Terror Incognitia
17-04-2007, 12:40
OOC: I hate doing this. It seems depressingly necessary, however. This is part of the EUROPE 1914 RP. Join the RP (here (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=521118)) before posting in this thread. Thank you.
This is the Incognitian bid to replace Tunisia, who seems to have disappeared, in running the airship carrying-trade across Europe and North Africa.
We’re quite happy to leave anything longer distance to those with distant colonies, until further notice (that may change, but will be funded by the airline, not the government – unlike this start-up)
IC: “And so, ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to witness a new dawn. With the merger of the two remaining internal Incognitian airship companies, and the newfound freedom of the Incognitia Aerospace Corporation, no longer bound by Tunisian patent to their construction licence, the full potential of Incognitia’s air industry can at last be witnessed.”
Scattered applause. It showed promise, but even the combined Incognitia Airlines wasn’t strong enough to list on the top 100 Stock Exchange. However, there were those who thought it was undervalued. They included members of the Tyrant’s staff.
“Excuse me. Richard Jameson?”
“Yes indeed. Are you an investor?” enquired the fat, elderly chairman of newly-founded Incognitia Airlines.
“Not in the usual sense, sir, no. I do have an offer you’ll be well advised to consider, however.”
“Really? I don’t suppose you’re one of those inventors with the ‘Next Big Thing’, are you? Had one of those last week, wanted to sell me a design for firing a machine gun through a propeller. Laughed him off, of course – even if it works, which I doubt, why would anyone want to? The air is the peaceful new frontier, there is no need of guns on an airship!”
The staffer tried to hide his spark of interest at the machine-gun contraption. He’d look that up in the Patent Office when he got home…some of the Army Air Corps boffins were saying that was just what was needed to make the aeroplane a practical weapon of war, and of course being able to destroy enemy scouts was a boon to many plans…
“To answer your question, I am not an inventor. I bring a proposal to you from the Government.”
“Oh, oh, I see. Please, forgive my ramblings, go on.”
“We believe this airship industry has great potential.”
“As do we, dear boy, that’s why we’re here!”
“Yes, however we have more resources than your average investor” came the dry response “and we want Incognitia to have her rightful, foremost position in this fledgeling industry.”
“I see. What is the government offering?”
“Airships. Aerodromes. Agreements and routes. All at a cut price, or no cost.”
“And what does the government want in return? I assume this is not mere investment.”
For all his jovial grandfatherly exterior, Jameson knew a potentially Faustian bargain when he heard one.
“A degree of control over decisions on routes – so that strategic considerations, as well as economic, are considered. And the ability to call-up any airship we have paid for, or helped pay for, for military purposes in time of war.”
“I’ll want a more precise definition of that ‘degree’, but in principle? You have an agreement.”
“Excellent. I’m so glad you found the offer acceptable.”
Within a week, IA had two more airships, and the whole production capacity of Airships Incognitia was earmarked for sale to the ever-expanding IA, now operating fifteen vessels. Right now they ran a series of routes between Nescia, Dunkennen, Incos, Nesais and the other major cities, but this didn’t keep either airships or crews fully occupied.
And so, as the Tyrant had hoped, they were forced to stop being content with dawdling back and forth on internal runs, and expand outwards…
The first two deals were Angermanland and Kansiov, permitting them immediately to boast of a “trans-European” service.
And now, to all the nations that had had routes with the Tunisians, and to any those enterprising Africans had missed, IA negotiating teams came; fresh-faced, earnest young men, explaining the great potential of air-travel, and with a series of charts showing why Incognitia Airways were the best ones to offer it.
“Not least, instant access for perishable and high-value goods, to the beating economic heart of the ever-expanding EFTA. Incidentally, did I mention taking goods by IA is the lowest-tariff way to enter the EFTA?”
The offer was out; the capability to fulfil it was there; “Build it, and let them come.”
OOC: To repeat, this is an open offer to begin airship routes for passengers and freight to your cities.
This is the Incognitian bid to replace Tunisia, who seems to have disappeared, in running the airship carrying-trade across Europe and North Africa.
We’re quite happy to leave anything longer distance to those with distant colonies, until further notice (that may change, but will be funded by the airline, not the government – unlike this start-up)
IC: “And so, ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to witness a new dawn. With the merger of the two remaining internal Incognitian airship companies, and the newfound freedom of the Incognitia Aerospace Corporation, no longer bound by Tunisian patent to their construction licence, the full potential of Incognitia’s air industry can at last be witnessed.”
Scattered applause. It showed promise, but even the combined Incognitia Airlines wasn’t strong enough to list on the top 100 Stock Exchange. However, there were those who thought it was undervalued. They included members of the Tyrant’s staff.
“Excuse me. Richard Jameson?”
“Yes indeed. Are you an investor?” enquired the fat, elderly chairman of newly-founded Incognitia Airlines.
“Not in the usual sense, sir, no. I do have an offer you’ll be well advised to consider, however.”
“Really? I don’t suppose you’re one of those inventors with the ‘Next Big Thing’, are you? Had one of those last week, wanted to sell me a design for firing a machine gun through a propeller. Laughed him off, of course – even if it works, which I doubt, why would anyone want to? The air is the peaceful new frontier, there is no need of guns on an airship!”
The staffer tried to hide his spark of interest at the machine-gun contraption. He’d look that up in the Patent Office when he got home…some of the Army Air Corps boffins were saying that was just what was needed to make the aeroplane a practical weapon of war, and of course being able to destroy enemy scouts was a boon to many plans…
“To answer your question, I am not an inventor. I bring a proposal to you from the Government.”
“Oh, oh, I see. Please, forgive my ramblings, go on.”
“We believe this airship industry has great potential.”
“As do we, dear boy, that’s why we’re here!”
“Yes, however we have more resources than your average investor” came the dry response “and we want Incognitia to have her rightful, foremost position in this fledgeling industry.”
“I see. What is the government offering?”
“Airships. Aerodromes. Agreements and routes. All at a cut price, or no cost.”
“And what does the government want in return? I assume this is not mere investment.”
For all his jovial grandfatherly exterior, Jameson knew a potentially Faustian bargain when he heard one.
“A degree of control over decisions on routes – so that strategic considerations, as well as economic, are considered. And the ability to call-up any airship we have paid for, or helped pay for, for military purposes in time of war.”
“I’ll want a more precise definition of that ‘degree’, but in principle? You have an agreement.”
“Excellent. I’m so glad you found the offer acceptable.”
Within a week, IA had two more airships, and the whole production capacity of Airships Incognitia was earmarked for sale to the ever-expanding IA, now operating fifteen vessels. Right now they ran a series of routes between Nescia, Dunkennen, Incos, Nesais and the other major cities, but this didn’t keep either airships or crews fully occupied.
And so, as the Tyrant had hoped, they were forced to stop being content with dawdling back and forth on internal runs, and expand outwards…
The first two deals were Angermanland and Kansiov, permitting them immediately to boast of a “trans-European” service.
And now, to all the nations that had had routes with the Tunisians, and to any those enterprising Africans had missed, IA negotiating teams came; fresh-faced, earnest young men, explaining the great potential of air-travel, and with a series of charts showing why Incognitia Airways were the best ones to offer it.
“Not least, instant access for perishable and high-value goods, to the beating economic heart of the ever-expanding EFTA. Incidentally, did I mention taking goods by IA is the lowest-tariff way to enter the EFTA?”
The offer was out; the capability to fulfil it was there; “Build it, and let them come.”
OOC: To repeat, this is an open offer to begin airship routes for passengers and freight to your cities.