Chapter 5708 Gloriana’s Brilliant Proposal

Chapter 5708 Gloriana’s Brilliant Proposal

5708 Gloriana’s Brilliant Proposal

As elite young mech designers who were expected to lead the Eternal Vulcan Empire's mech industry a century later, all 10 Novice Mech Designers were excellent in their own right. This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com

Perhaps their thoughts and cultural sensibilities may not completely align with that of the Larkinson Clan, but they showed very little of it when they talked and worked alongside human mech designers.

One of the issues that prevented the new dwarves from developing a close relationship with the Larkinson mech designers was the fact that the former was not connected to the Larkinson Network.

The recent recruits had all spent enough time with a permanent connection to the Golden Cat to completely integrate it into their lives.

Every member of the Larkinson Clan was instinctually able to identify other members. The encouraging glow radiated by Goldie inspired so much love and affection that it was difficult to imagine how people lived all this time without access to this incredibly useful benefit.

Despite this difference, the Novices settled in Diandi Base decently enough. Neither side was stupid or irrational enough to provoke any incidents and displease their superiors.

Even Gloriana cleaned up her act and treated the Vulcanites cordially, though he was pretty sure she felt disgusted by their shorter and much stockier bodies.

The dwarves resembled humans so much, yet deviated in a few clear ways that offended Gloriana's perfectionist tendencies.

"The following three years shall be tiresome." She complained to her husband after they completed another day at work. "Please do not make similar promises again. The Design Department is the most important institution of our clan. Having guests work alongside our own mech designers adds too many complications and makes it difficult to exert total control over every variable."

Ves leaned over and embraced his exhausted spouse. "I can't guarantee anything, but I will try my best to avoid this in the future. Believe me, I am not too enthused about this either, but the Vulcanites may very well be the only ones who are willing to give us an actual first-class fleet carrier. You should know as well as I do how incredibly scarce and valuable they are. Everyone else who has the capacity to construct fleet carriers have outright stopped their sales. They would rather keep the powerful vessels for themselves so that they can ensure they remain at the forefront of changing times."

"If that is the case, why not start our own first-class shipbuilding operation? Do not tell me that our clan is not familiar or proficient in this industry. Our shipwrights have already accrued more than enough experience with producing our own combat carriers over at the Diligent Ovenbird. We have also cooperated with the Murphy Family for numerous years. We are no longer as ignorant about the complexities related to shipbuilding as before."

Ves frowned. "That may be true, but we are talking about constructing first-

class starships here. Do you know how many requirements we have to meet to make that possible? First, we need to acquire a modern first-class shipyard. The insane amount of tech and materials that is needed to construct this orbital facility are so high that it can cost at least 10 trillion MTA credits or something to build one. Our clan may have grown a lot wealthier since we have acquired a 20 percent stake in Isthmus Manufacturing, but even that is not enough for us to order the construction of a first-class shipyard. Do keep in mind that their price has inflated by a lot due to obvious reasons."

Even with his improved connections and reputation, Ves would find it difficult to find qualified construction companies that were willing to accept and prioritize his order. Their waiting lists have already stretched on for decades!

"How so?" Ves raised his eyebrow.

"The Larkinson Clan owns the remaining 24 percent stake in the LMC. This effectively means you are in control of it as well, though you are not able to dispense with them as freely as your own shares. The fact of the matter is that if you want to maintain absolute control over your own company, you must merely ensure that you hold on to 50 percent ownership. Any shares beyond this threshold should be treated as tradable assets as far as I am concerned. Yes, they can supply you with a large amount of dividends, but do you really need the extra money at this point? Unless they can supply you with a much larger income, the additional wealth is dispensable."

Ves did not entirely agree with that, but he understood her meaning.

"So are you saying I am stupid for holding on to so many shares and that I should get rid of them as soon as possible?"

His wife sighed. "I am not belittling you, Ves. I am trying to help you treat your assets in a more rational manner. There are many more logical arguments in favor of trading away your shares as opposed to hoarding them as if you are a frightened squirrel. You can exchange up to 46 percent ownership of the LMC that is currently in your name and still retain majority control over your precious company. Think of how much wealth and assets we can raise with that many shares. The Terrans, Rubarthans and many other wealthy groups will frantically try to buy into your bright and prosperous future. If we can organize an auction and have all of the interested parties bid against each other, then obtaining a first-class shipyard is a foregone conclusion. You may be able to gain an additional one if the valuation of your stock is high enough!"

As much as Ves wanted to feature her argument, he had to admit that she made a powerful and compelling argument.

Auctioning out a large chunk of his shares would enable him to get many of the items on his wish list that he had always dreamed about but never managed to obtain through his existing channels.

Perhaps it might not be the best long-term decision for him to give up so many shares for a mech company that was continuing to grow like an ascending shuttle.

Yet Ves knew extremely well that investing too much in the long-term might not pay off due to all of the calamities that would befall red humanity in the coming decades.

It had become a lot more important for him to invest in the short and medium term prospects of his clan and his people.

Acquiring a first-class shipyard meant that his clan would be able to pump out first-class starships on a regular basis. This would not only relieve the needs of the Premier Branch, but also ensure that his clan would be able to build up a powerful first-class fighting force that could confront or deter some of the most powerful human and alien enemies in the Red Ocean!

If a scenario like the Black Tide ever took place where every human survivor sought to board the Whale Ark that could bring them away from the Red Ocean, then all of the shares in the Living Mech Corporation no longer held any value anymore.

The complete breakdown of human civilization and order would revert society to a much more primitive stage where the value of those shares could not exceed the value of a single combat capable mech!

"I'll think about it." Ves eventually decided. "This is not a decision that I can make in an instant. I will weigh it properly and decide to go forward if it truly makes sense for us at this time."

"Please do." Gloriana leaned in and kissed his cheek in an affectionate manner. "I am not the only person in our family that is concerned about our safety and the safety of our children. The second-class starships of the expeditionary fleet are no longer enough to protect us against the enemies that we have attracted as of late. Only the superior defenses and mobility of proper first-class vessels can meet our needs."