A Steel Hide

[Popo]

Checked in on production. Looks like the rearmost aft section was finished this morning and the next aft section was started. If this keeps up, I might have to hand out bonuses. Hell, I may just anyways.

Incom says they've finished the first bow section and started work on the next section. So far, so good. We may just be right on time at this rate.

The smaller section is about a quarter of the way through the spare plates, starting with the engine plating. They're going slower, but that's alright as they're not a huge priority right now. They're more a reserve stock producer for the moment.

I had to reroute more funding to keep this project going. Thankfully, some of my subsidiaries did well in the past quarter and had extra credits laying around. They aren't happy about the lost money, but they know I'll replace it. They know I don't screw over my employees if I can help it.

 

[Popo]

Second aft section is about 60% done. My foremen tell me the work on that section should be complete in a day or two. So far, that's the engines and the first aft section done. With this complete, that's half the aft section and the engines completely plated. All that's left to go are the last two aft sections, the five middle sections, and the rest of the bow.

Incom says they're halfway through the second bow section and should be onto the third in a few days. We're still on schedule so far. This is excellent news. We're making steady progress on this project so far. I'm hoping we can meet in the middle sections and then wrap up the job there.

From that point, it's off to do it again with the second ship.

 

[Popo]

The second aft section is complete and the third is at 10% completion. We're moving at a steady pace and morale is high in the workforce. I figure maybe another few weeks and we're good to go on this project. Incom is moving steadily as well and the liaisons between the two work groups seem to be sharing a bit of a friendly sport. Looks like they're trying to see who can get to the middle section of the middle of the ship first. Anything to make the work go faster, honestly.

Incom says they're on the third bow section so far. We're making great progress. That bonus is looking more and more tangible.

 

[Popo]

Apparently both Incom and Tenloss workers are busting tail to try and race to the middle. I'm all for it if it increases production without decreasing quality. So far, no issues at all there. I've been told that the third aft section is near completion by my foremen. Incom says they're almost done with the third bow section so far. With luck, this will be done soon.

I had to shift more revenue over to the project. I'm sure Incom is having similar problems. I've got multiple projects on hold indefinitely until these ships are built and will probably have to put more on hold in the future. Tenloss is still solidly in the black, but it might be a close thing at the end of this. This armor is expensive.

 

[Popo]

The third aft section was finished an hour ago and the fourth aft section is under construction. Once that section is done, the entire aft will be plated. At least, on one of the ships it will be. Incom reports they've moved on to the fourth bow section and are working double time to finish it. Honestly, I don't care who wins the race to the middle, so long as it's done and done well.

In other news, all of the Class Twos have come very close to beating the Class One droid brain. I'm still losing money on that little machine, but if this keeps up, I might be able to win it all back, which is good.

I might need it at this rate.

 

[Popo]

The fourth aft section is almost done. My foremen tell me it's at nearly 80% completion and that they should be able to move on to the first midsection by tomorrow or the next day. Incom is telling me the same thing in regards to the fourth bow section. Long and short, we might just pull this off.

I keep rerouting funds to this project. More and more of my other projects are getting sidelined for these ships. It's worth it, but I'm running out of projects to pull funds from. I still have a few Cartel accounts lying around. I don't want to use them, but... I may have to. They're untraceable and hidden, but would throw off my books. I'll think more on this.

 

[Popo]

The entire aft section is finished, finally. My foremen informed me this morning when I arrived at the office. They immediately started working on the midsection and are working as quickly as possible. I don't care anymore. I'm giving that bonus after this project is done, even if it puts me in the red. These guys have more than earned it.

Incom commed me as well to inform me that the entire bow section is done and that they're working on the first of their sections of the midsection. It seems that it's going to come down to the wire to see which side will win the competition. I really don't care, but, secretly, I hope it's Tenloss that pulls through.

 

[Popo]

Tenloss' first midsection was finished today. How they managed to get it done that fast, I'll never know, but they pulled it off. Incom commed me to tell me the same thing. They're really taking this competition seriously. We may even finish - dare I say it? - ahead of schedule. This is... amazing. I've never seen this sort of thing happen before. They're laying everything on the line for this project. Forget a bonus. I may just give two. Or a really big one. I'll figure it out later.

At this rate, we should be finished with the first ship's plating in a week or two, probably less. We're so close. This has to work.

 

[Popo]

Another midsection done by Tenloss. Incom reports the same thing. It's down to the final, middle midsection and both sides are going full bore. I swear, they may even break out a measuring laser to figure out exactly who got further, faster. If they can do this with the second ship, we're going to be far ahead of schedule.

I'm already getting work assignments ready for the next ship's plating. With luck, we can start that the moment the first one is done.

 

[Popo]

The last section was finished today at 22:15 CST. The verdict is in and the measurements were taken (called it) and... it's a tie. It's a karking tie. You'd think they'd settle for it, but I've been told that the two work forces are still at it. They want another go and started the second ship a day early. Where did we find these people? Kark!

Both my foremen and Incom have informed me that the second ship is under construction. Tenloss has the aft end, Incom has the bow again. We'll see what happens.

 

[Popo]

So, this was completely surprising. The small section I had set aside to make spares did just that and more. They made spares of spares. Also, in a complete and total coincidence, Incom set up a similar section for the same purpose. They also made spares of spares. Both sides of the ship got a head start right out of the gate and I've been told that the engines and the first aft section have been fully plated already. Incom reports the first two sections of the bow are now plated.

Where in the galaxy did we hire these people?

 

[Popo]

The aft end is almost entirely done according to my foremen. They're going to move on to the midsection as soon as possible. Incom reports they're finishing up the bow sections and will move on to the midsections tomorrow. All in all, this may be done very ahead of schedule.

I've dumped more revenue into the armor plating and been given authorization to allocate Republic funds to the project. This will keep both companies in the black and allow both companies to ramp up production on the ships themselves.

Both small sections of the two companies, Incom and Tenloss, have continued to make spares. Between the two, they're almost done with a full set for one ship.

 

[Popo]

Both bow and aft ends of the ship are done and both work groups are plating the midsections like mad. I don't even know who's where anymore, it's that chaotic. Nothing is blowing up or breaking down or falling apart, though, so at least I can say that nothing appears to be going wrong. This project has started to take on a life of its own at this point.

The smaller sections making the spare are easier to keep track of at this point, but even they're beginning to speed up. So far, one ship has a full set of replacement armor when needed and they've started work on the next set. So far, so good.

 

[Popo]

I still have no idea what's going on with the plating. None at all. From the sounds of it, neither does Incom. Both work groups are working like madmen and cranking out plate after plate after plate. It's insane, really. I guess we'll know it's done when the proverbial dust clears up, honestly.

The two spare plate sections are almost done with the whole job. At this point, it's the only section of the project I can really keep track of. Funny thing is, even those two sections are racing to the finish. I'm not sure how to feel about that.

 

[Popo]

The smoke has cleared, the noise has died down, the work appears to be done. Yet again, the measuring tools were brought out. Yet again, we all stood there waiting for an outcome. Yet again it was silence as the verdict was calculated.

Another tie.

At this point, there wasn't any bickering or playful bantering on who did what the fastest or the best. Both sides have realized they're some of the best in the industry and that there's nothing wrong with a tie. I couldn't ask for a better work force, honestly. I'm sure Incom feels the same.

In other news, one of the Class Twos finally beat the Class One. I won a bunch of my money back. Unfortunately, I'm unfazed by this as the simple concept of the armor project being done so far ahead of time has floored me.

I may need a vacation. Or whiskey. Lots of whiskey.

 

[Popo]

Just got a report on my desk today. We finished the armor project a week or two ago, but money keeps going to it and is being spent. At first I suspected fraud and launched an investigation. Turns out, it's the sub-section detailed to make the spare plates. Incom had a similar issue with the same culprit.

They're still racing. They're still karking racing.

I stopped them when I found out, but the damage was done to both sides it seemed.

There is now a sizeable stockpile of armor plating for both ships in the event of damage. My poor wallet.