Post by Ira Reier on Nov 6, 2015 1:46:41 GMT -5
Reier Technologies Manhattan HQ
24 October 2015
24 October 2015
The one-month reports were stellar. The Great Basin Research Facility was performing optimally, with zero interruption. There had been many questions as to his processes, but Ira Reier and his press team had deflected those gracefully. After all, how many questions did one ask when one was on the verge of receiving energy for nearly free?
The energy industry was certainly battling him on it, even more than his direct competitors - the Kilvaynes and Ark Industries, Vital Energy, and some small others - were. From them, he had barely heard a peep, That, if he was truly honest with himself, worried him. He had expected the heads of at least those three outfits to become vocal and dissident; instead, they had all maintained a general level of passivity, issuing very brief and noncommittal statements before… dropping off the radar completely.
It was obvious that the Kilvayne Corporation would be working with Ark, given their relationship; but if the two had roped Vital in as well, then perhaps Reier was in trouble indeed.
But he could not deal with a threat he couldn’t see. The traditional energy companies were giving him hell enough, particularly in the Southwest, where the offshoot Reier Energy was already lining up potential customers. Reier was expecting some pushback from the government regarding his creation of Reier Energy, due simply to the fact that the President of the country was a Kilvayne, but so far his lawyers had encountered nothing out of the ordinary. They could handle butthurt energy companies. The rest was almost too easy.
Then the sudden resurfacing of Christian Moynahan in mid-October appeared to explain, at least, Ark’s absence: the enigmatic CEO and Ira’s direct adversary had been deeply and personally involved in finding a solution to the still-enduring California drought. That, Ira could explain away easily: it meant Ira had been successful in dividing Ark’s attention. Given the choice between fighting Reier on its energy project or battling Ira’s subtle character assassination strategy, Ark had chosen to preserve the reputation of its CEO and, by extension, itself. A wise move, Ira supposed, given that the Kilvaynes and Vital were still present to continue the race against them, but two opponents were easier to handle than three, and given the man’s track record in crisis, Moynahan had honestly been his greatest threat.
Ira had just given a press conference that morning detailing the success of the Great Basin project and his plans for the energy company; plans that had been immediately applauded and praised by every major media outlet, based mostly on the fact that at last, cheap and renewable energy was on its way! The Southwest and West were first; but soon more facilities would be built across the United States, giving everyone access to Reier energy. And with his process that cost so little - virtually no overhead, negligible R&D, and hardly any other incidentals, Reier could easily afford it.
Ira had won the energy race effortlessly. Sure, he’d had to cross a few moral boundaries to do it, but how else in the world had progress ever been made?
He was taking the time to sip some coffee and read through the news when his assistant burst through his office door. “Mr. Reier-“
“Rebecca, have I not indicated to you what a closed door means?” Ira’s eyes narrowed. “I hope this egregious breach in conduct indicates something important.”
Blushing a little, Rebecca nodded. “We figure you’d want to see this.”
With some annoyance, Ira rose and followed Rebecca to the common room, where the room was packed with Reier employees watching a newscast on the flat-screen TVs. As the newscast went on, Ira’s frown deepened; finally he spun around and left, indicating that Rebecca follow him.
“Find me the full footage from that press conference,” Ira ordered. “Now!”
Rebecca bolted off, and Ira closed himself back into his office, sinking into his chair with a sudden headache.
Does Moynahan know?
The energy industry was certainly battling him on it, even more than his direct competitors - the Kilvaynes and Ark Industries, Vital Energy, and some small others - were. From them, he had barely heard a peep, That, if he was truly honest with himself, worried him. He had expected the heads of at least those three outfits to become vocal and dissident; instead, they had all maintained a general level of passivity, issuing very brief and noncommittal statements before… dropping off the radar completely.
It was obvious that the Kilvayne Corporation would be working with Ark, given their relationship; but if the two had roped Vital in as well, then perhaps Reier was in trouble indeed.
But he could not deal with a threat he couldn’t see. The traditional energy companies were giving him hell enough, particularly in the Southwest, where the offshoot Reier Energy was already lining up potential customers. Reier was expecting some pushback from the government regarding his creation of Reier Energy, due simply to the fact that the President of the country was a Kilvayne, but so far his lawyers had encountered nothing out of the ordinary. They could handle butthurt energy companies. The rest was almost too easy.
Then the sudden resurfacing of Christian Moynahan in mid-October appeared to explain, at least, Ark’s absence: the enigmatic CEO and Ira’s direct adversary had been deeply and personally involved in finding a solution to the still-enduring California drought. That, Ira could explain away easily: it meant Ira had been successful in dividing Ark’s attention. Given the choice between fighting Reier on its energy project or battling Ira’s subtle character assassination strategy, Ark had chosen to preserve the reputation of its CEO and, by extension, itself. A wise move, Ira supposed, given that the Kilvaynes and Vital were still present to continue the race against them, but two opponents were easier to handle than three, and given the man’s track record in crisis, Moynahan had honestly been his greatest threat.
Ira had just given a press conference that morning detailing the success of the Great Basin project and his plans for the energy company; plans that had been immediately applauded and praised by every major media outlet, based mostly on the fact that at last, cheap and renewable energy was on its way! The Southwest and West were first; but soon more facilities would be built across the United States, giving everyone access to Reier energy. And with his process that cost so little - virtually no overhead, negligible R&D, and hardly any other incidentals, Reier could easily afford it.
Ira had won the energy race effortlessly. Sure, he’d had to cross a few moral boundaries to do it, but how else in the world had progress ever been made?
He was taking the time to sip some coffee and read through the news when his assistant burst through his office door. “Mr. Reier-“
“Rebecca, have I not indicated to you what a closed door means?” Ira’s eyes narrowed. “I hope this egregious breach in conduct indicates something important.”
Blushing a little, Rebecca nodded. “We figure you’d want to see this.”
With some annoyance, Ira rose and followed Rebecca to the common room, where the room was packed with Reier employees watching a newscast on the flat-screen TVs. As the newscast went on, Ira’s frown deepened; finally he spun around and left, indicating that Rebecca follow him.
“Find me the full footage from that press conference,” Ira ordered. “Now!”
Rebecca bolted off, and Ira closed himself back into his office, sinking into his chair with a sudden headache.
Does Moynahan know?
