NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC: So what you plan to do is buy it yourself to "defend the country" and then auction it internally to maintain the free market within your country screwing the international free market over. I just love flexible codes of conduct (when I wanted to change the way my government ran things (Socialist -> Libertarian), I got my leader assassinated and a psychopath elected in his place)

Confederate Electric posts revenue of over 1.4 trillion credits (approaching 3 trillion US dollars), though most of it is invested in maintaining current reactors and building new ones; however, still a few billion dollars is not much, but their calculations put the current area of money to be unprofitable considering the expense of mining it and then shipping it back to the Confederacy and the refining it, etc...

[OOC: Basically, the Avisronian government doesn't intervene between domestic companies. But if an Avisronian company is competing against a foreign one, it'll help out.]

The Otares Department of Commerce will enter a bid of 625 Million USD for one and 1 billion USD for the mining rights of the other. The first state – Robinson or West Robinson who sends the department an encrypted letter of acceptance and closes the auction will receive the larger payment. If the state responds second they will be left with the 625 bid.

(OOC: So two question then CW do you want to roleplay out a gala? And if so do you want me to open post or you?)

[Official Message]

The Avisronian Department of Overseas Investment increases its bid to 1.2 billion USD and 700 million USD, following a scheme similar to that of Otares.

[END]

[Official Message]

The Avisronian Department of Overseas Investment increases its bid to 1.2 billion USD and 700 million USD, following a scheme similar to that of Otares.

[END]

(OOC: Meh you can make that bid if you want but by virtue of the passage of time and that this s a forum and not a chat room I think CW would need to decide what the disposition of the individual governors is. Otherwise the style in which I offered my bid is useless and such an action can never be role-played because this is a forum.

Either way it’s not a huge deal. The possibility that this is going to be a profitable mining operation is now ludicrous. When you pass this off to your corporations it will be corporate welfare pure and simple.)

Television ads began popping up in Avirsion, playing on the same style as the New Manth ads some months before. They were purchased by an Avironian corporate interest if anyone researched them. It’d be traced back to a shell corporation within the Avirson market.

The traditional black and red flag of the Avirson nation waved proudly in the background as other images of hard working Avisons and other such icons of nation pride scrolled by. The camera then focuses on one of this images – a young Avirson man no older than his early thirty has a single foot propped up on a chair as he stands – hands clasped and a slight smile offered up.

“Hello fellow citizens.” He began in an earnest voice. “I am here to talk to you about a small country named Colony West. As most of you know because of the actions of some of our own corporate interests our energy prices have gone up. And well that’s okay. After in a market as free as our some fluctuation is to be expected. But we remained loyal consumers.

“Now however it would seem that it is our precious tax dollars that are being dumped into this market.” The man shakes his head. “No it can’t even be called that. Government intervention and strict regulation are all over the place. And now our tax dollars are being used to prop up foreign governments. Now don’t get me wrong – I pay my four percent taxes with pride, but you expect certain things when you do. Law, Order, Commerce, and defence. I tell you that a little help to our boys overseas is not a bad thing but now with billions of dollars going into the problem I think its time to put the brakes on.

“After all if we really wanted this we would’ve invested more heavily into our own energy conglomerates. After all what’s the best way to decide on where the money should go if not the free market.

“I think its time we stop supporting anything that has to do with CW until the government stops taking our tax dollars and doing it for us. I say we let the market decide because remember – Capitalism Lolz.”

[OOC: It's ludicrous now? It pretty much was a few rounds of bidding back. My last bid is far from what from pushed the whole thing into the realm of impossibility. Further, the whole TV ad thing is a little unrealistic. The average Avisronian doesn't care, since taxes are so lax anyway, and the government provides them with a very, very high quality of life. They don't care about "corporate welfare" when the government is taking care of them against foreigners. That's what it's supposed to do. In regards to making a profit on this, I have an idea. Just watch.]

OOC: *shrugs* I know if the government allowed energy prices to go up 250% on its watch in New Manth (or where I live IRL), they would be kicked out of office, beaten, shot, lynched, tarred, set on fire, and all sorts of other nasty things... but everybody runs his country different and if Avisron says his citizens don't complain, they don't complain...

OOC: Otares- Id be up for the gala event, but starting tommorow Il be back at work so it might be kidna slow going. If you want to go ahead with it Ill let you start the thread and post the link here.

IC-
The Governors os Robinson and West Robinson were not particularly close friends, but both could smell oppurtunity when it came knocking. After receiving the message from Otares, Governor Branson of Robinson immediately called Governor Lewis (no relation to the presidnet, Lewis is a common name) of West Robinson to head him off before he could respond. "I think it is likely that Avisron or Colonial Arms will try to follow a similar scheme." Said Branson, "We should wait for another offer to come in and then close the deals together before they have a chance to rescind there offers." "I agree we should wait," responded Lewis, "But for different reasons. I may not necissarily take the highest bid if Colonial Arms can make one close to what they are offering. Any of these offers are generous enough to be worthwile, and I would prefer to sell to a domestic company rather than continue our countries exploitation by foreigners." Governor Lewis sent a message to Colonial Arms asking them to respond to the bid.

The news soon came in that Avisron had posted a similar bid.

[Official Message]

The Avisronian Department of Overseas Investment wins with its bid of 1.2 billion USD for Robinson
[END]

Lewis had planned on waiting for a response from Colonial Energy, but fearing that Otares would withdraw his bid, and not having received a response from Colonial Arms, Lewis sent off his wire to Otares.

[Official Message]

The Otares Department of Commerce wins the bidding for West Robinson with a bid of 1 billion USD.

[END]

Soon after the second message was sent a message arrived from Colonial Arms to both of the Governors. "Colonial Arms is willing to bid 1 billion for each provinces mining rights."

An order was soon placed from Governor Lewis's residence for a new office chair and a window specialist was called to replace the window it had somehow managed to fly through.

[Secret Message]

To: Avisronian Waste Management
From: Colonial Government

You may begin operations immediately.

[END]

The results of the competition between Zecka & VGI and North Egypt were finally becoming apparent in Colony West. Colonials knew that they were getting free energy, but their opinions of which company was responsible for this charity were strongly divided. The Colonial government was finally responding to the requests made by North Egypt earlier and studied their power plants, just in time for their efficiency evaluation. The first news in that the coal plants had been found to be efficient in the southern regions was met with a small protest of environmentalists, but when it was also announced that North Egypt woudl still not be allowed to expand until the results of the pollution tests were in even that small group dissolved.
Finally, the pollution reports came in. They were quite favorable for North Egypt. Most major news papers and nearly all of the newspapers in the south reprinted excerts form the report. Many central newspapers chose to focus on part of the report that said "The assertion that these coal plants are pollution free seems to have been exaggerated" and began to decry North Egypts deceit.
Southeastern newspapers focused in on "We would not reccomend that any Colonials breathe in this air from the smokestack directly" giving a slightly damper but not horrible light to the whole business. Western Newspapers reprinted the same section, but cut it off after air, makign it seem as if the report was firmly agaisnt NE.
Newspapers in the Northern and Southwestern provinces, those most favorible to New Manth, reprinted the part of the report that said "This plant produces less pollution than your average SUV."
Out of the whole nation only one newspaper in Wiens printed the entire summary. "The assertion that these coal plants are pollution free seems to have been exaggerated, but for a power plant, especially one of this size, these numbers are astounding. We would not reccomend that any Colonials breathe in this air from the smokestack directly, following the example set at the openign ceremony, any more than we would reccomend breathing in the exhaust from a cars tailpipe directly. However after the small amount of pollution does enter the air it is quickly diffused. Those living in the area who imagine the pollution building up are likely only jsut noticing pollution unrelated to the power plant. This plant produces less pollution in a single hour than your average SUV." Throughout Wiens calls are immediately made to expand the mass transportation system and ban SUV's because "They cause as much pollution as a coal plant"
Every newspaper neglects to print the actual numbers from the report and most Colonials completely overlook the smaller article announcing that the Colonial Government is opening three new investigations. One into the business practices of North Egypt, one investigating the business practices of VGI, and one investigating efficiency and safety issues for the proposed nuclear power plants. This last committee is investigating the power plants proposed to be built by Otares as well as the superplant proposed by Avisron, but it is clear to all involved that the real focus is the latter.

The day after the release of the pollution report the Colonial Government announced that North Egypt would be allowed to expand into Friesland. The same day the announcements about the purchase of mining rights in the norther provinces were released. The building tensions between Pro and Anti Industrial, Pro and Anti Foreigner, the various groups supporting one country or corporation over another, and environmental groups seemed to explode. Protests for various causes sprng up in every major city. Riots broke out in Creighton, Neil, Port Royal, Colony City, and Princeton, the worst of these in Creighton. In Creighton rioters burned down the post office and attempted to storm the army base there. 21 people there were killed by the rioters, another 100 injured, and 319 rioters were killed by the army before the group of over a thousand finally fled.
Environmental protesters in Newton stayed peacful, but when they lined up across a major road as part of their protest two men in pickup trucks drove side by side, hit the accelerator and plowed through them, killing three and injuring nine more. The truckdrivers were still at large. The various protest across the nation called for the government to take various actions. "Stop destroying our forests" on protestor in the capitol yells and another "Get Avisron Out of Our Country!" right across the street from "North Egypt is Poisoning us All" and "Colony West for the Colonials". Several protestors advocating the removal of foreigners from Colonail soil chant the nations motto over and over again "alea iacta est, age quod agis; The die is cast, do what you do" and soon a section of that group shortens its rally to simply "alea iacta est" A number of protestors gather outside the nuclear plant under construction, but are carefulnot to get too close and appear threatening. They dont want to risk their lives. Various other protests across the country focus on specific factories of harbors. Nearly all are calling for the eviction of at leas one of the foreign nations investing in Colony West. It seems the bitter propoganda struggle between VGI and North Egypt suceeded in turning Colonials against the other corporation.
Police come out in force and in full riot gear to subdue rioters and to contain the protests, but then the unexpected happened. The unthinkable. A terrorist attack. (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=12783706#post12783706)

Friesland, Colony West.

4:00 AM.


Juan got out of a limo, walking around and plotting the city of Neil. He was flanked by guards - two Colonial men with MP5s, hopefully paid enough to make sure their countrymen wouldn't kill them.

He was taking photographs - conceptualising his plans for city expansion. He walked only a few blocks before the aspault road disappeared, replaced by rubble, pebbles, rocks. This'll take a while. Supposudly there were reports of riots; maybe it was the hour of day, but not much was going on here. Hell, the sun was barely breaking into the sky by now. Two helicopters were above, using radar equipment to take accurate surveyance. Street crews were plotting land markers. Hopefully, nothing would happen to them - GEM policy overseas is to use as much local labor as possible, especially since it limits liability.

So far, he liked what he saw. Simple buildings, easy to replicate. Expanding the city while blending the new buildings in would be easy. It's just, well... the rest of it. Juan pulled a radio out from his beltloop. Lifting it to his ear, he clicked the side button. "Paul, how's the sewage system here?"

<click>You mean where's the sewage system? This place needs a totally new one. The plan, now that I've seen the place - we'll probably have to stack the plumbing below the subway. Subway will be big, right? They want room to grow? It's gonna be tricky, but we can definately get it done."<click>

"Rough time estimate, man?"

<click>"It's not big... with prefab parts from home, we could get it finished in like two years or so."<click>

"Gold. Check in later, and keep your head up. The place is going nuts."

<click>"Roger."<click>

---

Juan walked over to the site of the new post office. Being a central hub, the site would be a multistory building, containing a trucking terminal. Plans were in place to expand existing rail lines to meet up here; and perhaps to add a new train station in Neil. As it stood, the new post office would be huge - and create hundreds of new local jobs. With all this, Gracie was 'spinning the machine' as hard as she could to give the Candrians a good image - using local labor and parts, creating both temporary and permanent jobs, minding the ecology of Colony West, and overall not infringing on the country's sovreignty.

Unlike elsewhere, construction was already beginning here. A wide trucking parking lot was already established, and metal scaffolding was erected. The building was coming together quickly.

Perfect.

(OOC: Right its okay I work slowly on this stuff anyone. My right hand is slightly injured and makes typing…. Interesting to say the least. I will link when I start it.)

(OOC: So your population is incised enough to produce eco-terrorist groups and they are convinced that capitalism is the way to go? And with four percent income tax the government provides the people with very little as most of it would be acquired through the private sector – meaning individual Avirsonians provide themselves with a high standard of living. But As New Manth said – they are your citizens RP them as you will.

I will just chalk it up to that I don’t understand the nuances of your country because this doesn’t seem to me like your taking care of them against foreigners – it just seems like your stripping money out of your own free market to make a few select industrialists in your own country rich. Its not like anyone in the CW market posses a threat to the economic situation in Avirson.

The point on my message was not to play on corporate welfare because I realize that it does not move capitalists. I tried to play on the fact that your people – based on how you talk about them. Seem nationalistic to the point of xenophobia. And they are paying tax dollars into the hands of foreigners. But I should stop now before I say too much.)

The halls of the Department of Commerce were empty tonight. The Building was closed despite the lights being left on in one of the supervisor’s offices. Watching the numbers click by on a monochrome green screen over black background a hairy man with big palms leans back in his chair rubbing his eyes. Looking up to a man with short light brown hair and a chin strap that met into a well groomed goatee he sighed and spoke gruffly.
“Well it looks like it didn’t work.” The leaner man reached into his vest and produced a thin cigar and a box of wood matches. His right hand fiddled with the box for a moment and then in a flash a lit match was being held against the cigar. His eyes watched his work – his response was a disinterested sounding
“Hmm?”
“The States bluffed us. They waited to see if anyone else was going to beat us before they accepted.”
“And?”
The Avirsonians out bid us.”
“Damn I thought for sure we would’ve been able to accept both bids and just tell each governor in quiet that they won. Neither would’ve called for an investigation if it meant loosing out on the money.”
“There’s more.”
“More?”
“Xenophobia seems to be picking up. The country is going nuts.”
“Perfect.”
“Why perfect?”
“It makes the next step of our plan even more delicious.”
“Hmm – If you say so. The higher ups aren’t going to be happy about this. Two billion for everything is a lot different than 1 billion for one.” The man with the cigar waved this off as he went to leave.
“Send my letter to the deans of the business schools. I will be in the country in three days and want a full schedule.”
“Yes sir.”

Electronic correspondence was sent to the many schools of Colony West – to both deans and students. The letter talked about a great opportunity to work for a new company called Cwest National. This new company was supposedly started by some enterprising citizens of Colony West who had taken advantage of the new loans offered by The Financial community in Otares. The letter spoke of stock options for junior executives, secure pension plans for everyone, and a chance to break into the fast paced world of business. The letter was a lot of flash, sporting slogans like “Colony West is made by we Colonials” but when it settled into the fine print it would seem that the board of directors was looking for many hiring positions – most notably the entire executive board, from the chairman, come VPs, right to the junior executives.

(OOC: CW Basically you since I am trying to bring your citizens onboard let me know if you want to RP the CEO or if I will. I think it would be interesting to have the interaction between my bankrollers and your executives but it’s your call.)

In front of the Otariet reactors which are being constructed the foreman of each would come out at different times in the day, announcing to the crowd.
“This is being given to your government after it is constructed. The only reason that Otariet corporations are even here is because is because we won a contract from out government to build it. I should also point out that most of the workers here are your brothers, sisters, and neighbours. We will be out of here at the end of construction and your government can decide what to do with the plant.”

The Otariet shipping interests make no such announcement and simply watch the proceedings from the docks. As long as domestic security holds and the ports stayed secure this affected the freighter service very little – though the seamen were upset that shore leave in Colony West was cancelled for the time being.

The Airport under construction simply stays behind the large chain link / barbed wire fences and increases its security patrols. More and more these companies are looking for the Otariet government to hurry and send in an ambassador to instruct them on the proper manner in which to handle this.

Secret IC:

"I think that drill is a bit overkill for a sewage system."

"I never said that's what it was for."

Juan and Paul watched as cranes lifted a huge, 21 meter wide tunnel boring machine off of a flatbed railway car. The gigantic machine, safety yellow and gunmetal grey, had to be lifted by six cranes; with another lifting off the shields.

This particular machine was an EPB type; one of the largest tunnel borers ever constructed. Placed on it's tires, the machine was quite an intimidating sight on the road. Requiring two monster jets to bring it here, and essentially shutting down freight rail traffic to Neil, the tunnel borer had a task roughly as large as it was - build a deep tunnel.

"So what is it for?"

"I... can't quite tell you yet. Big government job. Just piece it together. Base of a mountain, tunneling machine, tons of explosives, tons of metal bracing... Just call up Rick, tell him to rally up a few thousand locals. Big job. Tell him, 'Government job.' Try not to reveal too much."

Juan turned his head south, looking at one of the distant peaks. Once more, thoughts fluttered through his mind.

Deep. Like East Rand deep.

Okay... maybe not that deep.

(OOC: So your population is incised enough to produce eco-terrorist groups and they are convinced that capitalism is the way to go? And with four percent income tax the government provides the people with very little as most of it would be acquired through the private sector – meaning individual Avirsonians provide themselves with a high standard of living. But As New Manth said – they are your citizens RP them as you will.

What I mean by "provides with" doesn't have to mean directly, y'know. They also provide a secure market, fairness, and tax lightly.

I will just chalk it up to that I don’t understand the nuances of your country because this doesn’t seem to me like your taking care of them against foreigners – it just seems like your stripping money out of your own free market to make a few select industrialists in your own country rich. Its not like anyone in the CW market posses a threat to the economic situation in Avirson.

All of the money that the Avisronian government produced in order to make that bid wasn't collected recently or within the last few years. Because the Avisronian government does little more than build a military an a police/judicial force, while still taxing a VERY large individual and corporate base, it has money stockpiled from years back. It's not like they suddenly took 50% of everyones income in one year. It's a gradual thing.

(OOC: CW the start of the dip thread. Its just her and the staff hitting the runway as yet. http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=12789576#post12789576 )