The Naboo Trip: Contract

[John Ash]

Ashhearth Industries was still busy with getting everything in the Pii system set up as well as conducting regular business. It was taking everything the company and John had to be able to move forward, but it was having some interesting benefits to go along with the hectic problems. The name of the company was getting spread around the galaxy. So it was not much of a surprise when an offer for a potential contract was sent to John from a transportation company based out of the same system Naboo was located in. It was a little different though in that it seemed to be a bit of a competition of multiple companies for one or both of two contracts. Seemed if Ashhearth Industries went they would have a battle on their hands, but that worked fine for John.

As much as the company could use the credits from the contract to expand, John absolutely refused to step foot on that planet ever again. Naboo and Coruscant were the two planets that he had to some of the worst experiences of his life on, and so would not go there unless it was absolutely necessary. The good news for John though was that he didn't have to do that for his business there. Instead he sent one of his most trusted employees in his stead: Blackwall. The grizzled ex-mercenary took one of the company shuttles to the planet. The meeting was taking place in a private room in a conference center and already several of the companies invited were already there and waiting. Shipwrights and droid companies were all gathered together to see who would get the contract to supply shuttles and droids for the transportation of passengers.

[member="Stardust Raxis"]

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

[member="John Ash"]

Despite the hell that was going on she still had a company to run, she had received a invite to a meeting where a few other companies would meet, she decided to accept it and go

Upon arriving she was led to a co fermce room, she took a seat as she glanced around soldiers instinct to see every exit and entrance

 

[John Ash]

Blackwall stood there taking in the room and those gathered. He was here to make sure everything went the way it was suppose to go after all. The old days he would be watching for threats to lives or property but right now he was looking for who might be a threat to them getting the contract. Most seemed to be more of the down on their luck types looking for a lucky break or the doing well but think they are doing great types. The later would be easy enough to handle but the former would be a challenge. They would be unpredictable because they could either low ball it more than Ashhearth could afford or they might be cautious enough to know it would be a terrible idea.

Eventually the last of the companies reps showed up and everyone was directed towards their seats. Blackwall walked over and took a seat near [member="Stardust Raxis"] . He gave her a nod and said, " Ms. Raxis." He then set a small holoprojector in front of him on the table and an image of John's torso along with the top half of a chair showed up from it. Blackwall said, " Boss. I took a seat next to Ms. Raxis from Industrial Automatons."

John's voice said, " Good job Blackwall. And we meet again Ms. Raxis. The lumber droids arrived and are already being used. Did your payment come in?" Some of the other company reps looked towards the grizzled merc, the twi'lek woman, and the holo of the man. It was clear they didn't know what to take about the little chat while the ones hosting this contract meeting were finalizing the last of their prep.

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

[member="John Ash"]

Stardust had got comfortable in the chair she was in, she watched a grizzled man walk over and take a seat by her a dressing her name as she simply bowed her head in respect before she looked over to the holo of John as she gave a smile and bowed her head before she spoke

indeed we meet again Mr. Ash, in glad to hear the limb droids have arrived and are being put to good use. As for the payment it arrived as you promise with no issues

She had to say this John ash was a interesting man for sure, he had kept his end of his deal up and in her eyes that was someone she cpuld trust even if just a little bit. She looked around the room notimg people looking over, her ears caught bits and pieces of conversation. Seemed most were in the dumps hoping to rise or about to be...shpuld be interesting to see what would be offered

 

[John Ash]

Before John or Blackwall could respond to what [member="Stardust Raxis"] had to say to them, the one in charge of this contract meeting hit a gavel on the tabletop until the room became quiet. When everyone's focus was turned towards the head of the table, the middle aged man cleared his throat and said, " Thank you all for coming. The Naboo Comfort Travels is in need of some new ships and droids for our travel services. We did some research and decided that the best way for us to handle this was to do what governments like to do: hold a blind auction for the contracts. My associates will hand out a holopad to each company rep here that will be used for the auction while I explain the rules." He then made a motion and several people began to walk around the room with holopads.

As the holopads were beginning to be handed over to the reps, the middle aged man went on, " Each of these pads has been individually linked to a specific company. There will be two buttons on the screen that will be used to bid. One button is for the ship contract and the other button is for the droid contract. Each of your pads has been randomly assigned a number that will be used in place of your company name for bids. We will know who is bidding what but all you will know is your own numbers. For those unfamiliar with the format, instead of bidding higher prices you will be bidding lower prices that we will pay you if you win the contract. You are also allowed to attach other offers along with the price as well and the most desirable bids at the end will be the winner of the contracts."

The man paused as he allowed time for the information to sink in for everyone. John frowned slightly as he listened to what was said, but was not too worried. He had expected something like this and so had made sure to prep Blackwall in advance with details of what all he could do. Blackwall took the holopad that was offered to him as the Ashhearth Industries rep and began to go through it to get a feel for what all was available. Some of the others were doing the same while others yet began to throw out some weak protests about the system. Once the last of the holopads was handed out, the middle aged man began again. " You may bow out of the auction at any time by turning off your holopad. It will disconnect it from our system and be unable to reconnect after. You are able to plug in any datachips with data on your products as well. This data will be connected directly to our systems so we may view it for reference. Any holopad that is tampered with will automatically shut off and void any offers made. Understood?" The man looked around the room for a moment then continued, " Good. Now we will begin right away. These are the opening bids for the contracts." As he said this the prices for the opening bids would pop up on the holopads screens for everyone to see. They were immediately jumped on by some of the more rushed companies and the numbers showed up next to who had the current winning bid.

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

[member="John Ash"]

She looked The the man as she sat back, she nodded as she thought to herself, a blind auction with the winner being the lowest and offers could be attached....stardust grinned as she took the pad and looked it over. She had ideas going through her head as she nodded and chuckled to herself

She glanced around hearing the protest, this wpuld hurt those looking to make a big buck...for Stardust it was easy, losing a bit of money wasn't a problem and she had the best droids

The noddimg started, Stardust played the waiting game watching people bid lower and lower, she acted quicjly typing he ever in and adding 25 percent off all droids for the company, she glanced up...this was a battle field for businesses...and Stardust would conquer it

 

[John Ash]

The auction was immediately in action as soon as the company reps were given the okay. Bids were being made fast at first but soon enough they began to slow down. More and more company reps were getting nervous as it went along. A few had already bowed out of the bidding, but those companies were the ones looking for more credits than this style of auction afforded. John and Blackwall both just watched things progress quietly without having made a single offer yet or bowing out of it. What they were waiting for was unclear to those present but they did notice that [member="Stardust Raxis"] had made a bid already. It seemed the auction was getting into the serious offer ranges now where even the desperate companies were cautious with their offers.

John said after the last bid on the ship contract had sat unchanged for about two minutes, " Blackwall. You are permitted to make our offers." Blackwall responded, " Understood boss. Time to secure this auction for Ashhearth Industries." He then put in a datachip into the holopad and made their bid. Their number popped up on the screen and some of the other ship companies began to discuss things. They began to make more bids but the number did not change at all. John and Blackwall both just sat quiet and watched as the ship bid didn't seem to change at all. The droid bid was still going but seemed to be down to the wire as well as most of the companies bowed out except for one that was competing with Industrial Automatons.

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

[member="John Ash"]

She eyed the board as she watched many bow out, seemed like it would be a easy victory for IA, however proven quite wrong a minute later as she saw one other company posting a bid to undercut her. She took a minute to look over to the rep scanning their face for any sign that what their doing was a gamble...win or lose situation

In any case stardust was quicjly in action, she undercut them putting her price a thsouand, as well as two free shipments of droids from her company of any time and still held her 25% off offer as she sat back to grin looking as she could see most leaving habí g no money to be made in it now...stardust enjoyed this type of thinking it was like chess you out moved your opponent ...and bowing out was removing a king or queen piece

 

[John Ash]

Those on the ship contract side were all scrambling to make offers. They kept pressing their buttons but the number of the winning bid never changed. Panic began to grow and run over them as the despair of their situation rose. Whatever it was that Ashhearth Industries had offered seemed to have completely locked down the bid for them and the realization of this was beginning to sink in as more and more of the shipwrights began to bow out of the bid until only Ashhearth Industries was left. The droid side did not seem to be going any better either as the bid made by [member="Stardust Raxis"] had locked in a winning bid for Industrial Automatons. Eventually her competitor bowed out to and the auction was officially called to a conclusion.

The other companies were informed to the leave room but not before they got a "gift" for participating. Each of them got a discount for transport for a set period of time, but none of them were happy about it. The head of the Naboo Comfort Travels came out and did the signing of the contracts for both sides. The first payment was sent to both their accounts and then they were allowed to leave as well with the same discount for them as the other companies. John said over the hologram after Blackwall and Star had been shown to the exit, " Keep that discount for yourself Blackwall. You know I won't need it. Good work out today. See you when you get back. And Ms. Raxis, congratulations on the contract. Let me know when the droids are ready. We are getting close to a point we could use them now back in the Pii System."

John cancelled out the hologram and left Blackwall to his own devices. He knew the old merc didn't need him momma henning him. Instead he began issuing the orders for the first shipment of shuttles to begin production. He had promised ships quickly along with at cost repairs for them. He had also offered some discounts on bulk orders as well as a custom one pro bono for the company executives. That was something his competitors didn't even think about doing and is what won in the end it seemed. Stroke some egos and they will pay for more than they normally would.

Blackwall watched the image of his boss disappear and turned to the twi'lek woman next to him. He said in his raspy voice, " Seems I'm free now. Know any good places to eat and drink around here?"

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

[member="John Ash"]

It seemed both sides had people boeimg out left and right, Stardust watched as she held the bid. Art of war applied even in the business sector, Stardust had started off weak and slow luring a false sense of security to the others before striking quick to cause the others to give up and in a way surrender. She looked to the last one standing as she sat back with a chuckle and nodded when they bowed out

She sat up straight once things were over, least those who bowed out got something. She signed her part and watched her head show a notification that the company had received payment and part had been put into her personal account. She stood and bowed to John

will do mr ash, I'll check on them soon as I get back to my place and send them out immediately when they are ready

In the end discounts and deals had won this, she stood as she gathered her stuff and looked it over before she looked to blackwall, she took a moment and chuckled before nodding

it's naboo my home planet I know pretty much anywhere around here with the best food and drink