So unless I missed something rules as written you cannot take any of the respond actions until a card hands you an asset or debt? Its very possible I just missed something.
But how I read it:
Seize Control and Make Your Move require at least one relevant Asset and Repay Debt requires at least one debt.
All that aside, we had fun with it and we just gave ourselves the one each so we could respond on our first few turns. I assumed that was how it worked because it flows better for me that way.