NationStates Jolt Archive

IsnCo (the Imperial Space Networking Co-Operative), having completed the second 'lane' of the Earth-Mars Highway, is now seeking foreign investment to complete a Mars-Tyelca Tuo (nr. the asteroid belt beyond Mars) Highway, with a view to additional Mass Transit units in the future. We aim to link Earth space to Jovian space within five years, and, with this goal in mind, we require significant investment.

The Imperial Trade Conglomerate is unwilling to foot the entirety of the bill, and so we are seeking an initial US$3.2 trillion over the next two years.

All facets of the potential investments in this ambitious project are entirely negotiable.

~ IsnCo Spokesman

Before potentially investing in this, could you provide a bit more information about this "highway"?

Before potentially investing in this, could you provide a bit more information about this "highway"?

Certainly. Currently, the Earth-Mars Highway is the fastest and cheapest route between Earth and Mars, although it is not yet widely utilized due to brief and niggling diplomatic difficulties between the EOTED government and Ravenspire (which are now resolved). The Highway is difficult to explain to foreigners who are not well versed in EM propulsion techniques; however, I will do my best.

The Highway is composed of two sets, both composed of dozens of 'Rings', both accelerative and decelerative. An object entering at the Earth-Mars Hub (or the Mars-Earth Hub) is accelerated to the next Ring, and from there, to the next Ring, and so on. The first half of the journey is entirely acceleration. The second half of the journey is deceleration.

Each 'Ring' acts as a kind of mass-driver (or railgun, if you prefer - although neither is entirely accurate), which pushes the object onwards, imparting enough kinetic energy to ensure arrival at the next Ring at a greater velocity than the previous Ring.

Journey-time, at the gentlest curve of acceleration/decelleration, is approximately one hour. At the steepest curve (which is unadvisable for many ships - but not all - and is more useful for sending payloads without ships) of acceleration/decelleration, journey time is approximately twenty mintues. Gravitic craft must power down their drive systems before entering the EMH, however.

The Rings themselves are self-motive - that is, they possess propulsion systems that maintain the path between Earth and Mars at all times. There are 'backup' Rings, which sit in predetermined positions, that slip into place as the distance between Earth and Mars increases - and then fall back into standby positions for the next cycle when the distance decreases again. When Earth and Mars are on opposite sides of the Sun, the EMH curves up and out of the line of the ellipse, maintaining the link.

The plan for expansion of the system is as follows:

1. The construction of a link between Mars and Tyelca Tuo, an EOTED Orbital Colony that maintains position 'in synch' with Mars (insofar as that is possible) near the asteroid belt between Mars and Saturn. This link will be referred to as the Mars-Tyelca Tuo Highway.
2. The construction of specialized Orbital Elevators on Earth and Mars to allow direct travel from Earth to Mars and back without ever setting foot on an actual ship. This is a side project, and is not considered critical to the overall goals of IsnCo at this time.
3. The construction of a third Highway, from the opposite 'side' of the asteroid belt out to Jovian orbit, with several 'stopover' Orbital Colonies planned en route. The Colonies will be contracted to IsnCo by the EOTED Government, and will be entirely paid for at the expense of the EOTED taxpayer. They are not part of the plan, but are nontheless critical to the expansion of the system.
4. The far future: eventually, IsnCo aims to complete a Mass Transit Network to cover the entire Solar System. There are a number of advantages to investing in this system; an investor can expect a massive outlay - but, eventually, the potential gains are astronomical. Consider: trade between the Colonies and Earth has been steadily increasing for many years. Superluminal flight is and will continue to be the fastest method of travel in stellar space - but superluminal flights to carry mere cargo or passengers is extraudinairily expensive. Sub-luminal flights are also expensive. By building the Stellar Mass Transit Network, we cut the cost considerably for the prospective users. Estimates for potential profit are astronomical - although there are risks involved. It is possible that, in the future, a superluminal transit system may well be built to allow even faster travel between the Colonies and Earth - but the expense involved far outstrips the total cost of a sub-luminal transit network, and so it is unlikely that such an event will occur.

In short, we feel that investors have nothing but time to lose to this venture. The EMH has already delivered payloads to Mars, and to Earth from Mars, and is a proven method of rapid transit between the two worlds. Further expansion of the network is inevitable, and thus, so is profit; we feel that it is merely who is to profit from this venture that is yet to be decided.

~ IsnCo Procurement of Investment Division

Alright, and how big are the rings? Also, my ships use an inertial compensator that enables the ships to accelerate to about 200-300 Gs (for merchants, warships can pull a higher accel. When the ship's impellers are deactivated, the compensator is less effective, but can still reduce the gravity felt by the crew by a factor of 30. (150 Gs of acceleration = 5 Gs to the crew.) If you don't have anything like this we would be glad to provide it. It would most likely enable transport times to be diminished. Also, $3.2 trillion is a bit steep, but we will contribute $100 billion.

Alright, and how big are the rings? Also, my ships use an inertial compensator that enables the ships to accelerate to about 200-300 Gs (for merchants, warships can pull a higher accel. When the ship's impellers are deactivated, the compensator is less effective, but can still reduce the gravity felt by the crew by a factor of 30. (150 Gs of acceleration = 5 Gs to the crew.) If you don't have anything like this we would be glad to provide it. It would most likely enable transport times to be diminished. Also, $3.2 trillion is a bit steep, but we will contribute $100 billion.

"An excellent contribution, of course - perhaps you would enjoy a tour of the rings? We could send you through them in one of our vessels, and decellerate halfway so that you could have a 'peek'. Good to know you're getting your money's worth, no?

"And I must say, the inertial compensator sounds interesting. Perhaps we could discuss those matters during the tour?"

~ Director Sylvia DeVasq-Dth'gar, IsnCo Board of Duly Elected Directors

OOC: Fastest, no doubt, but far from the cheapist. Hermes Spacelines has held that part of the market since long before the first "highway."

Of course, HS ships are slow (terribly slow)...but still the ultimate in econnomy.

Just felt I had to put that out there.

OOC: Fastest, no doubt, but far from the cheapist. Hermes Spacelines has held that part of the market since long before the first "highway."

Of course, HS ships are slow (terribly slow)...but still the ultimate in econnomy.

Just felt I had to put that out there.

[OOC: For the owners, yes, of course. But the idea of the Highway is long-term use; so the prices are very, very, very low for the users. Many of the people who run IsnCo, the builders of the Highway, have life expectancies of up to three hundred years - they can easily afford to wait. As far as effort -> output, yes, the lumberers are probably more efficient; but for cost for the consumer, something like this would be tough to beat. :p]

[OOC: For the owners, yes, of course. But the idea of the Highway is long-term use; so the prices are very, very, very low for the users. Many of the people who run IsnCo, the builders of the Highway, have life expectancies of up to three hundred years - they can easily afford to wait. As far as effort -> output, yes, the lumberers are probably more efficient; but for cost for the consumer, something like this would be tough to beat. :p]

OOC: No no, I mean for the consumer, the cost is lower. The ships have an interesting ability to seemingly accelerate longer then the amount of fuel they carry should allow given conservation of energy. But again, the flights are long. [[EDIT: ~12-14 days from Earth to Saturn, depending on relative location/orbit]]

Oh, and your not the only nation with mortal citizens who have a long life expectancy...

...though in Wazzu, such livelyhood is generally left to the rich/influential (there is rarely much difference) and the lucky.

OOC: No no, I mean for the consumer, the cost is lower. The ships have an interesting ability to seemingly accelerate longer then the amount of fuel they carry should allow given conservation of energy. But again, the flights are long. [[EDIT: ~12-14 days from Earth to Saturn, depending on relative location/orbit]]

Oh, and your not the only nation with mortal citizens who have a long life expectancy...

...though in Wazzu, such livelyhood is generally left to the rich/influential (there is rarely much difference) and the lucky.

[OOC: Ah, I see. Well, I guess IsnCo can just say:

"Well, it IS the cheapest - at this speed!" ;)

But point taken. *nods*]

"The Ceran Corporation would apreciate information about the returns that such an investment would create.... although we ae interested by this possibilty."

"The Ceran Corporation would apreciate information about the returns that such an investment would create.... although we ae interested by this possibilty."


"Okay, so, to put it down straight:

"How much freight passes between Earth and Mars? Let's pretend it's one hundred 'units' - not in weight, just units as in items - per day, even though that's not true. So you have one hundred units per day going between Earth and Mars, day in, day out. Now, most of that would probably be raw materials, like foodstuffs, nitrogen, ores, refined metals, water, and suchlike. So most of it isn't very heavy.

"Now, let's say that you get 5 units of that freight on your service, every single day. But you get the 5 heaviest, most expensive units to transport: because you can provide cheaper transport to heavier goods than most anyone else can. And fast, too.

"So you charge your customers who provide these five units one gold piece per ton per journey per day. Those five units weigh two hunded tonnes. Two hundred tonnes every day - that's 73,000 gold pieces in one year, from just two hundred tonnes of freight.

"Now apply that on a larger scale - and you have why this is a good investment. Once the investment is made, you make no further committment. The Highway pays for itself - depending on performance, within one to three years of completion of construction.

"Consider: Earth and Mars both have dynamic, strong economies. Both are prone to chaos, it's true, but where isn't, these days? But the potential income could be staggering, as I'm sure you can see."

~ IsnCo Procurement of Investment Division

LRR will gladly contribute 500 billion USD and 5 mobile shipyards to assist in the construction of the transit system.

The RMSV Jimi Hendrix (the same class as the Tom Petty) will also be sent in to assist the movement of bulky cargoes.

LRR will gladly contribute 500 billion USD and 5 mobile shipyards to assist in the construction of the transit system.

The RMSV Jimi Hendrix (the same class as the Tom Petty) will also be sent in to assist the movement of bulky cargoes.

"IsnCo thanks LRR most deeply for their gracious and generous contributions, as, we are sure, does the Commonality."

~ IsnCo Board of Duly Elected Directors

"Ceran would be willing to finance up to .6 Trillion Credits. But we would like to arrange a face to face meeting between representatives, to work out some of the fine detail.

We would send a representative to a place of your choosing, there, the contract can be signed, and the agreement finalised.

I also would like to extend the offer of two hundred workers to assist you in construction."

The Canella Mining Guild, and its rivial the Yurki Trading Inc. based out of Ticonderoga and Theeds would each like to expand thier operations base into SOL. They would conttribute 50 million each, and would love to go on a Tour if its ever RPed.

"IsnCo thanks LRR most deeply for their gracious and generous contributions, as, we are sure, does the Commonality."

~ IsnCo Board of Duly Elected Directors

We are happy to be on board.

So, when is construction planned to start?

"Ceran would be willing to finance up to .6 Trillion Credits. But we would like to arrange a face to face meeting between representatives, to work out some of the fine detail.

We would send a representative to a place of your choosing, there, the contract can be signed, and the agreement finalised.

I also would like to extend the offer of two hundred workers to assist you in construction."

"IsnCo is curious to know the conversion of Ceran Credits into Illuvauromeni Relhames before progressing any further."

~ IsnCo Spokesperson

[OOC: RLH1 = US$1.24]

The Canella Mining Guild, and its rivial the Yurki Trading Inc. based out of Ticonderoga and Theeds would each like to expand thier operations base into SOL. They would conttribute 50 million each, and would love to go on a Tour if its ever RPed.

[OOC: Is that IC or OOC?]

"IsnCo is curious to know the conversion of Ceran Credits into Illuvauromeni Relhames before progressing any further."

~ IsnCo Spokesperson

[OOC: RLH1 = US$1.24]

"Ceran uses Zedran Credits, and I appears that the ZC is trading evenly with the RLH"

"Ceran would be willing to finance up to .6 Trillion Credits. But we would like to arrange a face to face meeting between representatives, to work out some of the fine detail.

We would send a representative to a place of your choosing, there, the contract can be signed, and the agreement finalised.

I also would like to extend the offer of two hundred workers to assist you in construction."

"Do you require private transport to Nenya, or will you be utilizing normal civilian services? We suggest that you allow us to lay on the transport; that way, we can bring your representative(s) directly to IsnCo Headquarters, rather than requiring transfers and whatnot at the edge of ICEL territory, and then picking your representative(s) up at Nenya International or IsnCo Spaceport Nenya.

"However, the choice is, of course, yours."

~ IsnCo rep