NationStates Jolt Archive

This evening the Lord Reaver began taking time-bids from foreign manufacturers for the gargantuan task of building and distributing the Voidseek AntiGrav weapons system. Early estimates put first year sales profits at just under the fifteen trillion dollar mark, making this a very lucrative opportunity for corporate and government-run weapons builders across the earth.

The Evenstar's approval of the contract will be based upon a timeframe and monetary agreement, as well as certain terms. They are as follows:

- Enemies of Pantera will not be supplied with the Voidseek missile system.

- Panteran orders will be given first priority and given the utmost attention.

- Pantera itself will hold the manufacturing rights to the missile system, to be lent in trust to those who win the bidding. After a period of no more than six years these rights will come under review and will, pending further monetary negotiation, pass to said manufacturers, and out of Panteran hands.

- Tarriffs from exporting said technology will fall into the coffers of Pantera with a certain percentage going to the appropriate government{s}.

- A token sum, to be decided upon later, of all sales profit will be given over to Pantera, in return for manufacturing rights.

- In the first three years the Lord Reaver will require some six-thousand mobile Voidseek missile systems to be delivered.

- In five years the satisfactory completion of a massive Homeland Grid of the Voidseek missile systems will span the Panteran mainland and the surrounding archipelago.

Bidding will begin at once. The contract will be awarded to the manufacturer offering the most acceptable time-frame and monetary agreement.

The Lord Reaver has been quoted to say,"Much of Panteras future will be dedicated to warfare, wether we will it or not, it is so. Grav-Tech is a menace to all good, free people, and Pantera will soon have a way to combat the cowards who would wield it."

Dayne the Evenstar
Lord Reaver of Pantera
Drag the Waters of War

{{OOC: As we all reckon time differently we can just leave things vague. I want this to work well, so please only apply if you will RP the design and distribution of this. I have a few more things to discuss with any interested parties, but I'll do it over telegrams. Please, bid away. This could be VERY profitable to you. I mean, shit, who doesn't hate gravships?}}

Gargantua Arms company HQ

-This could be very profitable. As well, think of the technological benefits.
-But, it could not have come at a worse time. Our nation is gearing up for war. We cannot task a megafactory now for this endeavour.
-We won’t need an entire megafactory to do it. We still have some of our other smaller, at least compared to the megas, to fulfill the order.
-Well, what do think?
-It shouldn’t be that much of a problem, actually. Pantera is supplying the technology so we would merely be the manufacturers. I’m not sure exactly what the specs of a Voidseeker would be, but if they must be along the lines of an advanced cruise missile. And we can crank those out quite easily. For the guidance systems we might have to bring in someone like Hydra Aeronautics. I’m not sure exactly what their manufacturing rates would be. Besides, it all depends if they are looking for ground based systems only. It seems like it since they say they will be deploying them throughout their lands. Most likely, they would be mobile – similar to our mobile cruise missile systems.
-Right. So it’s not just the missile price but the whole system we have to factor in for a bid.
-Right. We need more clarification. After all, they may want to be able to launch the missiles from ships as well. It would give them more flexibility.
-Well, run some numbers by them and see what they think. I have to contact the Military Research Division since, well, such a system could also benefit us.

====

To: Dayne the Evenstar
Lord Reaver of Pantera
From: Gargantua Arms Inc.
Subject: Missile contract

Your offer sounds intriguing. We would like some clarification though. Are you looking to only have land based Voidseeker systems or are you interested in launching them from ships and possibly aircraft?

Based on the information provided, we will be able to deliver 6000 Voidseeker systems exclusively to your government at a production rate of 2000 missile systems per year. The total production cost for 6000 systems will be approximately 1-2 million US dollars per system. Therefore, our bid is between 6 to 12 billion dollars – depending on the complexity of the system and launch platforms you require.

OOC: $500 000 per Tomahawk is the current production unit cost. I don’t know if that includes everything, but I figure this missile is a bit more complex. Hence, the 6 billion is a very lowball estimate.

The Frederick Verogian Weapons Foundation
The Board Office
Argentium
The Free Market Republic of Forum Primus

The Board of Directors sat around the table discussing the potential for profit if it geared its entire corporation, all its manufacturing, all its research, all its financial capital to such a massive undertaking.

"Why not manufacture these weapons, the cost is great but there will always be a demand for these weapons especially from Pantera themselves, and I am sure our own military could benefit from a supply of these weapons, especially considering how vulnerable and how small a nation we are. Nations with gravships can currently squash us like ants. To construct these weapons will safeguard the livelihood of our nation, our own corporation and the Panterans who obviously might want to protect there interests here should we win the bid...."

That was the wealthy Senator, John Septimus, a short squat man in his mid-40's with acne scars riddling his face like bullet holes. He had invested heavily in the Foundation between his two terms as Senator, something to do, something profitable.
Another man spoke.

"Nonsense, we would only be putting ourselves at risk. Not to mention the overwhelming market and price fluctuations as well as the enormous cost of production, we would be putting the nation in danger. Enemies always like to attack the sources of weapon supplies."

That was the brother of the CEO, a tall man, sallow with the stench of tobacco around him. He was always coughing between sentances. Forumite law prohibited regulation in any industry, this included tobacco; no limits on carcinogen content and a very cheap price.
The CEO spoke up. His voice booming and deep, echoing from the dark and seemingly far away end of the table and it spoke with a parochial eloquence.

"So you have it, two differing opinions. Brothers and Sisters! Let us vote, yay or nay?"

The vote was narrow, 7 in favor, 6 were not.
The CEO took out his pen and signed the letter, addressed to the Panteran Government.

To: Dayne the Evenstar
Lord Reaver of Pantera
From: The Frederick Verogian Weapons Foundation, Forum Primus
Subject: "Another day, another contract"

Honoured Leader of Pantera
We bring tidings from the distant and little known nation of Forum Primus.
We wish to make a bid for the VoidSeek Anti-Grav Weapons System Contract.
Our corporation is huge and can accommodate such a massive project. With over 100 years worth of time assimilating and buying out our home competitors in addition to the same amount time worth of manufacturing experience, we are not in a position to be destroyed as a company so the supply of weapons systems will be constant.
We are also not in a position to rob you of your system design, any attempt to do so would mean the complete annihilation of our nation and therefore our Corporation from the Earth. How many of my fellow bidders can claim that, considering most of them are large enough to be a serious threat to you should they consider treachery? Loyalty through fear is most potent, would you not agree?
Now we have come up with a comprehensive plan that should accommodate your needs:

1/2 year required to convert manufacturing procedure and equipment for the task as well as a complete and detailed study of the product in question. It is our plan that the weapons systems can be easily placed on any surface based vehicles. Airborne weaponry may require more extensive research.

1/2 year required to reach optimum production, our estimate conclude a production of around 1200 systems during this part of the process.

2 years, each providing an estimated production of around 2450 systems.

We will be producing an estimated surplus of 100 extra systems within this period, it is always necessary in war to be prepared with extra.
Our workforce is up to the task, they are of fine Forumite stock, industrious and hardworking. However, we must ask whether your treasury can accommodate our plan?

Estimated cost of the individual weapon system based on current resource and manufacturing prices within the Free Market Republic; $910,000

Total Manufacturing Cost over 3 year period; $5.64 billion

The Cost of Factory Conversion is evaluated at around $1.2 billion however we are willing to spend half of that out of own pockets to accomodate your business with our Corporation.

In effect the total cost to you is around $6.2 billion with $0.6 billion coming from our pockets.

We hope you will see the wisdom in investing in the Frederick Verogian Weapons Foundation. May your prosperity be marked at the downfall of the next gravship.

Signed

CEO George Malos

{{...I mean, shit, who doesn't hate gravships?}}

'Almost everyone.'

Must ponder the logic of 'gravtech is stupid...We must counter it with other stupid technology!' More so why anyone would ever claim a flying ship with horrible logistics was a threat to freedom...

Oh no! It's...

TERRITORY SUPERDEFORMED BONUS THEATER

We enter the lab of SD-Johanna Ntsondo, who is presently polishing an experimental missile. The missile is very phallic, and Johanna is polishing it is a suggestive manner.

"Missile so big... chibi so small... missile so big... OH NO! We have invasion sign!"

SD-Johanna rushes over to a tactical holodisplay, and as she bends over it there is the Mandatory Non-Superdeformed Masamune Shirow-style Butt Shot.

"No! Dark Sirithil is invading!"

Cut to outside, where SD-Dark Sirithil is standing on a Huge Gravship Plushie floating above the land and showering it liberally with plasma and gold coins. A gold coin will really hurt and Dark Siri isn't just evil but very very rich.

"Oh ho ho ho ho!" cries Dark Siri. "Tremble before my gravitic fleet! For mortals smell bad and I want your women! There can be no peace while Ogrek lives!"

The gravplushy icons move inexorably across the tac display in the bunker, like enormously expensive things that move across a heavily defended landmass with absolutely no benefit of cover. Johanna trembles decorously at the raw intimidation value of... well, that. And at her aunty not buying her any Voidseekers.

"Oh, if I only had a Voidseeker! The Voidseeker would protect me from the evil elfy! It would seek out the void and... and... uh..."

She blinks.

"Sod this, I'll just salvo a few thousand missiles at her. Salvage and ransom should pay for munitions."

Thousands of cute little missiles streak off toward the plushies, mixed in with tens of thousands of artillery rockets and shells.

OOC: Letsee...UMAC is filling a Versallian contract to rearm thier military from those horrible SA80s...Shinseki is working with Northampton Shipyards on a new ship to replace the older Northies...whats open...Ah yes, WYC.

IC;

The offer submited to Pantera from WYC was rather short and simple. They didnt have time to dick around with fancy legal terms or the 'thrid party representing the first and second parties of the fifth parties to the above signed and or aformentioned contract.' In basic terms, stated outright, WYC was offering a well built, yet quickly made and quickly available, missle system. This would be done by canceling other projects of lesser importance from smaller, in country contractors, and freeing up two production centers, bringing the number of availabe manufacturing plants to to produce these missles to 4. Two in nation, two in colony, both atmospheric.

The assumed cost of initial production would be 2.1billion, estimated for combined research and production. This would take the good part of 6-12months worth of testing and applications. The cost would, of course, be covered by WYC. After that, substantial production would begin. In two years, the 6000 required mark will be filled, with an estimated surpluss of 700 missles. Each individula system would come to an estimated cost of 95,000USTD (Equvilant to 30,000IC). Production cost is estimated at 1.4billion, half of which would be covered by WYC. This brings the total to:

Production Cost-3.5billion, with 75% covered by WYC
Cost Per Missle System-Estimated between 80,000-95,000 USTD(Universal Standard Trade Dollar)
Production TIme till 6000 unit requirement met-2years
Production time till Homeland Defense Grid Completed-Unknown. Not nowing exactly how large the grid will be, we can only estimate it will be doen within the four year time frame.
Dedicated Factories of Production and Research-4
Total Factories with Available Space-6

OOC2: Would type a better, more fancy detailed post, but I have class...

OOC:
A little bump for more replies. I'll have my decision this evening.

Oh, yeah... Unless you're bidding on the contract or otherwise roleplaying with Pantera, stay the fuck out of my thread. You're not wanted here.

Thanks.

OOC: Actually, developing anti-floaty munitions might be interesting. Floaty ships are a part of the threat to any nation in "mainline" NS.

Now, for the "Voidseek" to be interesting some issues would have to be addressed - mainly, what supposedly makes a Voidseek useful other than having a spurious-sounding name and providing downright overinflated profits. It's not like the typical gravship isn't a target already, is it?

Those would be the implicit questions in the SD post. What's the use of the thing? Why use it rather than the stuff we already have? For that matter, what the hell is a Voidseek? A more OOCly important issue is "is this thing supposed to be modern, near-future or whatever?"

Now, you could answer the questions, helping define the thing - in which case you might get a letter from the non-superdeformed Johanna Ntsondo, at Armscor/Territorial. Or you could have a snit.

[ooc: hope you don't mind if I tag this... I've been hankerin to see a bidding war!]

OOC: This could all be dealt with InCharacter, which is why I intentionally left things vague in my initial post. So, please add 'everything related to this matter and in this post should be dealt with using InCharacter discussion to the bold comments in my previous post'.

The Lord Reaver announced this evening that due to recent events, that he will extend the bidding through the end of the week.

OOC: Maybe tomorrow or the next day. I planned to decide this evening but I want to pitch something to my region before make a decision. Hopefully tomorrow evening, but as it looks to be a long day I will make no promises.

We, as always, are willing to pay top dollar for anything Panteran. We are most interested in the design of these weapons, because up until now there has not been a decisive way to deal with 'gravtech', save for the typical nuclear weapon.

I'm sure our main military supplier, The Resi Corporation could concoct a weapon similar to this, but seeing as you have already finished Beta testing (I assume) this device, we would like to throw our name in the hat for a contract.

Congrats on the new weapon Lord Reaver, it will do the world alot of good against certain nations that specialize in 'gravtech'.

http://67.18.37.14/40/9/upload/p971819.jpg
Chairman Samuel Jackson
-Department of Defense-

OOC:
A little bump for more replies. I'll have my decision this evening.

Oh, yeah... Unless you're bidding on the contract or otherwise roleplaying with Pantera, stay the fuck out of my thread. You're not wanted here.

Thanks.

Less with the flaming.