by Chris Hechtl
Chapter 35
Admiral Lewis saw the latest bill from Lagroose Industries and scowled. “I think we've had enough of this. How are we with that IG inspection?” he demanded.
“JAG has been sitting on it for the time being. They don't want to rock the boat and endanger our supply of the antimatter,” Lieutenant Nelson replied.
“Yeah well, we're going to make a move. I think we need to make it clear that the gouging has to stop. I want someone to look into feeding the numbers to the media. Work up a spreadsheet of costs for each fiscal year,” he ordered. “Find someone who will be outraged at the government being gouged.”
“You think that will help, Admiral?”
“I think it will be a wakeup call when the media starts to pick up on it. They'll start asking questions and making some people on the hill uncomfortable. Hell, they'll make me uncomfortable for going along with this for as long as we have. But enough is enough, damn it!”
“Aye aye, sir.”
(@)()(@)
Wendy Lagroose grimaced as she marched through the corridors to the boardroom. She realized her greed had gotten out of hand only when the media had gotten a hold of the numbers and the legal issues had started up. It was all due to the issues with the dratted antimatter.
She settled herself, made quick work of a self-check in a mirror, and then opened the doors to the boardroom with a smile. She nodded in passing to her supporters, murmuring mild small talk as she sailed through the room to her proper seat. She wasn't looking forward to the quarterly meeting, but some things had to be done just right.
She looked on to see a lighted figure next to Doctor Irons. She did her best to keep her face impassive, but the people in that room knew her too well. She was clearly not happy about Trevor Hillman being there as an A.I. Now she'd never be rid of the old bastard she thought as she took her seat at the head of the boardroom. She settled herself and felt the chair respond to her agitation with relaxing pulses.
At least there was a way for her to get rid of him and Seanex, at least temporarily. If they knew what was good for them, they'd stay gone, but she knew that was too much to ask for.
“We have a rather full agenda, including a distressing issue regarding the government's investigation into our handling of antimatter production, transport, and storage. It has hit the public, and our public stock and shares have suffered, dropping another full percent in value as of this morning,” Teresa Ellen reported.
“First off, before we go much further,” Wendy turned accusing cold eyes on Doctor Irons and Trevor Hillman. “I believe Doctors Irons and Hillman should recuse themselves for this discussion.”
There was a brief silence as the board considered that statement. Doctor Irons raised an eyebrow. Trevor just crossed his holographic arms.
“Considering Doctor Irons does work for the government, he does have a conflict of interest,” Dren Applebee said slowly.
Trevor cocked his head at Seanex. “Okay, I can live with that,” Seanex said after a moment. “I'll pass my votes temporarily over to you, Trev,” he said with a nod as he excused himself.
Wendy opened her mouth to object, but Trevor was faster. He snorted an electronic sound. “Don't think you can get rid of me that easily, Wendy. I'm a free agent. I work as a freelance agent for the government as well as Lagroose Industries. I'm not going anywhere.”
“We can vote you out,” Bryana Noir insisted.
“No, you can't,” Yorrick replied. His sudden support brought Wendy's supporters grinding to a halt. It was quickly apparent that they were abandoning the strategy in disarray.
Wendy pursed her lips in a thin angry line at the sign of her brother's betrayal. When she realized all eyes were on her, she squirmed slightly and then sighed. “Very well,” she said, as if it didn't matter.
“All right. To recap, the government has noticed the price of antimatter going up and up. They haven't been happy with our prices or handling of the situation,” Teresa said, shooting a brief look to Wendy.
“They can't do anything …,” Anita Thruman, head of logistics murmured.
“Oh yes, they can. The government paid for the revitalization of the antimatter production facilities as well as their expansion. They paid for everything, every step of the way. The contract specifies that we can't go more than 5 percent over cost,” George Brown, the new head of accounting stated. “I've gone over the books. Someone got stupid.”
“It's not stupid to make a profit,” Marty Paschelle, the companies head of marketing stated.
“It is when the government is your only customer and has an ironclad agreement that we don't get carried away with it,” Dren replied firmly. “And since it is a government contract and since we're in a war, they have had full unfettered access to all documents and facilities. That includes all memos and information regarding antimatter. Something I was reminded of this morning when I got a new set of subpoenas,” he said. “By the way, I've got some for everyone here whether you are interested in them or not. Plus a few friends in the DOJ have warned me that not only is the government out for blood when it comes to credit, but they also involved the criminal branch as of this morning.”
More than one person froze at that news. Slowly all eyes turned to Wendy.
“They can't do it. We're the leading company in the Confederation. It won't wash,” Wendy stated.
“Reality check, Wendy, it's happening,” Yorrick replied with a shake of his head.
“We need this to go away. Get it out of the public eye, negotiate a settlement, and put it to bed before our stock suffers anymore than it already has,” Marty stated.
“Agreed,” Bryana said.
“Agreed,” Anita, George, and Teresa echoed. All eyes turned to Wendy.
Wendy realized she was being forced to back down by the board; something she had rarely had to face. She sat back and considered the situation carefully, trying to find an out. She didn't like that it had gone public and given the company a black eye. She also didn't like that it was making waves with congress and giving traction to the anti-Lagroose people.
“Okay,” she said slowly.
“You are authorizing me to negotiate? I will need full board approval to make the deal and to make it stick,” Dren said carefully. “I'll need that in writing. I'll also need to be sure no one can be criminally charged I assume?”
“We're going to pay through the nose for that one,” Loren West, the company's publicist said in a near moan as she shook her head. “It's already making waves,” she said, accessing a news feed. She put it up for the others to listen to. Anita and George winced at the indictments demanded by the people being interviewed.
“War profiteers,” Marty murmured.
“I guess someone got greedy and carried away,” Yorrick said, turning a gimlet eye on his sister.
“You didn't protest your last dividend checks,” she replied tartly. “Nor did any of you,” she said, turning an accusing eye on the group. “So don't go climbing up on any high horses. All of you were in on this or deliberately turned a blind eye towards it. Not just me.”
“Let's just leave the finger pointing out of it,” Gus said slowly in the ensuing silence. “Dren, you've got my vote to negotiate.”
“I second,” Loren replied. “Anything to get this out of the public's eye before we go down in flames—again. This time they really are sharpening the pitchforks and stocking up on torches,” she said warningly to the others.
“All those in favor?” Dren asked, raising a hand.
“Wait, we don't even know the parameters here,” Wendy protested desperately.
“At this point everything and anything is on the table,” Bryana said as she raised her hand with the others. Wendy fumed, but when she saw that everyone on the board was voting in favor, she sighed theatrically and then raised her hand as well.
“The vote is unanimous,” Dren said, making a note. “I'll need a printout of that,” he said, looking around before his eyes settled on Trevor
.
“I'm an A.I., not a secretary,” Trevor replied. “But, if there isn't anything more on this subject for the moment, let's get Seanex in here before he can get out of the complex. That way we can finish with the rest of the board's agenda,” he suggested.
“Agreed,” Yorrick replied.
(@)()(@)
“I don't like how Yorrick is going further and further into their camp,” Bryana said after the board meeting had concluded.
“I know. I can't do anything about it,” Dren said with a shake of his head. “Has anyone done a count? I mean, if he suddenly stands in complete opposition, will some people lose their seats?” he asked, carefully not looking at Wendy as she spoke with Teresa.
“I'm not sure,” Anita said slowly, clearly distressed by the idea.
“I think we better find out and cover our bases one way or another,” George replied. The others nodded grimly.
(@)()(@)
The DOJ negotiated with Dren Applebee to handle the antimatter case. It took weeks of back and forth, but they didn't seem to make much headway on getting the problem resolved. Everything had to be run through Admiral Lewis and he balked completely at a whitewash or token fine.
In a surprising move, Trevor Hillman brokered a deal to get the stockpile of antimatter, plus the production facilities, transport, and equipment out of the hands of Lagroose Industries and transferred to the navy in exchange for no fines and all the money the company had made gouging the taxpayers. “Funny, we paid for the construction of the facilities, their maintenance, but our name isn't on the title. That's going to change,” Admiral Lewis said when he signed off on the agreement.
Breaking the news to Wendy Lagroose was an interesting experience for Dren and Trevor. She sat there, fuming as they laid it out to her. “The good news is this goes away; we come out without any criminal charges,” Dren stressed, "And we're golden.”
“No,” Wendy insisted.
“I negotiated this. It is a done deal, Wendy,” Dren said firmly, for once standing up to her.
“No,” Wendy said flatly, staring Dren down.
He inhaled and then exhaled sharply. “Now look. You don't like this, well, neither do I. I don't like being put in this position, but your greed got us here. They've got us over a barrel. The full board is in agreement, Wendy, they want this to go away fast. This is how to do it.”
“We're going to be hurt badly over this! All that money … how can anyone agree to this?” Wendy demanded.
“It's that or get the book thrown at them, and they don't want that. Most of the book leads to your door by the way, so you'd get the jail time. Significant jail time,” he warned. “Believe me, some on the board would love to see that happen,” Trevor stated flatly.
“Shut up,” she snarled at him.
“Here is the deal. I don't work for you,” Trevor said. “I haven't in decades, so get over it. I pitched the deal to Admiral Lewis and the DOJ with Dren when they didn't make any headway. Admiral Lewis agreed.”
“Him … he's always wanted this. What's next, the yard?” Wendy demanded.
“I don't know; have you been playing accounting games there too? Better have George check and start papering over things if you did get cute,” Trevor warned.
Wendy inhaled and then exhaled slowly as Dren gave her a shut up-while-you’re-ahead look.
“The good news is the employees are ours. The skilled people still work for us. They can switch to the government if they want, but we've got contracts with most of them. I believe you'll want to sign off on having Lagroose Industries lose the facilities and such but still provide the labor as independent contractors. They'll still be on the hook for repairs and such,” Trevor replied.
“Oh, so now you are on our side?” Wendy asked sarcastically.
“Yes and no. But in this case, consider that point a gift.”
“So, only the titles change. They get ownership, they still pay for everything, we don't lose the contract,” Wendy recapped.
“Correct. A caveat I got thrown in is that they have to keep us on for a period of three years. After that they can open the bid to the other corporations or phase us out completely. Their call,” Dren replied smugly.
“So, in other words they can evict us from the platforms we built …”
“And they paid for,” Trevor inserted.
Wendy shot him a glower, but it didn't faze him. “And we eventually get a nice knowing you, bye?”
“It isn't what we want, but it could happen.”
“No.”
“Damn it, Wendy, wake the frack up!” Dren said, slapping the desk in front of her hard enough to make her baubles bounce. She started eyes wide at the sudden unexpected show of violence. The crack of his hand on the wood had been like a gunshot. “You were the stupid greedy bitch who did this. Now you get to learn from it or we'll do it anyway and I swear I'll vote to throw your ass off the board and out of the CEO chair. Your call,” he snarled.
She stared at him, aghast at what he'd just said. “I got you your job. Your shares,” she said.
“Yeah? So? You got yours from your father and look what you did to him,” Dren replied, standing up straight and towering over her.
Trevor's holographic image crossed his arms. “So, what's it going to be?” he asked.
She looked up at him, angry that he was there as a witness to this humiliation, that he had been a part of it. She wanted to blame him, but Dren's warning that she was ultimately at fault had hit her like a face full of ice water as had the warning that he and others might vote her out of the CEO chair. That was terrifying for her. The abyss opened up in front of her, threatening to swallow her.
“Wendy,” Dren said, snapping his fingers.
“Yes, fine,” she murmured, finally coming to grips that she was caving. That she had to cave and save what she could. “Go,” she said.
“It'll work out in the end,” Dren said as he turned to go. “You just got stupid. Carried away. It happens, we all make mistakes …”
“Just go,” she insisted. Only when they were gone did she turn away to look out the window into the void, beyond the company's stations and people. She felt ashen defeat within her. It wasn't over, but it felt like it.
And this time, this time she couldn't blame her father she realized. This time, it was all on her.
(@)()(@)
“So, she caved?” Admiral Lewis asked eyes bright.
“Yes,” Trevor replied. “I was shocked she did. She was backed into a corner. You never want to do that to someone, but it was the only way to get it through her thick head that she had no other way out. That she'd screwed up. What it does to her long term …,” his avatar shrugged.
“I don't care at the moment.”
“She's holding out for the three-year support contract. And they'll latch onto that hard. Be expected to see lobbyists hanging onto that too,” Trevor warned.
“I don't care. As long as we get a clear title, I'll work with it long term. We'll phase them out in stages if I have to,” the admiral said firmly.
“Your call as usual,” Trevor replied with a shrug.
“Don't you have something of a conflict of interest here, Trev?” Walter asked.
Trevor shrugged. “I guess, but I wanted to see this through. It was for the good of the company. My ethical routines aren't kicking up a snit so I'm not worried about it.”
“Okay,” Admiral Lewis replied with a shrug. “If you are happy, we're happy. Everyone's happy.”
“Well, she isn't, but that's her problem,” Trevor replied with a nasty smile.
(@)()(@)
President Camp grinned when he got the latest news from the Altair jump point. A dispatch ship had arrived with news of Second Fleet's arrival and the battle. He'd already released the news to the media. The celebrations were slightly overshadowed by the reported loss of four destroyers and damage to two others. But that was light compared to what the losses could have been.
(@)()(@)
Admiral Lewis shook his head as he read the report on Second Fleet's battle. The losses were surprisingly light but how the ships were lost was the real thing everyone seemed to be overlooking. The enemy had created missiles. That was not good. It meant they were pulling out all the stops to redress the balance of power on the battlefield and then try to tip it back in their favor.
Which meant Jan's advantages were fleetingly ones. If the enemy came up with answers to her other tech, she would be stalemated or possibly even destroyed. He grimaced, then started writing a missive to send an additional reinforced task force along with more antimatter missiles to her as quickly as possible.
Something told him she was going to need them soon.
(@)()(@)
Lieutenant Nelson went over the latest reports from ONI's special branch of interstellar cartography. They had been going over the various copies of the captured navigational databases. A comparison had created a clearer picture of some of the galaxy but also sparked some interesting questions. It had also yielded clues to another race—one that the Taurens clearly indicated was an enemy that they called the Bugs.
The bug territory was a series of areas over a thousand light years from the Tau sector. They apparently had a neutral zone between each side—one that they'd respected until Terrans had gotten into Rho and terraformed the planets there it seemed.
He left that part alone and focused on a few other points of interest.
There were additional links in the hyperbridge network found. The network was quite vast, crossing the entire galaxy. The team was confused by references of tolls to someone called the Forerunners. There were notations, something about energy transference and such, but the translations were imperfect.
He finished scanning the information and then wrote a brief and submitted it to Admiral Lewis and the planning board.
Six hours later he was surprised when he noted the direction the talks were going. The planning board had accessed the captured databases and verified the findings, then cross-referenced for any information on the bugs and other enemies of the Taurens. They dug into the information from Zephyr that Magellan had picked up from Pyrax.