[color=gold][center][h2][i][b]Valkyrie AGR Sport Headquarters[/b][/i][/h2][/center][/color]

[color=gold][center] Last Week of Summer Break[/center][/color]

[color=gold][center] Collaboration Alexander Knight and Max Wedgewood [/center] [/color] 

[color=gold][center][h2][i][b]The Interview[/b][/i][/h2][/center][/color]

Team Valkyrie AGR Sport Team headquarters were located on the outskirts of  Aachen Germany. The racing team was a partnership conglomerate of corporate owners and the European Union government research and development interests. They are guided by a board of directors with 10 members with an elected President of the Board who held the tie breaker 11th vote. The team had top of the line engineers and a solid craft but the team was barely hanging onto their reputation and placement as one of the top teams. The team had excellent financial support from top corporate interests and the European Government but was plagued with leadership that had a divided viewpoint and vision for the team. The result was excellent technology and engineering and an underperforming below average team when they should be placing in the top three places each race. Among the Board of Directors were companies that had racing in their DNA such as Ferrari, Sauber, Renault, and Red Bull. Then there were tech and big pharma companies investing in the technology developed for the team looking at developing marketable products and services to the masses. Then there was the European Union Space Agency that utilized the racing team to expand their research and development of clean environmental propulsion systems and antigravity solutions to some of Earth’s biggest issues with a goal of expanding mankind’s future in space. 

The team headquarters was a large complex that resembled a university campus. The campus sat atop a hill overlooking the city of Aachen. The buildings were a mixture of sculptural modern artistic metal and glass laboratory buildings and historic looking buildings. The campus had research and development buildings, a large warehouse and production facility, a large office building, an onsite training facility and a test track. There was also a large apartment building for key staff, trainers, and pilots. The team headquarters had everything the team needed to get the best results. 

The office building had a large auditorium that was used for team events and press conferences. It was set up with state of the art holographic equipment and sound systems. The training facility had a well appointed gym and a state of the art simulator. The onsite medical facilities were also housed in the training center. The engineering research and development labs were housed in the large warehouse and production area of the campus. The test track was also in this area and could be seen peeking above and around the buildings in the area. The medical research happening was in one of the metal and glass looking buildings that had clean rooms and would make any big lab proud. The onsite apartment housing was in one of the older more historic looking buildings. The onsite housing was not wasteful on space but they were adequate, well appointed, and maintained. The grounds had plenty of open green space with lovely gardens and trees. Walkways meandered through it all with benches providing a natural respite to the indoor environments at the team headquarters. 

The corporate headquarters office building was a staggeringly beautiful modern marvel of steel and glass. The campus was on the city's main public transportation lines. An antigravity bus system and monorail dropped passengers off at the main entrance to the campus. The main office was open to the public but there was security. You didn’t get past the main lobby without an appointment or a staff badge. The main office building had a large industrial kitchen that was attached to a restaurant style space that served food to the workers. This area was run by the team chef. Workers could bring their own lunch and eat it here or could eat at the team restaurant. They could have meals deducted from their pay. The food was excellent and cost effective for employees as well. It is one of the great perks from working at headquarters. There is an onsite daycare for the children of employees that is located across from the cafeteria.

Alexander was one more standing inside the entrance to Team Valkyrie’s headquarters just outside the security checkpoint. He was waiting this time for Max Wedgewood. Alexander was exploring his options for next season. He needed a credible replacement for Dorian. Max had potential but Alexander was worried about how well he would fit in at Valkyrie. Max had a loud personality from what Alexander knew of him. Would he be able to check his ego and work as part of a team or would he be a diva that was difficult to work with. That is why he had invited Max to come and tour the team headquarters and for an informal interview. He wanted to get a sense of who he was. Alexander had no idea if he would show up alone or with an entourage in tow. 

Alexander sighed as the weight he felt about trying to find Dorian’s replacement was beginning to get heavier. After losing Jenny Lowry to Apex, he was starting to feel a sense of urgency to get a contract and announce who that person will be. Alexander had worked too hard and cleaned up too much shit at the team to mess it up now with a bad choice of pilot. He shifted his weight from foot to foot and sighed again. 

Mabel, his elderly executive assistant, rolled her eyes at him. Mabel was dressed in white today which glowed against her dark chocolate colored skin. Her gray hair pulled back in a no nonsense bun today. Mabel’s voice was full of exasperation as she swatted his arm gently. 

[color=f6989d]Mabel: “Alex, will you relax! He is just a  man. You talk to him and if you don’t like him we keep looking. There is still a lot of time before next season.” 
[/color]

Alexander straightened up like a kid caught with their hand in the cookie jar. 

[color=00aeef]Alexander: “I am fine. I am relaxed.” [/color]

Mabel chuckled and shook her head at him. 

[color=f6989d]Mabel: “How long have I known? You are as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs!”[/color]

Alexander sighed again as he looked out the plate glass windows for the twentieth time. 

[color=00aeef]Alexander: “I can’t help feeling like things have been going too well since Maier and Brendel were indicted on fraud charges. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. I just can’t seem to settle in and be happy. It’s like I have to pick at it. I don’t trust it because things have been going well.” [/color]

Mabel eyes softened with understanding. 

[color=f6989d]Mabel: “Alex you deserve for things to go well. You have worked hard since you got here. There has been so much on your plate. You need to relax and take a mini vacation. Take Lena somewhere warm and sunny.” 
[/color]

Alexander snort laughed as he shot Mabel an amused look. 

[color=00aeef]Alexander: “Mabel you know I was even working while we were supposedly off for the summer. We technically were on vacation, you know.” [/color]

Before Mabel could reply to that, the car Alexander had sent to pick up Max from the airport was pulling up in front of the building. 

[color=f6989d]Mabel: “He is here.” [/color]

They watched as the car came to a stop and the rear door was opened for the passenger. 

(yours) 
Stepping out of the car, sunglasses on, the Colorado-born, trimmed hair having blonde MMR pilot stepped down, looking around, taking it in. This was a little different to Montreal. Taking his sunglasses off, Max looked across to Alexander and gave a smile, nodding.
[color=fff200]“Morning, Alexander. Thanks for having me. First time I’ve ever had a team boss want to invite me to their headquarters….that is a new one to me.”[/color] Max smiled, keeping polite, knowing Valkyrie’s boss leant more on the American side than his Estonian one. Putting his hand out for a handshake, Max knew he was here on business, but courtesy was a given.

Alexander had moved through the lobby to meet Max as he stepped out of the car. He waited for him to move away from the curb. Alexander smiled and moved towards him. He took Max’s hand and gave it a firm polite shake. [color=00aeef]“Hello Max, welcome to Team Valkyrie AGR Sport headquarters. I wanted to give you a tour of our facilities and have a chat. It is no secret that Dorian is retiring. I wanted to chat about the possibility of you coming to Team Valkyrie. I won’t sugar coat it for you though. I want it to be the right fit. That’s why I invited you.” [/color]

He took a step back and watched the man for clues as to how he was processing what he told him. 

Max looked around, nodding in return with a shrug.
[color=fff200]“Of course. You wanna know if I’m the right stuff. I get it. First time though, that someone wants to give me a tour of the facility, I expected a cafe in town so….color me impressed. That is mighty trusting of you, Alexander. I’m under contract at another team, so let’s keep anything so that it doesn’t end up an issue under an NDA, right?”[/color] Max seemed to almost echo his agent’s words about this, knowing that Alexander would be no doubt, willing to let him look around. But that was something he had to bear in mind, because MMR would certainly be poking their heads in if they knew. That was not a conversation he was going to enjoy having.

[color=fff200]“I mean, I think we spoke about preliminaries. But I also know that we need to talk through status. I’m not interested much in what your site has, but more about what the team’s like. And specifically, what your terms are.”[/color] Max added, as they walked, knowing that was all it came down to. Straight to the point. 

Alexander smiled and looked amused a little at the thought that he would even consider letting him into the sensitive areas before being hired. That was why they had security and multiple buildings and security checkpoints. There was still a lot to see what was not under lock and key. Alexander smiled and motioned to the doors into the building. [color=00aeef]“Well let me address your concerns first. I certainly won’t be showing you any of the more sensitive areas. But touring the campus and seeing how you interact with the rest of the team is important to me. You want to know what our team is like and what team support means here at Valkyrie. Well there is no better way for you to find out, than see it with your own eyes. Don’t take my word for it. Ask questions. Ask the other people who work here. If you get into a topic that I feel crosses a line, I will tell you. Besides, how else can you make a comparison between what it is like to work with MMR versus Valkyrie?" 
[/color]

[color=fff200]“Sure thing. That sounds good to me.”[/color] Max added, looking around, keeping his cards close to his chest. He was friendly, smiling to any other staff they came across, and kept an open profile. He hadn’t gotten to this point in AG without making himself known as a talent, and was shocked at how comfortable Alexander was showing him off. There was no doubt rumors that would swirl, talks that would fall out of this, and Max knew full well that even just being here was enough to start that chain. So for him, a personal risk, but nothing he saw jumped out to him, it was everything his agent told and more. A high-tech, slick, clean operation that took all of Europe’s best engineers and talents and stuck them on one campus in the Eifel mountains. It was the first team he’d seen beyond MMR, that and any small outfits he’d raced in while in the Junior AG leagues. But this was something already, even if MMR promised, this was the realized version of what he was looking for.

Perhaps it was a little more corporatized than MMR was, a smaller factory that felt like more of a punk operation, even if it was backed by some of America’s biggest car manufacturers. This felt more scientific, yet wholesome, a place that felt like it still had a sense of European-ness to it. A different way of doing things to America, that was for sure, but so far, he liked what he saw.

[color=fff200]“It’s a nice place. Well fed crew’s a happy crew.” Max commented, observingly, little to say as he felt like he was just taking it in at the moment.[/color]

Alexander smiled as he led Max on the tour around campus. They ended up back in the team’s cafeteria. [color=00aeef]“Are you hungry? We can grab lunch in the cafeteria and talk there. Or we can go to my office. Your choice.” [/color]

Max kept it professional, the plain teal-wearing polo shirted American feeling he’d seen plenty.
[color=fff200]“Let’s go to your office. I ate on the way here, but I appreciate it. Could I get a coffee before we go, please? Do you want one, Alexander?”[/color] Max asked, stopping by one of the machines on the way out, and looking around for a mug. Finding a cupboard, he pulled out a mug, and slid it into the machine, getting another ready.

Alexander chuckled and nodded as he looked amused at  his own thoughts. [color=00aeef]“I practically mainline coffee. It is my drink of choice most days. Mabel, my executive assistant, is always bringing me water and juice because she feels I drink too much of it. I take it black. Anyways the Team Cafeteria is open to everyone who lives and works at headquarters. The meals here are made by the Team Chef. He cooks for all the pilots while they are here at headquarters. He prepares meals for them to meet the nutritional requirements recommended by our nutritionists and physical trainers. He is excellent and we have a well fed team and they are happy with what he puts out for us.” [/color]

Max chuckled, passing across the ceramic mug, the reuse still in shape versus disposable packets. That was good, at least, as Max took his own, walking along, smirking.

[color=fff200]“You know we have that at MMR too, right? It’s like you’re trying to sell me a condo!”[/color] The American noted, taking a microsip before walking alongside him, headed towards the office.

[color=fff200]“I get it, coffee is one hell of a thing. My PT told me to ease up on the stuff, says there’s better stuff out there but man…..nothing beats it. My dad used to make a hell of a brew when we were out skiing in Breckenridge. Just something about that.”[/color] Max added, looking across, seeing the tension in Alexander. This was a two-way street, after all. As much as Max was judging him, Max knew he’d be getting looks.

Alexander chuckled as he accepted his mug and waited as Max prepared his coffee to his liking. [color=00aeef]“But of course I realize that.”[/color] Alexander paused with a twinkle of mischief in his eye. [color=00aeef]“But Chef Jacques is French and has his star.”[/color] Alexander winked. [color=00aeef]“Could just be that I am damned proud of the fact that our Team Chef works for the whole team. Not just the pilots, which can be prima donnas and divas at times.”[/color] Once Max had his coffee he began to lead the way back to his office deeper in the administration building. Alexander saw the look from Max and was confused.  [color=00aeef]“Breckenridge is a nice place. Great views and skiing. There is nothing like coffee when you are looking out from the top of a mountain in the snow.”[/color] Alexander led the way into his office shutting the door behind him. He motioned an invitation to Max to join him in the seating area where there was a conversational grouping of easy chairs and a couch. Alexander took a seat in one of the comfy essay chairs across from the couch. 

Max smiled in response, nodding to that earlier comment, walking and talking as they went.
[color=fff200]“How the hell did you get a Michelin sta…..yeah, of course, Europe. Shoulda guessed.”[/color] He shrugged his shoulders and chuckled, hearing his comment about Breckenridge.

[color=fff200]“Glad you like it too. Thought you might be partial to a bit of it, no mountains in Estonia after all! It’s a heaven on earth. Less powder than ever, but….when it’s a good day there, nothing quite like it.”[/color] Max smiled back, taking a seat in the chair across from him, putting his mug down on a placemat.

Alexander chuckled at Max. [color=00aeef]“I can’t take credit for Chef Jacques. He was here when I started. I actually prefer Breckenridge in the spring when the mountain is carpeted in colorful wildflower meadows. It is peaceful there. There are not as many tourists in the spring. I lived in the states for a while. I lived in Colorado for a time. I enjoyed it there.”[/color] Alexander took a sip of his coffee and set it down on the glass top table next to his chair. He shifted to get comfortable and nodded at Max. [color=00aeef]“Explain what you meant about status?” [/color]

[color=fff200]“I mean, where are we in terms of moving on a contract? I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m keen for this. Everything looks good. Stuff is clean, and I could see myself out here in Germany. But my question is, what’s your questions? What do you want to know before we sign it? Is it results, what mods you’d propose? You’re in need of a pilot for next season and if your plans are to compete for a top spot, you need two pilots who can deliver. I’m happy to throw myself at this project, commit what needs to be done, and get it done. My results should speak for themselves, so my only thoughts are, what’s stopping you if you want this deal done?”[/color] Max asked, being more blunt and to the point, wanting to get through this. He’d heard, seen, been around all of the rumours on the paddock, who was going where, and when, and how. He knew full well that they were looking at junior pilots, so the real question to Max was, why wait this long? Was Valkyrie hiding some turmoil, or just uncertain they could land this? 

Alexander waited patiently for Max to speak his piece. Alexander leaned back into his chair with a smile which slid into a neutral serious face. [color=00aeef]“I like that about you Max. I hate wasting time as well. Which is why I invited you for a more informal meeting. Because we both know that when I pull the trigger, it means lawyers, NDA’s, and agents get involved. The whole process seems to come to an excruciating slow crawl. I wanted this opportunity to hash out just these kinds of questions between us. What is not as well known around the paddock is that my philosophy or way of running the team is very different to some of the other team principals. I took this job initially as a favor to someone who had something I needed. I took it for my daughter. I won’t lie and say that I am not happy here. I have loved coming back to racing but I did it under conditions that gave me control. I had no control over what happened when Audrick died. I know you know my story there. I used to be a pilot. I know what that takes. I truly am trying to build a team mentality and culture here at Team Valkyrie. I am taking a different approach and supporting the pilots with what they need to be successful. Every racer is a little different just like an artist they have their own style. Instead of trying to find a pilot to fit the ship, I am trying to modify the ship to fit the pilot. One of my concerns with you in particular, is that you will expect special preference or billing as the more experienced pilot. How do you feel about this kind of culture?” [/color]

Max shrugged, glancing around, before leaning in.
[color=fff200]“Good pilot has to fit whatever he’s given. With Paul performing the way he is, I’d understand you won’t just give me what I’d personally like. And that’s fine, so long as you take into account what I have to say, but you would from any pilot you run, right? Me and Ulrich already do that. Two top tier pilots is how championships are won, like what Southern Cross are doing. So you don’t need to give me any special preference. Just make a ship that goes like hell, and I’ll do the rest.”[/color] Max replied, grabbing his coffee, sipping it down as he leant back. No pilot would ever want to be told they’d be second best, so he answered diplomatically, but made sure he put across that he wasn’t going to complain.

Alexander took a sip of his coffee. He rarely gave small speeches. He was more nervous about Max than he wanted to admit. He liked the American so far. Alexander chuckled a little before setting his coffee cup down. [color=00aeef]“I try to treat all my pilots equally. I will be brutally honest with you. I would be a liar if I tried to deny that Paul is not special to me as the son of my dead best friend. I took this job so I could protect him from the worst this sport can do. I have strong feelings about safety and fairness. I have treated Dorian the same as Paul. I have tried to give him what he needs to succeed and he did at Monaco. My worry with an already established pilot was that they would feel… I can’t put this diplomatically so pardon me when I say I mean no offense. That they would resent not being treated like the team revolves around. Everyone here from the janitor who cleans the place to the engineers who design the ships and the mechanics who keep them running. Everyone on this campus plays a role in keeping those ships running and on the track. Pilots are the ones who have to perform but it takes everyone behind them to get them there. It is why when I found the corruption here, I confronted it and pushed for justice for those wronged. Whoever joins this team as the next pilot needs to understand that as well. Now as to pilot mods, that is an NDA issue. I can’t tell you what we have planned for you till you agree to a contract and an NDA on what is in the proposal. Your record is why we are talking. There is more I want to share with you about the ships but again NDA. Do you have any reservations or concerns about moving to Germany? Do you have any significant others in your life? What concerns do you have about coming to Valkyrie?”[/color] 

Max paid attention, sipping away, seeing the tension in Alexander. He was talking a while. And well, it was obvious that he was here for Paul, that much the American could tell, thinking it over. What that meant, what they would result in. And his sense of dealing with the issues on site. Personal, into hand, it showed a want to do the right thing, but Max knew that those stories didn’t die easy. Sipping more, they moved onto the NDA, and pilot mods, and onto the next. He was halfway the brew when Alexander finished.

[color=fff200]“Well, sure, I get it. Paul is a rookie, and you want to protect him. I get that, it’s why you’re here, but I expect you’ll treat me the same. You don’t got that yet with me, I guess. Got no relationships, well, yet, and no ties to anyone. Moving would be tough, but I’d find a way to make it work, Dad’s got a place in Lucerne so a train to here is what, two and a half hours, an hour by shuttle? Plenty of places to stay local if I have to. But I like to keep work and not-work separate, ya know? Just prefer that relationship.”[/color] Max added, sipping more down, before putting it back.

[color=fff200]“So it comes down to it, I guess, you’re wondering if I would be a team player. I think that’s what you’re trying to ask. Look, MMR is the same. I might be the lead, and I get it, Ulrich ain’t performing the same. One of your rookies, I remember, but the dude also had a lot of shit happen to him and I helped him through it. He wasn’t gonna be right, so yeah, the team naturally comes to me. It happens in smaller outfits. So yeah, my aim is to win, and whatever you give me, I’m gonna do that with. If you think next year’s ship is capable of that, sign me up.”[/color] Max added, putting it down.

[color=fff200]“Speaking of next year’s ship, what are we talking here? I mean, I’m keen for a project. MMR still is one, but I hope you have plans. I mean, looking around here, seeing what I saw, there’s a team here with legacy, history. You guys win races.Are we aiming for titles, cracking the top two? Because I know you have me in this room for that reason.”[/color] Max asked, candid as ever, knowing he would get to the heart of the matter here with that question.

Alexander leaned back in his chair and sipped at his coffee while Max answered him back. He paid attention and nodded. [color=00aeef]“I told you what I did about Paul because if you come over, I don’t want you to feel like I hid that information. I will back you as fully as I do Paul.” [/color]Alexander smiled at what he was hearing. [color=00aeef]“So Max as to next year’s ship, again we are in NDA territory. What I can say is that I am working on Team Valkyrie’s long term success. You heard that I approached the junior AG pilots. Of course I did, some of them will no doubt be filling seats in Formula AG next year. I wouldn’t be doing my job as a Team Principal if I didn’t look over the best options for filling Dorian’s seat. My goals for next year is nothing short of a championship sweep. That means I need the right pilots.”[/color] Alexander smiled and felt a sense of satisfaction in all he had accomplished coming to Valkyrie so far. He waited for Max to process that. 

[color=fff200]”Good. Then that works for me. Sounds like we’re on the right track.”[/color] Max put his coffee down, leaning back, knowing that Alexander would play his hands close to his chest, create some pressure with the other Junior pilots, but as of right now, his own future was in his hands. Silver Apex had confirmed a new pilot and weren’t likely to change, Southern Cross had a hell of a pairing in Nora and Harrison they wouldn’t give up, and Zygon, well, crudely speaking, fuck Zygon. That left Valkyrie, Carrera perhaps too given their meteoric rise, but something about that ship didn’t sit right with him. Nor the fact they looked like they might retain Ava, so that left Valkyrie as the most obvious option, and a clear slam-dunk based on experience so far.

[color=fff200]“I imagine the juniors will find a place. They’re very capable. But you are looking at a lot of options, and well, if you want to win titles, then like I said, get a good ship, I’ll put it where it needs to go. That record you can look at now, with them, it’s a risk. I’d be lying if I told you I didn’t have my moments. Like any good racer. Like your old record too. But, you need a little fire. Way I see it, I’m your best shot at it, give you something the Europeans can’t. A little old school.”[/color] Max added, sipping more down, putting it back.

[color=fff200]“You probably know my reputation. I mean, I’ve still got plenty to learn. You ain’t getting a pilot like Dorian, if you wanted that, you’d have interviewed Ava. Or Astrid. So, I think you want that. A little, something, something, raw. What was it they said, you want pilots who can race well, go buy a drone, you want pilots who can win, stand up, put your name on that top of that podium, you’re gonna need mavericks. Someone to play by the rules, and someone who’ll give you that fire.”[/color] Max spoke, a wry smile on his face, knowing that in his time in Europe, the enthusiasm, energy and excitement that came with Americans versus the cold, calculated steel of Europeans would come through. Especially Germans, who were to the minute number, calculated. There was something more cowboy-esque about finding the limits a way he could find how.

Alexander kept a neutral face but he couldn’t agree more with Max. There was something to be said for the American spirit. There was a passion and wildness to Americans that were lacking in Europeans. Alexander was in a rare position to understand this. He had dual citizenship and had split his time between his parents in Estonia and the US. He gave a rare smile and leaned in and winked at Max conspiratorially. [color=00aeef]“I will share with you that inviting the junior AG pilots here was a suggestion from Sami Lipponnen. He was recently hired to take over as Crew Chief and run Team Valkyrie’s Junior AG team and academy. Inviting them to the summer bootcamp was a way to put them all on a level playing field and evaluate what they could do. Besides the confusion and rumors it started in the paddock were entertaining as hell. I did it with an eye to the future of the team. There were a few really promising pilots. I feel like I have learned what I need to make that decision.” [/color]He took another sip of coffee. [color=00aeef]“So Max I have one question, are you ready for me to get the agents and lawyers involved? Do you want to win a championship with me and be a member of the team?” 
[/color]

Max smirked, finishing up the coffee.
[color=fff200]“You got yourself a deal, partner.”[/color] Max put a hand out, and dapped, shaking his hand, a smirk on his face, standing up.
[color=fff200]“I’ll call my agent and get things in motion. I’ll sign NDAs and get this ready. I trust you’re a man of your word. There’s a list I’ll request, and a few things I’d like off table of your request, but, I mean short of turning me into Layla, which under local law I guess you ain’t gonna do, I think that works for me. Salary, fees, bonuses, length of contract, all that jazz, before we walked into this room were fine. Let’s go get this done.”[/color] Max added, taking the cup, looking out the window with a grin.
[color=fff200]“We still have a long season ahead. I don’t intend to go easy with MMR, Alex. To the end I’ll fight for points. But come December, I’ll be ready.”[/color] Max replied, grinning. This was a new step. He’d come here expecting his hand was strong, that irrespective, as much as he hated the idea of leaving MMR, he was moving to the next step in his career. One of the old big three teams, and well, a hell of an exciting place to be at the moment, even in spite of the dramas of the start of the season. Six races ago, he would have sworn off it completely, but given a crisis, and a change of circumstances, he’d agreed.

Alexander grinned and rose to his feet to shake Max’s hand. Alexander raised an eyebrow at Max. [color=00aeef]“I would hold off on the off the table stuff until you see the full offer once you sign the NDA. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at what we can offer. It won’t happen till you are done with MMR though. You will have an opportunity to know what we have planned for you before you sign on the dotted line as it were. Salary I am sure we will negotiate. I am trying to recover Valkyrie’s reputation after Brendel destroyed it. Everything we do will be above board. But Max I believe you will be happy that you took the leap. It will be worth it.”[/color] He grinned like the cat that got the canary. [color=00aeef]“I will state unequivocally that Valkyrie is on the rise. You have already seen it this season. And please Max, do your best. Be a great competitor! Take some wins and spots from the other teams.”[/color] He winked. 

[color=fff200]“Just make sure I get paid, Alex. And that you don’t make a shitbox next year, or else I’m gonna get your pass at Breckenridge pulled.”[/color] Max grinned, chuckling with sarcasm, tapping him on the shoulder, taking his mug, chuckling at the thought. [color=fff200]“I’m sure I can pull some surprises.”[/color] He smirked back, taking his cup, and with it, following Alexander, this meeting being over for now.

Alexander called for the car to pick Max up and take him back to the airport where the shuttle that brought Max will return him to wherever he wants to go. 

Alexander had already contacted the legal department and had them start working on an offer for Max. He gave them some final orders after his meeting with Max. Once Max signed the NDA he would get the full contract and a disclosure of upgrades they were going to provide him as a pilot. It would include the new neural interface from Shinichi and the nanite treatments to strengthen his skeleton system, muscles, tendons, and ligaments, improve his lung capacity and increase the efficiency of his heart. Max would not be able to start the process until he was done at MMR. He was told that Valkyrie was developing new ships for the following season and had invested a lot in research and development for them. They were hiring engineers and partnering with other companies to develop them. When Max was done at MMR, he would be able to join the development team in providing his feedback and wants for the new ships. Salary was negotiable. Max would get the same financial offer that they had worked up for Jen Lowry. Valkyrie’s offer was a good one. Part of the package included supports such as the on campus apartment, all the training support Max could hope for, including food and nutritional supplements. That alone left Max without some household bills freeing up some of his income. The pay would be much better than he had at MMR. Just like any other employee, there was a clause in his contract that he had to go through Team Valkyrie employee orientation same as everyone else. He would sit through the required harassment training and how to report it. The contract would include the new clauses for Team Valkyrie’s endorsement and sponsorships transparency clause and how Max was free to pursue personal endorsements that would be exempt from the transparency policy but that the team wide sponsorships would include him. 

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