The Diego Diaries: One days later (dd8 97)
=0=The Hourly News
"Turning to news from Earth today, there has been a lot of attention in the news media there about a decision made by the Prime regarding the economic model that the human habitats follow here on world. During the latest Community Leader and Senior Autobot meeting which is attended by the leadership or or those designated to do so of all of the human habitations on world, Lord Optimus stated that the economy of the habitats should align with our own going forward following the proposed expansion of the Mall of Terra.
"During the meeting, Lord Optimus expressed his desire that the economy of the human habitats merge with our own model of a cashless society for various reasons expressed at the time. It was not favorably received by the leadership of Earth2. What the other habitat leaders think of this new ruling is not clear yet. Gen-O sat down with Owen Harris, the director and CEO of Earth2 Corporation to discuss the situation and get his take on this new development."
Sitting in the big conference room with the senior Autobots and Venture, Optimus Prime listened to the interview.
"Mr. Harris, you're the director of the human operation here at Earth2 Habitat and are head of the consortium company that funded part of this facility's projects. You're a major investor and several of them live here as well. You have a personal vested interest in the profitability of this habitat and that should be clear to the viewers before we go further. What is your position in light of the directive from the Prime about the changed focus of your economy?"
Owen Harris sat in a chair by a huge sun filled window of the concourse. Around and beyond him the business of the massive facility was ongoing. "We were shocked to hear it. We weren't given a heads up on the change before he announced it. We weren't aware that there was any problem with our own model or that the Prime had any intention of intervening in our business affairs. We have never had this kind of exchange before and we have submitted our business plans and accounts as required every year on December 31st as agreed for review and audit.
"He told us at the meeting that he wanted our economic model to be the same as the one that operates the Empire if we were to have an expansion of the Mall of Terra. It was a shocking surprise to us given that he knows our operation and has never expressed any misgivings before.
"We understand that your business partner, Kyle Davis was very upset and made his very strong feelings known. What's the reaction of your investors? I understand that you have a board of directors as well. Are they aware and have they released any opinion or statement on this issue?" Gen-O asked. He was sitting on a box brought there for him to occupy for the interview which was being filmed by a team from IntraCom's news division as well as Leonora for Galaxy Films.
"We had an emergency meeting right after this one concluded via Zoom and there was a lot of dismay. To tell you the truth, there was a deep sense of betrayal and anger among some of the investors, especially those who've been with us the longest. Some of them have lifelong dreams of colonizing Mars for humanity. Right now, we're working on a statement that we'll release but not at this moment. I have to sit down with them in person and hear them out. Suffice it to say, there's a deep sense of upset and even betrayal among our governing group and the investor community of Earth2 Corporation."
"The guiding documents and all of the contracts and operating elements give the Prime complete autonomy on a number of issues including trade agreements and the buildings themselves. You want to expand the Mall for humans. Please tell me about that and what you wish to see happen there," Gen-O said.
"We have about 40 stores in the Mall which feature some of the most familiar brands and services on Earth from countries all over the planet. We wanted a place for our on world human community to come and feel at home. Any corporation can apply for a slot. Winners are declared by lottery. Any company that's chosen then makes an investment in the Earth2 Corporation which allows us to then make plans for them to have a location in the mall."
"What sort of investment?" Gen-O asked. "And is the location in the mall contingent upon the size and type of investment?"
"Its a rental agreement allowing them to have a business site in the mall. The payment is an investment in their commitment to meeting the standards we expect. It is true that some places in the mall require a higher investment commitment than others. We have the governing rights to choose who can come for a business opportunity and who doesn't. It's more expensive to be in a more prominent location but considering everything, there's no bad location. Its a very prestigious operation to be a part of among the Earth business community worldwide and a rather brilliant marketing opportunity for a company to undertake. No one here does so with the idea that they're going to make a profit. Being here is a profit in and of itself."
"And the new expansion?" Gen-O asked.
"We'd like to expand the corporate offerings from 40 to 80 businesses with amenities like a swimming pool, a multiplex cinema and more of a park like dining area added to give it an Earth-like atmosphere. It would double the retail space and double again the footprint of the facility. It would be a much larger and more expansive gathering place for the human community here to go, mingle across habitat and have a bit of Earth again."
"Did the Prime tell you before or after this expansion was discussed that the economic model would change?"
"After," Owen said. "He said that he'd be amenable to enlarging the mall but it would have to follow the economic model of the Empire, that is, a cashless facility where it wouldn't cost a thing to patronize the shops and use the facility."
"That's the model of the Empire as its reorganized under the reign of Optimus Prime and historically, its the most successful one ever attempted by us. We've lived under a different model that bears remarkable similarities to yours on Earth at the moment prior to this that led to great inequities and disparities that in the end created our civil war. It's my understanding that you and your partners are very unhappy about the new order of business. Could you please explain to our viewers what it is that you find unwelcome and untenable about this change?"
Prime grinned. "Gen-O and Aleph are tough interviewers."
"They interviewed you," Jazz said. "You're next."
Prime nodded. "I am."
Owen Harris considered his argument and knew that it'd be a huge minority opinion on world. "We came here to bring our Earth culture and practices to a new world and a new partnership with you and your people. We felt that we were upholding the traditions and practices of our own world here on Mars, rather like an island of possibility in a sea of differences of opinion and business models. We have no animosity toward anyone or any idea that you have, but we know that they'd be antithetical to our own.
"We have a business model in which we create goods to sell to buyers. It might not be the model that you prefer but it's ours. We invest in projects with the idea of creating things that we then sell to others. We didn't build our business model on the idea of being a philanthropic organization. We make a lot of investment in charities and assisting our people but we are first and foremost businessmen and women. We build businesses that drive the engine of our economies. This is the direct opposite of what we do and believe. That its now forced upon us to operate here has put us into a dilemma."
"You suggest that it was forced upon you. A clear reading of the agreements and contracts gives Optimus Prime full leeway to make changes in the operational plan given that he holds title as Prime to all of the human habitats here and that includes the mall. In essence, he's the director and therefore has the controlling operational responsibility to make and decide everything about them," Gen-O said. "What is the upshot of this change? Does this change anything in your own plans or is there going to be an exodus of companies that have created beachheads here?"
"First, we acknowledge and understand that the Prime has proprietary control of the human operation here. He is the landlord. We just feel blindsided by his decision that was made during the meeting and without consultation. He may do that, make decisions without consultation but it wasn't a neighborly or in my own personal opinion kindly thing to do to partners.
"As for the result of making it, its made a great deal of emotional turmoil among the investors in my group and among others that were organizing over the past year to join us. At some point, hopefully, their joining allow us to make overtures to the other habitats to enter into an umbrella operational set up to help us do more and better here, to pool our operations to build more success. That's put on hold because some of our investors, for good or ill, believe that the agreements made between us and the government are so much paper with signatures on them. That agreements entered into in good faith will mean nothing.
"As for my partners now, for Earth2 itself, there's a lot of anger and distrust. They feel that they held up their end of the deal and to be honest, they feel that Prime hasn't. I'm due back to Earth tomorrow to hold emergency meetings with my team and the board to see what can be done about this. I have a request for a meeting in with Lord Optimus in three days. I intend to bring back the views and statements of the others for that meeting as well."
"What do you see as your bottom line and that of the others?" Gen-O asked.
"We would like to continue with our own model. We find it very productive and allows us to expand and create the way we prefer," Harris replied.
"He just made you the bad guy. You're the villain, Optimus. Did you see how he did that?" Ratchet asked.
Prime nodded. "He did. I expected it."
"Are you willing to do more than you do now then? Are you willing to pay more rent? Right now, the entire facility is rented to your group through the United Nations for exactly one American dollar a year with a rental agreement of 100 years. There would be an astronomical cost to you if it was laid on rather than excused by the Prime. All of your transportation and that includes human travel, shipping of all that you require to live in the habitats and work to your own standards, emergency transport, the hauling in of all the food and supplies you require, shipping of materials in for your projects and shipping out of the results back to Earth is free.
"You're allowed to utilize the communications systems of our people, make and transmit your own programming, use our public amenities and our school system up to and including adding your own children for free. Our school system does statistics for your own schools and creates endless materials and hardware for your children. Our doctors visit regularly and help with your chronic individuals. We provide support staff for a variety of things and allow use of facilities like our Performing Arts Center and its talent for your schools and children. Experts in all manner of areas are part of the programs we allow and your comrades attend our University and tech schools gratis. All of it is free.
"You use our transportation system without charge, are protected with our security without charge and have amenities of all manner in the habitats without charge. We bring to you whatever you request or make it when its ordered through the Human Requisitions-On World program. You have freedom to move around in the colony and some of you have been to Cybertron, no small thing when most of us haven't in vorns. What exactly are you losing out on by your position?"
"Aleph and Gen-O are tough," Prime said with a slight grin.
"Future bonds list, both of them," Ratchet said with a chuckle.
"I think the Teasdale twins are ahead of you," Prowl said with a smirk.
"Those two are my kind of femmes," Magnus said with a slight smirk. Both of them were friends and were among the few that could actually make him laugh aloud.
^At work
"I don't like Harris one bit. I like Rick but Owen's hardcore," Cindy Teasdale said as she sat at her computer in Sciences getting another send ready for NASA's children's programs for Mars.
"Tell me about it," Lola said with a sigh.
"I don't want to sound ungrateful because I am, deeply. It's incredible the range and type of possibility that's been created here for humans. We're aware that Prime and the Senior Committee has a great deal of love for Earth and the humans. The human community here is treated incredibly well and is very loyal and appreciative. That being said, we have our system and it works."
"For whom?" Gen-O asked.
Harris considered the question and the caliber of the interviewer. Gen-O gave an extremely hard interview when it came to getting to the truth of a problem at hand. Harris knew he'd be eating this whole if he failed to state what he needed, then end the question. "Our system isn't for everyone. We acknowledge that. But it works for us. It'll be incredibly hard to attract the kind of investors we need to keep these kinds of projects moving if there will never be a profit in the end. That's how it is. Its not my objective to be contrary or ungrateful. This is an incredible opportunity for us and for Earth. We have a difference of opinion here and its created problems. I hope and believe we can work them out over time and conversation."
CUT to Studio
"That was Owen Harris, CEO of Earth2 Consortium Corporation and managing director of the Earth2 Habitat. Next up is Aleph speaking to Lord Optimus about this situation."
^Next up
"Thank you, Lord Optimus, for taking time out of your busy schedule to speak to me about this situation which is raising great controversy on Earth," Aleph said as he sat in the big conference room with Optimus Prime.
Jazz and Blaster were filming it along with Leonora and her team.
Optimus who looked kingly and grave nodded. "I am very happy to talk to you about this matter, Aleph."
"Then lets get to the heart of the situation as it appears to be acknowledged by the Earth2 Corporation and the media of Earth. What was the thinking behind this change and why now?"
Prime considered both questions.
=0=TBC 02-21-2021 02-22-2021
ESL
antithetical: (antie-theht-tik-ul) oppositional, opposed
philanthropic: (fil-un-throp-ik) charitable