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With TFM crippled, The Dealer Consortium launches a counterattack. Could this be the death blow?
Mission log decrypted by Chief of Communications 7-26-99 I stare into the face of mine own enemy, and tremble. Never has the TFM come across a force as powerful and influential as the Dealer Consortium. Why a threat such as this had to present itself at a time when we are weakest is beyond me. There were too many other things to deal with; consolidating our operations, training new members...and recovering from the long-term effects of the botched BotCon mission of 98. This was the worst possible time for this to happen. I can only pray we are up to the challenge.
Just as we were always aware of the operations of a few dealers, so has the Consortium become aware of us. I don't know how we didn't see it coming. It makes perfect sense that a group of dealers would band together into an organization such as theirs to control a broad area of the secondary market. You would have thought that we would have stumbled across them sooner, given our activities. Until now, not one of the stores we had taken over had any information regarding this. I suppose they were all small-time operations, and we were not worth their notice. Until now. The evil empire exists. They know about us. And they are coming... |
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The information the advance team had sent back was...disturbing. I've already decoded the audio portion of it to hardcopy for the boss, and frankly...I'm frightened. And I only listened to the first few minutes.Who are these people? And what have we done do warrant their attention? It's times like this I realize that this isn't a game; this is real life. And life...just got a little more dangerous for all of us. I'm starting to decode the visuals now... what a place... makes you think of the old smoking rooms, where men of power retire to discuss all matters of import over a thimble of bourbon and a genuine cuban cigar, replete with dark glossy woods and heavy velvet draping over the windows. Why in the world people like this would take an interest in us is the big question. Hopefully the boss will have some answers after he has the full picture. [OPEN] room as described above, with , , , and . Tooley>"..another round for our guests, Jeeves." Jeeves>"At once, madam." the aged manservant retired to another part of the mansion to retrive that which his master had requested. The other three impecably dressed individuals stay seated, and wait for their host to continue. Tooley >"...and that's the entire story as we know it thus far, gentleman. Apparently, this militia has taken over a number of operations over in the colonies." Gbunk>"In America, you mean. We haven't been a colony of yours for a few hundred years. And frankly, I'm having a hard time believing what you just told me. Where did you get all this information?" Tooley >"I say, I have my sources, young man, and it's quite impolite to question me about them." Gbunk>"But it's perfectly alright for me to believe any yarn you spin me, right? Give me a break! How could something like this have existed right under our noses for this long, and we not get a whiff of it until now?" Tooley >"Obviously, you had your mind on other matters. Perfectly all right; you were conducting business hands-on, the best way to run an operation. But you were so caught up in the bottom line, that you didn't see this coming. So it falls once again to me to look out for all our interests." BanthaTrad>"I understand that, but why does it even concern you? Surely, even if this is the truth and they exist, what you say they've taken over is merely a drop in the bucket worldwide. I've looked at our financial reports from the last 6 months, and I see no impact on earnings. None. And judging from their current tactics, they can't possibly last. Either they'll remain a small-time operation, or they'll do something foolish and land in jail. Either way, not worthy of our notice." Tooley>"If that is what you believe, then you are a fool. Do you think this is limited to one geographical location? We've got this tf militia rabble springing up all over the world! Confirmed reports of their operations in Australia, Canada, as well as from the Americas. They are not your run of the mill vagabonds. There's a glint of intelligence in some of them. And if this keep up, they will most certainly make more than a dent in our bottom line in the long term. They will be trouble, I can assure you of that." Gbunk>"So you propose to eliminate the trouble before it starts?" Tooley>"Isn't that what we always do?" BanthaTrad>"So why don't we do it the normal way?" Gbunk>"Yes, usually we simply pay off the others.." Tooley >"Haven't you been listening? These are not your normal run of the mill materialists. These people have developed an obsession with this specific product line, and an unhealthy one at that. They aren't persuaded by money. They only see it as a goal to further their cause, those idealistic fools!" BanthaTrad>"What if we gave them what they want?" Tooley >"Sometimes, you make me wonder if it was a good idea to allow you to be a member in the first place. You truly harbor too much sympathy for these people." BanthaTrad>"You know full well that if it weren't for them, we wouldn't have a leg to stand on. These fans are literally what keeps our operation going. I see no reason why we couldn't just lower the prices and get them off our backs. It's such a small group." Tooley >"Nonsense. And lose out on our profits? Would you like to pay the difference out of your share?" BanthaTrad>"..." Tooley >"I didn't think so. If we were to do this to appease them, how long before others catch on? Our entire operation would be in jeaporady. I will not tolerate that. Our backs will remain stif, gentleman. Now then, as I've informed you of the problem, I've also seen fit to provide a solution. Or rather, our guest has. Isn't that right, Mr Preto?" Tpreto>"Indeed. In exchange for full membership, and exclusive rights to profits from products imported from Japan, I will make this problem go away for you. No fuss, no muss. No need to soil you hands on this matter." BanthaTrad and Gbunk>(together)"exclusive rights!?" Tpreto>"Those are my terms." Gbunk>"Unacceptable!" BanthaTrad>"We didn't get exclusive rights in the US!" Tpreto>"That is your problem, not mine. And frankly, if you truly had a grasp of the situation, you would realize what a bargain it is." ...>"And why are you so uniquely qualified to do this?" Tpreto>"Because unlike you, I have a clear understanding of who the enemy is. I have dealt with them personally, and I assure you, they won't go away. It is only a matter of time before they take notice of you, and act accordingly." BanthaTrad>"How can you be so sure?" Tpreto>"You didn't have one of your operations obliterated by them." Gbunk>"And you did?" Tpreto>"Yes. One of my front-line operators was killed, and the lease to the store bought out from me while I was out of the county. They made it look like it was a personal grudge between an irate customer and the operator, but I know better. The dealer was newly installed, and wouldn't have known anyone long enough. Nor was it a random robbery; the money was still in the cash register. In fact, the only thing missing were the transformer toys." ...>"And you know them personally." Tpreto>"Oh, yes, indeed. For you see, they offered me a place in their organization some time back. The fools. Just because I personally dealt only in TFs, they assumed that I was one of them, and not in it to make a profit. If they only knew. That mistake will be their undoing. " ...>"So what do you plan to do?" Tpreto>"That will all be revealed in time. For now, take heart, my friends. I have the situation well in hand. Soon, the TF Militia will not be a bother us, or to anyone else, ever again." Tpreto chuckles evily. The others, seeing his good humor, soon join him in the laugh.
TO BE CONTINUED! |
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