![[the-voice.png]] *Added to the Codex on* ***September 5th, 2023*** --- ### Quotes "There's no need to be dramatic. You're free to leave at any time." - The Broker "Here, the Council can guarantee your safety. What a kindness you've been afforded: piece of mind and the chance to keep your business." - The Broker "Who do you think you've been talking to?" - The Broker <br> ### Description \[Transcription excerpt from a recording of a meeting between [[Codex/Specialists/Charlie Crawford|Charlie Crawford]] and [[Codex/Profiles/The Broker|The Dark Market Broker]] at a classified location, en route to [[Codex/Organizations/The Dark Market|the Dark Market]] safe house in Panama.] BROKER: Is there a problem? CRAWFORD: Problem? Yeah. With a capital F. As in a big fucking problem. Is this for real? Seventy percent? BROKER: A substantial fee but, considering the circumstances, [[Codex/Profiles/Dark Market Council|the Council]] believes the offer is more than generous. CRAWFORD: “Considering the circumstances”? Lady, I’m being held prisoner. BROKER: There’s no need to be dramatic. You’re free to leave at any time. CRAWFORD: And what’s to stop me from going to Langley? Give them my list of names, tell them who you people really are. That’s right – I know things, too. BROKER: Do you? What do you know? What’s my name? …You see, Langley doesn’t care about your list of names. Thugs, dealers, middlemen, no one who matters. It’s not the Council. \[Crawford sighs.] CRAWFORD: And without their names, I’m turned out with no protection, yadda-yadda, bing-bang-boom. BROKER: We’re glad you understand. Here, the Council can guarantee your safety. What a kindness you’ve been afforded: piece of mind and the chance to keep your business. \[Crawford scoffs.] CRAWFORD: At what profit margin? Seventy is robbery. I bring the Council the finest weapons this side of the continent… this is my thanks? BROKER: What you bring is a blood-soaked trail of bad decisions and collateral damage. Through either ineptitude or sheer hubris, you willingly walked into a trap laid by MI6. We ended twelve innocent lives to save yours and took a not insignificant financial hit bringing you here. A little gratitude– \[The Broker pauses, touching her earpiece.] BROKER: The Council has generously agreed to drop their fee to sixty. CRAWFORD: Is that them? Look, I, I can explain, I meant no disrespect. Let me speak to them. BROKER: Who do you think you’ve been talking to?