bought at either a reduced price or at severe mark ups depending on their value. While the Company never condoned the purchase of black market goods, Doctor Ruth Wydown had kept tabs on it to help her negotiate with the legal market system.

 

Now, Rue, the pirate, could track the other end of the market. For fun.

 

Rue kept elaborate spread sheets of the equipment and supplies, tracking black and white market prices, current sales and inventory exchanges. Occasionally she'd diversify into engineering tools or weaponry – with assistance from Mason to comprehend the nuances of those trades.

 

Of course, she knew all her study was probably for naught. Any attempt to suggest a price to Thatch was ignored at best (and at worst resulted in a smack to the face). She'd keep trying, doing her best to manipulate Thatcher to see the profit in her ideas, or wait for her own opportunity to take his position. Until then, she'd listen and learn from her fellow pirates, diversify her skills, take advantage of the experience in the School of Piracy, for as long as it amused her.