Merodek paused, his hand on the brass knob of the mahogany door that led to the palatial Aeon Chemical boardroom. Bombs and guns he could handle. This, however, was going to be painful.
He glanced nervously at his friend, Bor Kades, a lanky Abu. His silver eyes blinked. Bor was the Senior Vice President of Operations for Aeon Chemical, and one of Merodek’s closest allies.
Across from Bor sat Anala, her black stringy hair that somehow looked perpetually wet hung loose at her shoulders. Merodek studied her, puzzled by her presence. She smiled, her artificial jaw and lower lip were made of liquid metal which laced into her right cheek clear up to her artificial eye.
Anala had never told the story of how she had lost her eye to Merodek. Not that he had ever been particularly inclined to pry into her personal life. Anala made him uncomfortable. But he was happy she was in his pocket and not that of a rival.
Sighing through pursed lips, he pushed the doors open. The baroque chamber, with its marbled pillars and gold inlays felt out of time, a throwback to an ancient era that not even the great-grandparents of the current occupants had lived far enough back to experience.
The hushed conversations ceased as soon as he stepped through the gateway. He felt the eyes of the board members on him; some angry, others simply astounded that their corporation had, in such a short time, found itself in such a terrible predicament.
He made his way to his chair, avoiding eye contact with the board members. In particular the pale, sullen Sam Meyer who looked positively triumphant as he watched the disgraced CEO pad across the room.
Merodek took his seat at the end of the table, opposite to the Chairman of the Board, Fa Saito, her tremendous Faro girth barely contained by her large seat. She was flanked by the President’s first and second councilors, Sommer Berg, a Heruka who had spent years as a special forces operator, and Tori Kamal, a Jayakara who had developed the Kamalian school of economic theory.
The unnamed President of the corporation was, as always, absent from the meeting. The two councilors were there to speak on his behalf should it be warranted. It was only under the most dire of circumstances that the President himself would attend a meeting, and apparently the current crisis did not require his attention.
Fa Saito’s clawed finger tapped the table as the rest of the eleven members of the board sat in silence, waiting. Merodek was not going to speak first. Let them fire the first salvo.
Fa cleared her throat, blinking her heavy black eyes. “I’m going to assume you are all up to speed on the current situation with Daytech Mechanics and Microtech.”
The board members shot some furtive glances at Merodek, who stared straight ahead at Fa, his gaze unflinching.
“Due to the carelessness of our CEO, Merodek Baladan,” she gestured towards him with her clawed hand. He did not acknowledge the accusation, nor react to the bitter tone in her voice, “we find ourselves on the brink of war with Microtech.”
“Come now,” Twiggy Zhan interjected “That’s being a bit melodramatic, don’t you think? The Five would never permit a full scale war.”
“And you know this how?” Sam Meyer asked, his lip curled in a disdainful sneer.
“There has not been a major conflict between the MegaCorporations for over two decades. The Alliance is embroiled in a war with the Azrael; the Five would not risk allowing a small skirmish to blossom into a larger conflict.”
“So now you know the mind of the Five?” Sam laughed. “Strange, I thought that was the role of Pope Antiochus, not a middling member of the board of directors of our humble corporation.”
“Don’t presume to lecture-“ Twiggy said, before being cut off by Fa.
“Enough!” Fa shouted. “We have plenty to worry about without listening to your lover’s spat.”
Twiggy’s face turned crimson, while Sam smirked.
“Merodek, please bring us up to speed on the current situation.”
Merodek’s bioluminescent bands changed colors from a deep green to a bright yellow.
“Currently the lower courts are in the process of reviewing the purchase of the mining rights that occurred when we liquidated the assets of Gorgunov Chemicals.“
“I’m sorry, we?” Sam interrupted. “We did nothing. You, sir, took unilateral action.”
Merodek studied Sam’s face for a moment, his perpetual smug smile having worn a spiderweb of crow’s feet along the rims of his bloodshot eyes.
“We took no losses during the assault on the Moora mining colony, and we secured our tech I.P. and wiped the servers clean before Daytech Mechanics moved in.”
“Well, that’s something at least,” Fa said.
“Won’t that data revert to Daytech if they win in the lower courts?” Sam asked.
Twiggy shook her head. “The research facility R&D department was always under the control of Aeon Chemical, and all patents were filed under our name, not Gorgunov Chemical. We’re protected there.”
“This is where things get tricky, however,” Merodek continued. “Daytech Mechanics is displeased, and have threatened to cancel their contracts.”
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“By the Five, it’s like you’re flushing zenny down the toilet,” Sam said, shaking his head. “The level of mismanagement on display is astounding. This will be our worst quarter in a hundred years.”
Fa raised her hand to quiet Sam. “What of Microtech?” she asked.
“The situation is tenuous at best,” Merodek said. “They’ve sent seven fleets to the Immat System.”
“Seven fleets?” Sam said, his voice weak.
“To what end?” Fa asked.
“I can only speculate,” Merodek continued. “But seeing as they have no significant holdings in the system, I can only assume they are preparing for an assault on the Trillou Station, our gas mining facility in orbit around the planet Mafdet.”
Fa sank back in her chair as his words sunk in. Things were spiraling out of control.
Sam slammed the palm of his open hand onto the table. “This is unacceptable!”
Twiggy watched Merodek’s glacial face for a moment before turning back to her rival. “Sam, I’m convinced you only have two emotions, pompous and angry.”
“Yes. And now I’m angry.”
The rest of the board members exploded into a cacophony of accusations and pointed fingers. Merodek sat, the calm center at the eye of the storm. He could tell by the words being exchanged that he was on the losing side. Twiggy and Fa continued to defend his decisions, but they were only a vocal minority. The die had been cast before the meeting was called.
After a time, the shouting subsided.
“Did you get that out of your system?” Merodek asked calmly.
“Yeah, I think so,” Sam said, retaking his seat, the ugly shade of red draining from his face as he straightened his foppish hair.
“Good,” Merodek leaned forward. “I’ve spoken with Adra Melik at great length.”
“You’ve been negotiating with Microtech without consulting the board?” Fa said. Merodek held back a grimace. Fa had always been his friend, and he knew going behind her back was going to sting. Desperate times, though.
“I’ve negotiated a treaty,” he swiped his aglets, sending the documents to the HUDs of each of the board members.
Fa opened her mouth to protest, but Merodek remained stone faced. She began to read.
Merodek folded his long fingers as he waited.
One by one the board members looked up at him, uncertainty in their eyes. “Is this a legitimate contract?” Fa asked him.
Merodek nodded his head.
“I don’t understand; why would they make so many concessions? Microtech agrees to these terms?”
“With one additional condition,” Merodek said. “I must resign as CEO, effective immediately.”
A thunderous silence filled the room. Merodek waited, the dry creaking of their wooden chairs the only sound that dared interrupt.
“Merodek…” Fa said softly.
Merodek ignored her. “These contracts will need a majority approval from the board. I propose we put it to a vote.”
Fa nodded her head.
“But before you do, I would like to express my gratitude for my time here at Aeon Chemical. I know we have had our differences in the past,” his eyes lingered on Sam, who hadn’t bothered to hide his euphoria. “But despite our disagreements, I have always respected each of you. Even when you were wrong.”
The board chuckled at his joke, easing the tension in the room.
“Very well,” Fa said. “All those in favor of the proposed contract with Microtech?”
Ten of the board members raised their hands - Sam so enthusiastically, Merodek thought he might pull a muscle. Twiggy looked at Merodek, her eyes pleading. He nodded his head to her, and she slowly raised her arm. Fa’s hand joined hers.
“The contract passes unanimously.”
“Well, that’s that,” Merodek said, slapping his hand on the table.
“Merodek, on behalf of the Board of Directors, we would like to thank you for your years of service.” Fa said. “While there were a few missteps under your tenure-“
Sam chortled. Fa glared at him, until the smile bled from his face.
“We would do well to remember the unprecedented growth we saw under your leadership. Aoen Chemical would not be the corporation it is today, were it not for your work.”
Merodek stood. “Now that I am simply a friend and, I hope, a trusted advisor - well, to some of you at least - I would like to recommend the Senior Vice President of Operations, Bor Kades, for your consideration as you begin the selection process for my replacement.”
Bor entered the room, his power tie failing to mask his anxiety. Merodek stood next to his friend, putting his long arm around Bor’s shoulders.
“As you know, Bor has been an exemplary employee for decades. He spearheaded the Overdyne Services initiative, which nearly quadrupled last year’s fourth quarter earnings. I cannot think of another candidate more qualified to take the helm of Aeon Chemicals.”
Fa smiled. Merodek had gotten the sense that Fa had always had a bit of a crush on Bor, and Merodek had made no secret of his intentions to groom Bor as his replacement. The Microtech crisis had squeezed his timetable. But Bor was ready. He would do well. Merodek was certain of it.
“Very well, shall we put it to a vote?” Fa said.
Sam cleared his throat loudly. “I have my own candidate to recommend,” he said, eyeing Merodek. “Anala, if you would join us please.”
Anala entered the chamber, her stern face and powerful demeanor unintimidated by the room of executives. Merodek watched her as she pointedly avoided his gaze.
“Anala was appointed to the position of Chief Intelligence Officer by our… esteemed,” the word dripped with venom, “former CEO, Merodek. She has acquitted herself beautifully. It was she who struck down the Gorgunov upstarts, coordinating and executing the assassinations with military precision. It was she who managed the defenses of our mining colony when our… esteemed,” there was that word again, “former CEO abandoned it. And it was she who negotiated the contract we just approved, using back channel pressure to get Microtech to agree.”
It was all true, or at the very least, a version of the truth. Which, in the business world, was enough. Merodek continued to study Anala’s face as she stared blankly forward.
“Very well, if there are no other nominations…” Fa said, pausing. “Alright, those in favor of appointing Bor Kades to the position of Chief Executive Officer of Aeon Chemical Ltd., please so indicate.”
Twiggy, Fa, and four other board members raised their hands.
“All those in favor of appointing Anala Magha to the position of Chief Executive Officer, please so indicate.”
Sam and five other hands went up.
“The vote is six to six, a tie.”
Bor looked crushed, but Merodek squeezed his shoulder in an attempt to reassure his friend. Grumbles rumbled through the boardroom as Fa continued.
“Per the corporate bylaws, we will reconvene in one months’ time to put the appointment to a second vote. In the interim, as Chairman of the Board, it is my duty to appoint a CEO Pro-tem. As my top choice is one of the candidates, and therefore is ineligible, I appoint Arma Nagini, the Financial Control Officer to the position. I will make sure he is notified at once.”
There was an awkward silence.
“Merodek, Bor, Anala, thank you for your time, you are now excused.”
Merodek’s bioluminescent lines turned a deep red as he exited the board room.
“What the hell happened?” Bor asked, more stunned than angry. Anala marched ahead of them, moving swiftly as only cowards can, to avoid any sort of confrontation with Merodek.
“It’ll be alright,” Merodek said, unsure if he was lying. “We only have a month; that means we need to get to work. I’ll reach out to Gui Price, and see what it will take to buy his vote. You work Roger Li. All we need is one vote. That shouldn’t be hard to muster.”
Merodek hoped Bor couldn’t detect the uncertainty in his voice. Anala was a dangerous opponent. This could get messy.