strict adherence to management and profit, the benefits of which were obvious. Montery had argued during the campaign that the problems plaguing the Four Regions occurred despite strong business growth, not because of it, and that an increased market capitalization, along with ever-decreasing social programs, represented the only long-term path to widespread prosperity.
Cora Slate, young but known for business acumen and her ability to say no to all requests, said to include declining her mother for a kidney, was declared Vice CEO. Slate’s defense was that her mother was feeble and would be so even with a new kidney. The old woman had a limited ability to offer any financial recompense for the body part, Cora’s father having left his considerable fortune to his protégée and only child. Cora had established a reputation that inspired equal parts of reverence, fear, and hatred. Her beauty awed only half as often as her ruthlessness. Many said she inherited the trait from her father, the sort of man who would leave all his money to his daughter just so his estranged widow would die in rags.
Montery selected Roman LaMont as his Executive of Commerce, a prestigious position many viewed as a stepping stone to Vice CEO, then CEO. LaMont chose to remain as CEO of Adaptech, not wanting to abdicate any of his hard-earned influence for a cushy Metra Corp executive position. He had, however, immediately started to use his new title and power to funnel money to Adaptech and himself, slowly at first but more with each passing month. Most of his time was spent at Metra Corp headquarters. He only appeared via video node on the rare occasion when something at Adaptech absolutely required his attention.
The Metra Corp Board of Directors, fifty representatives from the various precincts, elected to represent those who had given them the most votes, ratified the results. It seemed to Adam those who gave the most votes were always the rich. Voter demographics aside, there was a certain degree of self-interest, as most of the current Board members had already purchased significant numbers of votes, and could cast that significant number for themselves when the elections came. And so the pattern repeated.
Wars were different in those days, enlightened as they were. Virtual attacks on capital, hostile takeovers in digital realms that increased and decreased conquered territories without loss of life, had replaced battles wrought with bombs and bloodshed. Most people didn't care which Region held their citizenship, so long as the Region’s politics appeared stable and enabled them to acquire personal wealth. Regardless, a decades-long propaganda campaign had promoted a decidedly pro-corporate attitude among the citizens of Metra Region, many of whom believed without question or evidence that an acquisition by the United States or Confederacy would leave them destitute and begging for scraps in the streets. The media had convinced these citizens that corporate governance provided an easier path to wealth, trumpeting several success stories involving newly acquired citizens or immigrants. As a result of this targeted campaign, many inhabitants of non-Corp Regions had pushed for lower taxes, loosened regulations, and the abolition of remaining social programs. In some cases they had even petitioned for a corporate takeover, Arizona being the largest and most recent. With border zones expanded, market cap increased.
Adam was aware of all this in an abstract, passing sort of way, as were most Corp citizens. The media played up the elections as prime-time soap operas, with ad zeps flashing node addresses and times for debates and other election coverage. People tuned in and were drawn as moths to flames, or paralyzed deer in headlights, he wasn’t sure which. As important as everyone claimed elections were, they were forgotten almost immediately after as the news marched from one cycle to the
Cora Slate, young but known for business acumen and her ability to say no to all requests, said to include declining her mother for a kidney, was declared Vice CEO. Slate’s defense was that her mother was feeble and would be so even with a new kidney. The old woman had a limited ability to offer any financial recompense for the body part, Cora’s father having left his considerable fortune to his protégée and only child. Cora had established a reputation that inspired equal parts of reverence, fear, and hatred. Her beauty awed only half as often as her ruthlessness. Many said she inherited the trait from her father, the sort of man who would leave all his money to his daughter just so his estranged widow would die in rags.
Montery selected Roman LaMont as his Executive of Commerce, a prestigious position many viewed as a stepping stone to Vice CEO, then CEO. LaMont chose to remain as CEO of Adaptech, not wanting to abdicate any of his hard-earned influence for a cushy Metra Corp executive position. He had, however, immediately started to use his new title and power to funnel money to Adaptech and himself, slowly at first but more with each passing month. Most of his time was spent at Metra Corp headquarters. He only appeared via video node on the rare occasion when something at Adaptech absolutely required his attention.
The Metra Corp Board of Directors, fifty representatives from the various precincts, elected to represent those who had given them the most votes, ratified the results. It seemed to Adam those who gave the most votes were always the rich. Voter demographics aside, there was a certain degree of self-interest, as most of the current Board members had already purchased significant numbers of votes, and could cast that significant number for themselves when the elections came. And so the pattern repeated.
Wars were different in those days, enlightened as they were. Virtual attacks on capital, hostile takeovers in digital realms that increased and decreased conquered territories without loss of life, had replaced battles wrought with bombs and bloodshed. Most people didn't care which Region held their citizenship, so long as the Region’s politics appeared stable and enabled them to acquire personal wealth. Regardless, a decades-long propaganda campaign had promoted a decidedly pro-corporate attitude among the citizens of Metra Region, many of whom believed without question or evidence that an acquisition by the United States or Confederacy would leave them destitute and begging for scraps in the streets. The media had convinced these citizens that corporate governance provided an easier path to wealth, trumpeting several success stories involving newly acquired citizens or immigrants. As a result of this targeted campaign, many inhabitants of non-Corp Regions had pushed for lower taxes, loosened regulations, and the abolition of remaining social programs. In some cases they had even petitioned for a corporate takeover, Arizona being the largest and most recent. With border zones expanded, market cap increased.
Adam was aware of all this in an abstract, passing sort of way, as were most Corp citizens. The media played up the elections as prime-time soap operas, with ad zeps flashing node addresses and times for debates and other election coverage. People tuned in and were drawn as moths to flames, or paralyzed deer in headlights, he wasn’t sure which. As important as everyone claimed elections were, they were forgotten almost immediately after as the news marched from one cycle to the
Similar Books
