Chapter 12 - The Games Begin
TN:- Guys i know according to the wiki that caprica 6 didn't meet Baltar till later but i don't believe that the colonial fleet could have upgraded all there ships and computers on there ships in less than 2 years for the CNP to be as effective as it was so i have made there meeting sooner and will move forward the development of the CNP so that it will seem more realistic that hundreds of ships with at least 25% of them probably needing computer upgrades due to being made to operate without a network to begin with to make use of the new CNP. Also there will be a few other changes from canon like Adama and his wife won't be divorced yet but will be at the point where all they have left to do is to sign paperwork and Lee will have a fiancée at the time of the attack but i haven't decided if she will be a regular at this point as i never liked the whole Starbuck and Apollo thing as i also imagined them more of a brother and sister than in a relationship as there just too different to work.
10 Years before the fall - Caprica City
Leo and Louise were sitting in her office having just finished going over the progress of the fleet upgrades and their transport capacities when there was a knock on the door and they both knew it was important as they were not to be disturbed unless it was important enough to be life and death.
Louise called out after deactivating the anti eavesdropping measures. "What is it Susan?"
Louise's secretary opened the door and came in and reported. "Director, the President elect Adar is outside asking to see you and he has a few people with him."
Louise took a minute to contain her annoyance and then looked to Leo. "Should I see him, Leo?"
Leo thought for a moment and replied. "Yes but don't mention that I am here." He then moved the high backed chair to face the window that would block anyone who enters the office from seeing anyone in the chair and sat down.
Louise nodded and then addressed Susan. "Ok Susan, tell him he can see me now as I'm not too busy and use those exact words." Louise's smile would scare the most steadfast person.
Susan nodded and left the room thinking that the new President was in for a surprise. Louise took the time that her secretary left to go and get their new president to school her features and to get in the mind set for the political games that are bound to start today. While Leo prepared himself for what he imagined was a shake down to continue what contracts they had with the government and if Adar could swing the votes the colonial fleet as well.
It took Susan only a few minutes to lead President elect Adar into the room and he was followed by 3 others who Leo could see in the reflection of the office windows and was surprised to see a one in the group of people. It took Leo all his will power not to get up and shout out that there was a Cylon in the room.
Louise welcomed Adar and his entourage. "Welcome to Kosta Enterprises Mr President ELECT Adar." She made sure to over exaggerate the elect in his title reminding him that he wasn't president yet at which Leo smiled.
"It's a pleasure to be here, Director Corman. Allow me to introduce my future cabinet." He then introduced the three people in order from left to right starting with a tall man dressed in an expensive suit that spoke of privilege and more money than sense. "This is my Secretary of commerce Stuart Boyle."
The man addressed as Stuart Boyle nodded his head in acknowledgement to Louise but his attitude of disregard spoke more of his arrogance than anything else he did. Adar then moved onto the only woman of the group who had a smaller stature than the rest and had blonde hair and narrow eyes and wore thin framed glasses. "This is my Secretary of Transport, Amelia Warren."
She was a bit more polite than Secretary Boyle and actually spoke. "Hello, Director Corman." But still with all the arrogance that comes from thinking they are above everyone else.
Louise looked at her after having a staring contest with Secretary Boyle and replied politely. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Secretary Warren."
Then Adar introduced the last person in the group who had a rather thin build and was the oldest of the group and was dressed as a preacher. "Last but certainly not least is my confidant and religious advisor Brother Cavil who is instrumental in my running for president."
Brother Cavil nodded politely to Louise but if you looked into his eyes you could just make out the lack of interest in knowing Louise as she was beneath him. Louise responded politely as was expected of her. "It's a pleasure to meet you Brother Cavil and it's good to know that the president-elect has someone to speak too on religious matters."
Louise then waved them to the seats in front of her desk and they sat down and Louise asked. "So what do I owe this visit from our future president and with no prior warning as well." Once she said that it was clear that the niceties were over and she wanted answers.
Adar was a little shocked to begin with and took a few seconds to respond but then he smiled in the way politicians do that warns you of their scheming and he said. "Straight to business I see. I am here to inform you that you will need to reduce your contracts with the colonial fleet in the coming years and that your prices are too high and will be required to be reduced by 25% for any new contracts with the government going forward." After saying that Adar sat back with the smile still on his face waiting for Louise to cave to his demands as if he was emperor and everyone was there to do his bidding.
Louise looked at him and then let the silence continue till it was getting awkward before she responded. "Well let me get this right you want me to refuse business with colonial fleet and also reduce the price of the contracts with the government to the point where we would be making a substantial loss on any contracts we do accept." She paused as she let that sink in then continued. "Well I don't need to think much about it when I decline your request and I will tell you that if you force the issue you will not like the outcome."
At her response Adar and his two cabinet members looked shocked while Brother Cavil looked on with interest as his plan to sow discord between the future government and one of the biggest problems to their plans started to bear fruit. Adar took a minute to collect himself but he didn't look happy with not getting his way.
He followed with a menacing tone to his voice. "You don't want to make an enemy of me director Corman as life can get very difficult for you if you do as we already have come to the decision to require you to reduce your private security forces by 50% within the next 18 months or face sanctions and seizure of assets and if you follow the path you have set yourself on we will sanction your other companies as well." Adar was smiling like a predator as he finished his little threat.
It was at this point that Leo decided he had heard enough and decided to burst Adar's little bubble and show him how things actually work around here. He stood up and turned to the President elect and his group and said. "I don't think that is what will happen President elect Adar as in end we will cancel all contracts with the government and then we will pull all mining contracts from your supporters companies and stop delivery of resources to any company that does business with you administration at the same time as we will take you to court for malicious interference with agreed upon contracts and make sure that you are stuck in litigation for the entire time your in office. We will then make sure that you will lose the next election by giving your opponent a massive donation and all the support he could need to get elected as at that point your role in the biggest financial crisis since the war will have been made clear." Leo looked at him with a smile that's not a smile while looking as intimidating as possible.
Adar stood up in shock as soon as Leo revealed himself while Brother Cavil looked at Leo with such intensity that if looks could dissect you for study Leo would already be in peace's below the microscope. "What is the meaning of this and who are you to make such bold threats." Adar asked with a raised voice.
Leo looked at Adar with undisguised disgust and said. "So you came to my company to demand extortionate deals and conditions and you don't even know what the owner looks like. Is this the way you are going to run your administration Mr President Elect as if it is i fear what colonies will look like once your term is over." Leo decided to take another dig at him at that point. "Also why is it that you impolitely decided to just turn up here without making an appointment as if you were entitled to do whatever you want while inconveniencing everyone else."
Adar looked less than happy at this point and was breathing in heavily to contain his anger at being rebuked in such a way. "I am the future president of the colonies. I don't need to make appointments and you should show me some respect or you will find out what power I hold."
Leo looked Adar in the eye and just smiled condescendingly back at him and said. "I think you overestimate the power you hold. Yes you are the political leader and the commander and chief but at the end of the day this is a democracy not a dictatorship and if you think you can use that power to cause my companies problems then i will do the same with the power i hold with my companies as if you ask your Secretary of commerce my companies either mine or hold the ownership over a large quantity of the resources and tylium mined outside of the main systems and i even hold a fair share of that. If I decide to pull all resources and contracts from government projects, how long do you think it will take the people I compete with to keep prices lower to decide to start raising their prices knowing they don't have to compete with me and ours. Then there is the proprietary knowledge my company holds and you use that will be recalled and that alone with grind a few of your industries to a halt so i would be careful with what you say next Mr President Elect before you do something that you will later regret."
During this whole exchange Brother Cavil was looking less and less happy with the way things were going as he saw his plans to create problems for Kosta Enterprises going no where as if he knew Adar he will be backing down soon as he cant afford to lose the support of the bigger companies and if prices rise then he won't be able to move funds to the social projects he has planned to increase his popularity for his eventual election for a second term.
Adar looked Leo in the eye and realized he was being completely serious, decided to cut his losses and walked straight out of the room followed by his group of lackeys. Once they were gone Leo turned to Louise and winked at which she laughed and they got back to discussing their progress with their new colony after restarting the security measures.
Caprica City - Luxury Shuttle
Richard Adar was fuming as the shuttle took off from the spaceport as they made their way to Picon to meet with representatives from the local businesses. He was not happy that he couldn't get his way but what made it even worse is that he was figuratively spanked for thinking he had more power than he did currently. His companions sat a few seats away in silence as they didn't want to make it even worse as they knew he had a temper when he didn't get his way so just stayed out of the way until he cooled down.
"Brother Cavil, can you come here for a minute? I need some advice." Adar asked his confidant.
Brother Cavil got up from where he was stewing in his own anger at his failed plans and sat opposite Adar.
"What can I do for you Richard?" He asked after sitting down.
Adar looked at his closet advisor. "I want to destroy them but i know i can't without seriously affecting my future as president so what do you suggest i do?" He asked with a resigned sigh.
Brother Cavil thought things through for a few minutes and decided that he needed to play his hand carefully if he wanted to salvage his future plans for Kosta and his companies. "I think we should take a step back and wait for him to make a mistake or over extend himself then strike when it matters most. Also while all that is happening we can work to weaken their hold on the industries' there by supporting their rivals and competitors."
Adar took the suggestions and thought about it and nodded his head. "That is a good idea and would secure us the support of those companies as well so we will do that. Stuart, I want a full investigation into Kosta Enterprises and I want it done quietly." He ordered his cabinet members.
"Yes sir i know just the guy to get the job done without making any waves." Stuart Boyle said and left to a separate compartment in the shuttle to make a video call to his best private investigator who has done this type of job for him before as he has no problem with getting his hands dirty when it comes to expanding his power.
Caprica City
Leo was sitting across from Louise in a private room at their favorite restaurant enjoying a nice meal when Louise's phone rang. "Hello." After a few minutes of back and forth between her and whoever was on the other side of the call she hung up and looked at Leo and smiled.
"You were right Leo, The minute he had calmed down enough to think he had his lackey hire a private investigator to start researching into your companies. It was a good thing that we got there first and paid him well to play along so that he will only pass on the knowledge we want him to." Louise looked at Leo with a smirk at out thinking the arrogant President elect.
Leo smiled back and continued eating as he expected as much knowing how scheming John Cavil was on the show and knowing he would not be happy with his plans failing so he was prepared for their next attempt to control him. "We should be careful how we use this and maybe we can even use it to make some more money from the companies he will use to try and drive us out of business. I want you to open up a separate company under the name of one of our most trusted people and then use the scouting data we have for resources for the local areas to create situations where they use the information where we overestimate the amount of resources to gain a higher price by having his associates to out bid us and they won't even know as by the time they even finish mining the sites the attack would have happened. With that we can use the money we get to save more people and advance our own projects."
Louise liked the idea and said she will get right on it and will plan it out in more detail to stop any of it tracing back to them. "The meeting with my father and the other Admirals is scheduled for two days from now to give you time to formulate a plan."
Leo nodded and replied. "I think it might be good to have a separate colony for those we save who refuse to change their outlook about the tribal mentality that has ruled the colonies for so long. We can help them set it up and even ally with them but we will be separate governments and societies going forward as i think that will help reduce the problems we might have with integrating any survivors to our colony if the problem people who don't want the way they run things to change are not part of out society at all."
Louise agreed with him and they finished their meal and carried on with the date night.
TN:- I know that some people might not agree with the way I've portrayed Adar but i believe if the colonies had become as corrupt as it is suggested in the tv series then i believe it would be the same for the guy running the show especially with what they said he did with the teacher strikes that Roslin mentioned. Also the fact that he was willing to commit adultery as well as other backroom deals suggest that it was part of the course for his administration.
TN:- I know some of you are waiting to see what the new system looks like but i'm holding off a bit for the description of what they have accomplished in there new system but i will be doing it outside the story as an information update as i don't want to clutter up the story with lots of explaining and information and forgetting about the actual story.