"Mr. Secretary of State, with the whole country in a state of emergency, Vought International is willing to cooperate with the Department of Defense to calm the public and identify the people behind the terrorist attacks as quickly as possible. We'll fulfill this order without delay." Edgar lifted his glass and took a sip of water. "But if the government wants a long-term partnership with us, it must agree to a few conditions."
The secretary of state folded his arms and leaned forward slightly. "What conditions?"
Business was business. Even a powerful government official had to negotiate like a merchant if he wanted a long-term purchasing agreement with Vought International.
These two hundred expensive doses of Compound V were only the Pentagon's first order. The Federation had fifty states. To ensure that Espers could respond promptly to a terrorist attack anywhere across such a vast country would require an enormous amount of Compound V.
The federal government and Vought International would therefore remain close partners for a long time to come.
With the government needing his help, it would do its best to accommodate Edgar as long as his demands were not too harsh.
"First, the Food and Drug Administration must approve Compound V and guarantee Vought International the right to sell it openly and set its own prices. Second, the CIA must immediately end its investigation into Vought International. All charges against me and other Vought International employees must also be dropped at once."
The secretary of state frowned.
Neither condition was particularly harsh. The government could certainly accept the second.
If the two sides were seeking a long-term partnership, the federal government had no desire to see Vought International fall. There was no longer any need for the CIA investigation to continue.
Edgar's first condition, however, gave the