A Risky Venture (Attn GD, Semi-Open)

[Morrdh]

Macabea
Empire of the Golden Throne
Greater Dienstad

"Quit pacing will ya." Grumbled a heavy-set, borderline obese, man as he sat back in his seat and puffed on a Mokan bran cigar. "Ya starting ta wear a hole in the carpet and I don't have the cash ta foot the bill for a joint like this."

"Tell me you're the slightest bit worried?" Replied a much thinner who'd been fretting for the last half hour.

"Yeah, I am." The slightly obese man answered. "By the hole all this is burning in me pocket."

"I told you, this will be worth it." Countered the thin man. "Besides, if you're that worried about money you could always make a few cut-backs...."

"Every man needs a little luxury." Shrugged the obese man. "Sides, 'em Mokans know how ta cut a fine smoke."

"Least act like you're being serious about all this!"

"I am!" The obese man protested. "Seriously crazy fer agreeing ta ya harebrained scheme ta come half way across the blasted region with a major conflict raging ta find some investors' teats ta suckle on fer some cold hard cash."

"Well what choice did we have? Between the trouble back home and the coup, we're a canal company in all but name until we can secure funding again."

"Ach, save the sob story...I know the ins and outs and then some remember?"

"I know, I know." Sighed the thin man. "Though that sounds like our guests have arrived."

Soon enough a crowd of people, ranging from businessmen to diplomats, entered the room and seat themselves. The thin man nodded t greeting to them as they passed through the door and waited till everyone who was going to arrive had done so. Standing at the front of the room by a projector, the thin man addressed the gathered crowd. "My associate and I would like to give you all a warm welcome and thank you for coming here today."

"I'll cut to the chase." Continued the thin man. "I wish to present a proposal to construct a ship canal across New Garrack and Greal, connecting the shipping routes of central and eastern Greater Dienstad with a more direct route."

"However, money makes the world go round and so I am looking for both investors and shareholders willing to have a stake in the venture in order to raise the necessary capital to construct the canal."

[Eitoan]

The Drake Hotel
Kelso, Eitoan
Two weeks earlier

The venerable Drake was home to many of the notable deals across Eitoan financial, entertainment, sports and legal history over it’s time span of the last 120 years. Here banks and investment concerns were conceived, born, and met their demise in its resplendent ballrooms and posh meeting rooms. Fortunes of presidential hopefuls rose and crashed. Weddings and religious ceremonies for Eitoan’s elite were hosted across the years, in some cases becoming family traditions for several generations. This is the address of choice for foreign businessmen and Eitoan’s captains of industry alike. It reigned supreme among all lodgings decorating the nation’s largest city and financial center. It’s towers long since overshadowed by constant growth in the financial district and once newspaper, now mass communications row, it’s grey exterior stuffy by today’s standards, The Drake still presented a stately counterpoint to the evening light show that was downtown Kelso. From the street level it remained a welcoming respite from the city’s hustle and bustle. Attendees for today’s meeting were directed to the hotel’s Golden Mile room, on the mezzanine. The Golden Mile room was richly adorned, polished marble floor gleaming, intricate gilded pillars shined to a high gloss. Above them the inlaid white ceiling, decorated with a flowing floral pattern on the face of the beams bore the many crystal chandeliers. Floor to ceiling windows provided soft natural light for the proceedings, filtered by the branches and leaves of the many chestnut trees that guarded the frontal approach to The Drake. The carpeting and wallpaper reflected the floral theme too. At the head of the room a small stage rose above the main floor, now set up for the presentation. Below them, on the main floor lay the Palm Court. Those invited would find no liquor, wine, or beer at the meeting, per Eitoan tradition. Business before pleasure. But after adjournment almost all would retire to the Palm Court, to enjoy cocktails at the small, well stocked bar, or discuss further plans at small tables in it’s cozy confines, or from comfortable chairs in front of the polished marble and granite centerpiece fountain. Outside the main entrance passed the lifeblood of the city. A steady stream of taxis and for-hire cars paraded past it, dropping off and picking up fast under the ever-watchful eye of the chief doorman. Traffic at the main entrance was typically sluggish, facing a side street, choked with pedestrians attending to business and tourist gawking alike. Homeowners in the few remaining condominiums and co-ops went about their business leisurely. Students hustled to class. The aroma or exotic dishes from all over Greater Dienstad attracted hungry lunchtime diners. It was now 1 PM. Inside the Drake smaller meeting rooms hosted gatherings on the mezzanine and main floor. One held the stockholder meeting for a major household goods company. Another had the planning committee for Veterans of the 31st Division National Committee. A seminar on recent electronics patents filled a third. The Drake was a busy place!

Inside the Golden Mile room assembled representatives of the twelve Eitoan construction and engineering companies planning the project. The bigger, more established firms had larger contingents, and more polished representatives. The remainder, ranging from venerable long-time businesses to nearly fresh startups had more men and women that came up from the field, more rough-hewn. Many were old friends, and the atmosphere was collegial. There was a sprinkling of lawyers and business development types, but by and large this was a hands-on crowd. And there was the finance men and lawyers of Zebesuna Investment Trust. Zebesuna Investment Trust held 15% of the equity in the fledgling NXO consortium, the brand-new organization for whom the meeting was being held. And Zebesuna was the repository of for most of the Eitoan operations of the Lomengo family, the famed Mokan organization. 51% of Zebesuna was owned by Lomengo interests. All sources of Lomengo funds behind Zebesuna were legitimate, carefully tended by the lawyers of Roper, Elroy, Bartak & Dunlay, one of Kelso’s top flight law firms. Among the REB&D participants on the floor was Lori Mitchell, senior partner and director, and Lomengo consigliere for operations on the continent. Mrs. Mitchell, dressed in a modest white suit and green blouse stayed discreetly quiet at the meeting, not wishing to draw attention to her firm’s role in launching and directing NXO, lest it attract undue scrutiny. Most of the on-stage presenters were REB&D men, directed before festivities kicked off by a distinguished looking, silver maned senior partner as coach, with a gaggle of young associates in tow. At the podium on the stage stood Jakub Fierens, a junior partner at the law firms. In his early 30’s and ambitious, the company gave him the challenge he sought. He was the designated Director and CEO of The NXO consortium.

Fierens spoke up, commanding attention in a rich baritone voice.

“I’d like to welcome all of you to advise of progress on our proposal, some of which has leaked out to unofficial sources. This presentation should cut through any confusion or rumors you may have heard, and give you a better sense for where NXO is headed. As all of you are aware, our charter calls for teaming with Navitek of The Golden Throne for the purpose of presenting a joint bid for work on any proposed Trans Greal waterway, whether new construction or upgrade of existing facilities to modern standards. I am pleased to see the Navitek representatives here, as guests of NXO, and to make sure any information they have about our consortium comes from the horse’s mouth, so to speak. We’ve come to an agreement with Navitek that they would take the majority interest in our joint venture, at 55% ownership. This is to be Greater Dinestad’s biggest canal project ever, and Navitek’s record of success in it’s Jumanota project will give us the best opportunities in responding to all requests for proposal. Our companies experience has been mostly on continent, and less well known in eastern and central Greater Dinestad. Many of you have been heavily invested in work for the Razmaki Port and Reconstruction Authority in the Federation of Ralkovian States. All told, Razmaki is ambitious, but hardly of a scale comparable to Trans Greal. The NXO ownership structure has gelled over the last three weeks, and I want to thank the legal and financial staffs of all member companies for making this happen. This has allowed NXO planners to start planning recruitment of senior project managers. So, we’ll be raiding your people soon.

I have received recently approval for our corporate charter and our license for foreign operations (LFO). You will find copies of these in the folders provided to you, as well as your inbox notices. You have sent me many questions about talent acquisition for NXO, and some of these provisions are specified in the charter. There is generally a limit on NXO acquisition from participant companies, with reimbursement to original company stipulated for hiring of personnel beyond the limits. NXO will assume the cost of buy out for hires tied to noncompete clauses by rival firms. I draw your attention to the section of the charter covering cross certification of professionals for on-site work in Greal. NXO will bear the cost of their certification. In most cases reciprocal agreements with The Golden Throne will cover work with Navitek off site. I have also provided the Department of Foreign Affairs initial response to our LFO request. Also included is our answers to questions posed by Foreign Affairs’ regarding their Commerce Control List. This should reassure you that major issues with Foreign Affairs have all been resolved well before issuance of our LFO. And I want to give special thanks to Secretary Fields’ staff at Foreign Affairs for their prompt and courteous attention, and to my legal staff for speedy attention to all concerns. I believe your will be most satisfied with this information.”

Fierens continued for another twenty minutes, followed by a short question and answer period. The NXO membership broke into smaller groups after the formal presentation, and discussions continued, both in the Golden Mile Room, and in the corridor, and into the Palm Court as the businessmen ordered up light refreshments. One of the REB&D associates squired the Navitek representative to knots of attendees, introducing him to the new organization’s leadership. Construction executives speculated about supply and equipment availability in Greal, although one or two had done some business there previously. A group of engineers waited eagerly for their introduction to the Navitek man, looking forward to engaging with such a prominent Golden Throne firm. Some at the bar opened up a discussion on NXO reversing the brain drain of bright Eitoan students to Macabbea, eager to lure the expatriates back home along with their training and experience. Others speculated about accommodations in Greal. Not much was known about those, and many assumed that work in remote areas would bring rudimentary living conditions. Those concerned with handling Greali government requirements were reassured that Navitek would bring that skill to the table long before the first NXO employee set foot overseas.