First Reply Corporate Bribes

[Makai Dashiell]

FONDOR

POLITICAL FUNDRAISER FOR THE FREE HYPERLANE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE

Wearing : X | Gear : X | X | X | X | X | L3-37 | Interacting With : OPEN (Ideally Political Characters, Nobility, Diplomats, Corpos, Reporters, etc )

The entry fee was high, half a million credits. Makai would have thought the result would have been a much thinner crowd. Yet it was packed full of beings from various corners of the 'verse. Noble families, regional politicians, governors, various corporate types - hell, he had even spotted a few holodrama stars in mix. Most were treating it like a massive networking-slash-reunion event.

There had been speeches. Impassioned promises. Intended actions should the sentient running for office gain power.

Makai had a keen eye on the candidates. The hyperlanes were the lifeblood of any corporation. There had been talks of privatizing hyperlanes for governmental use, restricting traffic to "friendly" corporations and entities. Questions abounded on who would be considered friendly or not. Many whispers ran through small circles this evening that they were fully prepared to bribe their way into the friendly section.

"Big Mak!"

The half-Galan heard one of his old university nicknames being shouted out. A group was off to the side drinking, the glittering city of Fondor. Iced blue eyes searched, then connected with a husky Pantoran male who was waving him over to the small group. With a chuckle, he headed over.

"Wiston, an unexpected pleasure." The pair shook hands before Wiston began introducing him to the group that he had assembled.

"Ladies and gentleman, Makai Dashiell. Makai, this is Lyra...off to the side, Orsin, Orsin's wife Winter, and last but not least...I'm sorry newcomer, what was your name again?"

 

[Prex Oda Duun]

"Prex Oda Duun, Tetron Centrex Corporation - out of the Corporate Sector."

Oda smiled thinly, his mechanical smile not quite reaching the eyes. While it was a fine party, the food fanciful and the alcohol plentiful, the truth was he was already tiring of the frivolities. Few things changed it seemed, even after a hundred years - and greasing palms and kissing backsides remained a permanent (and tiring) fixture in business.

"Winston here was telling us a few university stories...something about a Selonian Glaive, a bet, and a fair Pantoran lady?"

Oda's smile reached his eyes this time as he tipped his glass of champagne at the young man. His countenance gray, his hair synthetic, his golden cybernetic eyes glowed dimly as he scanned the HoloNet for the young man. Scion, CEO, very interconnected with Salacia Consolidated - didn't they have a warehouse out on Etti IV?

 

[Makai Dashiell]

Wearing | Gear : X | X | X | X | X | L3-37 | Interacting With : Prex Oda Duun

"A pleasure to meet you Mister Duun."

Brows knit together as he took a lowball of brandy from a passing waiter. Duun wasn't a name he was familiar with but his time in the Corporate Sector was limited. He had been working on setting up a joint facility with Liin Terallo years ago but it had fallen through and he certainly couldn't resurrect it now with Miss Terallo shifting focus.

"No, don't remember that story. Must be when Wiston just got there - or maybe something I wasn't invited to."

What the hell was a Selonian glaive anyway? It was not important in his eyes, choosing not the press the situation further. His focus was elsewhere beyond schoolboy antics. He steered it off to another topic, one far more pressing.

"Thoughts on recent efforts to shut down hyperlanes?"

Orsin's wife, Winter, spoke up from the side. "Seems to me it will be short-sided. Costs will be passed to the end consumer."

Makai nodded. A concern he felt was short-sighted on the end of those looking to restrict movements or charge for hyperlane use. He had plans, ideas, but not ones to share yet.

"I agree. Why we must lobby against it. Even if they don't charge government patrols will slow down freight at checkpoints." He took a sip of brandy and regarded Duun. "What does the Corporate Sector think of such an idea?"

 

[Prex Oda Duun]

Wearing : X | Gear : X | Interacting With : Makai Dashiell

Oda thought on the question, before shrugging. "It's true that it will raise prices further down the supply chain, but, since when have the corporations cared about costs on the consumer?" Oda chuckled, waving a hand, to explain his brusque comment. "The galaxy ships millions upon millions of tons of durasteel, phrik, turadium, blaster gas...the list goes on. We charge exorbitant prices because there is exorbitant demand - war is nearly constant, as I'm sure we all know."​

​

Oda turned to regard the crowds, noting more than a few Private Military Contractor reps, weapons manufactures, and raw resource brokers - a few he even knew personally, Tetron being a supplier of lommite. Fondor itself was a well known military powerhouse of the Galactic Alliance - few planets could boast of such expansive shipyards, and a culture and history of tenured shipwrights to boot. There was no doubt that many corporations who made war their trade would be heavily impacted by the proposed hyperlane restrictions.​

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"As far as I and the Corporate Sector are concerned - my little corner of it, any way - the delays the checkpoints will cause will mitigate any savings to be had. The sheer volume of freight can't be handled by anything less than droids, and droids simply won't do when it comes to galactic security."​

​

 

[Makai Dashiell]

Wearing | Gear : X | X | X | X | X | L3-37 | Interacting With : Prex Oda Duun

Makai nodded slowly, mulling over the words of Mister Duun as he spoke them. To be fair, they were all at the mercy of the hyperlanes and the governments that controlled them. As for prices, he wasn't going to get into an argument that yes, increases did become untenable at one point. The trick was finding that point.

"So you're in agreement that droids monitoring hyperspace traffic is unwise. I agree. Trouble is for the Galactic Alliance is their population is down. Weary. War continues to rage on with no end in sight. I wouldn't be surprised if conscription wasn't on the table."

"Conscription? Has it come to that?"

"I think the government is getting close to a tipping point. Which is why I feel corporations should have their own hyperlanes. Or at the very least priority. Yet with war vessels clogging up the pipeline this may not be a popular idea. Hence the fundraising today. Perhaps finding others with like-minds to chart our very own hyperlanes in critical routes..."

Taking a sip of brandy, the half-Galan turned to their newcomer.

"Mister Duun, thoughts? Every corporation relies on hyperlanes in some form or fashion..."

 

[Prex Oda Duun]

Wearing : X | Gear : X | Interacting With : Makai Dashiell

For his part, Oda was taken back a little - it was news to him that the Galactic Alliance was faltering somewhat. Then again, that was more or less the purpose of him getting out of the Corporate Development Zone - what the Corporate Sector was calling his little terraforming projects in the nearby Parthovian Cluster.​

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"I didn't realize the Alliance was that weary - what with the territory it holds. Then again, the Corporate Sector has largely been spared in recent decades, so we can hardly judge. That's changing with the Mandalorians approaching from galactic south, and the rogue Sith State from the east. Whatever war we wage will be economical in comparison...but that's a different toll entirely." Oda's tone of disgust at "Sith" brokered no secret on how he stood in regards to the fanatical empire.​

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"We must absolutely do something about these routes, indeed. The Terraforming business thrives on getting exports off colony worlds and to the greater galaxy." Oda paused, seemingly hesitant to divulge something. But was he not here to feel out attitudes and test the waters? Clearing his throat, he leaned forward, holding out his hand palm up. The synthetic flesh seemed to split slightly, revealing a small holoprojector. It whirred to life, displaying a small hologram of what looked like a satellite. "Take it from me who has spent millions on mapping out praedium routes; mapping new routes is a costly and dangerous process that yields...erratic results."​

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The hologram zoomed in, showing a small display of two satellites, one at each end of a seemingly artificial hyperspace corridor. "The corporate sector is thinking of something a little more tried and true. Back in the days of old, the ancient empire built a hyperspace lane using a technology called an S-thread booster. It ranged a ridiculous span, from Sullust to Endor, in our modern parlance a distance of roughly twelve hexes." The hologram displayed the old route, which virtually spanned the entire length of the current Sith Order to the Alliance's southwest. "It's been proposed we do the same as then using the cheaper hyperspace anchor technology, perhaps at a lesser distance of six hexes. The cost would be enormous, more than any single corporation could foot. But if it were established by a conglomerate...then those corporations would use the new route exclusively."​

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Oda judged the reactions of those around him. It went without saying, that if the corporations latched onto the plan, the governments would follow - it would mean less traffic in their war lanes, and more war material for the endless galactic war machine. They'd still have to pick the right candidate, grease the right palms, and of course get all the corporations to work together. But CorpSec thought this had a decent chance - they would not have sent him otherwise.​

 

[Makai Dashiell]

Wearing | Gear : X | X | X | X | X | L3-37 | Interacting With : Prex Oda Duun

"What do you think, Mister Duun, about a corporation affording an S-Thread booster on their own? What is the feasibility? You mention this is ancient technology. I imagine the cost is low but the knowledge to put something as such in place invaluable."

"You can't be thinking of attempting this Makai."

"I am. Mister Duun presents two solutions. One private and one - the hyperspace anchor - as something corporations could band together and use. The hyperspace anchors are what this very fundraiser was about, banding together and pushing corporate agenda. There is nothing stopping us from putting this into place. I think Mister Duun is on to a breakthrough for his very own corporation at this moment."

Makai knew the value of a good,secure, and stable route. With shifting governments it could not be counted on they would get safe or easy passage. Not to mention there was the possibility of actually leasing these routes to governments. That was for the older man in front of him to figure out though. For now he was very, very interested in affording S-Thread boosters for his own use. Even if it was only for one or two lanes.

 

[Shin Vandosh]

Whoops, wrong account.

 

[Prex Oda Duun]

Wearing : X | Gear : X | Interacting With : Makai Dashiell

Oda stared at Makai in a distinctly droid-like fashion, cybernetic eyes glowing, his body held in unnatural stillness. It was rare for Oda to be taken truly by surprise. But this Makai from Dashiell was opportunistic in a way that made Oda appraise him in a new light; Oda tended to associate youth with frivolity and inexperience. Obviously, this Makai was an exception - were Oda in his position, he'd do the same thing.​

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"You're correct; my engineers assure me they must be deposited in hyperspace in an exact configuration in order to create a stable corridor. The technology itself is relatively simple - an energized waveform that brute forces a corridor open - but it could be improved upon with our modern technology. Little updating has been done, as most empires are too busy with war technologies than improving infrastructure." Oda thought for a second, weighing the costs. Most of this was theoretical - though it was quickly becoming a little more real by the second. "Enough to bankrupt multiple star systems. Something in the range of...fifty billion credits. My engineers assure me we could reduce to thirty-five, with difficulty."​

​

Oda watched Makai, gauging the man's reaction, even as those around them gasped at the amount. It was true, you could build a small fleet of Super Star Destroyers for the same amount - but that was the price for creating something out of nothing.​

 

[Makai Dashiell]

Wearing | Gear : X | X | X | X | X | L3-37 | Interacting With : Prex Oda Duun

Makai made a mental note to study more on the S-Thread boosters for his own use. Perhaps he would contract Mister Duun for several of his up and coming projects. That was further down the line however. More of the focus was on the newer technology known as the hyperspace anchors. Blinking lightly at the at the cost, he wasn't perturbed. Nor was it surprising.

"Fifty billion is reasonable, depending on the length of the hyperlane. I would think it wouldn't bankrupt anyone. Most defense budgets for moderately populated star system could easily be three hundred billion on up. A chunk of a budget yes, but nothing to bankrupt anyone. An enterprising system would levy a small tax on a large industry - say logistical services - and use that to cover the cost."

A small pause.

"Realistically I could even get a loan and possible grants and have my own hyperspace anchors. The investment would only increase profits."

 

[Prex Oda Duun]

Wearing : X | Gear : X | Interacting With : Makai Dashiell

Oda cleared his throat, and shook his head. "I apologize - I was not clear. That is 35 billion each." Oda inclined his head apologetically. "With a network of at least several hundred, the price would run upwards of three hundred billion, perhaps even as high as nine hundred billion." Oda shrugged at the numbers. "But, then, this may be attainable by a corporation such as Dashiell. I am humbled to admit it is far past Tetron's abilities - we are new to the galactic stage, after all."

Oda leaned closer to Makai, gesturing at some of the candidates scattered around the gala. "Regardless, it will take substantial political maneuvering to get this all to work. New routes would have to be established through multiple territories, some of which are potentially quite...hostile...to the Alliance." This was an arena Oda had much less experience in - the nobility - as pretty much anyone of any import in the Corporate Sector was some kind of rich corporation owner. To compound the issue, he was still quite the newcomer when it came to the Alliance territories and their political ways. It was all very democratic, he had been told. At least on the surface. Underneath were the far more familiar bribes, promises, aggressive lobbying, and other such dealings that were more the norm in his home sector.

 

[Makai Dashiell]

Wearing | Gear : X | X | X | X | X | L3-37 | Interacting With : Prex Oda Duun

"Ah, thirty-five billion each is a little pricey. My thought was that was for each end of the hyperlane, not multiple points. S-Thread in this case may just have to be the way we go."

Slower perhaps but more obtainable. Mind raced with the ideas of a hyperlane system for his new venture. Research first though, then he could move forward with any real work. All of this was ground work. Feeling out the environment. Feeling the need for privatized hyperlanes. In most corporate circles, the want was there.

"Hostile to the Alliance yes, but not to corporations. Governments come and go constantly. Hell, even the corporation I started college has outlasted a few and it hasn't even been that long. Fear not about being ambitious in this area. For the most part around here, except for the Galactic Empire, I find most of these governments ignore corporate types. So long as we don't interfere with their goings-on....I personally haven't had a problem. Some get a little miffed at the thought of a company working across multiple sectors but they soon get realistic when they realize they need goods from all across the 'verse to continue their comfortable lifestyle."

 

[Prex Oda Duun]

Wearing : X | Gear : X | Interacting With : Makai Dashiell

"It's true that governments are quite...unstable. Even Tetron has outlasted a few of the smaller ones." Oda paused, then, considering his options. Things were heating up in his corner of the galaxy. What research he had on the anchors and threads were of very little use to him - without the resources to construct them on a mass scale it was comparatively useless information. The only reason Tetron had any information on them at al was due to their research on satellite terraforming - high energy electromagnetics had much in common with S-threads and hyperspace anchors, at least on the fundamental level. Oda leaned closer to Makai, his gaze intent. "Then perhaps corporate to corporate dealings, are exactly what we need in the here and now."

Oda thought carefully on how to phrase his offer, then tilted his head at Makai. "Tetron has something of a little...war...brewing in the Corporate Sector. Nothing big, just a little tiff regarding territory lines, who owns what little barren moon, etcetera. We've found ourselves underprepared, however, in the face of hostile corporate action. While we have security forces, they're not exactly a full-fledged fighting force. Our scientists have been cranking out designs, but a consistent issue is materials - mass amounts of materials."

Oda gestured widely. "Dashiell, I hear, has access to materials...and Tetron has some promising research of these hyperspace anchors. Tetron would be happy to provide that research, in trade for materials - it would certainly jumpstart any efforts on your end - and it would solve a large headache for Tetron."

 

[Makai Dashiell]

Wearing | Gear : X | X | X | X | X | L3-37 | Interacting With : Prex Oda Duun

A trade. Not unusual. Nor was it the first time he had done such a thing. He also found it odd there was a war brewing in the Corporate Sector but it wasn't surprising. Tiffs over territory and who was able to control what hyperlane happened on a fairly regular basis. Did he have contacts in that area? He would have to review to get more insider information.

"What are your terms? What types of raw materials are you looking for? You are correct I have a vast network of company owned mines, and I am always looking to expand more, should you need a material not currently on my roster. Now, sometimes we may have to source these materials from further away, which could delay delivery. Yet it would be worth it in the long run - the further out one goes the less government interference."

 

[Prex Oda Duun]

Wearing : X | Gear : X | Interacting With : Makai Dashiell

"Nothing too exotic. In truth, Tetron could muster the materials ourselves, but we have a limited window to work with. This has put us into something of an awkward position." Oda brought up a manifest through his neural-net before downloading it to a small datachip. Ejecting the chip, he brought a hand up to his neck, retrieving it, before holding it out to Makai. "Considering you're talking about a multi-billion credit deal...perhaps hundreds of billions in revenue for Dashiell - our price isn't high. Several hundred million credits in comparison." Oda gestured to the chip, which held a broad list of materials (Metals: durasteel, duralumin, alusteel, plasteel, ceramisteel, duranium. General Technology: magnetic coils, focusing crystals, microcircuitry & processors, repulsor components, field & waveguide conductors. Gases: blaster gas, plasma purity 3 & 2, proton gas). "One super transport should do. Roughly twenty-five million tons. Going rates based on current galactic market data...four hundred and fifty million credits standard. In return, all of Tetron's research on modernizing s-threads and hyperspace anchors - optimum wavelengths and frequencies, location and placement for optimum resonation, static hyperspace generators...it should boost your research and development by at least a year and a half."