I admit I got a bit passionate at the end there. I couldn't help myself. Visha, I, the rest of my troops, we were all ultimately temporary hires, here for just a few months. The real human resources to this business have always been the locals. Of course, Visha had simply been taking her cues from the previous operator, but just because something had worked in the past didn't mean it could not be improved upon. Looking at Visha, I could see she had wilted into her seat, seemingly on the verge of tears. Well, that won't do, I didn't want to actually discourage her from trying to improve herself.
Good teaching moment, but I feel the way it happened was a bit disingenuous, what with basically cheating to win.
When I was in Point Noir I'd taken a good hard look at the colonial business model and I could only shake my head in disbelief. The whole system still seemed to be operating on an 18th century paradigm where long-distance trade of any sort was a high-risk affair and you needed a ridiculous margin just to cover your risks. Few seem to have noticed we were in the 20th century where you could afford to make long-term plans, building infrastructure and goodwill in order to expand the market rather than obsess with immediate profit.
... Or they are sucking out all they can before the territory gets placed into full imperial legal compliance a couple years down the road? Like I can see them all being aware that the abuses aren't sstainable, and deciding that better to profit as much as possible before they get smacked on the wrist...
"It's just... here I've been fooling around with this one outpost. And you've already put together a plan to take over the whole country. I just... I just wanted to show you I could do something on my own..."
What's sad is that this could have been an important milestone for Visha, cause the power dynamics between them are still so skewed, this would have been an interesting way to resolve that a bit. Visha NEEDS to have success separate from Tanya, and prove to herself she ISN'T just a subordinate, or adjutant anymore. It could have been a point where the interactions gain a bit more respect and evenness... but nope
"Second condition: the deadline! Our initial plan stays in place. Come mid-January, you'll be selling this outpost and we will be moving on. I refuse to be stuck here any longer than that."
uh... wait what? Why? Isn't the trading post like half owned by the whole rest of the guys at this point? Couldn't they subfranchize it? Or at least ask them what they want? Tanya, you need to think about the stakeholders following you on your global travels, they need their own nest eggs and stuff too beyond just a salary!
Unless you offer to have them sell it to Cold Steel, for participation (shares) rather than cash??
As the year of 1928 drew to a close, the entire civilized world was seeing exports crumble and import prices skyrocketing. With all the world's powers scrambling to rebalance their economies, one particular side-effect went largely unnoticed. With the Empire now desperate for Middle East oil, a fortune in Imperial marks poured into the Turkmen Empire. At a time when the Turkmen were struggling with an uncertain economy and internal strife, what should have been a boon acted instead as a nasty inflationary shock to an already tottering system. It was hardly the only reason for what came next, but it certainly helped to hasten the inevitable.
This is the point that the business model she just began for Cold Steel could potentially fail, as she is dealing in luxury materials primarily, which get hit the most in this environment. What IS cool is the fact that there's trade with Colombia (for the guns) which diversifies the market pool somewhat.
The Cold Steel Trading Company was doing remarkably well, rapidly taking over large chunks of the Imperial African Company's trade networks. Instead of changing their business policies, the fools were whining to the government. I scoffed. They'd gotten so used to the government siding with them against the natives, they seemed to think they'd get the same consideration against fellow Imperials. I had, of course, made sure the top positions in Cold Steel were staffed with Imperial citizens in good standing.
... I wonder if she had made ANY overtures to the 203rd remnant posted at Point Noir though? You'd think she would at least signal to them that Cold Steel was owned by 203rd sympathizers, or something right?
Also, what is pushing her to move from Congo, beside her jumpiness at this point? I don't see it, unless it's cause of the proximity of imperial forces and the fact that she now has confirmation that they have hit squads out for her?
I'm assuming she is going to Turkmen Empire next? Wonder what part
