NationStates Jolt Archive

*Stirring Music, think Fednet Theme from Starship Troopers, followed by cheesy muzak*

Welcome!

Tired of that same old job?

Want to see adventure in a distant, exotic land, with good pay and decent healthcare?

Would you like to get in on the ground floor of an exciting new corporate venture, with plenty of investment opportunities and a market friendly to business?

Interested in trade and rare materials and exotic luxuries?

Or simply seeking a friend out there in the stars?


Then the friendly Seven Sectors of the Zhang-Sakura Corporate Alliance have what YOU need!


We are offering numerous opportunities in the field of:

-Embassy Exchanges
-Trade and Defensive Pacts
-Arms Purchases, such as Battlecruisers, Wraiths, Grizzly Fighter-Bombers, and Valkyries!
-Exotic and Mundane Goods, such as Cloaking Devices, Calabi-Yau Teleporter Science Kits (great for the Kids!), Kirin Pelts, Headcrab Sushi, Vespene Gas, Neosteel and Precious Metals.
-Mercenary Rental Pacts
-AND MANY MORE!

Just listen to these testimonies from satisfied customers.

"One of the best damn ships I've ever served on....now where's my sandwich?" --Grand Admiral Harrison Ford, Cassiopeian Star Navy

If you are interested, contact our Public Relations Department--that's a Diplomatic Corps, for those skeptics out there--and ask away.

Nicholas Zhang-Sakura
CEO
Corporate Alliance Public Relations Department

slight bump

are you part of The CA or is this somthing diffrent theirs already a group known as the Corprate Allience aka the CA Want to exchange embasys that could be arranged.

are you part of The CA or is this somthing diffrent theirs already a group known as the Corprate Allience aka the CA Want to exchange embasys that could be arranged.

OOC: It's something quite different. And my Corporate Alliance isn't so much one, as it is a nation with that name. Lemme provide you with my Intro RP, that'll explain some bits of it:

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=493778

And are you future tech? If so, we''d be interested.

no Sorry MT.

bump

bump

bump

EDIT: Come on, people! I need some patronage...

Cusith desires details as to your corporations personnel assets. Do you deal in humqan resources, as well as material goods?

-Cusith, the Barghest

Cusith desires details as to your corporations personnel assets. Do you deal in humqan resources, as well as material goods?

-Cusith, the Barghest

Your request is an interesting one. Per review of corporate personnel records, members of the Alliance do provide very inexpensive labor here at home and for a fee abroad, as well as limited numbers of mercenaries to those militaries needing help. What do you have in mind?

Nicholas Zhang-Sakura
CEO
Corporate Alliance Public Relations Department

Your request is an interesting one. Per review of corporate personnel records, members of the Alliance do provide very inexpensive labor here at home and for a fee abroad, as well as limited numbers of mercenaries to those militaries needing help. What do you have in mind?

Nicholas Zhang-Sakura
CEO
Corporate Alliance Public Relations Department

Persons of little value. Those who would not be greatly missed. Failures, weaklings, incompetents. I would be interested in acquiring all of these as assets. Their acquisition would be, of necessity, permanent.

Your request is somewhat unusually worded; I may have to chat with my superiors about this. We do have political dissidents to offer; they will not be missed. How's 150,000 sound for starters?

Nicholas Zhang-Sakura
CEO
Corporate Alliance Public Relations Department

Your request is somewhat unusually worded; I may have to chat with my superiors about this. We do have political dissidents to offer; they will not be missed. How's 150,000 sound for starters?

Nicholas Zhang-Sakura
CEO
Corporate Alliance Public Relations Department

That would be adequate. What will the price for them be? I am capable of paying in several ways. Military assistance, planetary rights, or rights to entire systems may be traded for large numbers of personnel.

That would be adequate. What will the price for them be? I am capable of paying in several ways. Military assistance, planetary rights, or rights to entire systems may be traded for large numbers of personnel.

I have spoken to my superiors, my bosses deem the above offer acceptable. In exchange, we are intrigued to know what systems you will be releasing the rights for.

Nicholas Zhang-Sakura
CEO
Corporate Alliance Public Relations Department

I have spoken to my superiors, my bosses deem the above offer acceptable. In exchange, we are intrigued to know what systems you will be releasing the rights for.

Nicholas Zhang-Sakura
CEO
Corporate Alliance Public Relations Department

I will release the rights to an uninhabited system within my zone of influence. The coordinates are included with this transmission. One world is habitable. The rest are wealthy in minerals, or gas giants. There are three belts, also wealthy in minerals, heavy metals, and certain gems valued by lesser races.

OOC: Headcrab sushi. Brilliant. I'd buy some, but I don't want to risk coming into contact with TCT in character. It would be... bad.

OOC: Headcrab sushi. Brilliant. I'd buy some, but I don't want to risk coming into contact with TCT in character. It would be... bad.

OOC: An innovation from my MT nation, Upper Xen. This assumes the boys at Zhang-Sakura brought Xenizen/Xenian lifeforms with them when they colonized these planets, by accident or deliberately.

OOC: Headcrab sushi. Brilliant. I'd buy some, but I don't want to risk coming into contact with TCT in character. It would be... bad.

OOC: It'd be awesome. Almost like meeting a long lost cousin that you didn't know about. Who you would then likely beat into a bloody pulp, if I remember things about you correctly.

I will release the rights to an uninhabited system within my zone of influence. The coordinates are included with this transmission. One world is habitable. The rest are wealthy in minerals, or gas giants. There are three belts, also wealthy in minerals, heavy metals, and certain gems valued by lesser races.

The Board of Directors accepts your offer, and wish to claim these rights as soon as possible. May we bring our own security forces in to hold the system?

Nicholas Zhang-Sakura
CEO
Corporate Public Relations Department

The Board of Directors accepts your offer, and wish to claim these rights as soon as possible. May we bring our own security forces in to hold the system?

Nicholas Zhang-Sakura
CEO
Corporate Public Relations Department

That is quite acceptable.

The room was... Small, to say the least, but fairly exquisitely furnished, and decidedly dark - when one came from DA, bright colours tended to be unpleasant. One simply wasn't used to them.

The two people inside - one oldish man, and one youngish woman, both of which with a fashion sense barely avoiding gothicness - were sitting in the rather cramped room, watching the images projected into the middle of it, featuring a nearby gas giant's megafauna and a solar flare shattering and dispersing upon hitting said giant's magnetosphere, causing magnetic storms that'd keep the subsystem's ecospheres busy for months to come, and enjoying the tastes of 'Spiced' wine that would cause a rather severe addiction and a day-long timeout with very pretty colours in the average baseline human.

To them, it was merely enjoyable.

Okay, very enjoyable.

"So... And the point of this is?"

"Access to information, mostly. From what we've gleaned from the 'nets, the Zhang-Sakura Corporate Alliance is the kind of decidedly amoral corporation that has ruled DA not all that long ago. Actually, worse than that - DA corps tended not to shoot their employees/ citizens. The same cannot necessarily be said about Zhang-Sakura, although our sources are, admittedly, not necessarily trustable. It also ought to attract the decidedly undesirable kind of customer."

"... this is going to be one of your idealistic plots, isn't it?"

"Well... Yes. Anyway. You wanted to do something more important than getting high on spiced wine, no? This would be your chance - you'd, in effect, be the liaison of a conglomerate of smaller - small when compared to GMUs, that is - businesses on Earth - generally un-involved in the matters at hand, and interested in genuine profit -, engaging in what liaisons generally do - organising cooperation, splitting market shares, getting laid by the CEO, and so on."

"You could've left the latter unsaid..."

"Hey, just an example. Anyway. While you'd be doing this, you'd also attempt to - legally - acquire information regarding the Zhang-Sakura Corporate Alliance's customers, eventually relaying this information to, ahem... Me."

"And you'd relay the information to your contacts, which would interfere, one way or another."

"Depending on what they buy, and what they do, yes. This doesn't have to be violent interference - giving the blueprints of a battleship to the right people, or interfering in market balances in order to cut off vital supplies in raw materials can be fairly useful, too. We expect the customers of Zheng-Sakura tending to be entities high-level DA sapients will tend to have issues with, so it makes sense. And if not, we can simply fund our black budgets with what we're doing. Either way, we win."

The woman sighed. "Well, I guess I should regularly backup myself, then..."

"Actually, that could give it away. But regardless... Interested? Obviously, our interest would be in in-depth cooperation, to actually get access to sensitive information. R&D, investments on a scale that allow us to interfere on every level, the likes. Of course, the conglomerate in question can't compete with a nation-sized entity, so you'd need to organise investments in specific sectors - we can't just buy them out."

"Hrm. Sounds interesting enough, I suppose. I figure that I have to keep actual details on the way the Zhang-Sakura Corporate Alliance works secret from the aforementioend conglomerate?"

"Not really. They're largely based in Bigtopia, and a number of other, smallish entities, sort-of linked to the Wealth of Nations, but generally without knowing this. As such, excessive secrecy is unnecessary. Not that I'd want the present state of things to be changed, of course."

"Neat. So I would represent them... Numbers?"

"A second..."

The discussion continued. In the meantime, messages were sent, generally taking complex routes over half a dozen datanets, with their origins, while hardly shrouded in mystery, generally being less than honest...

The culmination of this messages eventually made it to the Zhang-Sakura Corporate Alliance.

To: Whom it may concern, Zhang-Sakura Corporate Alliance
From: CBT (Carter/ Belheim/ Taubig) Conglomerate
Subject: Business Deals

Dear Sirs,

Having heard of your offers, and the opportunities they involve, it is my pleasure to inform you that the CBT-Conglomerate, a multinational organisation with extraordinary resources, is decidedly interesting in cooperating with your own business endeavours.

Right now, we're particularly interested in a) distributing your goods within our sphere of influence, b) investing in your endeavours - with our overall turnover reaching 2.9 t standard units/ year, and our profits being in the 29bn range, we're certain that considerable sums can be used in creating in-depth cooperation between our two entities, in particular regarding high-level products (Mercenaries, arms manufacturing, the likes) -, and c) opening 'relations' by way of establishing a liaison with your Corporate Alliance. The latter would then, of course, negotiate the deals regarding the former two.

Should you agree with this ideas, or have any comments regarding them, please let me know.

Yours,

Patrick Sherman, Representative, CBT Conglomerate

The culmination of this messages eventually made it to the Zhang-Sakura Corporate Alliance.

To: Whom it may concern, Zhang-Sakura Corporate Alliance
From: CBT (Carter/ Belheim/ Taubig) Conglomerate
Subject: Business Deals

Dear Sirs,

Having heard of your offers, and the opportunities they involve, it is my pleasure to inform you that the CBT-Conglomerate, a multinational organisation with extraordinary resources, is decidedly interesting in cooperating with your own business endeavours.

Right now, we're particularly interested in a) distributing your goods within our sphere of influence, b) investing in your endeavours - with our overall turnover reaching 2.9 t standard units/ year, and our profits being in the 29bn range, we're certain that considerable sums can be used in creating in-depth cooperation between our two entities, in particular regarding high-level products (Mercenaries, arms manufacturing, the likes) -, and c) opening 'relations' by way of establishing a liaison with your Corporate Alliance. The latter would then, of course, negotiate the deals regarding the former two.

Should you agree with this ideas, or have any comments regarding them, please let me know.

Yours,

Patrick Sherman, Representative, CBT Conglomerate

Your offer of trade interests us immensely, as we seek desirable trade partners, and we would like to begin exchange of goods as soon as possible. We can do section A of your request. As for section B of your request, I will have to speak to the Board of Directors directly, as while we can joint ventures on many items, there are certain sensitive items in our defense sector, as you may understand, my superiors must think about when they consider item B. Section C, on the other hand, is easily accomidable; he or she is welcome to establish an office in Newport City, New Nippon, in the capital of the Alliance--perhaps she could discuss things with the Board directly instead of me, so that an agreement can be better reached.

We eagerly await your reply.

Nicholas Zhang-Sakura
CEO
Corporate Public Relations Department

oocness: Judging by your history blurbs and posts in the linked thread, I figure that New Nippon is a good deal off Earth/ Sol. Can still edit if this isn't the case, tho. Oh, and I'm just mentioning this because I made that mistake, once. Thought the other side was somewhere far away, and they, uh, weren't.

To: Nicholas Zhang-Sakura, CEO, Corporate Public Relations Department, Zhang-Sakura Corporate Alliance
From: Patrick Sherman, Representative, CBT Conglomerate
Subject: Business Deals

Dear Sirs,

Perfect. I've taken the liberty of doing some basic organisation regarding our exchanges - shipping, receiving, distributing, advertising -, the results are attached. Naturally, we'll need to take a closer look at the possibilities your enterprise offers before we can decide what to acquire and distribute - which I believe Ms. Stefanie Li will do -, but nonetheless, I believe that this is a first, important step towards mutual profits on a rather considerable scale.

I can of your understand your reservations regarding our proposal of investing in your enterprise, and I hope that Ms Li will be able to eventually convince you of our trustworthyness and/ or finding profitable alternative acceptable to both sides. That such cannot be achived immediately does, of course, go without saying. We're patient.

In any case, our aforementioned liaison will be on her way (Via a commercial transport) in order to discuss the issues at hand with the board, as per your suggestion. Date and time of her arrival are attached to this message.

Yours,

Patrick Sherman, Representative, CBT Conglomerate

It had taken a bit of efford to get Stefanie Li - now officially an employee and liaison of the CBT Conglomerate - off her cruise liner and - via three transfers - to Earth, for quick approval by the CBT Conglomerate's board of directors (That her degrees were real had helped a bit there, and her having had actual contact with out-of-sol entities had been similarly useful, in terms of experience), followed by booking passage first class for the transfer to the seven sectors - specifically, Newport City, New Nippon. Her identity would check out, largely because it was her real one - Angstians, the do-gooder attitudes of its high-level sapients aside, had a tendency of being involved in the shadier side of things as well, and Stefanie's mere nationality really shouldn't trigger warning buttons (Standard procedures to secure information inside heads and computers aside, that is).

A decidedly uneventful trip. And she didn't even have a secretary (On the plus side, she was reasonably skilled at multitasking, and equipped appropriately), this making the whole trip even more boring than it had been to begin with.

Eventually, after a few days in transit, she stepped out of her ride down to the planet's surface, her (Sizeable) baggage floating, walking and rolling alongside her, part of her mind still admiring the view she'd had from orbit, and more-or-less expecting a ride to her new working place.

Well. After securing her baggage in her hopefully-bought-by-the-conglomerate house. Which was what she was going to do now.

OOC: It figures, DA, that when I find a thread I'm excited about, you've already beaten me to it. I'll have to find somewhere else to do business, or it'll just look like I'm following you around.

And what's wrong with looking as if you're following me around? o.O

oocness: Judging by your history blurbs and posts in the linked thread, I figure that New Nippon is a good deal off Earth/ Sol. Can still edit if this isn't the case, tho. Oh, and I'm just mentioning this because I made that mistake, once. Thought the other side was somewhere far away, and they, uh, weren't.

To: Nicholas Zhang-Sakura, CEO, Corporate Public Relations Department, Zhang-Sakura Corporate Alliance
From: Patrick Sherman, Representative, CBT Conglomerate
Subject: Business Deals

Dear Sirs,

Perfect. I've taken the liberty of doing some basic organisation regarding our exchanges - shipping, receiving, distributing, advertising -, the results are attached. Naturally, we'll need to take a closer look at the possibilities your enterprise offers before we can decide what to acquire and distribute - which I believe Ms. Stefanie Li will do -, but nonetheless, I believe that this is a first, important step towards mutual profits on a rather considerable scale.

I can of your understand your reservations regarding our proposal of investing in your enterprise, and I hope that Ms Li will be able to eventually convince you of our trustworthyness and/ or finding profitable alternative acceptable to both sides. That such cannot be achived immediately does, of course, go without saying. We're patient.

In any case, our aforementioned liaison will be on her way (Via a commercial transport) in order to discuss the issues at hand with the board, as per your suggestion. Date and time of her arrival are attached to this message.

Yours,

Patrick Sherman, Representative, CBT Conglomerate

It had taken a bit of efford to get Stefanie Li - now officially an employee and liaison of the CBT Conglomerate - off her cruise liner and - via three transfers - to Earth, for quick approval by the CBT Conglomerate's board of directors (That her degrees were real had helped a bit there, and her having had actual contact with out-of-sol entities had been similarly useful, in terms of experience), followed by booking passage first class for the transfer to the seven sectors - specifically, Newport City, New Nippon. Her identity would check out, largely because it was her real one - Angstians, the do-gooder attitudes of its high-level sapients aside, had a tendency of being involved in the shadier side of things as well, and Stefanie's mere nationality really shouldn't trigger warning buttons (Standard procedures to secure information inside heads and computers aside, that is).

A decidedly uneventful trip. And she didn't even have a secretary (On the plus side, she was reasonably skilled at multitasking, and equipped appropriately), this making the whole trip even more boring than it had been to begin with.

Eventually, after a few days in transit, she stepped out of her ride down to the planet's surface, her (Sizeable) baggage floating, walking and rolling alongside her, part of her mind still admiring the view she'd had from orbit, and more-or-less expecting a ride to her new working place.

Well. After securing her baggage in her hopefully-bought-by-the-conglomerate house. Which was what she was going to do now.

OOC: It wouldn't be that much of a stretch--I assumed the Zhang-Sakura found these worlds at a time of little or no FTL, so that would make for very short trips or long ones in cryostasis. So you can assume these worlds are a bit far from Earth, though not too far.

BTW, do you have a factbook or some info I can look at, for future posts?

IC:

The identity did check out as Angstian, though as usual with foreigners and even in-country residents (owing to the meddling of the People's Movement) they did a quick background check and a cursory scan of her person, calling the appropriate authorities and whatnot to verify her ID.

But at any rate, a car came to pick her up, a Ford 5000 hoverlimousine (OOC: the blurbs should've mentioned these guys aplenty). Pulling alongside, a window rolled down and Nicholas Zhang-Sakura then said, "Are you Ms. Stephanie Li of the CBT Congolmerate?"

OOC: Nothing, I suppose.

{Closed Transmission}
{TRANSMISSION ENCRYPTION: Corporate Standard}
{FROM: TerraTech Industries}
{TO: The Zhang-Sakura Corporate Alliance}
{SUBJECT: Potential Business}

Dear Sirs,

It seems as if the stars have been strewn with more than their fair share of communists, post-capitalist societies, socialism-befuddled republics and tin-pot dictatorships. That being the case, it is with particular delight that we came upon your organization. That you have grown to your current territorial breadth and economic height is a testament to the ageless power and grace of capitalism. We greet you happily and heartily.

In the context of this fortunate meeting, we are eager to secure the possible profit to be derived from concrete business.

TerraTech Industries – indeed all of the organizations that operate under the umbrella of Conquest Incorporated, our parent company – pay special attention to the civilian, military and commercial news agencies of nations of interest. This was helpful in your case, as it highlighted a possible transaction we might pursue. According to a recent article in Zhang-Sakura Defense News, you are laboring under a lack of exceptionally heavy naval units.

Again, from your public news agencies, we have gathered that your primary military concern is the destruction of socialist dissidents, a cause for which we applaud you. It would be absolutely reasonable of you to conclude that ships larger than your new Titan class would not add very much to counter-insurgency operations.

However, the aforementioned ZSDN article did highlight the threat of entities such as the newly discovered Necron contingent that has appeared on Cadia.

We assure you, even knowing as little as we do about Necrons, vessels the size of your impressive-sounding Titan battleships will be unable to cope with a decently-sized incursion.

If you are interested in ensuring the protection of your employees from the threat of foreign or alien encroachment, we could open a dialogue on the subject of orbital and ground-based defenses, as well as mobile forces.

Additionally, your advertisement of a cloaking device is unspeakably intriguing. Surely, entities from megacorporations to national governments have been pursuing this sort of device for centuries. Is it true that you have put an end to the search? What manner device is this? Does it block all electromagnetic radiation? If so, how does it solve the problem of the blindness that would cause the cloaked ship? Or, instead, is “Cloaking Device” just a euphemistic name for a simpler technology?

We await your reply eagerly.

Yours,
Wang Leu, Marketing Associate, TerraTech Industries

OOC: Fujishima, if you’d rather the ZSDN article were not released publicly, I can delete this.

oocness: Well, 'Good Deal' meaning 'Not inside Sol' works out, so it fits regardless.

And, hrm. There's a NSwiki article, but it's horrifically outdated, and should be viewed with suspicion. And I'm far too lazy to update it, so asking me will tend to work better. Anyway. At present, DA is a decidedly posthuman society, with augments being more-or-less omnipresent - largely genetic and micro/ nanoscale cybernetics, as such just looks much better than crude Battle Angel Alita-esque macrocybernetics. Self-upgraded/ evolved AI and uploads are common as well, with the borders between these groups being decidedly transparent - an AI can download into a largely-organic body, an organic-born upload into a machine, although both involves slight personality changes - and potentially the loss of capabilities, as the computronium a shipmind resides in is rather more capable than a near-baseline human's brain - due to differing hardware structures.

The whole thing is rather complex, a centralised government doesn't exist (Cannot exist, due to both, separatist tendencies, and nowadays also longlivety - generational conflicts not ending because the older generation refuses to die tends to promote violent overthrowings, and to prevent those, a constant growths of comparatively small subsocieties is an inherent necessity), and decisions are either made on a regional scale, or by way of supraregional consensus - the latter being exceedingly rare. An alternative to this is offered by the high-level sapients - shipminds, sapient installations, the likes - which tend to do things on their own. As such, it's actually less of a nation, and more of a civilisational sphere.

The society - with the exception of its fringes, where the freaks (Equivalents of Scientology, mentally unstable mercenaries, luddites and the likes) live - is exceedingly liberal, hedonistic, and to no small extend arrogant, the latter being responsible for it believing that their way of life is the best - or at least, among the best - and should be spread, hence the not-quite-selfless interventions with regards to the 'Less Liberal' societies in NS.

Work can technically be automated to an extend that'd leave the vast majority of the society unemployed (Yet provided for), but as post-scarcity hasn't actually been achived (Due to a lack of means to actually extract all the raw materials floating about in space), not to mention that a bit of work does a lot in the way of keeping people happy, the usual result is just decidedly short but well-paid working weeks for the majority of the society. As such, it isn't actually socialist - because of this, and because welfare is near-unextant, but also, due to assorted pieces of techwankery & unlikely social developments, near-unnecessary - (Although calling its economic system capitalist would be a bit of a stretch), and not quite utopia.

An unpleasant side effect of a rather more capitalist - and vastly less ethical - past is the environment, which, to put it short, sucks donkey balls. As a general rule: 'Don't reduce emissions - Manipulate the environment so it can cope with them!', although it isn't quite that bad, anymore. But why change what works?

That should do for a brief overview, I suppose.



"Ah, there! I was already wondering..." Stefanie replied, a little surprised - only for a moment, but still - and bowing slightly, in greeting. "Yes, I am... Hrm. I suppose it's better if I have my baggage move to my permanent residence on its own."

Which was easy enough to organise. Dangerous, it was not (Well, apart from one field-emitting missile/ microdrone in the baggage and one in the locket around Stefanie's neck - precaution against burglars and other such undesirable individuals). Only voluminous. And maybe odd-looking.

"Well then..." she continued, once the necessary orders had been given (Annoying, when one has to deal with subsapient machinery). "Honoured to meet you, Mr...?"

By the time she said this, she'd already entered the limousine, quite content to be driven - well, flown - to wherever she was expected to go. Presumably Zhang-Sakura's board of directors.

Dear Sirs,

.....According to a recent article in Zhang-Sakura Defense News, you are laboring under a lack of exceptionally heavy naval units....It would be absolutely reasonable of you to conclude that ships larger than your new Titan class would not add very much to counter-insurgency operations.

However, the aforementioned ZSDN article did highlight the threat of entities such as the newly discovered Necron contingent that has appeared on Cadia....vessels the size of your impressive-sounding Titan battleships will be unable to cope with a decently-sized incursion.

If you are interested in ensuring the protection of your employees from the threat of foreign or alien encroachment, we could open a dialogue on the subject of orbital and ground-based defenses, as well as mobile forces.

Additionally, your advertisement of a cloaking device is unspeakably intriguing. Surely, entities from megacorporations to national governments have been pursuing this sort of device for centuries. Is it true that you have put an end to the search? What manner device is this? Does it block all electromagnetic radiation? If so, how does it solve the problem of the blindness that would cause the cloaked ship? Or, instead, is “Cloaking Device” just a euphemistic name for a simpler technology?

We await your reply eagerly.

Yours,
Wang Leu, Marketing Associate, TerraTech Industries

OOC: Fujishima, if you’d rather the ZSDN article were not released publicly, I can delete this.

SIC:

Dear Mr. Leu:

Regarding your questions about the Cloaking Device, rest assuredly it is the 100% genuine article. Our device cloaks the vessel using electromagnetic fields and energy distortion to bend light around the target vessel, and play havoc with scanners and visual sensors and preventing discovery--though a detailed scan by a determined foe can reveal the ship's location, or a significant weapons charge such as those of our Yamato Cannons can disturb the device's operation, thus forcing the vessel to decloak.

As for mobile weaponry and the possibility of orbital or ground based defenses, we have recieved offers from other individuals concerning possible PPC cannons. What items would you have in the categories of defense?

We eagerly await your reply.

Nicholas Zhang-Sakura
CEO
Corporate Public Relations Department

[size=1]

"Ah, there! I was already wondering..." Stefanie replied, a little surprised - only for a moment, but still - and bowing slightly, in greeting. "Yes, I am... Hrm. I suppose it's better if I have my baggage move to my permanent residence on its own."

Which was easy enough to organise. Dangerous, it was not (Well, apart from one field-emitting missile/ microdrone in the baggage and one in the locket around Stefanie's neck - precaution against burglars and other such undesirable individuals). Only voluminous. And maybe odd-looking.

"Well then..." she continued, once the necessary orders had been given (Annoying, when one has to deal with subsapient machinery). "Honoured to meet you, Mr...?"

By the time she said this, she'd already entered the limousine, quite content to be driven - well, flown - to wherever she was expected to go. Presumably Zhang-Sakura's board of directors.

Nicholas then said, turning on the charm, turned to Stephanie and said, smiling: "Nicholas Zhang-Sakura, you can call me Nick. Pleased to meet you, Ms. Li."

More formally, Nick continued: "I believe we exchanged correspondence already about a possible meeting with my brother and the Board of Directors--my brother Frederick runs the business. They are holding their bimonthly meeting here, but he has arranged for you to speak with them."

Afterwards, he leaned back and said, with a sigh: "One thing I must warn you about. There are two people on the Board that will be most combatitive. They are Victoria Lew, and Wilhelm Epstein. Epstein doesn't get along with poor Frederick, he likes to be as stubborn as possible. And Victoria is very, very nice--until its time to make a deal."

"Ah, I see," Stefanie replied, appearing to be somewhat distracted, and adjusting her skirt. "Pleased as well. I must say... Some impressive infrastructure you have here. Very conductive for profitable arrangements like the ones I intend to, uh, arrange."

She looked up, resting her hands in her lap, and smiling at the man in front of her. "In any case. Yes, we - or rather, you and my superiors - did. And... A very fortunate coincidence, if I may say so. I certainly wont waste this chance, even though I've to admit that it's a bit of a big hitter, especially so early on."

She leant back, looking out of a window, and watching the buildings speeding by. She suspected that the immediate meeting was supposed to catch her off-guard, although this being local efficiency was, of course, also a possibility, though certainly not something she was used to - DA, for all its absurdly fast communications possibilities, tended to be on the decidedly slow side when it came to meetings and arrangements. After all, being late was a sign of being important, and taking at least half an hour of gossip exchanged during the consumption of tea of spiced wine before one started to talk shop was a social necessity (Internally, anyway. Foreigners tended to be dealt with in slightly more efficient ways. Sometimes, anyway).

Granted, the Conglomerate tended to do things faster than DA entities did, but she hadn't been employed by it until one and a half weeks ago, so...

In the meantime, the thought of them running over pedestrians for fun - without consequences, of course. After all, she was with the son of the CEO - occured to her, but she eventually discarded the idea.

Surely this people weren't that bad.

And eventually, she finished her reply. "And as for stubbornness... Well, it's certainly annoying, but given that the deal I'm intending to offer will be mutually profitable - admittedly not quite on the scale you're usually operating with, but still -, I'm certain that at least Ms Lew will find it perfectly acceptable."

She once more looked directly at Nicolas, still smiling. "After all, a certain degree of trust and honesty can only be good for business."

Maybe it was an ironic smile.

"Ah, I see," Stefanie replied, appearing to be somewhat distracted, and adjusting her skirt. "Pleased as well. I must say... Some impressive infrastructure you have here. Very conductive for profitable arrangements like the ones I intend to, uh, arrange."

She looked up, resting her hands in her lap, and smiling at the man in front of her. "In any case. Yes, we - or rather, you and my superiors - did. And... A very fortunate coincidence, if I may say so. I certainly wont waste this chance, even though I've to admit that it's a bit of a big hitter, especially so early on."

And eventually, she finished her reply. "And as for stubbornness... Well, it's certainly annoying, but given that the deal I'm intending to offer will be mutually profitable - admittedly not quite on the scale you're usually operating with, but still -, I'm certain that at least Ms Lew will find it perfectly acceptable."

She once more looked directly at Nicolas, still smiling. "After all, a certain degree of trust and honesty can only be good for business."

Maybe it was an ironic smile.

Nick then replied, chuckling and returning eye contact, "But of course. I have no doubt that you will have us a deal that will be a win-win for both partners. I only worry about Mr. Epstein and Mrs. Lew--she's married, y'know--but I trust things will be okay. After all, we like dealing forthrightly."

He then took a drink and thought about the negotiations ahead. Things would be rough, fast--indeed, in the Alliance, things were done in the old Xenizen style, which meant hardnosed, balls-to-the-wall negotiations with a lunch break, with varying tones of voice and gentlemanly veneers.

As it was, if this went well, the Alliance would be in the money--a necessary investment, the Fordlandia Strikes were getting somewhat pricey. But meh.

He then finished his drink and then said to Stephanie, "After you talk to the Board, we'd be happy to escort you to your permanent residence. It'll be under Corporate Police guard, 24/7. Meaning nobody will break in, not on our watch. A little bit of courtesy for a foreign diplomat."

{Closed Transmission}
{TRANSMISSION ENCRYPTION: Corporate Standard}
{FROM: TerraTech Industries}
{TO: Nicholas Zhang-Sakura, Corporate Public Relations Department}
{SUBJECT: Potential Business}

Dear Mr. Zhang-Sakura,

In light of your technical explanation, I must confess we are intrigued. This is virtually the holy grail of modern electronic warfare. While we would never accuse you of dishonesty, every merchant is obligated to champion his products above all others - a natural fact of life. As such, we would like to purchase exactly one of these cloaking devices for testing purposes. Should it bear scrutiny, as we have no doubt it will, we will assuredly purchase many more.

As for the ability of TerraTech Industries to facilitate transforming your defensive situation into a downright fortress-like one, there are a plethora of options. Relatively stationary fixed defenses might include automated kill satellites, asteroid fortresses (should the native materials be present in your systems), Orbital and Planetary Defense Centers, surface-to-orbit energy weaponry similar – but perhaps superior – to those you alluded to, strategic missile batteries and fighter garrisons. As for mobile assets, TerraTech would be able to procure production rights from Conquest Incorporated and its security division, the Conquest Incorporated Corporate Security Services.

The range of options is extremely broad, and it seems as if some on-site expertise is called for. If you do not object, we would very much enjoy dispatching a corporate liaison and a team of consultants and engineers to your corporate empire. You could then engage in specific details in a person-to-person format. We hope this will be agreeable.

Wang Leu, Marketing Associate, TerraTech Industries

"I see, we're understanding each other," Stefanie answered, chuckling. "And very helpful, although I'm sure that the abilities of your police are sufficient even without paying special attention to me. Nonetheless - makes one feel welcome. Thanks. I'll make certain that your expenses are worth it."

Mental note #1: She's dealing with the straightforward kind of people, not the kind that'd listen in secretly.

Mental note #2: Damnit, she'll be horribly outnumbered during the negotiations. On the other hand, convincing Frederick Zhang-Sakura should be all that's really necessary.

Well, she'd see.

I figure you can have 'em arrive at the meeting anytime

"I see, we're understanding each other," Stefanie answered, chuckling. "And very helpful, although I'm sure that the abilities of your police are sufficient even without paying special attention to me. Nonetheless - makes one feel welcome. Thanks. I'll make certain that your expenses are worth it."

Mental note #1: She's dealing with the straightforward kind of people, not the kind that'd listen in secretly.

Mental note #2: Damnit, she'll be horribly outnumbered during the negotiations. On the other hand, convincing Frederick Zhang-Sakura should be all that's really necessary.

Well, she'd see.

I figure you can have 'em arrive at the meeting anytime

SIC:

Of course, what Nick didn't tell Stephanie was that the CPF men were authorized to perform a little spying on the sly, though this again was not obviously mentioned out loud.

Open IC:

The limo arrived at Alliance HQ, where Stephanie and Nick were promptly escorted, lightly searched, and then sent through to the Boardroom, where Freddy then said, with open arms, "Bro! What's up!?"

Nick then said, with a bow and a gesture to Steph, "I've come with the guest we discussed. She's ready to begin negotiations."

Wilhelm Epstein eyed Stephanie, sizing her up for the talks ahead with a grunt of "Good day." Meanwhile, Victoria Lew smiled and said, "Do sit down. I for one am eager to do business."

.

The range of options is extremely broad, and it seems as if some on-site expertise is called for. If you do not object, we would very much enjoy dispatching a corporate liaison and a team of consultants and engineers to your corporate empire. You could then engage in specific details in a person-to-person format. We hope this will be agreeable.

Wang Leu, Marketing Associate, TerraTech Industries


We would prefer a liason and a team of consultants to come and speak with us personally about these potential new developments...your new options sound especially useful for the Corporate Navy and Marine Corps, as well as the Security Departments of our respective members, but we would like to speak to you in person about these things.

Nicholas Zhang-Sakura
CEO
Corporate Public Relations Department

Stephanie whistled quietly as she watched father and son greeting each other. And there they say people in the upper echelons of business are stiff. But no... Hell, it's almost rural, here.

Upon being introduced, she bowed as well, still smiling, of course (Not quite insincere, but neither honest - it was expected, and had to be done. That was all). "Good morning. Well, all of us are, I guess, that's why we're in the positions we are in, I guess."

"in any case..." She sat down (Vaguely erotically so. Certainly an undesirable trait, as far as the business world was concerned, but Mark's attempts at getting Stephanie to give up this particular habit had failed quite spectacularly), laying her notes - paper only - on the table, and coughed a little. "As for why I'm here, or more specifically, the deal I'm supposed to negotiate with you, well, I'm sure you know the basics.

"Therefore, I'll concentrate on the details. First of all, the distribution of your products within the markets the CBT Conglomerate can reach. Including Bigtopia, as well as a number of other entities wherein the CBT Conglomerate has assets, we're capable of reaching a market with a customer-potential numbering in the seventy-to-eighty-billion range, and an estimated yearly turnover rate in the eight quadrillion standard unit range - admittedly, only an estimated .1% of this, or about eight trillion standard units, could effectively be claimed by us, with our present turnover being approximately 3 trillion standard units - we imagine that we'd be able to increase this by more than 100% within ten years, if we start to distribute your products - on an exclusive basis, as far as the entities within which we've assets are concerned, of course.

"Due to the relative degree of stability in the entities we happen to have assets in, the more martial kind of product - in particular mercenary services - wont be much in demand. Arms manufacturing might have greater chances, but is still not of particularly great value, as a majority of entities tends to be self-sufficient with regards to them.

"There is, however, a potentially nigh-unlimited market for high-end goods targetting the civilian market, ranging from 'Smart' clothing over designer drugs, medical drugs (To cure the former, among other things), personal & mass teleporters, exotic foods, elec- and optronics, general communications gear - FTL-coms would be unnecessary, but security, and means to break it, are of prime importance - advanced materials, raw materials - in particularly those found more often in space than on planets -, VR kits (For the kids, mostly), and so on.

"Which would be exactly what we'd be interested in acquiring and re-distributing. For now on a relatively small scale - worth about about 300bn standard units/ year as sheer turnover (We'd pay with a twelve-month delay, at 1% interest), with an estimated yearly profit in the 3bn range - but growing, to reach the aforementioned turnover-goals within ten years.

"Well..." Stephanie was still smiling. "Before I go into the second important topic of the day... how does this sound? If you agree, I've the necessary papers to sign right here."

The members of the board began talking amongst themselves, and then they each gave their own piece.

Jackie Ford replied, "From my end, it's a deal. I like it, and rest assuredly, the Ford Motor Company's work on Calabi-Yau teleporters, electronics, and fine automobiles will be of great service to you."

Wilhelm Epstein shrugged and said, "It doesn't involve guns.....my only worry. My company could sell optics and electronics to you, though it will be tough going. Perhaps your police and military forces could evaluate our weapons?"

Victoria Lew put on a pair of horn-rimmed glasses and said, "I too find the deal to be quite respectable. My company could very well satisfy the requirements of this deal. I am particularly interested in the communications market you proposed; after all, my ancestors began as a cable TV company."

She then leaned in insistently and said, "But why not a larger scale? We are capable of such things. Perhaps we can do 600bn standard units, or perhaps even 900. It would be a win win situation; you get bigger market share, we get cash. Also, will the products be marketed under the names of our companies, or licensed to you for sale with royalties?"

Freddy Zhang-Sakura replied, "Indeed. I echo Mrs. Lew when I say that we can do better than the amount you listed, and we are more than capable to match that amount. Though I do like the deal overall, and am not as sad as Mr. Epstein in terms of munitions deals--or lack thereof."

The light cruiser, formerly of the Conquest Incorporated Corporate Security Services, that sped toward New Nippon at a velocity that would have left Einstein twitching in the throes of aneurism was both brand new and surplus. An odd circumstance that was made not made much less so by way of explanation. The CICSS had been brought forth from nothing - Conquest Incorporated had existed for centuries (in one form or another) before it had ever had a go at building an interstellar navy. As such, its first vessels were built without much benefit in the way of prior experience, and so had lacked a certain finesse.

They were capable, to be sure. The 'light cruiser' in question was fully nine hundred meters long, and was armed in a matter that befitted its size. Combat in the theatre that the CICSS most expected to be involved in, the Raumreich Oversector, verged on the strategic in nearly every engagement, and so ships were simply... large. Destroyers just weren't supposed to be the better part of a kilometer long.

And then the equation changed, and massed missile combat at half a light minute became somewhat less likely. (Thank goodness, chorused bean counters, statisticians and realists.) And so, about four years of constant construction was tossed aside.

Into the laps of smaller companies like TerraTech Industries. The aforementioned light cruiser, the Investment Opportunity, was surplus before it was a decade old. While the suggestion to be drawn from this was that the various corporate navies of Conquest Inc were inexperienced and spastic, they were certainly building ships fast enough that they could begin selling surpluses to philosophically similar buyers.

Of course, marketing representatives like Chin Chu tended to play down the 'spastic' aspect of that, and called upon the expert testimony of those like Zhu Fo and his team of engineers to affirm that ships of Conquestian manufacture were both plentiful and good.

"So," Zhu intoned, stepping into the dim light of the observation lounge where Chin had been ruminating alone. "How do you gauge our prospects, here?" The business agent gestured toward the delicate sphere of New Nippon as it swung slowly into view on the large wall mounted display.

Chin rose quickly to his feet. "I'm sorry, Mr. Vice-President, I didn't see you there." Zhu was the Junior Vice-President of TerraTech Corporate Security for Logistical Affairs (Navy). While the visciously long title was obviously very far from the top of any particular ladder, a Vice-President for anything was many rungs higher than Chin's comparatively meager position as a humble Marketing Associate.

"Please sit down, Mr. Chin," said the senior employee as he moved to inspect the planet represented on the screen. He crossed his arms behind his back, to which Chin now found himself talking. "No need to fuss. I asked only how you expect we shall fare."

Seated again, Chin collected himself. "Fixed and orbital defences seem the most relevant to their particular situation - though they'll know what exactly their situation entails much better than we will." Chin winced. Stating the obvious made you look insipid. "Our overall position looks good, though. They are most certainly in the position for fixed defenses, and that would be beyond simple to arrange. As for mobile assets, there are more than enough that the CICSS wants to sell off, even though they're perfectly serviceable." He breathed deep. "And the cloaking device...."

Zhu's smile was reflected in the star-studded blackness that enveloped the world they had come to do business with. "Yes. And that."

{Closed Transmission}
{TRANSMISSION ENCRYPTION: Corporate Standard}
{FROM: TerraTech Industries}
{TO: Nicholas Zhang-Sakura, Corporate Public Relations Department}
{SUBJECT: Delegation Arrival}

The requested representatives from TerraTech Industries request clearance and coordinates. We hope for and anticipate the best of profit for all involved.

Chin Chi, Marketing Associate, TerraTech Industries

{Closed Transmission}
{TRANSMISSION ENCRYPTION: Corporate Standard}
{FROM: TerraTech Industries}
{TO: Nicholas Zhang-Sakura, Corporate Public Relations Department}
{SUBJECT: Delegation Arrival}

The requested representatives from TerraTech Industries request clearance and coordinates. We hope for and anticipate the best of profit for all involved.

Chin Chi, Marketing Associate, TerraTech Industries

Upon reception of the transmission, the New Nippon harbormaster let them in, with the words, "Mr. Zhang-Sakura has been expecting you. Please dock at the Yomiuri Station, one of our battlecruisers will escort you in. One of his liasions from the Public Relations Department will meet you there."

The coordinates to Yomiuri were sent to the CIC ship, and a battlecruiser pulled alongside to provide escort.

"Of course, of course..." Stephanie nodded at each of the board members, contemplating her reply. "Well. I'm certain that we could poke assorted militaries into considering your products - whether they'll accept is another question, though. However, it should be possible to persuade one or two entities to do so.

"As far the marketing goes - the products will be sold under your name, by us - specifically, by our already existing sales-infrastructure within the markets in question. You sell to us, we sell to the customer - standard deal, with roughly similar profits for both of us. The value of 'Exotic' products - and effective advertising with your new, and untainted name - are of course also taken into consideration, hence this decision. Of course, this is also why we're desiring a monopoly on your products within the markets we're intending to reach - a certain limit to proliferation is necessary in order to keep the customer's desires up, and it also helps ensuring that competition is limited, thereby guaranteeing comparatively high profits - potentially higher than the rather careful estimates I've given earlier.

"As far as your suggestions regarding turnover go, well..." Stefanie rested her hands in her lap, and hesitated, for a moment. "It'll take some time to push out competitors. Similarly, acquiring the necessary resources to expand our distribution-infrastructure will take a while. We also need to convince the customer that your products are indeed safe and easy to use - as you know, utterly new concepts need some time for acclimation, for the customer to get used to them. Finally, flooding the market with new products might as well kill it - and a missleading 'Trashy Goods' image based on the sheer abundance of products is not something we - and I dare guessing you - desire.

"There is no doubt that we'll achive the turnovers you suggest within two, three years. Maybe a little more, maybe a little less. However, trying to overachive at the start of this endeavour, though tempting, isn't necessarily wise, and beyond all doubt risky."

She smiled. "The problem is that no market is identical - I'm aware of your capabilities, and your success within your own sphere of influence. So are my superiors. But in order to ensure a proper entry into a new market, one does occasionally need to be careful - and lacking a few hundred billion in turnover for the first few years might as well pay off tenfold after a decade. Which should be worth it, no?"

Freddy Zhang-Sakura thought about it, and replied, "Sure. I see it now....."

Victoria Lew then interjected, "As do I."

The others agreed. Stephanie had made a convincing argument, and it didn't take long for Victoria and Freddy, the two names that did matter, to agree on that.

Victoria threw in more question, though.

"I must ask one more thing. Will we be able to at least observe where our products are distributed? If you intend to control distribution, and giving that you know the are better than we do that would be wise, could we at least come along for the ride and see where they are being sold, so we may have better input?"

Wilhelm also jumped in, with, "And what of profit sharing? Is this to be done with royalties, or a direct arrangement where we get a cut of the profits?"

Victoria then replied, with a smile: "I would believe she means the latter, Mr. Epstein."

"Of course you may," Stephanie replied, looking at Victoria. "It'd be rather silly to apply the principles of secrecy to such an issue, given that the information could be found in a number of magazines, in assorted networks... You name it. And indeed, I think that such an, ah, exchange of knowledge would be useful for both our conglomerates.

"As far as profits go... Well. You're not exactly supposed to transfer your products to us at cost. Much simpler than a bureaucratic profit-sharing, don't you think so? In any case - to ensure the degree of competitive prices we're intending, we're for now thinking of a 1% profit span - this is a relatively low estimate, though, and, upon getting a deeper insight into your product range, might as well be corrected towards the 10% mark - as an average, that is. Different products might vary in their profitability. Well. I suppose you could call it a sort of profit-sharing...

"In any case. I suppose that this answers all the relevant questions? In that case, I suppose we can start with the second point of my presence, which is to say, the CBT Conglomerate investing in the Zhang Sakura Corporate Alliance..."

"In any case. I suppose that this answers all the relevant questions? In that case, I suppose we can start with the second point of my presence, which is to say, the CBT Conglomerate investing in the Zhang Sakura Corporate Alliance..."

Freddy Zhang-Sakura replied quickly, "If possible, we would like the arrangement to be a mirror of the one we just agreed on."

Victoria jumped in, saying, "And I presume by addressing the alliance as a whole, do you mean to invest in all of us? Or just a few select members?"

Chin Chu, Zhu Fo and the latter's bevy of engineers assembled in the Investment Opportunity's shuttle bay as the TerraTech vessel assumed its proper position over New Nippon. In a society such as Conquest Incorporated's, much could be gleaned from a person's style of dress.

Chin's expensive, stylish suit in its relatively bright tan tones marked him out as a servant of the upper classes - well to do, surely, but not among the upper strata, his carefully fostered air of amiability the result of his vocation, his requirement to sell. Zhu's clothes denoted a power player - a crisply conservative set of clothes without eccentricity, but crafted of fine merino wool and cashmere. Zhu did not exude an air of callousness, but nor did he give the impression that he needed to ingratiate, but that he was secure in his standing and determined to remain that way.

Zhu's distracted entourage of engineers stood checking facts and figures, clutching various datapads and hardcopy binders. They were dressed uniformly as middle class professionals in business attire that could have been tailored somewhat better. But these men were engineers, uninterested in much beyond their construction projects and computer projections - certainly not in apparel.

When the last engineer had arrived, Zhu behaved as his clothes demanded - imperiously. "Very well. Let us depart." He led the party into the waiting shuttle.

When all were aboard, it blasted forth into the void towards business, opportunity and profit.

Edward Steiner checked the time on his Seiko watch. In the past, they were downmarket items. But in the Corporate Alliance, they have been elevated to the status of the watch of magnates and powerbrokers. Then again, Rolexes were rare....

I hope they get here.... he thought. He was instructed by the Board to negotiate the best possible deal for them; they were busy right now, so he got power of attorney in this round. He took a deep breath, and stood ramrod straight briefcase in hand.

"That depends," Stephanie replied. "My superiors are rather interested in a somewhat, well, lets call it 'Risky' investment - as far as the civilian market is concerned, the CBT Conglomerate is pretty well off. It does, however, have basically no assets whatsoever in the arms manufacturing and, ah, 'Morally Questionable Services', I.e. mercenary operations and related business with, erm, human hardware.

"And this would be where they'd be interested in investing in, in order to spread their competences."

Stephanie smiled. "So... Technically, we could invest to equal parts in the entirety of your conglomerate. As it is, my superiors would prefer to concentrate on milware-related core competences, though. Profit sharing on a percentage basis - and yes, I realise that the investment the CBT Conglomerate can pull off isn't all that impressive, compared to the sheer capacities of Zhang-Sakura, measuring a meager thirty billion standard units -, as per usual, would be included.

"I do realise that milware-related business requires a fair degree of secrecy - neither me nor my superiors expect to be immediately included in the highest echelons of Zhang-Sakura's operative measures, although we hope that we'll one day qualify for the same -, but nonetheless, this is what my superiors desire, in order to expand the CBT Conglomerate's competences sufficiently to eventually count as a major corporation, quite on par with Zhang-Sakura."

Stephanie smiled. "So... Technically, we could invest to equal parts in the entirety of your conglomerate. As it is, my superiors would prefer to concentrate on milware-related core competences, though. Profit sharing on a percentage basis - and yes, I realise that the investment the CBT Conglomerate can pull off isn't all that impressive, compared to the sheer capacities of Zhang-Sakura, measuring a meager thirty billion standard units -, as per usual, would be included.

"I do realise that milware-related business requires a fair degree of secrecy - neither me nor my superiors expect to be immediately included in the highest echelons of Zhang-Sakura's operative measures, although we hope that we'll one day qualify for the same -, but nonetheless, this is what my superiors desire, in order to expand the CBT Conglomerate's competences sufficiently to eventually count as a major corporation, quite on par with Zhang-Sakura."

Zhang-Sakura replied, "Hmm...so you propose to invest in our military enterprises?"

Wilhelm looked at the situation and replied, "I agree with this. I am in a perfect position to provide them with hardware..though you must understand if we do not let you into trade secrets."

Lew replied, sarcastically, "I knew you'd take this, Willy. I find the deal acceptable."

Zhang-Sakura then said, "Agreed."

Stephanie clapped her hands together, seemingly satisfied with how smoothly things had proceeded. "Well - that's done, then. In which case..." She peered at her papers, shuffling through them, looking where she had kept the correct ones. "Ah, there. Details regarding the transfer of goods and money are included in the copies. The same goes for details regarding the distribution - although those may chance, given circumstances. So... If I may ask for your signatures? Following this, I figure that we may start our respective transaction, while I'll concentrate on getting used to Zhang-Sakura's corporate structure and its modus operandi."

Pseudo-oocness: I suck when it comes to writing up legal documents. As such, I keep it like this. The content of the papers - contracts - would be along the lines of

1. the transfer of 300 bn standard units (Euro-equivalent) worth of consumer goods (Details as of which goods would be specified on lower levels of the corporate hierarchies) over the course of a year, starting about a month after the signing of the contract, by Zhang-Sakura to the CBT Conglomerate, with delayed payment (One year) at 1% interest by the CBT conglomerate. The sheer volume of the trade will increase by another 300 bn standard units, annually, for ten years, after which re-negotiations might be worth it (How long a year is in terms of RL-timeframes shall be left deliberately vague).

2. the immediate (One month after the contract is signed) investment of 30 bn standard units into the Arms Manufacturing & Mercenary arms of Zhang Sakura, by the CBT Conglomerate, resulting in the CBT Conglomerate receiving a share in Zhang-Sakura's annual profits, equivalent to its percentage-worth compared to the investments by the other members. Given the comparatively minor volume of the investment (I figure it to be approximately one or two percent of the investments Zhang-Sakura's individual components have invested in Zhang-Sakura, although it'd be a bit higher - 3- 10%, I suspect - if one looks at Arms Manufacturing alone), a sharing of trade secrets, sensible information & technologies can of course not be expected, outside of voluntary shows of 'Goodwill'.

Pseudo-oocness: I suck when it comes to writing up legal documents. As such, I keep it like this. The content of the papers - contracts - would be along the lines of

1. the transfer of 300 bn standard units (Euro-equivalent) worth of consumer goods (Details as of which goods would be specified on lower levels of the corporate hierarchies) over the course of a year, starting about a month after the signing of the contract, by Zhang-Sakura to the CBT Conglomerate, with delayed payment (One year) at 1% interest by the CBT conglomerate. The sheer volume of the trade will increase by another 300 bn standard units, annually, for ten years, after which re-negotiations might be worth it (How long a year is in terms of RL-timeframes shall be left deliberately vague).

2. the immediate (One month after the contract is signed) investment of 30 bn standard units into the Arms Manufacturing & Mercenary arms of Zhang Sakura, by the CBT Conglomerate, resulting in the CBT Conglomerate receiving a share in Zhang-Sakura's annual profits, equivalent to its percentage-worth compared to the investments by the other members. Given the comparatively minor volume of the investment (I figure it to be approximately one or two percent of the investments Zhang-Sakura's individual components have invested in Zhang-Sakura, although it'd be a bit higher - 3- 10%, I suspect - if one looks at Arms Manufacturing alone), a sharing of trade secrets, sensible information & technologies can of course not be expected, outside of voluntary shows of 'Goodwill'.

The copies of the agreement were passed around the Board, and they all read and studied them for a while. Eventually, they promptly began signing their respective copies, and forwarded them all to Stephanie. Along the way, Freddy Zhang-Sakura replied, "It was a pleasure doing business with you."

Victoria replied, "Same here."

Stephanie nodded. "Thanks. Of course, if everything goes as planned, you'll have the pleasure on a regular basis. Well then... I guess I'll begin 'Getting Used' to the environment tomorrow. In the meantime, informing my superiors of the success."

Which was what she did, later. Confirmatory replies, copies in safe packages... It'd take a while - interstellar distances being a bit of a hindrance - but then, she had time.

Stephanie nodded. "Thanks. Of course, if everything goes as planned, you'll have the pleasure on a regular basis. Well then... I guess I'll begin 'Getting Used' to the environment tomorrow. In the meantime, informing my superiors of the success."

Which was what she did, later. Confirmatory replies, copies in safe packages... It'd take a while - interstellar distances being a bit of a hindrance - but then, she had time.

In the meantime, the Zhang-Sakura BoD set about implementing their parts of the agreement, and also decided to adjourn for the day. After all, they could only see so much of each other.

The environment she would get used to was the city itself--a maze of skyscrapers with the good stuff on top, and a seedy underbelly beneath. There were a few nearby mountains, and it was here the palatial estates of the Board members and diplomats were reserved--this was where Stephanie would be.

OOC: Didn't know what else to put :confused: .

oocness: Well, not much else to do until Zhang-Sakura starts doing major business with other entities - namely, entities assorted high-level sapients in DA would enjoy to screw with.

The business itself, well... Will run as planned/ organised on lower levels of the corporate hierarchy (Until major events interfere, which is unlikely, as far as the CBT Congomerate is concerned, what with being multinational), and Stephanie will do what liaisons tend to do - smooth problems out of the way, learn what she can, and get laid with whomever she decides it could be fun (And riskless) with.

One can of course always RP out either side of the coin - Sephanie getting used to Zhang-Sakura's worlds, or whomever you're sending to visit CBTC's assets getting used to, well, mostly Bigtopia, but meh.

As such, hrm. Amazing feat - something gets actually finished! You don't see that very often.

Neat. Reminds me of DA Sisgardia.

It was, indeed, an environment she wouldn't need much time to get used to. After all... Not much different from where she came from (Well - from where she was born, anyway).

Quite a pleasant job she'd gotten - granted, she was sort of watched, but she did 1. have the necessary machinery to inhibit particularly pesky voyeurs and 2. didn't mind, anyway.

Needs some more flowers, though.

Not that she'd stay inside her designated home for long, anyway. Getting used to Zhang-Sakura's internal mechanisms and intrigues would occupy rather a lot of her time.

Not that she'd stay inside her designated home for long, anyway. Getting used to Zhang-Sakura's internal mechanisms and intrigues would occupy rather a lot of her time.

The city itself was inviting at this time of day. The city itself was divided into four quadrants, with a Central District in the middle that housed the government and Corporate Complexes. The quadrants were New Osaka, New Brisbane, New Los Angeles, and New Shanghai.

Within them lay a dizzying world of rush hour on the trams and roadways, with many workers were getting off of work, shops open with goods of all kinds, theaters were showing matinee shows in HoloVision, and video arcades full of people looking to escape. It was good that the Corporate Police had information kiosks all over, and that the Corporate Police were everywhere. Things could get rough, especially, once more, in the lower sectors.

Get used to your new home, unpack your luggage (Or not, depending on how lazy one is), make a note of needing a few more flowers for the windows, and... Well, personnel is less of a necessity, given available machinery.

Besides, Stephanie liked to cook.

As such, getting used to the local culture, to the people's character, the peculiarities of their daily life, the influence the corps actually had, and so on, seemed to be as good an idea as any, before she'd start her serious work, come tomorrow.

A bit of acclimatisation? A perfectly good idea.

Colours, people, products. (Hover-)cars, clogged streets, buildings tall enough to wonder whether the architects have some sort of compensatory issues, dirt, and police.

Most of it is pretty familiar to Stephanie. The police however, is not.

Always a sign of potential instability.

A few minutes here, a few minutes there - she has money, plenty of it, and Stephanie's not the person that would resist the urge to spend it on assorted unnecessary but expensive shinies.

So much for the parts of the city where the rich are dwelling.

Of course, being a curious woman, she wasn't quite satisfied with experiencing the glamorous side of life in Newport City. She wanted to see more than that, the shady, the insecure side of the city. Sometimes, she liked it rough.

The lower sectors were where she was going next.

Down there, she would find the city populated, in parts, by vicious gangs.

They were an interesting lot. They originated from the C and J-Mod gangs of Upper Xen, gangs that imitated the British Mod movement of the 1960's, right down to their love for R&B music and the flashy clothing of that era. They dropped the scooters though, but they did employ tons of weapons, including Sten guns made from pieces of pipe, of all things.

They competed versus the Triads and Yakuza, two other traditional gangs that came with the Zhang-Sakura to the stars. Here, the Triads and the Yakuza competed often for guns, girls, and drugs of all kinds. Often, they were patrons of the government, used for really dirty jobs even CPF wouldn't touch.

As well, tons of other "Unaffiliateds" or street gangs not belonging to either existed too, either as mafia-like groups similar to the Chinese Tongs or street gangs like the Crips and Bloods. They had varying levels of wealth and firepower, but all were fiercely competitive.

Beside the gangland violence, which itself was somewhat rife, one could also expecta general dinginess about the place. The lower levels were quite stereotypically a mix of cyberpunk and 1970's Times Square, where the lighting was generally poor and the environment looked like it could infect you even if you glanced at it. At least the ZS made an effort to clean up once in a while, but then it would get right back to dinginess. ZS, unlike say Ford or the Lew Conglomerate, did not pay their employees much of a salary or insurance or benefits of any kind. And they certainly looked upon their un- and semiskilled labor like the old Robber Barons did--as resources in the basest sense of the word. Which would show in the environment below...

Chin Chu led the Conquestian business delegation out of the recently landed shuttle. While Zhu Fo was technically Chin's superior, he was present in a purely advisory capacity, and so followed the marketing representative down the access ramp, his engineers in tow.

Advancing across the tarmac toward the waiting Zhang Sakura representative, Chin extended his hand in greeting. "Thank you for meeting with us. I am Chin Chu, Marketing Associate, and this is Mr. Zhu. Mr. Zhu is here as our defense expert for this meeting, and will advise you in conjunction with his engineers. Misters Hu, Kuo and Lin, I believe."

Chin Chu led the Conquestian business delegation out of the recently landed shuttle. While Zhu Fo was technically Chin's superior, he was present in a purely advisory capacity, and so followed the marketing representative down the access ramp, his engineers in tow.

Advancing across the tarmac toward the waiting Zhang Sakura representative, Chin extended his hand in greeting. "Thank you for meeting with us. I am Chin Chu, Marketing Associate, and this is Mr. Zhu. Mr. Zhu is here as our defense expert for this meeting, and will advise you in conjunction with his engineers. Misters Hu, Kuo and Lin, I believe."

Steiner shook Chu's hand, saying, "Greetings, greetings. I am Mr. Steiner, from the Corporation's Public Relations Department. I am here to speak with you fellows, and I look forward to this meeting."

He then shook the hands of Zhu, Hu, Kuo, and Lin, saying, "Ah yes. We have arranged a meeting with Navy officials, who will tour the main defenses."

Chin's handshake was firm, but friendly. A Rolex glinted sneakily, peaking out from under the man's cuff. "Excellent, excellent. We are very pleased to meet you, Mr. Steiner. I fully expect that our business will be extremely profitable today."

Zhu smiled from just behind and to the right of Chin. "A tour of your defense facilities sounds most instructive. Please, lead the way, Mr. Steiner."

It was an... Interesting place, certainly. Still, Stephanie was rather happy that her position wouldn't involve being in the lower sectors, other than for private sightseeing.

Nonetheless. Knowing the less shiny and attractive side of Zhang-Sakura was, in fact, sort of necessary for her, and there was simply no way to avoid it.

And so she walked through the poorly-lit alleys, watching the occasional case of violence - gang or otherwise - while trying to stay out of trouble (Probably a bit problematic, given that her appearance and behaviour just screamed 'One of those!, but then again, easy, as she also looked confident enough to suggest a mediocre degree of protection - maybe not enough to win, but enough to make any attempts at robbery or similar crimes costly. And there was hoping that the major gangs were interested in keeping things as they were, and not suffer the wrath of the authorities), dealt with the dirt in her own way - a minor field emitter could do wonders - ended up in a bar, allowed herself to get mildly tipsy and engaging in a surprisingly interesting (If somewhat gross) conversation with one of the locals, avoided getting laid (These people really weren't her kind of people), the likes.

Add to this a minor chasing scene (Mostly on foot), and the somewhat clumsy attempts of a female who'd never before so much as witnessed physical violence (Disregarding films and general fiction, that is. Well, and the news) to defend herself from the typical bottom-end predator of the lower sectors, aided by absurd technologies to actually allow her to escape, and, well...

It had certainly been a fulfilling day.

She wasn't quite sure where she'd ended up, but still. A fulfilling day.