Crimson dawn

[Tobias Oyagak]

It had been a taxing expedition to travel from the Yukon River headquarters of Alaska Corporation to the Greater Burbank Area for Tobias and his entourage, grueling from the perspective that he was the patriarch and everybody looked to him for wisdom and direction.

The past six days had been a finely balanced piece of art and coordination and the duration showed visibly on Tobias when he let his guard down such as now, “Chairman”. Patient understanding wrinkled across his brow and Tobias opened his eyes to see his staff assistant, Rita, standing with the morning reports, statistics and kiefbrew in her hands. A warm smile crept across his face and the look of worry slighted some from her composure.

“I really do not know who you think you are fooling more, me or yourself.” Rita’s reply simply didn’t smart and he knew it was her way for briefing him for what was to come, that and an intricate dance for knowledge he knew she was not ready to divulge. Squaring his shoulders Tobias faced her and began.

“Have we accounted for everybody through the transport?” he inquired. She was fluid in the transition of her held possessions to the work area in front of him and before Tobias knew it he was drawing on the steaming mug of kiefbrew, its relaxing effects dilating his pupils and enhancing his senses. As he relinquished into himself, Rita followed. “Yes Chairman, all 84 of the core delegating advisors have arrived and the associate support groups and their aides will arrive by mid-morning tomorrow. In all, we will number near 220 individuals and our Burbank campus nearly full.”

“And where are we with our Lake Michigan associates?” He asked.

“They remain behind the veil of the Corporate United States, but are vehemently opposing all reintegration talks. They are unable to stand alone and Alaska Corporation is about to open our chemical reclamation technologies, it is estimated the entire Illinois region will begin to show profit within two years, they are eager, however, to resume talks with us about the applied transportation sciences development plant, and Boeing United States continue to demand we open negotiations with them.”

“Offer a meeting sometime late next week for Boeing, see to it that it interferes with my schedule,” He began, then “Be sure there is a contingent from Illinois seen leaving one of our larger conference rooms and then incur my condolences for not being able to attend them. I will find the greater details and work them out with Illinois this week during our closing talks.”

Relieved, Rita took sanctuary in his ability to read the issues on the table, wincing slightly when his stare commanded more from the daily reports, and she continued; “In anticipation for the conference, we have scaled down production to all regional de-salination plants and the response from the associated area has continued to drive reserve prices to near highs.” She was rewarded with his Grinch style chuckle, a soft compliment, for her idea to secure such instant resources for the Corporation. Yet she knew he wanted more.

Tobias looked coolly at Rita, he knew he was near, knew that she held certain information that would become time sensitive, and persisted. “What does Nathan have to say about this?” Inwardly he winced; too soon to bring out Nathan, and now his gamble exposed.”And where is he?”

Her slight change of demeanor assured him that the games were over; she would only answer directly, so she began. “Nathan, has ordered an immediate partial shutdown of the tri-area plants, citing the need to run systems diagnosis and load new operational controls to de-bottleneck the slack yield to increase production.” She moved closer to hand him a data recorder, seemingly from nowhere, as she continued.

“He agrees that having large quantities of potable water production, and our conference participation conflict, and wishes to let you know, however, that when our conference embargo is over; we will have increased yield output near a magnitude 50, and we will only be at 60 percent of potential.” She waved blankly to the data pad citing it was all there.

Tobias was staggered with her last statement, the increases of conflict in the council chambers would be petty after this announcement, that combined with the deal of the applied transportation sciences would put Alaska Corporation at the forefront of the Political nightmare of the council. “Where is Nathan?”

“He continues to be illusive after some effort to contact him. He is here in the Greater Burbank Area, and his message systems have all areas preparing for the scale down, but he still does not answer direct lines. There was a soft chime and she put her hand to her ear and cocked her head slightly.

“It is Chairman Vanderweerd, he wishes to schedule issues with you before the Council meeting tomorrow.” She looked over at him sympathetically, “I do not advise you put him off any more.”

“Yes, yes.” Tobias agreed and stood straightening his attire. “I will take the call within the moments, but, Rita, there is also an issue of warehousing protocol at the Fairbanks repository. There are records that do not match and I shall require your input at our next meeting.” It was a straightforward dismissal, and she did not falter in its use.

[karlsie]

Tom, i like the way you take your own characters and just go with them. This was the premise of the collaboration; weaving in the individual stories of the various characters around the main plot. This way, each author's hand is represented clearly, and the sci-fi actually becomes a collection of stories revolving around the scenario. At any time; other writers can jump in with their own characters. It's a unique way to deliver a sci-fi anthology; stories within a story. Now, if some of your energy would just slide off on me, i'll get back to my own characters.

[Tobias Oyagak]

The moments dragged by in an untimely fashion and Tobias could not find the ability to meet the constraints of Father Time. He had been displacing the Icelandic’s’ call for a reason and now it seemed the pressing videoconference warped the very fabric of reality and time.

Maintaining his stance and assuring that his attire would suffice for the delicate nature of the call; Tobias knocked back the last of his kiefbrew and patiently waited for the effects to settle over his being. “Where have the old days gone?” he wondered inwardly, reminiscing on memories of a time before there was so much strife in the council; when he was younger, more rapt to hunt his quarry of disdainers and unbelievers who shared his enthusiasm of Council service.

Setting his empty mug aside, he reminisced “Hell, we all used to smoke this crap.” And a charred almond taste ghosted its way over his palate and his heart rate and breathing quickened in the memory algorithm. “Now those were the days!” he taunted at himself, hoping that a younger version of him would step forward and volunteer himself for selfless service again. When the younger man refused to come forward from Tobias’ psyche, the aged diplomat grunted indignation and turned to the task at hand.

There were several places that Tobias could have received the call, but in the end he chose a smaller side office with a mural vista, virtual in movement, of Sockeye Salmon spawning in an Alaskan stream. The room size was diminished and he would be more secure and able to discuss delicate options. Doubting the ruse would succeed, he reached forward waving his hand over the command console and was identified by the biogenic software installed into all Alaska Corporation business computers.

“Tobias Oyagak” a rudimentary female voice dunned from the depths of nowhere. “Primary Councilor and liaison Alaska Corporation, welcome to Greater Burbank sir.” Although the computers simulation of a famine voice was off slightly, Tobias still responded; “Thank you, workspace”, a response that always brought some form of levity and knee slapping in the presence of other shareholders, including Rita, but his training from youth demanded that all niceties be answered.

“Address call holding.” At the simple command, the workspace program moved to peak efficiency as the lights dimmed slightly and Tobias felt the air currents shed a minute amount of their temperatures. The workspace was near A.I. and would recognize Tobias’ needs at any Alaska Corporation contract office, and adjust the climate, and environment, according to the most recent preferences of its end user.

The interior wall facing the office desk, where Tobias sat propped in informal stance, swirled metallically and began to change from the color of cream it shared with its adjoining twins and to coalesce at the upper center to become a 4D video conference center. The foremost message across dozens and dozens of layers of information and images stacked in mind boggling third generation holographic myriad read; “Please hold.” blinking, in Ma Bell style.

Momentarily, the initial onslaught of information persisted and then merged into conference mode and Tobias was face to face with Iceland’s foremost representative Klaus Vanderweerd.

“I greet you in the morning, and apologize for my tardiness returning your tidings Representative Vanderweerd; how may I be of assistance?”

“I understand that you and your core delegates are settling into the Greater Burbank Area Tobias.”

The other mans heavy Nordic drawl indicated he was prepared to do business, although there was an overtone of relief across the demeanor of his features as well and with a warm smile Tobias said “It has been a long journey, but we are here. How does the Northern Alliance stand?”

“Things have been looking up. Greenland has ratified the agreement and has agreed to raise their prices on fresh water rates by 2% per unit over the next two fiscal quarters. I suspect this will not be taken favorably by the majority council, but we have been patient long enough. As long as we continue to supply their needs, they will not take any initiative to develop their own water recapturing programs. “

“I concur.” Tobias agreed, there was a terrible hypocrisy of nations that did not have their own water recycling technologies, and their consistent demands for equal access to sustainable resources a constant argument.

“There is an adverse affect here; with our core delegation at the conference we have brought production of potable water to a standstill, and I believe it will heat the delegation tomorrow.” Tobias was at ease with his words and they ran with fluid verbatim.

“Novograd still remains at arm’s length, and if the non-production nations lead topics anywhere near to what I believe they will, then I estimate that he will be sympathetic of our Accords and its aims.”

“Novograd plays all his cards close to his chest. We can’t guarantee his commitment. It’s been years since he has taken an aggressive role in politics, but Russia always looks out for whatever concerns Russia. Without his concord, our stand is weakened as the council could choose to strong arm the Antarctica developers into accepting their prices through sanctions on the allied rim countries. Greenland cannot afford a boycott on grain and sugar, and frankly, nor we.”

Tobias nodded assessment and added. “Alaska Corporation is on the brink of recovering the Continental Great Lakes western conglomerate area, and with water reclamation technologies forecasted to lead to gains greater than anticipated; we are confident in rearming the North American central bread basket region within three years.”

“I believe the best thing to do is to let Novograd set his own terms of parley, as long as they are reasonable. I foresee tomorrow to be an exercise of willpower, and I do not want to keep you or your valuable resources from preparing you for it Counselor.” Tobias ventured a means to end the communiqué and when the other assented he bid farewell and then walked out of the office ending the conference call.

It was unnerving; the games that were being played in the political circles derived by the western hemisphere and Tobias did not believe they could sustain being a force of credibility for much longer. “You are right Klaus, if the world is to survive, then the northerners are the only viable option.”

It taxed Tobias when he thought of holding the de-salination outlooks from Vanderweerd, but there was too much at play in the moment. There was a Council meeting to prepare for, and even though he enjoyed the other mans conversation he ventured into the main business offices and all hell broke loose, everyone instantly needed advice or direction and Tobias went on the merry search for the one person he would use to control the mayhem, Rita.

[truemountaingirl]

crimson baluga point sunset or crimson dawn? it's up tooo you

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[karlsie]

Looks like a crimson dawn to me, and another great illustration for our sci -fi plot.