New Space Technologies
23-09-2004, 20:00
"Frankly Mr Waters, I don't see how they make a profit off that one..." Executive Assistant Fara Dell said with a shrug.
Balancing the printout crystal on his desk delicately, CEO Edgar Waters nodded. "They don't," he concluded simply.
"All in all, I'd say we face some stiff competition. Most of the IM's shipbuilders have access to incredible technologies we just don't have. It'll be hard to carve a market niche..." Fara continued with her report, adding in some analysis of her own.
Fara was beautiful, but cold. Edgar knew she had a good head on her shoulders, though, and that was what counted. He waved a hand, dismissing her opinion with a smile. "Don't you worry about that part. Tell me more."
She pointed at the crystal. "It's all in there. Carriers, battlecruisers - destroyers always seem to sell well, though of course there's no standardization in terminology. Some destroyers are larger than battleships. Faster than light travel for most, using a wide variety of unknown means..."
"Who's this? '5CN'?"
"Five Civilized Nations."
"Interesting. Their ships are orders of magnitude less massive than Vernii warships and are priced higher."
"Production capability differences?"
"You got it. Well, that, and it's a buyers market out there. Price competition is to be expected... it just stuns me that they'll sell at a loss just to increase sales."
"Who sells at a loss?"
"Nevermind. Well, make a copy of this and distribute it to the Board, not that they'll know any more about this than I do."
"Yes, Mr Waters," Fara said professionally.
"And get me Gaston on the horn in a few, we'll have to see about decreasing the technology gap. Without spending billions we don't have on R and D. Say, ten minutes?"
"You got it. Is there anything else?"
"Coffee."
"Ah," she affirmed, silently paying respects to all-important Coffee. She smiled, perhaps a little more than professionally now, and retrieved the printout crystal before leaving the office.
Edgar Waters twirled a pen in his hand thoughtfully. There was much to do.
Balancing the printout crystal on his desk delicately, CEO Edgar Waters nodded. "They don't," he concluded simply.
"All in all, I'd say we face some stiff competition. Most of the IM's shipbuilders have access to incredible technologies we just don't have. It'll be hard to carve a market niche..." Fara continued with her report, adding in some analysis of her own.
Fara was beautiful, but cold. Edgar knew she had a good head on her shoulders, though, and that was what counted. He waved a hand, dismissing her opinion with a smile. "Don't you worry about that part. Tell me more."
She pointed at the crystal. "It's all in there. Carriers, battlecruisers - destroyers always seem to sell well, though of course there's no standardization in terminology. Some destroyers are larger than battleships. Faster than light travel for most, using a wide variety of unknown means..."
"Who's this? '5CN'?"
"Five Civilized Nations."
"Interesting. Their ships are orders of magnitude less massive than Vernii warships and are priced higher."
"Production capability differences?"
"You got it. Well, that, and it's a buyers market out there. Price competition is to be expected... it just stuns me that they'll sell at a loss just to increase sales."
"Who sells at a loss?"
"Nevermind. Well, make a copy of this and distribute it to the Board, not that they'll know any more about this than I do."
"Yes, Mr Waters," Fara said professionally.
"And get me Gaston on the horn in a few, we'll have to see about decreasing the technology gap. Without spending billions we don't have on R and D. Say, ten minutes?"
"You got it. Is there anything else?"
"Coffee."
"Ah," she affirmed, silently paying respects to all-important Coffee. She smiled, perhaps a little more than professionally now, and retrieved the printout crystal before leaving the office.
Edgar Waters twirled a pen in his hand thoughtfully. There was much to do.