Competition: [Parabellum Cycle 3] Fiction - For Services Rendered

To: ACE Accounts Recievable, ACE Internal Affairs, ACE Chief Financial Officer

From: Joss and Associated Ltd

Time: 2326h 303rd day of 43 ABY

Re: Overdue Notice- Possible Legal Action

In response to your billings department refusal to pay the sums below I will now be forced to seek legal recompense for this insult if my revised invoice is not paid promptly within 30. As an Inquisitorious file has already been opened regarding the ACE's shady treatment of contractors and even Brotherhood members, I am hopeful that this bill will be paid promptly.

As was so rudely demanded by your billing clerk on the attached datalink message of Thursday last week, I have removed the fee I had included for the Oil Bath and steam cleaning of my droid D-3PO, even after he proved instrumental in the success of the operation. Further may I remind you that this invoice has a top secret TRIPLE VIOLET code clearance attached to it, and I'm sure the the duly appointed member of the ACE Board of directors be disappointed to hear from the Dark Council about how unfairly one of their own members was treated by some non force wielding bureaucrats.

The below sums are not a small amount of money, and we expect this matter to be handled expediently as this invoice is now more then 43 minutes overdue, it's honestly a bit of an outrage that you let your billing department act like this. Yes, I'm talking directly to you Mr. Chief Financial Officer, speaking directly into all 7 of your ears. Ignore this notice at your own peril. I was working directly for the DGam on this one so I feel this level of disrespect is unwarranted and unprofessional.

Further work on open contracts with the Arx Commerce Exchange will halt if this bill is not reconciled within the next 7 business days. We currently have 14 ongoing jobs with you and some are time sensitive, and I would hate for you to have to explain this one to the powers that be. Failure to pay an invoice this overdue is a breach of contract, as clearly stated in the documentation signed by both parties at the start of each job. Also, if heads don't role in the Accounts Receivable department I might make some heads of account receivable employees. Figure it out up there, and quick if you want to keep us on as high level contractors

Attached invoice:

-58.5 hours of work at our premium rate of 100 credits per hour.

-50 hours of work at our standard rate of 200 credits per hour.

-40 hours of labour performed by my protocol droid, 50 credits per hour.

-26.5 hours of flight time on operational duty for the JV Corra III, standard rate of 100 credits per hour.

-Extra fuel surcharge of 1892 credits for excessive hovering in atmospheric conditions due to your Economic Attache's negligence.

-250 credit surcharge for cleaning my prisoners hold on my ship.

-1760 credit charge for required permits and parking fees.

-180 credit fee for required dry cleaning of garments an upholstery after your official got too drunk on the outward trip.

This is my version of DH justification to the Auditor for his compensation for services rendered. I tried to make it humorous but not everyone will get old man humor.
I had my childhood friend edit and proof this. Retired Crawford County Avalanche (Grayling MI) Editor-in-Chief - Dennis Mansfield.

"It's a matter of honor. Whether you make contracts and later update policies to avoid payouts, or scrutinize claim. Your outreach has been large, and it has made you rich. But with expansion of your facilities across lands brings expenses that, once met, is attempted to maintain at the expense of your customers. This is how it begins. Business decisions when money is short from spending and maintaining growth to a calibur you'll have to squeeze out of your customers to maintain with updated prices. When your bank can't relinquish a claim or pay for a job, then we have meetings like here. Honestly the whole thing's been on record, either by our datapad signings, voice call conversations, and the camera in my helmet. I'm can't change the hearts and minds of those who have dug a hole of corruption in greed so deep no rhetoric can convince them that lives are more valuable than some percentage. Which is why, instead, we will move this claim to coruscant where we can't talk about it in court. Should the court take my side, I will recieve more than just the payout of my job. So for me it's fight you legally to get paid, or don't get paid at all. I've already completed the job, which puts me in favor, but obviously my work isn't done since we are having disputes over closure. Also, you hired me for my unique capabilities. There are those with powers over the mind, which can give someone a thought or judgement from that influence. So even as you dump what funds beyond what I can afford into an intellect that has manipulated the legal system to be in your favor, it may not matter in the end. This will also be bad press for you, win or lose, on your reliability. If your profits are at the border of bankruptcy or some manner of financial strife, you’d be wise to payout and downsize. But losing a case and the publicity? There’s no recovery. If I’m wrong, and you are plenty rich, then no one will complain that I take a bigger bite than what was discussed given the ill-courteous change in plans over my commission. My work involves conflict management, and I do so adore the sweet taste of vengeance, and here you are offering it on a platter for me.”

"You ask me about why you should pay me? Well, let me tell you. You could have plenty of your office skags who generate invoices, who waste your money and who manage to line your pockets, while costing you precious credits. You look at me, and what do you see? You see a man of the world. I have given your information, I have given you materials, I have even managed to provide you with ships and weapons. Where do they come from? I can only assure you they are the greatest quality I could procure. While you would have to worry about the bottom line, I have sought to provide you your goods at the lowest prices possible. I have tapped into means that, while they be less palatable to your more straight-laced paper pushers, are more than effective at meeting your needs. I have twisted the arm of the underworld, and I would not give you anything other the best that I could muster. What cost has been brought about? I am not asking for an arm and a leg. I am not asking for some hefty finders fee. I am asking you merely for enough to keep myself in a filthy, kriffing apartment in the back leg of the trade arm. I am asking for enough to keep my belly filled, and my taste for spirits slaked. And if you should choose to pay me what I have earned, what I deserve, I can assure you that this is not the end. This will be the start of things, the start of gems that have yet to come. I am a simple, Corellian man, with a simple dream. I want to see a greater Dark Brotherhood, one that will continue to live, one that will continue to thrive in spite of the likes of those who would oppose us. I have seen the machinations of a Sith Empire of Orian. I have given them great things. I have provided them with great services. I am offering the Grand Master in standing with greater than that. All that I ask, all that I request, all that I demand is that which I am due. The cost of materials you will find attached to a file on my datapad. Other than that, I want but 10 thousand credits. What I have seen of your coffers, what I have seen of your fleets, what I have seen of the Iron Throne, this sum is but a pittance. Indeed, in paying what I am due, you will earn yourself an asset. I will bring you weapons, I will bring you artifacts, I will bring you vehicles and I will bring them in a way where you will not have to stretch yourself in either credits nor effort to continue to avail yourself of. It would be pure foolishness, given that this price is negotiable after this day. So long as I am kept able to survive, I am more than happy to continue to provide, and afterward you will be free to pay me as you see fit. All I ask is that you be fair. Look within yourself, look at your coffers, look at what we can accomplish together, and I am sure that you will see how easy the true answer is. Ten thousand credits. A pittance for the ACE, no?