NationStates Jolt Archive

The briefcase closed slowly with an audible hiss as the airtight seals locked into place. Two gentleman clothed in black suits walked hand in hand towards the small galactic traversing shuttle, the briefcase crisply handcuffed to the left hand of one of the guards.

This was, as far as the board knew the first expansion into another galaxy of the corporations research and development wing, with the key priorities focusing on alien cultures, test areas and of course prime locations for new facilities, with afforded protection from their host governments.

With the earth market cornered, especially in the areas of military technology and adapted physics, the first choice to begin the companies first inter galactic operation was one of two nations. The Empire of Coreworlds or, the twelve colonies of Kobal.

The pre-launch sequence began with little in the way of surprise, apart from the tedious safety sequences which had to be observed. Within what was the shortest space of time the one insignificant shuttle rose from the continent of Africa with little notice, ascending into the heavens and space beyond.

The shuttle emerged from her spacial fold at the exact coordinates that had been anticipated, in the immediate orbit of Jurai, though the sensors left many surprises to the corporations small envoy.

Large vessels of war floated past, while the configuration was naturally familiar the sheer number assembled in the vicinity was of great surprise. The corporation rarely made any errors.

Instantly a challenge rose from the surface, at least the translation team had performed their duties acceptably. The shuttle transmitted the corporations chosen greeting with care and in text format.

To:- Empire of Coreworlds.
From:- The U Corporation.
Re:- First Contact.

Greetings. We come in peace. Please, hold witness to our first diplomatic envoy to your Galaxy. We come, in the interest of opening negotiations. Please respond.

It was a tense time for the Ice Planet of Jurai as the Navy waited for the enemy assault to come. In the meantime, a small ship entered Juraian airspace and began sending a message, which soon landed at the desk of the Field Marshal.

To:- Empire of Coreworlds.
From:- The U Corporation.
Re:- First Contact.

Greetings. We come in peace. Please, hold witness to our first diplomatic envoy to your Galaxy. We come, in the interest of opening negotiations. Please respond.

"Sheesh. Don't they know there's a war going on?" I, Daniel Alexander Masaki, Field Marshal of the Starfighter Corps and the Empress' confidante, muttered as I read the latest report. I sighed. Might as well get this thing out of the way.

"Very well, but we shall make haste. This planet is currently preparing for war. Please use these coordinates."

The coordinates showed a giant space station (http://images.wikia.com/xenosaga/images/4/49/Kukai_foundation.jpg) known as the Rakka. This was one of two space colonies (Reki and Rakka) that were recalled to Jurai to participate in Operation Exodus, a plan to evacuate the capital planet. Not that these newcomers would know about that. Anyway, the colony was huge, around twenty miles in diameter and had many spaceports with merchant ships flitting in and out of them. One of those spaceports was slotted for use by the U Corporation. Come on in, friend!

The Corporate shuttle was not slow to proceed directly to her allotted coordinates. The artificial intelligence on board had been programmed, albeit loosely with some limited cultural knowledge of the Coredian language system, though thankfully, they also used a form of binary.

This was a bold time for the Corporation, a bold time for the profit margin and also a rather concerning time for the share holders. Of course, profits were increasing every year, but market growth remained a significant concern for the bulk of investors thanks to relative peace that Earth existed in today.

Reaching out to more primitive cultures and civilisations that spanned an entire range of technological capabilities, the corporation had begun a relatively relaxed programme of interstellar trading.

At the fore-front of research and arms production, all the Corporation needed was a nation in need of their much vaunted technology.

The shuttle docked into the space port, and the black box left along with its two guards to be greeted by the elected Coredian representative, all they had to do was wait for someone to say hello....

Vector Industries Representative Jeff Andonauts was there to greet the U Corp representatives along with a speeder-limo. He was a rather skinny teenager, with a pair of glasses and blond bowl-cut hair and wore a green blazer and trousers over a dress shirt. But he was a genius at inventing stuff, although not the whirlwind that was R&D Director Dr. Rina Masaki, and was employed by Vector's Research and Development Division for that reason.

"Hello there. I am the Vector Industries Rep. Jeff Andonauts. Welcome to the Rakka Station. We will be meeting Daniel Masaki-sama momentarily, so if you'll please step into the limo..." The lad said, bowing to the representatives and spreading his hand towards the limo.

To make a long story short, they reached the Office of the Field Marshal of the Interstellar Defense Force Starfighter Corps situated inside Sector One. This sector houses the Senate Hall, where the Senators have gone to make policy and the Rakka Academy, an institution that will soon serve as the training center for the Jedi Order when Operation Exodus gets underway.

The Field Marshal was also the commander-in-chief in charge of the Operation, as it was his clout that managed to get the appropriations rammed through the Senate, citing the Black Crusade and other nasty nasties gunning for Coredia. It was no surprise, then, that when the Empress was out on business, he was in charge of all things Coredian.

Without further ado, young Jeff led the representatives to the front of an office.

At the desk was a young-ish looking man (http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b269/Coredia/Masaki%20Family/Daniel.jpg) (you can tell that Coredians look younger than they really are) reading through a scroll. He sensed several presences and before Jeff knocked, he rolled up the scroll and said. "Come in, come in!"

"Uncanny." Jeff muttered and led the representatives inside.

Inside, there were numerous artifacts and scrolls neatly stacked on shelves with a Kashyyyk-wood desk in the middle. There was a corner where books of all shape and sizes were stacked haphazardly and another corner where a rack of weapons, melee and ranged, were placed. In front of the desk were comfortable, but not opulent chairs. And sitting behind the desk was the Field Marshal himself, in casual wear. Yeah, you heard right. Jeans and a long-sleeve white shirt with one of the family crests (http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b269/Coredia/Jedilogo.jpg) stenciled over the left breast, with my feet propped up on the desk. A proper military man I am not, and don't you dunderheads on the Promotions Board forget it!

"Welcome to Rakka Station, my friends. How may I help you?" I asked kindly.

Both representatives of the Corporation were whisked away quickly to their new location within what appeared to be a museum. The desk was a fine oak, not dissimilar to those found on Earth and of almost a mystical quality. Perhaps a little cluttered for the Corporations desires however they were told they would be within environments that were certainly alien.

The two men dressed in black suits and black sunglasses placed their charge on to the desk in front of Mr Masaki allowing it to activate. Within a few moments a holographic display of a young girl materialised dressed eerily in a white dress. “We thank you Mr Masaki for seeing us at such a busy time for you and your nation, however the board of directors has sent me here to ask you a question. What can we do for you sir?” The voice allowed the prospect to linger.

“The corporation has been witnessing recently the various events within this Galaxy with…. A sense of interest. Our markets back home have become exhausted in terms of high capital investment and so we turn to you. We know that you are preparing to evacuate a large proportion of your population and we would like to assist you in this endeavour, while at the same time benefiting our shareholders. The Coredian Empire sir, is on its knees and it lacks the material and economic viability to continue in our estimates a significant reconstruction programme. We are offering to assist you in this area and bring a large proportion of private finance and raw materials including food stuffs to your new location wherever it may be.” The red queen walked around the table to Daniels side.

“We understand that your nation will be needing weapons, shipyards, food, basic necessities such as clothing, Tabanna gas, and facilities already existing to continue and conduct high level military research.” We can provide those from an environment that is entirely secure. We can do all these things for you.”

Everything we needed. The U Corporation was offering quite a generous package for my people. But instead of leaping up and asking "Where do I sign?" like a gullible idiot, I gave him a practiced stare. "I see you're being quite generous with your offer. What's the catch?"

After all, I knew all too well that nothing came without a price. The U Corporation sounds too good to be true.

“The catch.” The red queen responded quite confidently. “Is very simple. Our corporation is only interested in making a profit and to do that we require to invest significantly into areas that require high capital ventures. The reconstruction of Coreworlds will provide us with unprecedented market domination in almost every area, maximising our future potential for profit, and your tax income. Of course, we hope to provide and win weapons contracts from existing suppliers and perhaps, take their place in the future.” The red queen turned to the representative of a potential rival corporation.

“With our infrastructure located within invulnerable locations, it is safe to say that our facilities won’t fall to the Galactic Empires boot in the near future or the Chronosians. All we desire is to invest and harvest future profit.” The red queen smiled and let out a small laugh. “Teehee.”

"Vector always looks forward to having competition." Jeff smiled. "But mind you, we're still ahead in the game and won't be easy to be gotten rid of."

"Mind you, though, I'll need more information about your company and of course, there's the red tape to cut through before you even get a test site." I said. "Both the Council and the Senate need to approve this thing."