Chapter 18
by 
Nemo of Utopia
* Is His Price Worth It? *
*You Need More Data.*
^How much is he asking for monthly salary?^ You ask, and Berylia grimaces.
^An entire Basic Credit, 'with room for advancement',^ she declares.
^How Many Basic Credits of surplus is the empire Producing per month?^ You ask.
^10, he would cost us 10% of our banked income each month,^ Berylia says warily, ^Are you seriously considering hiring this vagrant?^ she asks.
^Just getting all the facts. Is he demanding immediate command of a starship?^ you ask.
^Yes and no, he comes with his own ship, a very small scout vessel such as our engineers have never seen before...^ Fireblade informs you.
"Why didn't you mention that before now?^ you ask, excited.
^Firstly, you didn't ask, second, his ship was crippled by an attack by some kind of 'space creature' and the subsequent unplotted warp jump. It can barely travel between planets in our solar system and it's computer, warp engine, and weapons systems are completely destroyed, even Commander Sparky cant fix them, keeps muttering about having to 'build the tools, to build the tools, to build the tools, to build the tools,' etc,^ Fireblade says defensively.
^Ah, I see. But his ship could, in theory, say, transport a team of researchers from here to Altoona?^ You probe.
^Probably, yes, but not the Equipment they would require to survive there and communicate their findings back,^ Ellowyn explains.
"Damn, well, how much is he asking for his hiring fee?" You ask and Berylia looks grim.
"140 Basic Credits, which is almost all we have..." Berylia informs you, and you consider.
^How Much Do We Have Exactly?^ you ask.
^150,^ Berylia says, and you rub your chin thoughtfully.
A 'free' Scout-class ship hull, Advanced Damage Control, and a fairly weak choice of a starship captain, for 140 Basic Credits and 1 Basic Credit per turn which brings your income down to 9 Basic Credits...