My God, It’s Full of Customers

YC114.02.10

This political stuff is not a simple path to navigate, that’s for sure...

FCO has made it official - we’re Faction Warriors!  So far, this hasn’t impacted me much.  I’ve had some new allies pop up on the overview - but we’ve just passed like purple ships in the night.  Certainly no threats yet.  And no new business either - yet!

The strangest thing was the hoops the alliance had to endure to prove our worth to the Federation.  Apparently Col Nardieu’s past work was not exactly official - at least not in any way the authorities are willing to recognize formally.  He and his folks are off running some more publicly-palatable work for the Federation.  They’ve assured us they will return...  It’s interesting - the thorniest branches are the ones that needed pruning to prove FCO’s worth to the Federation.

One wormhole closes, another opens...

Looks like FCO is getting some traction, we’ve had a group apply for membership.  They’ve got some history that makes a few in FCO uncomfortable - at one point some of them apparently had anti-Federal leanings.  This is prompting a discussion among the bosses that raises a few interesting thought with me:

1. Us capsuleers are effectively immortal.  Given a long enough time span, we’re all going to get bored and try many different things.  Those million monkeys banging on a million typewriters got nothing on the variety of things we’re going to produce...
2. Employment history is just that: history.  I mean, look at mine - Advent was closely aligned with Sansha sympathizers.  Hell, Kiruss is aligning extremely closely these days.  By the concerns raised about the new organization, that kind of thinking may have kept me out of FCO.
3. FCO is very open about our policies, thoughts, and goals.  The fact that they’re applying shows me that whatever leanings they may have had in the past, it’s the past.  That’s the great thing about people - they change their minds, and that should be allowed.  (Except on contracts!  You signed it, you live by it!  Kat’s gots ta get paid!)
4. If we reject those who may think differently, then how will we ever have the chance to change their minds, show them the errors of their ways, and sell to them?

Speaking of selling, my first Tornado sold!  

The Gears Are Turning

YC114.02.08

Guess who’s qualified on a freighter... This guy!

Things are starting to tick along nicely.  Moved all my assets to the new shop yesterday, just some straggler ships to get hauled over.  Started building my first ship to sell - a Tornado; I may not be able to fly it, but I’m sure willing to soak some poor fool who is able!

Ammo sales are going well too.  Not much margin, but a reasonably steady income there.

Next I gotta start upping my status with FIO...  I really need some jump clones for what James and I have planned.  Specially if the alliance joins up fighting FW.  Great sales opportunities, but a lot more bullets flying at us too.

Met a chap in Gallente Lounge last night - might have some business for us too.  He may need some items built, and other items hauled - no questions asked.  Those are the best kinda questions - the ones not asked cause the cheque cleared!

Even better - the ISK is starting to roll in on the custom build...  Everything’s starting to mesh - time to stop chasing and start catching that ISK!

Second Verse, Same as the First

YC114.02.07

Octirant was quite the problem for us, riling up people and likely getting us into a war with SASPR.

Looks like his replacement thinks a bit bigger...  Nothing like insulting an entire civilization to start things off.  Not to mention pissing off an entire customer base!

All I can hope is that everyone realizes the good Colonel speaks only for himself, and not the entire alliance.  I don’t know if I can handle another interruption to business.  

Time to Rent a Van, I Gotta Move

YC114.02.06

Well,  we’ve escaped relatively unscathed from the war - meaner, leaner, and ready to profit!  As part of this, we’ve realized Ney was not really the best spot for our operations.  Our supply routes to refineries, markets, and customers were just too long.

James has found us a perfect location: Ignebaener.  Lots of material in-system to pull, FIO stations to base out of, manufacturing not too far away, and a few easy jumps to our customers.

Speaking of customers, I hope they can streamline operations soon.  I’ve got a few contracts pending acceptance right now, which unfortunately means I’ve got a lot of non-liquid assets at the moment.

Kinda tough to build more things to sell when I can’t buy raw materials!

Tangled Webs

YC114.02.06

Good lord, is James really this tricky?  He’s been playing things close to the vest lately, but actually taking a hand in offing Octirant?  And worse yet, involving me?

And worst of all, doing it for free and not sharing with me?

I’m not sure if I want to know the truth or not.  I don’t think I could handle knowing that about James...  I mean, is he really that cold blooded?  That ruthless?  To actually do something like this for no profit at all?

I don’t know if I could work with someone like that!

Promotions

YC114.02.02

Speaking of more competent than Octirant, FNP has elected a new Chairman.  Col. Hans Nardieu seems like a good chap so far.  He’s distanced himself from the past very gently and smoothly, ruffling a minimum of feathers - something of which his predecessor was incapable.

More importantly though - I GOT A PROMOTION!

Meet the new Chief Operating Officer for Reclamation Technologies!  

I’m not sure what will actually change, but it’s nice to be recognized for the work I am already performing.  Plus, this should make it easier to deal with other corporations - titles open doors, I tend to find.

I’m not sure if Loreael is going to come back to us now that the war is over, but I hope this doesn’t make things weird if he does...  It can be tough when people get left behind.

Peace in Our Time

YC114.02.02

Find me a nurse to kiss, the war’s over!

Looks like Luc Saldissot has managed to negotiate an end to the business interruptions.  As usual, there may be some lingering “border incidents” over the next few days as people get word; but it’s reasonably safe to start plying the spaceways again.

Which is good - a couple more days and I would have been completely strangled in my ability to produce anything.

I must say, it’s nice to have someone more competent than Octirant dealing with issues that impact the whole alliance.