77 M1 - Term: 2, Round: 2 (2/2)
Fortescue shrugged like it was no bother. ”I had the information collated for my own use, it's not a big deal to share it with you.”
”An apology, a gift, what is it that you want Fortescue?” Daedo stated in a polite tone albeit direct as was his style.
”I am not giving you all this to ask for something. I have a proposal, and I wanted to ensure you would look at it without prejudice from our past,” Fortescue replied calmly.
”You don't know me very well if you think you needed to do this in order for me to look at a proposal logically,” Daedo stated.
”I'm not just considering you, but your squad,” Fortescue said. And she was right if Daedo went back to his squad and said she apologised and gave them something valuable that would go a long way in opening their minds to at least consider a deal from her.
Daedo nodded. ”What is the proposal?” He asked politely.
”I want us to work together. If you can overlook that I am a Fortescue, I can overlook your theories on alien invasions. We can fund all your research,” she said.
”That is possible depending on the details. We received a grant from GlenCore for a couple of research projects, and Fortescue could do something similar,” Daedo replied.
”You received a grant from GlenCore? How much?” Fortescue asked.
Daedo considered telling her it was confidential but he could see no reason to hide the information and said, ”Twenty kay.”
”I assume it's your IP, no strings?” Fortescue asked with interest.
”Yes. I wouldn't have agreed otherwise,” he replied.
”The details are here,” she flicked him another document and said, ”I will summarise.”
”Fortescue will give M1TS0 cadets full scholarship and refund all M1 payments. We will also pay for all research projects with a cap of one hundred kay per year. Anything further will require approval but is not necessarily denied. Fortescue will pay a further one hundred kay to Daedalus per year. M1TS0 will be able to use any inventions, designs etc. that you come up with.”
”In return, Fortescue will own the IP and distribution will be at its discretion,” Fortescue finished.
”You think this is a good deal?” Daedo asked astounded.
Fortescue nodded, ”You will have no risk, no costs, we will cover them all, and you will take home one hundred kay bitcreds on top of that.”
”I do not think your research has been thorough if you think this deal is acceptable,” Daedo replied.
”What do you mean?” Fortescue asked. ”Please be specific.”
*Vannier: Axelzero estimates this year's revenue will surpass a million bitcreds not taking into account possible sales to EUDF and new IP.*
”The value of the IP we already own is severely undervalued. Based on our current numbers we will earn more than a million bitcreds this year,” Daedo replied.
Fortescue looked rattled for the first time during this or any meeting. ”I had no idea,” she breathed. ”That is something we could match if the revenue stream is validated.”
”Fortescue. You have been generous and humble, I do not think we can work together this way,' Daedo answered.
”But gaining your IP was the way I was able to get approval on the costs,” Fortescue said.
Daedo ran some quick numbers through his head before replying.
”For what I have planned it will not be possible for Fortescue to buy our IP. The company isn't big enough,” Daedo replied.
”What?” Karine Fortescue replied incredulously. Fortescue Group was in the top fifty largest companies on the planet. Its capital valuation was in the top seventy, and its revenue fluctuated from thirty to forty.
”Let's move on to a different type of deal. I am open to working with you, but this proposal will never work,” Daedo replied.
Fortescue looked lost. She had anticipated negotiation and even rejection. But the words that came out of Daedo's mouth and his claims were incredibly far from her expectations and predictions for this meeting.
She rubbed her cheek and said, ”Okay, tell me what you are thinking. I am open.” Her body language contrarily was saying she was agitated and stressed, not open.
”What could work would be something along these lines,” Daedo said after being fed words from Vannier.
”Fortescue will have access to our latest equipment, for the Inter-Academy team and a dozen squads of its choosing. It will need to sign a contract that this equipment is on loan, and it will not reverse engineered nor disassembled it in any way. It will also agree that all the unpatented IP in this equipment belongs to Daedalus. Fortescue could reimburse Daedalus by granting scholarship for all M1TS0 cadets and a one-hundred kay per annum grant towards research.” Daedo stated. Barran would have been proud.
”A value of approximately one-hundred and fifteen kay and all we get is to use your equipment in a dozen squads plus the Inter-Academy team?” Fortescue summarised.
”Actually, I have already agreed that the Inter-Academy team can use it free,” Daedo corrected.
”How am I supposed to get this approved?” Fortescue replied. ”It's not a very good deal.”
”How is it not a very good deal?” Daedo asked. ”I thought your goal was to get the Academy promoted? By funding us, you will be assisting the squad who is going to give you a tech advantage. You just admitted it.”
”But you just admitted that you already agreed to give the Inter-Academy team the equipment,” Fortescue replied.
”So what?” Daedo said. ”The direct benefit of assisting us will ensure a tier three tech advantage. Unless the goal was never to get the tech advantage. Was the goal to get Daedalus IP and possible promotion a bonus?”
”No!” Fortescue said earnestly. ”You do not know how my company works. To get something approved there has to be a guaranteed financial gain. And while getting a promotion is a financial gain, it is not anywhere near close to being guaranteed. The upper Academy will not have this tech advantage for some years.”
Daedo resisted the urge to inform Fortescue he was already working on mech designs. He still had a long way to go, and the credits involved were minor enough to be justified with the Middle Academy alone.
”This is why you are Tier three. You have very little Research and Development. Fortescue predominately manufactures others IP,” Daedo stated.
”Of course, we are not an IP company,” Fortescue said.
Daedo nodded. ”You expect to be unlike all the Tier one Academies and yet still gain promotion? DaVinci, Svarski and Huawei are all IP companies and manufacturers as they invest heavily in R and D. Does Fortescue expect to perform at their level and remain IP ignorant?”
”That is none of your concern,” Fortescue had been amicable, but Daedo had pushed her too far. She may have been the daughter of the CEO, but she was as involved with the decision making at Fortescue as Daedo was. However, it was not in her nature to agree with an outsider or be humiliated by another cadet.
”I think we are at an impasse. I appreciate you reaching out and wish you all the best with your studies and training. I will ask Barran to forward you the latest rental plan for your consideration,” Daedo stated.
”What?” Fortescue said. ”Are you going to allow more squads to get your exo?” She was reverting to her usual form. Some cadets had an inferiority complex where Fortescue had a superiority complex.
”Wouldn't it be great if they all could afford it,” Daedo said with a smile.
”I tried. I really did,” she said seriously, but as if she was talking to herself and not Daedo. ”But I cannot understand you. Paget-A masterminded this whole meeting, for you and me. She was concerned when others are around I have to seem in charge which was not the right approach for you. We planned and roleplayed all your possible replies. But how can we plan for you when you say things like one million creds per year? How is that even possible?”
”Fortescue,” Daedo said kindly, ”It's easy, and you're making it hard. Just train hard, improve your tactics and skills. Use our tech, we will share it with everyone, and I will do my best to get the Academy promoted. Daedalus doesn't need Fortescue credits, and the best thing Fortescue can do is stay out of our way.”
”I would like to believe you, but my experience makes me think you are crazy. You really don't understand how the world works and if I follow you we will fail miserably,” she said from the heart. When Karine Fortescue says experience, she is referring to her upbringing and training, although it is not actual experience she does not view it that way.
”Risk is part of any battle strategy,” Daedo replied standing. ”I really have to go its almost 2230.”
Fortescue stood, ”I will think about what you said.” Was all her pride would allow her to say.