Amric Al'Aeshir Building/Amric Al'Aeshir Holdings

[Amric]

Takes the information and the notes...

You are right. The next administration is going to be VERY interested in this. I hate to wait that long, but I have little choice in the matter. If the Unity party DOES win, I will have a LOT of say on the matter, believe me! I will shake the trees of the WET to find this cult and if Von Vaam is alive, get her rescued and returned to her family.

I want to thank you for bringing all this to my attention, Per Vasquez.

 

[von Streusser]

"You have thanked me already, quite sufficiently I might add. I deposited the check on my way over.

If you find you *do* run into something where I could be of service, don't hesitate to call...I'd like to see Ms. Von Vaam to safety as much as you, and I have every confidence the next administration will act on this information, now that they'll have a chance. When I reported to MILE Tilly, there was this small rainstorm going on, you see. Hopefully now that it has passed, there will be a chance for some real action."

He picks up his jacket and puts it back on, then lifts his briefcase. "Oh, by the way. I've been doing some work for another client which appears to indicate that during the storms, and shortly before, there were several shiploads of high grade weapon shipments smuggled onto the island. AK-47s, RPGs, that sort of thing. I don't know where they went, but I have two guesses...first, those C.O.R.E. fellows the Farpoint Militia wiped out. Second...our cult in the woods. I sincerely hope it's the former, but if it's not...well, have the army be careful."

 

[Amric]

Amric's left eyebrow rose in some surprise...

Good to know. I certainly echo your hope it was just CORE who got those weapons, but I fear that the cult probably got some as well.SighsI'll be sure to pass it one when the time comes. I will also certainly keep you in mind for investigative purposes.

If you happen to come across anything else that might interest me, be sure to pass it along. I'll be sure you get paid for your trouble.

 

[Amric]

Dear Mr. Al'Aeshir,

I would be delighted to perform if you think it would assist in you raising funds for your hospital's charitable foundation. I'd prefer that it not be too commercial an event, but will provide my own equipment and will cover whatever costs, as an in-kind donation, are associated with my performance.

Simply keep me informed of the venue and event details.

Keep up the good work,

John Black

*Just a quick edit to let folks know that this is a direct reply from me. -heagarty

 

[Amric]

The private office of the CEO/President/Owner of AAH has been recently cleaned and refurbished. The former president is a fount of boundless energy. The former tiredness around his eyes is long gone. He is tanned, muscular and busy putting his businesses back in order.

 

[unmerged(33865)]

A message arrives from MIDA Loic de Fourgéres.

Per Amric Al'Aeshir, CEO
Amric Al'Aeshir Holdings

Per Al'Aeshir,

Through my law firms assistance with the administration of the ECB Tragedy Memorial Trust, I became aware of your most generous donation to that worthy clause. The Federal Law Enforcement Administration, assuming nothing breaks rapidly on the case, is planning on offering a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of people who particpated or assisted in the bombing. The amount that will be offered by FLEA will be symbolic, but it will hopefully serve as a focal point to which private donors can add to size size of the potential reward, until it reaches a sum large enough to induce some minor accomplice to come forward. Given your prior interest in the matter and your generosity, I thought I would let you know in advance of the others in case you want to coordinate something with me when I make the announcement, i.e., I would announce the reward and then introduce you as the first private donor to supplement it, and you could then announce your contribution, if desired.

Respectfully,

 

[unmerged(33865)]

A message arrives from MIDA Loic de Fourgéres

Thanks for generous pledge to the reward fund. It may help crack this case and eliminate this threat to our safety and prosperity. If you would like to drop by the MIDA public offices we can make an announcement to press as soon as you show up. If you would rather this pledge remain anonymous, I understand and will respect your wishes.

Regards,

 

[von Streusser]

A man enters the reception area of the Al'Aeshir Holdings building and asks the secretary for an appointment with Per Al'Aeshir. He is wearing a black suit with a blue shirt, open at the collar, no tie. His thin, narrow glasses shield intelligent green eyes, and his hair is tossed loosely on top of his head in a casual style. He has a brand new black leather briefcase in hand, and while he sits down to wait he takes out several papers and begins highlighting and circling various sections and crossing out others.

The secretary informs Amric that a Professor Michael von Streusser is here to see him at his earliest convenience.

-vS as NPC

 

[Amric]

"Michael!" Amric bounds out of his office and shakes the man's hand," Come on in. It's been quite a while since I've seen you. You're looking well. The life of a college Professor obviously agrees with you. Would you care for something to drink? What can I do for you today?"

 

[von Streusser]

Michael laughed and enthusiastically shook his old friend's hand. "Good to see you again Amric...I guess you could say the life does agree with me. Apparently your little retirement has done you well, you're looking better than I've seen you in a long time. Sure, a drink would be nice...whatever you're having. Oh wait, that's probably 151 isn't it." He pauses a moment, then shrugs. "Well, you only live once I guess. Just toss some coke in it.

As for the life of a college professor...well, I can't complain. Least I've got a nice stipend, which is a damn blessing in this economy. It's ironic...I spent most of my government career opposing Josephus at every turn, and now that I'm a private citizen, he can put me out of business just like that." Michael chuckles. "VSE isn't doing well...Canada's still dumping softwood lumber on us, and they won't give up. You'd think someone would put up a tariff or something on that by now. If it keeps going, I'll have to shut down my lumber division and put all those people on the street. Same with coal, now that the deal we hashed out with the Americans has lapsed. It's amazing...all I've really got left that's turning a profit is the fishing, and if this new version of the VATA goes through, that's probably sunk too. Go ahead, put that all in your paper, it'll make a nice human interest story." His eyes smile at his own joke. "I thank God every day that they'll hire on a retired old political hack to teach a bunch of hungover college students economics and political science." He chuckles again, then takes a pull at his drink.

"So...I'm walking to work just the other day, and what do I see at the newsstands? A new Eutopian Today! with an Amric Al'Aeshir editorial. The same night, there's you and Jake on the news...separate spots, of course. I couldn't believe it, it's like Eutopia's past has finally come back to haunt her." He smiles. "It was the last nail in the coffin for me. I joined a special interest group a while back, one that formed during the Gall administration. They're called the Society for Good Governance, and ever since I joined they've been trying to convince me to let them trade on my name. I resisted...until you and Jake re-appeared. Then I figured it was a sign, time to get my hands dirty again.

So, I'm starting a newsletter. Well, kind of like a blog, I guess. 'The von Streusser Report'. Quite a ring, no? The idea is to give Special Interests across the island a nationwide forum for sharing their views, one that people all over the country, and hopefully at least a few government officials, will read. Which is where you come in, my friend. You have national coverage, and I'm trying to get it. You have been more than eager to give the government an earful, and I have a stable full of groups eager to get their voices heard about policy and current events. Our paths seem to cross, do they not? Once the newsletter is set up and ready to go, I'll let you know. And if, after that point, you'd be so kind as to slip a blurb into your paper somewhere about it, I'd be much obliged. We can pay for advertising space, of course.

So what do you think? Can you help an old partisan hack out? Not like I've got anything better to do with my time than shepherd failing businesses. Oh, and by the way...is it true? Are you really just a newspaperman now? The Halls of Civil Service completely fail to beckon?"

-vS as NPC

 

[Amric]

Pours some 151 and some coke in a cut crystal glass with a couple of cubes of ice before handing it to Michael.

"Damn," Amric shook his head sadly," I had completely forgotten you had gotten into the lumber and coal business. That is tough work nowadays. Have you tried to get an independent coal deal with Japan? Let alone a lumber deal? The Japanese have a HUGE demand for lumber. They've been getting for years from the Canadians. You would probably be able to undercut them in price. As a private enterprise you are not beholden to the Eutopian government to get a deal from any other nation, you know.

As for your blog, I'd be happy to advertise about it. PAC's have been something most other nations take for granted, but here in Eutopia they've been missing in action. Well, except for labor, of course. It wouldn't hurt to have some other interest groups heard from.

As for civil service, well I don't hear her beckoning, no. I spent years as MHES/MESA, a term as a assembly member and as President. Civil service wise I really have nothing left to prove, to be honest. I've done my time. Tried my best. Now I will try to help my nation by being a businessman. I seem to do better with that anyway. Profits for my companies haven't been down. Recycling, Energy, Construction, Environmental clean up have all been good to me. The Today never really stopped publishing, but the manager I had installed kind of dropped the ball. Still made money but it wasn't the cohesive national paper I had envisioned. I had to sack him.

To be honest, I've been considering getting into lumber and coal to PROVE to the government that it can be done environmentally friendly, turn a profit and get deals with other nations. People were naysayers about recycling. Naysayers about clean energy. Proved them wrong before. I don't see a big problem, only potential solutions if people would just open their eyes and take advantage of them!

Hell, we had a Eutopian auto manufacturer owned by some Earl. They still make cars, I suppose, but I haven't really heard much about them in the last year or so. Environmentally friendly cars too! I wish I had thought to do it myself, to be honest.

As a matter of fact, I've agreed to make a few speeches on some campuses around the nation talking about business to business students. Thought it might give me something to do and to show the youngsters that dreams can come true and that with hard work anything can be possible.

I've been toying with an idea to start up a fund to help new businesses get off the ground. You know, take a stake in a startup and help guide them to success. What do you think?"

 

[von Streusser]

"Oh, believe me I've tried to find someone to sell lumber and coal to. Hell, I've even given it as a problem to my students. Problem is, I just can't match Canadian volume, especially when trying to break in on an established trading partnership, like they have with Japan. Plus, I can't undercut their prices because it's so much farther to ship, plus canal fees, blah blah blah. Coal I can sell enough of to scrape by, but the lumber's just been a whole lot tougher to move. If the MERL would slap a tariff on Canadian lumber, it might make 'em mad, but at least we'd be able to sell at home again." He shrugs. "It was a tough business when I bought the things too. We had a little rebound in coal a couple terms ago, but the lumber thing has just been an economic black hole. Kinda makes me wish I wasn't so pre-occupied with NAFA in my time...but then again, I might have only been able to get one done anyway. If I had to pick...no brainer.

Ha, you're looking to get into lumber and coal? Well, buy low and sell high I guess. Course, the gamble is if the high is gonna come." He chuckles, then proceeds with a wink. "Hey, if you're looking for someone to buy a mine or logging business from, I might be able to help you out. You're right, there are solutions out there...but there's a lot of roadblocks too. Sometimes people hit the first one or two and give up. Then, sometimes, one of those roadblocks explodes and everyone gets distracted.

Oh, you're on that EBA speaking tour? I heard something about that. You guys should come to Neuwestbaden, some of my students could probably benefit from some of those talks. That, and I could probably cancel class, which makes everybody happy. It'd be good to see John again too, I understand he's keeping himself pretty busy.

Small business startup fund...hmm, sounds interesting. How would it work? Like a low-interest loan company, or would you actually be buying stock and sitting on the board? A lot of people could use that sort of venture capital starting new mom-and-pops, *especially* in New Lancaster after that bombing. Most of the buildings down in that area were independent cafes and trendy little boutiques...those people lost everything when their businesses were flattened. Those that survived, that is. You want to get a stake in start-ups, that's the place to be...plenty of valuable real estate sitting there, well, under rubble, lots of old businesses knocked out...haven't heard anything about government help to finance the re-building, but I imagine that's coming too. Golden opportunities there.

But I'm rambling. Tell me more about this startup fund idea of yours."

-vS as NPC

 

[Amric]

"Well you are right. It is a venture capital fund. I had considered offering funds for shares of stock. But low interest loans might also work for those such as cafe owners, restauranteers, et al, who wouldn't ever really be on the stock market. Since the government offers to help people start businesses has never really panned out I thought I might publically start a Venture Capital firm and advertise it heavily. Perhaps people have no confidence in government loans or government help. But perhaps I can parlay my own good name into helping jump start this economy by helping people start or restart businesses, or help them grow their small business.

All they would need to do is bring a business prospectus and business plan. I could even offer some help in creating such for small owners or potential owners as well with the staff I am thinking of assembling. I certainly can't do ALL the work. So what do you think?"

 

[von Streusser]

Michael was silent for a remarkably long moment as he considered Amric's words and took a sip of his drink. Finally, he set it down on the desk and spoke his mind. "Yeeesh, how can you drink this stuff? Hmm, more importantly, why can't I? Guess Yvette's gotten me too used to wine." He shrugs and smiles weakly. "Oh wait...have you not met Yvette yet? You should come over for dinner some time. Heh, it's kinda funny. She's the former secretary at the French Embassy they used to have here...still the best thing I got out of NAFA." He winks at Amric.

"As for this business plan...I like it. You've got a good name, people know you're successful and driven, and if nothing else (and I'm not saying there's nothing else) you're a smashing businessman. I think people would really run with this fund you're going for. Question is, how are you going to make a buck off of it? Just on loan interest? Because you'll probably get a rush straight off the bat...I know you've got a lot of money behind you in your various other ventures, but something like this could suck the liquid capital straight out of your bones.

But don't let me discourage you. It'd be good for Eutopia, and good for your name. Help some people rebuild devastated lives, and others pursue their dreams. I hear that as a big complaint out of the Socialists a lot...'how can an oppressed worker rise above without the capital?' Well, wouldn't this take the wind out of their sails..." He chuckles, and picks up his drink again. "Hell, I've got a senior business class this semester, if you get it set up I'll plug it to them. Lord help me if I can think of a needier class of future entrepreneurs."

-vS as NPC

 

[Amric]

Amric swirls the amber fluid in his glass and takes a small swallow.

"I can drink this because I have a cast iron stomach...."he grins," Come to dinner and meet your Yvette, eh? I'd heard a rumor about that, but never followed up on it. You were retired from politics and I was getting ever more involved in it, so I didn't want to bring all that into your new life. Sounds good though.

As for the fund and not getting wiped out monetarily. Well since there is the option of stock, my return would be delayed until they really get going. If the new company fails, then I will lose money, of course. If the company goes with low interest loan, then I will get a trickle of money back. If the company that does the stock option with me and becomes successful then the dividends will be good. It's not all about the money.

I'd be happy to speak to your class as well, if you would like. I am involved with O'Floinn's business tour of some universities as well. Plus it is good to stick a finger in the eye of socialism as well. Not that such is my true goal, but to help my fellow Eutopians create a stable business that can provide for their livlihoods."

 

[unmerged(33865)]

MIDA Loic de Fourgéres quickly deals with the former President's call.
"Per Al'Aeshir, thanks for volunteering your firm's services. They will be most welcome. There is a little bit of a situation outside the GA right now, so I will ask you to contact the rescue workers at the ECB directly. They can direct your people to the right place. Thanks again for your public spiritedness, I have to go now."
Loic hangs up.

 

[Amric]

Press Release

The President of AAH, Amric Al'Aeshir strides to the podium and taps on the microphone to make sure it is on. It is.

"Welcome members of the press. Amric Al'Aeshir Holdings is proud to announce a new division, Eutopia Hardwood Flooring, Limited. The flooring industry is expanding rapidly and the most expansive part is hardwood flooring. It is an explosive growth area. Now when you think of hardwood flooring what first comes to mind? Wood. Now where is Eutopia Hardwood Flooring going to find all that wood? Why here in Eutopia!

We have an entire timber industry that is struggling and has been for some time. Yet I see a resurgence in that field with the massive amounts of timber we'll need to produce the hardwood flooring. So AAH will be building manufacturing facilities to make the hardwood flooring. Yes, Eutopia in itself is a small market. Yet the United States, Canada, Europe, and Britain all have huge markets that are eager for exotic hardwoods from overseas.

Imagine getting our own back from Canada by having Eutopian timber in the form of hardwood flooring being installed in Canadian homes! The crisis of the timber industry can be alleviated and eventually quelled fully by turning the focus of the timber industry from plain lumber into finished products that can be exported!

Thank you for attending this press conference. If any of you have any questions, feel free to ask."

 

[Amric]

Press Conference

AAH is happy announce that a new venture, Eutopia Natural Stone is now available. With various colors in numerous types of stone such as slate, granite, limestone and others for natural stone flooring for residential and commercial applications. It is yet another jewel in AAH's crown of natural and recycled products.

We'd also like to announce that United Plastics Unlimited has come up with a new 'darker' plastic bottle for soft drinks. It has been discovered that clear plastic bottles don't allow the liquid inside to taste the same as it did when in natural glass bottles. Our researchers have discovered by darkening the plastic to a dark brown, much like the old glass bottles, keeps the taste of the contents very much like it was with glass bottles. The new product will be available to bottlers immediately.

Thank you.