Flashes of Speculation

• Post Information
  • Date: Tuesday, February 06, 2007 Time: 11:03 am Category: Stories Discussion: 3 Comments

• Post Navigation
  • « Far From Home - Rod Drake
  • Babelwiki - Agnes Dee »

“We can cut down on labor costs if we open up some new factories on the Mars colonies,” said Richard Prel. He was Vice President of United Universe Resource Plants.

“The Martians don’t take a liking to foreign companies—all I need is to invest billions of dollars in a new factory up there, only to have it destroyed.  Remember Castro back in the 1960s? He only nationalized them and you saw how much that cost the US companies then. I don’t know,” said Martin Sals. He was the owner of United Universe Resource Plants.

“You’re short on labor. Workers now have quit or gone on strike demanding higher wages. You keep staying here… on this planet… you will have no choice but to give into their demands… lose profits… maybe lose prestige and the power you have now… you are close to a monopoly… why risk everything?”

“I don’t want to put anything on Mars. I have seen too many companies lose buildings to the rampant destruction by anti-colonial Martians. I know the United World will retaliate and overthrow them… however, it won’t make up for the money I lost on that investment. Any other planets?”

Richard Perl thought for a moment. Martin went over to his bar, poured a mix of bourbon and scotch, walked over to the window and drank.

“The Martians won’t ever cooperate… however… you may go out of business if you don’t get new business in space. Mars is the only planet with suitable conditions.”

“What are my options?  Stop telling me the obvious.”

“Well… there is a new fear… Martian invasion… Martians being everywhere… if we can somehow prove to the United World Government that the Martians are planning an invasion… we get the United Military to launch a preemptive strike against the Martians, overthrow them and put in a friendly government. We can then set up all the factories we need and perhaps expand further beyond our solar system.”

“I like it. I don’t want a damn Bay of Pigs, though.”

“Don’t worry… no Martian exiles… the full power of the United Military.”

The two men smiled and shook hands.

Content © Flashes of Speculation
Proudly powered by WordPress
Theme designed by The Design Canopy

Entries (RSS)
Comments (RSS)

38 queries.
0.383 seconds.