Homebrew - Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven
That’s why They’re called Enemies


When choosing allies there are two criteria which must be considered: Can they shoot straight? Will they shoot at your enemies?
- "Crystal Dragon", Steven Miller and Sharon Lee

With four simple keystrokes, Xian Sheng wiped the purchase request out of the queue; his controller would be happy he'd managed to snag the order off the system before his employer, Fernando Brothers Expanded Packaging could process it. It bothered him that he couldn't understand why cancelling a simple order for the constituent chemicals used to make expanded foam should be a matter of national security, especially as the order came from a small business up in orbit -- the resulting foam products would be too light and fragile to cause damage should they fall from orbit -- still, his actions resulted in a nice addition to his bank account and that meant he and his family could afford the new car he'd been eyeing. No doubt his wife would demand a better child safety seat for Xian Jr.

* * * * *

"Did we ever get the foam from Fernando Brothers?"
"Nope. And I've sent them an email with a copy of our purchase order," Dora replied. "They still haven't gotten back to me even though I've left three voice-mails with their international orders clerk."
"We've got to have it! Without it we can't ship the first orders down to our distributor. Have you told either Patrick or J'Shawn about the holdup?"
"I was going to bring it up tonight when we have dinner."
Ellen sighed, "I can't make the meeting. I'm pulling an extra shift because one of the construction apes broke his arm. Third shift is short two men right now."