The Merlin Gambit (Cosmic Computer Book 2) by MERRY CHRISTMAS

Author:MERRY CHRISTMAS [CHRISTMAS, MERRY]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pequod Press
Published: 2014-05-15T05:00:00+00:00

I

Over the next several weeks, as the Valley Forge was repaired and sent out with a larger crew for the trip to Griffin, Conn worked long hours each day trying to ask the right questions of Merlin and come up with a strategy that would put them ahead of the game, instead of playing catch up. He tried to imagine that he was the President of Terra-Baldur-Marduk Spacelines’ parent company, Panstellar Industries, and wanted to exploit the collapse of the Federation for short term financial gains. So what would be the best way to go about that?

When Merlin provided the answer, it was chilling: Engage in pirate activity. Use the proceeds from captured ships to secretly finance the establishment of a shipbuilding facility that could also manufacture conventional and nuclear weapons. Offer to sell warships to planets as a defense against further piracy. Bribe the Navy to look the other way as more pirate attacks were arranged. Establish a “pirate-free zone” where planets would pay for anti-pirate defenses and are dominated economically through Terra-Baldur-Marduk Spacelines’ monopoly on shipping.

When Federation authority collapsed, their shipyards could build whatever kinds of armed ships it wanted and sell them to any planet that could pay for them.

Next, Conn asked Merlin to list the locations where a remote shipbuilding facility could be built or established, Koshchei was top of the list. It was the only planet that had all of the necessary shipbuilding facilities and infrastructure already built in. Plus, it was located at a star system that didn’t have a Federation Naval base that could keep an eye on whatever activities went on there.

Koshchei was the “King chess piece” that Panstellar had to capture.

The obvious next question was how? Merlin’s answer was that Panstellar should undermine the economic basis for Poictesme’s prosperity by arranging for punitive tariffs, then offer to remove the tariffs plus other additional incentives as a way of acquiring control of Koshchei Exploration & Development.

Conn was impressed with the cunning of that strategy. For purposes of boosting Poictesme’s economy, their shipping company had already acquired just about as many ships of various sizes as they were likely to need for a long time. The shipbuilding and industrial facilities on Koshchei had pretty much served their purpose and, while nice to have, they weren’t necessary for the long-term economic prosperity of Poictesme.

Regaining access to markets on Terra, plus regaining ownership and control of the local and interstellar shipping companies that the M-12 Group had rushed to allow Panstellar’s agents to gain control of, or at least a major stake in, would make the members of M-12 very wealthy. Therefore, it would be very hard for them to say no to this offer.

As it turned out, Conn realized he was right in thinking that M-12’s corporate maneuvering was in fact a strategic error, but that was water under the bridge.

Conn then asked Merlin what the biggest threat to that plan would be and what would be the best way to eliminate that threat.

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