"I have sincerity, Governor," Donia said, regaining her composure. "I wouldn't have come personally with my forge ship otherwise. But do you have the sincerity to cooperate? Or have you already decided on Griffin IV? If so, there's no point continuing, is there?"
Donia wasn't backing out—she aimed to seize control of the negotiation. The deal mattered to her, but not enough to be extorted.
Alex shrugged. "Sage Donia, my sincerity has been clear. Merlin conveyed my terms. It's Mariupol Forge World that's been uninterested, not me. If you insist, I'll restate: there's an ancient xenos tomb on this planet. I want to excavate it with the Mechanicus. I've secured sub-sector development rights through Merlin and am willing to share profits with allies. My offer's generous, but Mariupol's been lukewarm, so I'm considering other forge worlds. Why go far when close is better?"
Donia was momentarily speechless. She knew Rostov II's offer was substantial, including a tenth of sub-sector profits.
But her teacher, engrossed in research, prioritized academia over commerce, letting a rival faction grow stronger in business. This faction now dominated Mariupol's internal struggles. Only her teacher's position as Fabricator-General and their faction's academic prowess kept them relevant.
This rivalry once nearly cost Ovilia her life, branded a tech-heretic.
Donia had long sought to bolster her faction's commercial standing, but with little support from her teacher, progress was slow.
Alex's proposal was a golden opportunity for her faction and Mariupol. But her teacher's disinterest in commerce meant only the xenos tech's allure prompted any consideration. Even now, Donia came on her own, not Mariupol's behalf.
She couldn't admit that, though—it'd mean handing the deal to others.
"Governor Alex, I apologize for Mariupol's prior lack of enthusiasm. We prioritize research over mundane business," Donia said, adopting an unusually humble tone for a Mechanicus Sage. "But rest assured, I've convinced my teacher. Mariupol will support Rostov II and sub-sector development. I'm fully authorized to handle this. Trust me—I'll provide top service and generous returns if you entrust the tasks to me."
Her sincerity was earnest, but Alex remained skeptical.
Knowing the Mechanicus through Ovilia, he doubted they'd bow so low. Expecting such humility was as absurd as finding a dormant Necron tomb ripe for plundering.
Politeness implied a motive. What was Donia's?
Profit? Possible, but not enough for such deference. The xenos tomb? If it was that compelling, Merlin's earlier talks would've succeeded.
Running through possibilities, Alex had a hunch. "Sage Donia, are you here on your own behalf or Mariupol Forge World's?"
Donia's composure faltered briefly, but she steadied. "Does it matter, Governor? I assure you, the cooperation's terms will be identical."
"You're not great at negotiating, are you?" Alex grinned, her response confirming his guess. "You've shown your hand. You're here personally, not for Mariupol. That's a big difference. A forge world's backing carries weight—I, a mere planetary governor, can't defy it. But a lone Sage? I can refuse. So, let's be honest. Lay your cards on the table, Donia."
(End of Chapter)
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