Well, lookie here.
I found this site through the links on A.I.M.'s website, but it was still under construction at the time. Now it's finally up. This is...oddly convenient. I mean, opening up right after we took the airfield, which is required for us to ship supplies in and out of the country? What are the odds?
In any case, this should come in handy. They've got a huge selection of guns, even if it is mostly basic. I'm sure it'll improve in time. I've still got plenty of money on hand, so I've decided to purchase a few items for the mercs. They'll need 'em.
Speaking of which, let's see what they're up to.
Hm. It appears that they've met the airport's cargo manager, one Pablo Greco.
Ira: This guy seems pretty slimy to me.
Cia: Yeh, I don't feel comfortable letting this tosser check our shipments.
C: Don't worry. We'll keep a close eye on him.
Couldn't agree more.
A little later, Jane finds a mechanic by the name of Waldo Zimmer. He informs us that the helicopter had a pilot, but the team killed him when they were taking over the airport. Shit. Luckily, Waldo tells us that he knows of another pilot in the country. He claims that this other pilot is on the run from the queen's forces. Perfect. We need to find this guy ASAP, after taking all of Drassen.
Bunny: Holy shit, guys!
Ellie: What?
Bunny: DUCT TAPE!
Ellie: ...Yes. And?
Bunny: And? Dude, you have no idea how useful this is! Now, all I need is a rock.
Ben: Er, what?
Ellie: I can understand taping something to your gun like a flashlight, but...why a rock?
Bunny: Ahh...when I find one, you'll see. *walks off*
Cia: ...The hell was that all about?
Ben: Don't know, don't care. As long as it doesn't affect his performance, it shouldn't matter.
The next day...
Alright, I've received two new e-mails. One is from Bobby Ray's. They've sent our stuff, it seems. Nice.
The second one is...More Economic Recruiting Center. What a crappy acronym, they just needed an excuse to use the word merc. I'm getting a bad vibe already...ah well, let's see what they have to offer.
Oh boy. Annoying yellow background composed of poorly made image tiles? I feel better already.
First customer. *sigh* Great. So this Speck T. Kline fellow tells me he used to be with A.I.M. Looking at their alumni list, I see that this is actually true. He left the organization to form his own PMC, it seems. Guess this is it. Well, might as well make an account, see if his guys are any good...
Hmph, figures. None of these guys are very good soldiers, and most of them are psychos. They do come cheap, but that's not enough to convince me to hire one of them. Sorry, Mr. Kline, but I refuse to stoop to such low standards.
Moving on; we've taken the airport, sure, but it won't mean anything if we can't defend it. I am certain there will be a counterattack, so I'm having Carlos and Jane train militia to defend the airfield. Once we take the whole town, we'll train even more militia, enough to properly defend the whole place without the our help. This is crucial; we cannot hope to defeat Deidranna alone, and even if we did, Arulco would have no standing army. The country would either fall into chaos or be annexed by a neighboring country, and I don't think Mr. Chivaldori would appreciate that very much.
Cia: Okay, let's see what we've got...ooh, neat. Looks like everything's in order...wait a minute. What the feck? Guys, get your arses over here!
C: What is it?
Cia: See for yourself. Check the manifest.
C: Okay...oh, you're shitting me.
Ellie: What is it?
C: Looks like somebody swiped some of our shit.
Bunny: Oh, what?!
Ben: Fantastic.
Generica: Do you know who did it?
C: Maybe. Hey Pablo! What the fuck, man, what'd you do with our stuff?
Pablo: It wasn't me, man, I swear!
C: Don't start with me! *walks up, grabs by collar* I'm already running out of patience. You know how many men we've killed already? What makes you think we won't just dispose of you right now? Spill!
Pablo: *Talks tough*
C: I don't, eh? Well... *pulls out sidearm* let's see if you can back up that claim. *shoots Pablo in the leg*
Pablo: *concedes*
C: That's better. Tomorrow, then. You'd better have it, or you're done. *walks back to group*
Ellie: Was that really necessary?
C: Yes. Look, I know his kind. They can't be won over with words alone easily. Sometimes, you need to get a little rough with 'em.
Cia: Now that's a philosophy I can get behind.
Ben: And by getting a little rough, you mean shooting them in the leg.
C: I grazed him, Ben. He'll be fine.
Ben: If you say so, but what if he doesn't learn?
C: I repeat.
Generica: And if you don't graze him?
C: Well-
Generica: C, let me just stop you right there, and say my piece. If you think we'll be able to persuade everyone with threats or torture, you're dead wrong.
C: 'Rica, that's not what I believe.
Generica: Then why is Pablo an exception? Sure, he's an asshole, but he's practically a saint compared to a few other people on this island. Also, remember, he's in charge of shipping and handling here. What do you think will happen if we kill him?
C: Okay, point, but how else am I supposed to get him to talk?
Generica: I also know people like him, C. They're very materialistic.
C: Dinero, then?
Generica: You got it.
C: Feels like I'd be rewarding him for taking our shit.
Generica: It's not like you'd have to give him a lot. Maybe ten bucks? And you don't have to give him money from your own pockets. Our employer has plenty of cash. I don't think he'd mind letting us spend a fraction of it.
C: Alright, you've made your point. I won't hurt him next time.
Generica: Good.
C: You know, we're still on the same side.
Generica: Yes, but this is war. It does funny things to our minds sometimes. That's why we need other people to keep us in check.
C: True...
Hope you guys don't mind the absence of combat in this log. I've got the screenshots for the next one, and it'll make up for it. :)
