Delphi Station

by Bob Blanton

Samantha came in and closed the door behind her.

  “Uh oh,” Marc said. “Something serious?”

  “A little,” Samantha said.

  Marc took a deep breath, “What is it?”

  “Do you know what you’re doing?” Samantha asked.

  “Mostly.”

  “Don’t get me wrong, I’m in one hundred percent, but a space station, a spaceship, alien technology, my head is swimming. I just want to know if you have a plan.”

  “I do,” Marc said, “it’s a bit sketchy, but it is a plan.”

  “Care to share?”

  “Yes, maybe you can help fill it in,” Marc said. “I think you’re the best strategic thinker we have in the group.”

  “Thanks,” Samantha said as she rolled her hands, signaling Marc to continue.

  “Okay, here goes,” Marc said. The took another deep breath. “I’m concerned about two things.”

  “Only two,” Samantha said with a snort. “Sorry, go on.”

  “One, that the Paraxeans will come to Earth before we’re ready for them.”

  Samantha nodded her head, agreeing with him.

  “And two, that before they come, the Earth will be a remnant of what it is today, smoldering in the ashes of World War Three.”

  “Oh my, you do pick the big problems. The first I understand, why don’t you elaborate on the second.”

  “Climate change is going to continue to get worse; it will destabilize the political situation as it creates more refugees. The growing need for energy will continue to pit the major powers against themselves as they vie for control of critical resources. As the people realize how devastating climate change is, their reactions and protests will further destabilize the political situation. With that kind of powder keg, just one match will set it off. Then with all those nuclear weapons we have floating around, someone is going to decide to call everyone’s bluff and use one.”

  “Succinctly put,” Samantha said. “So, what do you think you can do about it?”

  “We’ve already introduced the batteries. Once we get the fuel cells into the mix, we’ll dramatically reduce emissions from vehicles. Especially once the trucks start coming out of Tata’s factories.”

  “But all that power has to come from somewhere,” Samantha said. “And that’s guaranteed to be mostly fossil fuels.”

  “True, but it’s about efficiency,” Marc said. “The more efficient you are turning those fuels into energy, the lower the carbon footprint. Besides, I want to introduce fusion reactor power plants.”

  Samantha gave a start, “I thought you said something about a fusion reactor, but that was when I was wondering if you were a madman.”

  “And now?”

  “Still wondering,” Samantha gave Marc a smile. “So, a fusion reactor.”

  “We’ve got two of the best nuclear physicists working on it. They’ve got one of the best plasma scientists helping them, and we know the answer.”

  “Then why not give it to them and let them reverse engineer it?”

  “That leads to the obvious question of ‘where did you come up with a working fusion reactor,’ which would lead to the Sakira,” Marc said. “Then we’d have World War Three as the nations around the world start fighting for control of her.”

  “So, you want a plausible explanation of how you came up with it.”

  “Right. ADI and I are carefully guiding them along the path. Nuclear fusion really isn’t that difficult, it’s creating a sustainable reaction that’s hard. Part of the problem is the plasma field you have to create and maintain, part, the incredible temperatures the containment vessel has to withstand. Polysteel is the answer to the second, the answer to the first is just better management of the plasma field and fuel as well as more efficient magnets and better superconductors.”

  “Won’t there just be competition over the fuel?”

  “No, deuterium is relatively abundant and easy to extract from ocean water.”

  “I thought it was rare.”

  “It’s only point-zero-two percent of the ocean’s water, but there’s a lot of ocean water out there, and we can eventually mine ice asteroids for deuterium.”

  “Oh, so no shortage of fuel,” Samantha said.

  “Nope.”

  “So, you want to remove the competition for oil and natural gas from the mix.”

  “Exactly. First, it will remove tension from one of the world’s biggest powder kegs, the Middle East. Second, it will allow developing nations to get a leg up. With cheap, plentiful power, they’ll be able to improve the lifestyles of their population dramatically, start manufacturing more of their own products.”

  “But, won’t that start another cycle of competition as everyone vies for markets for their exports?”

  “It will, but when you remove the cost of power from the equation, or at least reduce its impact, you lower the price of goods. With developing nations improving their standard of living, you create more markets.”

  “I’ll buy that, but you still have to distribute that power.”

  “That’s why the batteries and fuel cells are so important. They can cover the areas that are hard to get power to, while the fusion reactors cover the areas that have distribution. A large fuel cell can power a village, add solar power to the mix, and you have a solution to the distribution problem. The fusion reactors are safe and can be placed inside of, or closer to communities so you will reduce the complexities of the distribution system.”

  “But you have to build all new power plants.”

  “Nope, the reactors are small enough that you can just replace a power plant’s existing boiler with the reactor. You keep all the turbines and power distribution that’s already there.”

  “Okay, how do you decide who gets them, and how do you keep them from just taking them from you?”

  “That’s why we need a space station. If we can move our operation up there, then they can’t get to us. We have the high ground, and we’ll be able to protect it.”

  “Can’t they just come up after you?”

  “You’ve seen the Lynx; it can fly up to the space station in a few hours. Their multi-stage rockets are nothing compared to the Lynx or the Foxes. We can control what gets into space. We just need to get there first.”

  “Okay, I see the urgency. You’re worried that you’ve already attracted too much attention, so you’re running to the high ground.”

  “Correct.”

  “How do you control the technology once you share it?”

  “We don’t think anyone can control a fusion reaction accurately enough without high-temp superconductors and computers far more advanced than we have today and without much better superconductors. Nobody can build those now, but once we’re in space, we can copy the computers from the Sakira and we can build the superconductors.”

  “Why do you have to wait until you’re in space?”

  “You have to be in space to make the High-temperature superconductors and to combine them with microcircuits you have to build the microcircuits in space,” Marc said.

  “Okay, how do you sell the technology?”

  “We give them the design, and we license the use of the technology on a sliding scale based on national income level,” Marc said. “We set it up so we have to reenable it every year to keep them honest.”

  “So, the capital investment to switch over is minimal.”

  “Yes, they’ll make it up in the first six months.”

  “Then who?”

  “Coal burners,” Marc said.

  “Not the best choice of customers from a political situation.”

  “Well, China is the problem. India and Indonesia will be easy, they’re reasonably stable governments. We can address Eastern Europe as well.”

  “But you have to get to China if you want to impact climate change.”

  “I think there will be enough internal pressure and economic incentive that they will come around.”

  “But they would be putting their en
tire energy production into your hands.”

  “That’s the crux of the problem. I haven’t figured out how to address that without giving it away. But I think we’ll come up with a solution.”

  “If you are the supplier of the key components, you would have the leverage of building the next plant to keep them in line,” Samantha said. “That plus maintenance might be enough.”

  “It might,” Marc said. “I guess I’m not really trying to protect the revenue stream for forever, so that might be enough.”

  “Good, now, are you taking me to dinner?”

  Chapter 4

  Press Conference

  The ceremony to celebrate the opening of the Fuerza Motores S.A. was finally wrapping up. Now Marc had to face the press conference. It began with Karl Johansson speaking about how honored he was to be given the opportunity to run such a groundbreaking car company.

  Herr Johansson explained that they would be providing two versions of each model, one that would be pure electric with the new MacKenzie Discoveries’ batteries and a mixed-fuel one that would also have a fuel cell to provide electricity when the batteries ran low, and a charging station was not available. He described their first model, based on the Honda CR-V. He promised to deliver a more upscale model based on the Honda Pilot within six months. He explained that seventy percent of the production was destined for the United States and Canada, while thirty percent would be for domestic consumption. Then he introduced Marc as the president and CEO of MacKenzie Discoveries, the parent company of Fuerza Motores S.A.

  “We at Mackenzie Discoveries are happy to partner with the government of Mexico to bring this plant into operation here in Acapulco,” Marc said. “We believe the people of Mexico, Fuerza Motores, and MacKenzie Discoveries bring an unbeatable combination of skills, knowledge, dedication, and talent to deliver the best cars to the world market. We will set a new level of performance and economy in transportation efficiency without compromising luxury, safety, or reliability. Now I’d like to open up for questions.”

  Marc pointed to a reporter in the first row.

  "Why did you choose Acapulco as the site for this plant?"

  “Herr Johansson, MacKenzie Discoveries, and the Mexican government worked together to select a location that would provide a great talent pool; that would help the Mexican economy by creating quality jobs in a region that had the talent, but insufficient jobs; and would be able to export to the US efficiently as well as deliver cars to the Mexican market. Acapulco was hands down the best location,” Marc pointed to a second reporter.

  “Are you planning to pay the sixteen dollars per hour specified by the new NAFTA treaty?”

  “First, let me clarify,” Marc started his answer. “The NAFTA treaty requires that cars that export to the US have forty-five percent of the content of the car come from plants where the workers make an average of sixteen dollars per hour. There is a five-year phase-in period for the rules, and with the provision that forty-five percent of the vehicle content can come from outside of NAFTA countries, the rule actually doesn’t impact wages paid in Mexico by very much. However, we are starting our work out at eleven dollars per hour and will raise that based on their productivity improvements as they become trained. That is significantly higher than today’s eight dollars per hour average, and we are not subcontracting our work to smaller manufacturers here in Mexico that pay substantially lower wages. We expect that within four years, our average wage will be above fourteen dollars per hour and that we will be setting the bar for automotive wages paid in Mexico.”

  “Aren’t you just taking advantage of the rules to pay lower wages?”

  “We are paying wages that are substantially higher than the prevailing norm. We are encouraging the workers to improve their skills and productivity by offering wage incentives and free schooling and training. As a company, we owe it to our shareholders not to throw money away by paying over-market pricing. But we temper that with what Henry Ford proved: if you pay higher wages, you raise the wages not only of your workers but of the community as a whole, thereby increasing the ability of the community to purchase your products. We look forward to seeing more of our products sold here in Mexico, and seeing the Mexican economy improve and grow along with us.”

  Marc pointed to another reporter who was pushing hard to be noticed. “Next question.”

  “What about climate change? By offering the fuel cell option, you’re encouraging people to continue to burn fossil fuels instead of going all-electric.”

  “First, you need to realize that most electricity is produced using fossil fuels. This car is designed to maximize the efficiency of the fuel, be it electricity or diesel that it uses to propel itself. Many people would run the risk of running out of electricity based on where they live and where they need to drive. Having the diesel fuel cell encourages them to switch to electric, and we predict that more gas stations will start to provide charging stations. The battery charges fast; it would only take five minutes to charge the typical car, less if they haven’t run the battery down completely. People who can, will plug their car in overnight. Many will use less than one hundred gallons of diesel per year. Others, who don’t have the convenience of available electricity where they live and drive, will have the advantage that the car converts all braking energy back into electricity, further reducing the use of carbon fuels. Summing it all up, it gets fifty percent more miles per gallon of diesel than current diesel cars, and one hundred percent better fuel economy than a gasoline-powered car. This car also satisfies the driver’s desire for power, outperforming its gas counterpart in acceleration and braking. All in all, by providing a car customers desire that is substantially better at converting fossil fuel into miles driven, these cars will dramatically reduce greenhouse gases.”

  “Wouldn’t it still be better for the climate if you only offered the electric model?”

  “First: As I said, most of the electricity in the world is still generated by fossil fuels. What electric cars provide is the most efficient way to convert those fossil fuels to miles driven. Second: It’s better for the environment if someone shifts to a fuel-cell car that consumes diesel at one hundred percent better fuel economy than the gasoline-driven car they currently drive, than it is for that same person to keep driving their gas guzzler since the only option afforded to them is an all-electric car that they are unwilling to switch to because they find it too restrictive to satisfy their need for independence and mobility.”

  Marc pointed to another reporter, “Next question.”

  “How many jobs are being created by this plant?”

  “The plant will employ four thousand people; we predict that there will be an additional two thousand ancillary jobs created in the community to support the plant.”

  “What do you say to people who accuse you of betraying your country by not putting the plant in the US and creating the jobs there?”

  “MacKenzie Discoveries and Fuerza Motores are global companies. As such, they are obligated to their customers, workers, and shareholders to view the world as a whole. We are placing our plants where they do the most good for everyone. I’m a citizen of the Cook Islands, Herr Johansson is a German Citizen, and Ms. Juarez is a Mexican citizen. We cannot simply view the benefits of one country; we have to view the benefits to the world economy and quality of life.”

  “But what about the loss of jobs in the US?”

  “Building this plant in Acapulco will create six thousand well-paying jobs here. That will reduce the pressure on the local population to migrate to where there are better jobs. The increased income will result in the workers buying better goods, some of which will be made in the USA. That’s good for both countries.”

  “By that logic, you’re only reducing the pressure to migrate to the US by six thousand people.”

  “I seem to remember quite a stir about jobs when a migrant convoy numbering five thousand, over half of them children, made its way toward the US border.”

  “But
... but…”

  “Next question.”

  Chapter 5

  Board Meeting – May 13th

  “Let’s start the meeting,” Marc said. “Sam, how are we doing on critical hiring?”

  “I’ve hired Margaret Hannaford to coordinate our refugee absorption. She’s worked for the UN for several years, set up three different refugee camps, and she’s currently heavily involved in managing their vetting process.”

  “She sounds perfect, when does she get here?”

  “As soon as you go get her. She’s in Lebanon.”

  “Fred?”

  “I’ll set up a flight that goes through Lebanon for tomorrow.”

  “Okay, I’ll let her know to get packed. When you have a time, send it to me, and I’ll tell her and copy you, so you’re in contact.”

  “Okay.”

  Marc looked at Samantha, nodding for her to continue.

  “I’ve got four nurses arriving this week. The other nurses Dr. Metra has requested will take some more time to get here. For most people, moving halfway around the world isn’t something you can just up and do in a week.”

  “Anything else, Sam?”

  “The locals on Arutanga are thrilled now that the construction workers have moved onto the Sky Princess.”

  “How’s that going, Blake?”

  “We’ve moved all the male construction workers onto the Sky Princess. We’ve moved the women into the dorms on Manuae. I don’t think any of them really wanted to be trapped on a ship with all their male co-workers.”

  “Smart women,” Liz said.

  “Any complaints from the men?” Marc asked.

  “No, they’re liking it. They have the cafeteria, a restaurant, and two bars with entertainment.”

  “Seems like a win,” Marc said. “Construction?”

  “Quad three will be ready for infrastructure by next week. Pontoons for quad four are going in now. With both the Manuae facility and the one on quad one, we’ve really accelerated production.”

  “Speaking of that, when would you be ready to shut down the facility in Manuae?”