ALJ Chpt 87

frameless|right|300px|link=A Long Journey
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==Chapter 87 - A Long Journey==
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16 September 2787
New Avalon (Federated Suns)
"Last I heard General Mitchell was enroute to Imbrial so he could not be causing any problems. You have that same puckered look on your face the last time he pissed in someone's cereal, so what bad news are you delivering today?" First Prince John Davion asked
"It is not General Mitchell causing some issues but his father, Gerald Mitchell."
"I really do not have time for this, what have they done this time?" First Prince Davion asked
"They have purchased TechniCorp on Panpour, the sale was just finalized. Now they have put in bids for Yeffters Weapons, Marley Munitions and Exostar Laser Technologies."
"Okay, so they are buying up companies. Why should that concern us? Has anything changed? Have any AFFS orders or contracts being delayed?" First Prince Davion asked
"No, Highness, nothing of the sort, but allowing any one person to control even that many manufacturing concerns could be a national security issue."
"If nothing has changed except ownership I am not overly concerned. What really concerns me is Boeing Interstellar Galax Megaplex not producing. Now that just pisses me off. It is just sitting there, not taking orders, not producing, not building, just doing jack shit. Now, when the Mitchell's actions actually affect something serious that is harming the Federated Suns, then bring that to my attention, until then they are going about business. We have the DCMS rampaging inside our borders, our defenses are for shit and morale is in deeper shit. So, to make you happy, we will test their loyalty, contact TechniCorp and ask them how big an order they can handle. We know what they did in the past and compare it to what they are promising now. If it matches or surpasses, then it is of no concern." First Prince said
"Right away, Highness."
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23 September 2787
Panpour (Federated Suns)
Walter Ovilla, CEO TechniCorp Panpour Factory Complex, read the message from New Avalon twice before passing it around the table for all to read. "It looks like the vacation is over. Start rehiring everyone that we can that got laid off. Open up the idled production lines and get them ready to produce. Inform our suppliers that we will take everything they can produce as fast as they can produce it. We are back on twenty-four-hour operation, this is the open-ended order that we wanted. Realistic estimate as to when we will be back at 200 Manticore per day production?"
"Shiiit, that means back to fourteen-hour workdays and i was just getting to know my kids again. Okay, bitching over and back to business. We should be back to 100 per day within two weeks, 200 per day will take at least two months to achieve as we scaled back material purchases to match our predicted production rate and our suppliers will have to ramp back up also."
"Then get the word out and start rehiring. Put a fourth shift on if we have to so everyone has more downtime. What will it take to hit 300 per day?" Walter asked
"More of everything, workers, equipment for at least two more lines, possibly a few more suppliers to handle the extra load. Money, lots of money."
Walter Ovilla was listening, but he was also composing his message back to New Avalon and it felt a little weird. He stopped writing, looked up and asked "Pete, how much would the expansion to achieve 300 per day cost us? Be realistic."
It took several minutes before the answer came back "Two hundred million easy, probably closer to three hundred million. Usually takes a month to get the order for new equipment in, six months or longer for the equipment to be made, six months for delivery and another year for installation and testing of new equipment. By that time, we will have worked out new suppliers to feed the expansion."
 To: AFFS Quartermaster Command
 From: Walter Ovilla, CEO TechniCorp, a Division of Mackolla Enterprises
 Expect to reach 100 per day within two weeks, 200 per day two to three months. Rehiring process started and reactivating idle production lines. Previous message asked how many we could produce; our answer is how many do you want us to produce. Target goal is 300 per day but that will take time to reach due to ordering new manufacturing equipment, getting personnel trained and expansion completed will take time. Estimate of two years at usual acquisition rate of new equipment. Expect production rate of 200 per day to be achieved by end of year. This is a large expense and would like an open production contract for ten years guaranteed.
He passed the message to Pete Laramie, Senior VP of Production for him to read over. "Pete, check my math. My head math says by end of year our revenue for the next three months should be roughly thirty-two billion. If we can maintain our normal profitability that should give us about three point two billion. Sound right? Walter Ovilla asked
"Sounds about right. You know if this holds next year will have us at about 175 billion in revenue. But our profit this year is going to take a hit with the capital expenses. But in two years we will make that up and then some." Pete replied
"I hate to do it, but we raid the pension fund again. Offer an extra ten percent to Achernar Heavy Industries get bumped to the head of the line. Line up the local construction companies and put them to work getting the new buildings ready. I will inform our new owner of the potential we have here. Maybe he has some extra juice to get stuff done." Walter Ovilla said
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