THE MOMENT
"Preposterous?" Phoenix chuckled at the Commander. They were talking business in Phoenix's spartan white office. The red-haired man in a white suit smiled as the golden hour light poured in from the windows behind him. Commander Givens was there to finalize a major production order, but one of the finer details concerned him enough to voice his misgivings. In return, Phoenix only laughed. "How so?" he asked.
"If it's not obvious...," Commander Givens always tried to be fair-minded. To him, it was a clear and major issue. But, he knew Phoenix handled mutliple clients from across the multiverse, and it wasn't impossible that he got something mixed up. They'd dealt together several times, and Phoenix, along with the company he represented, Sharp Development, had proven to be worthy partners. It wasn't like the executive to miss small details, and that was enough reason to give him the benefit of the doubt. "...let me remind you that on our Earth, using children for experimental mechs as pilots is not a good thing because of various problems," he said. "The rules are very clear."
"I appreciate the reminder, but I did keep that in mind as I put this offer together," Phoenix nodded.
"But... the YNG series of mechs requires pre-adolescent pilots," Phoenix's claim surprised Commander Givens. Was he wasting both their time? "... you even offered a graduating class of trained pilots along with units ordered...," he shook his head. Phoenix's smile grew broader, and he nodded.
"I see what the problem is," he said. "The rules of engagement on your Earth state children may not be used for experimental mechs," he winked at Commander Givens. "But, the YNG series is a mature line currently in production. It's got all the safety bells and whistles with no 'experimental' systems involved whatsoever. We guarantee they’re deployable. So, how many can I put you down for?"