CHOAM Board of Directors Meeting 10-23-98

[HYWASaint@aol.com]

Here's a log of the first CHOAM Board of Directors Meeting recorded by Cesare
Moritani.  It has been edited and typos corrected as seen.  Please excuse any
which may have been missed.  I'm just a man, not a Webster.  ;)


You walk through the Inlayed Door.

Board Room -- CHOAM Headquarters (Kaitain)
20 meter-high windows line the western wall, but they are covered by think
grey curtains which allow only slivers of light through. A few glowglobes
hover throughout the room, but are at very low levels. Only two glowglobes
give off significant light, directly over a square oak table with a missing
center, around which are only four chairs. One corner of the square is missing
to allow access to the core of the table.
Players:
 Cesare                                Tolben                               
Exits:
 Inlayed Door  leads to Offices -- CHOAM Headquarters (Kaitain)

Cesare enters the room, a burgundy leather-bound folder under his arm.

Tolben stands near a window, but completely in the shade. He is surrounded by
several Guild agents, two in plain grey robes, one in bright orange, and
finally one in more typical stylish dress. They seem not to notice the
entering Siridar and they talk in hushed tones.

Cesare gives a rather irritated glance at the Guild members and seats himself
at the table, placing his folder on the surface and smoothing out his clothes
as he takes his place.

You sit at the table.

There is a stirring among the Guildsmen. Tolben walks out from among them and
moves towards his place at the table. He bows to Cesare in silence. All of the
other Guildsmen follow on cue. The ones in orange and plainclothes leave. The
other two go about setting up a contraption beside Tolben on the table.

Nils walks in from Offices through the Inlayed Door.
Nils has arrived.

Cesare nods curtly to Tolben and his fellow Guildsmen and then turns his
attentions to his folder, which he opens and begins to peruse through
diligently.

Nils walks in slowly, shedding his cloak and hanging it over his chair. He
greets Cesare and Tolben silently and sits, placing his attache case on the
table.

Tolben bows to Nils before slipping into his chair. A loud silence continues
from the Guild's side of the table. The two grey robed Guildsmen appear to be
nearly finished.

Cesare gives a quick nod to Nils, accompanied with a verbal greeting to break
the silence in the room. "Good evening, Nils! How well you look, and after
that horrid opera last night it is indeed a wonder!"

Tolben drops Viewscreen.

Nils grins thinly, and says, "Let's just say that I got a good night's sleep,
shall we?"


Cesare chuckles noiselessly, "At least you managed to find some rest amidst
that agonizing cacophony they DARED to call musical theatre!"

One of the grey Guildsmen approaches Tolben and places a small black device by
his hand. Without a word, only the swooshing of robes, the two Guildsmen make
to the exit with haste. They turn and bow to the assmbled nobility before they
depart.

Tolben quietly turns flimsy, translucent pages of crowded text seemingly
oblivious to a human presence in the room.

Cesare returns his attentions to his folder, becoming oblivious to the other
Directors as he peruses various sundry reports and memoranda.

Rigel walks in from Offices through the Inlayed Door.
Rigel has arrived.

Rigel bows to the siridars. "My lords. I come here as proxy for Siridar-Baron
Alexander Venhei."

Cesare looks up briefly to the Venhei representative, gives him a strained
smile, and then returns to his calculations.

Nils greets the proxy silently, and motions toward the empty chair.

Rigel walks stiffly towards the assigned seat and sits. He puts a briefcase on
the table, and begins to remove papers from it.

Tolben glances up and looks slowly at each man. He then scans the room for any
persons who do not belong. He rises from his seat and picks up the small black
device left for him.

Tolben just looked at you.

Nils fumbles around in his coat pocket. He retrieves a spice candy, pops it
into his mouth, and sucks away contentedly.

Rigel nods to the Guild's representative.

The Guildsman raises a coarsely veined hand to his mouth and clears his
throat, "Welcome, Directors," He glances to Rigel without moving his head,
"and Boardmembers. Are we ready to begin?"

Cesare nods in agreement, "Yes, quite well and ready." The Count then takes
several documents out of his folder, closes it, and places them on top.

Nils nods silently, and opens his attache case. He takes out his papers and
sets the empty case next to his chair.

Rigel puts down his papers, looks at the Guildsman and nods once.

Tolben brings the small device up before him and appears to press it. There is
an audible click from the vicinity of the door and the static whine of a
whisper field powering up can be head for an instant, "We may speak freely
now, sirs. The room is secure."

Cesare winces at the strange sound of the device and replies, "No less should
be expected on this, the pinnacle of the economic mountain of the Known
Universe."

Rigel looks at the device and nods to the Moritani lord.

Nils' hair begins to stand on end in the static field. He brushes it back
down.

No reaction comes from the Prime Director. He presses another button and text
flashes up on the viewscreen, "The usual topics tonight, gentlemen."

Tolben picks up one of the thin sheets from his assorted papers, "First, I
think we are all aware it has been a fairly average year for CHOAM. 78 of the
contracts came in with 10 of expectation..."

Nils strains his eyes to see the small screen. His eyes dart back and forth
for a moment, and he nods in approval.

Cesare furrows a brow in some amount of frustration and states, "Yes, but
several, including Arrakis, enjoyed record profits."

Tolben takes a breath before continuing speaking through a bored sigh, "Of the
remainder, roughly an even split between over and underperformers. In the end
a slightly better than anticipated performance as a whole, but well within the
usual statistical noise." He sets down the sheet, "All in all, gentlemen,
status quo."

Rigel eyes the viewscreen with out any evidence of an expression.

Cesare nods reluctantly, "Yes, but a profitable status quo nonetheless. Not
the best that could have been achieved, but by far not the worst."

Tolben does not look at either of the men who have interrupted directly, and
clenches his jaw lightly, "I believe the shareholders will be satisfied. Do we
agree?"

Nils nods, remaining silent.

Rigel looks down from the viewscreen. "I believe my lord Venhei is sir."

Cesare fiddles with his papers a bit and then responds, "I think it will prove
satisfactory to the Shareholders."

Tolben nods and begins to lower himself into his chair, "Do any of my fellow
Directors wish to say anything before we begin?"

Cesare shakes his head and leans forward, his arms resting on the table before
him. "I think we can proceed."

Rigel shakes his head and mumbles. "There is nothing House Venhei wishes to
state at this moment."

Nils also shakes his head. "We may proceed."

Tolben scratches beneath his eye with one hand as he pushes papers, "On to the
assignment of contracts. We have a few important contracts expiring at the end
of the year, sirs." He stops and digs more before turning to the screen and
reading them off, "The Basal, Colivcoh, Essen, and Fides-3 contracts deserve
special attention. I think we can simply rubber stamp recommendations of the
CHOAM bureaucracy on the remainder of smaller ones. Do we agree?"

Nils nods, and runs his hands absently through his beard. "That should be
sufficient."

Cesare retrieves a pen from his folder as he states, "I think so. Little
reason to deprive those starting bureaucrats of the duties which they so
enjoy."

Rigel looks at Tolben for a moment and nods.

Tolben looks blankly at Cesare, "I call for an official vote. Yea or nay,
gentlemen?" His eyes stay on Cesare.

Cesare says blandly as he returns the gaze, "Yea."

Nils nods once more. "Yea."

Rigel in an unemotional voice speaks, "Yea."

Tolben scribbles on one of his sheets with a long quill at each response, "The
Guild's vote of 'yea' makes it unanimous, gentlemen. The motion passes." He
sets the pen down, "Now, on to the Basal contract."

Tolben sits back, "The Basal ship yards are one of the most important in the
Imperium. However, there was little interest in the contract. It is a rather
hefty, well developed one, and few seem to have interest in solid, but not
stellar, investments these days..." He eyes the group, "But we have two bids.
One from the House Ghoruh and one from House Trement. Any opinions from the
Board?"

Rigel speaks up. "It is our opinion that the contract goes to the highest
bidder."

Nils sits up in his chair. "I am, to say the least, concerned about House
Ghoruh. Ever since the death of Baron Auyang, and the establishment of the
Regency under Dowager Baroness Xija, they have been--how shall I
say--unstable."

Cesare nods in agreement with the Viscount's statement, "I agree entirely.
That woman fritters their coffers away in mindless pleasures and hedonism. She
would bleed the world dry and bring it to ruin if she could manage to squeeze
out enough profits just to get her vjorik's hair permed!"

Tolben looks to Rigel, "Do the Venhei have an opinion to share, Boardmember?"

Rigel nods. "As I have stated before, my lord sides with whomever offers the
most for the contract. We are after, not into taking sides in any disputes."

Cesare gives a slight grunt of displeasure and mutters, "blasted neutrality."

Rigel looks at Cesare, but says nothing.

Tolben looks down at the sheet, "Well, in spite of the opinions of the
Directors Nils and Cesare, the House Ghoruh has made a slightly, but
significantly higher bid."

Cesare gives the table a slight rap of his knuckles and states, "I shall NOT
vote for the Ghoruh. They will bring Basal to degradation and it is our duty
as the Board of Directors to, above all else, maintain the profitability and
progress of CHOAM. The Ghoruh may pay more for it, but they wouldn't know how
to make a contract profit if you blasted it into their heads with a lasgun! I
have a better and far more potentially profitable idea if you gentlemen are
willing to entertain it."

Nils' expression darkens. "I stand by my objection. House Ghoruh would run the
yards into the ground within the year!"

Rigel turns from Cesare to the Guildsman and says, "Then we must vote for
House Ghoruh in this matter, for they have made the highest bid."

Cesare gives a fiery glare at the Venhei representative and then says through
clenched teeth, "So be it."

Rigel eyes Cesare with a cold, unemotional stare.

Tolben looks between the Boardmembers with a spark of excitement stirring deep
within his voice, "The Guild, as traditional in such matters, will choose to
abstain from choosing from such a close decision when there is no clear best
interest for CHOAM. I call for the vote."

Cesare snaps, "Nay!"

Tolben holds up a hand, "Nay to the Ghoruh, Count Cesare? Are you choosing the
Trement?"

Cesare shakes his head in vehement protestation, "No! They're so gentle and
gracious that they'll likely waste all the money on doilies for the citizens!
I'll not vote for a House which cannot put the whip to the populace when the
situation demands it! As I stated, I have a third proposal, and therefore I
vote nay for both Houses Ghoruh and Trement."

Rigel continues to stare at Cesare, with a slight arch of an eyebrow.

A smile actually begins to form on the face of the old Guild Director, he
tilts his head with interest, "What is this proposal of yours, Director
Cesare?"

Cesare seems to grow disconcerted at the apparent amusement of the Guild
Director. he recomposes himself and places his right hand flat on the table,
the diamond ring glinting in the lights. "My proposal is simple. The reason
for Basal's decreased profits is due to the fact that the Ginaz cannot seem to
keep control and order amongst the populace. I therefore submit that we give
the contract to a House notorious for its ability to make the people work
their utmost for the greatest profits possible: the Harkonnen."

Nils weighs Cesare's suggestion. "I do agree that the Ginaz are perhaps
too...liberal with their workers. Why, if you listen to their propaganda, they
even hold up that laughably outdated notion of 'democracy,' which was
repeatedly disproved in the First, Second, and Third Democracy Wars!" He
chuckles under his breath. "I do think the Harkonnen methods more effective,
but can we give the contract to a House that did not bid? That would be unfair
to those Houses that took the trouble."

Tolben appears to weight the comment, "A most audacious proposal, Director. Am
I to understand that you wish to give the contract to a House Major that has
not bid upon said contract?" He searches for words with his mouth flapping,
"How do you know the Harkonnen want such a commitment? And I must say, I
wonder if the Baron Harkonnen knows that the Count Moritani is now running the
affairs of his fief."

Cesare shrugs and states, "Since when has CHOAM been in the business of
fairness? We hare here to serve CHOAM and I the Emperor as well, and those two
aspects far outweigh any personal desires to be fair or equitable. I do not
run the affairs of the Harkonnen nor would I do so under any circumstances.
The Baron Boris related to me in a private meeting several days ago that he
wishes to be granted the Basal contract. He is confident that he can bring it
to profits unparalleled in the history of CHOAM, and I for one agree with that
assessment. All fairness or partiality must be thrown out the door when we
arrive here, gentlemen. We are concerned with business and money...CHOAM's
money. To put a contract as valuable as Basal in jeopardy just to placate a
House is foolishness and shows a lack of judgment on our part."

Rigel nods once. "But House Harkonnen has not bid on the contract. Still it is
my opinion as proxy to House Venhei that House Harkonnen would effectively
handle the contract obligations. But perhaps we can work something out.

Tolben pinches his chin lightly, "Did the Baron make it known to you, Count
Cesare, why the Harkonnen would not formalize such a desire?" He drops the
hand, "Your point that we are here to serve the interests of CHOAM with few
reservations is well taken, Director. However, CHOAM has rules that must be
followed. If this body chooses to throw aside it's charter and policy, even
for a short term gain, we walk down a path of chaos that leads to confusion
and failure."

Cesare steels his jaw and retorts, "I believe the Baron has been busy with
family affairs. I am not proposing that we abrogate CHOAM Policy, Prime
Director. What I am suggesting is that we give the contract to the House which
can best put it to use."

Rigel coughs slightly. "My lords if I may be allowed to make a proposal."

A page comes in and hands a copy of a paper to each of the Directors. The
fragile little man then scurries outside like some humanoid cockroach.
Siridar-Count Cesare slaps his hand on the table and announces loudly, "Aha! I
told you! The Baron did indeed lodge a bid! Those blasted bureaucrats were
cowering outside and were debating whether or not to disrupt us or not! I
think, with that, your point is therefore moot, Prime Director, and it is time
to put this to a vote."

Rigel looks from Cesare to Nils. "While we believe House Harkonnen would be
the best house to run the contract fief, we have reservations to vote on this
since this would violate our stance of neutrality. But, we would gladly throw
in with House Harkonnen and also remove ourselves from the bidding for the
Fides-3 contract if we could take over the old Harkonnen contract of Colivcoh,
with payment at the minimum bids.."

Tolben is closely examining the papers dropped by the intruder until he stares
at Rigel with a look of befuddlement.

Cesare frowns at the Venhei representative, and his lips move silently, but he
makes no audible remarks.

Rigel says, "If you'll notice my lords. That Colivcoh is the next contract to
be bidden on."

Nils scratches his chin. "While I am...surprised at the Venhei's sudden change
of plans, I do think that our fellow Board member has hit upon a most
equitable agreement."

Tolben closes his eyes and rubs the bridge of his nose as he digests the
chaotic scene. The amused excitement has now shifted fully into a displeased
fluster, "So, it looks as things are wrapping themselves up quite cleanly." He
rests his chin in the hand, "And quite well for the Board as it slices up the
large contracts among its own members and their close, I might even say
'cliquish,' allies. How very lucky for us all."

Cesare slaps his hand on the table, "Let us vote on the contract at hand, then
we can discuss Colivcoh!"

Rigel looks from the siridars to the Guildsman and half-grimaces, half-smiles.

A voice quite loud for the old man's frame fills the room, "Call for the vote
on the Basal contract."

Rigel says, "House Venhei votes for House Harkonnen."

Cesare states blithely, "Yea for the Harkonnen."

Nils nods in the Venhei's direction. "House Alvstad votes for House Harkonnen,
as well."

Rigel looks at the papers in front of him, and then looks back up at Tolben
and nods.

Tolben looks at each once more before writing the result, "The Guild abstains.
The contract goes to the Harkonnen."

Cesare smiles victoriously and writes the vote's outcome down in his notes.

Tolben leans over to look at his viewscreen, "Now I believe the question of
the Colivcoh contract has already been introduced. The proxy for the Venhei
Director has chosen to make their bid in our chambers." He looks down at a
list before him, "The House Boughet has also put in a bid. Discussion, or the
vote, gentlemen?"

Cesare furrows his brow. "I for one think this virtually screams discussion.
There is a very important fact that we are overlooking here, gentlemen! The
Ginaz are now without contract. Can we honestly leave a House with so much
money and resources at their command without contract save their homeworld?
The stagnation that will bring will bode no good for CHOAM."

Rigel frowns for a moment but counters, "But sires, they have not bid for a
contract, and as you say Lord Moritani they are weak when marshaling their
workforce. The Venhei on the other hand have many years of experience in many
mercantile ventures as well as getting optimum performance from our workforce.
Off course should we get this contract we could not possibly handle bidding
for other contracts."

Nils nods slowly in Cesare's direction. "Yes, it is a waste of resources to
let the Ginaz lie fallow this period, but that simply brings up the previous
debate. While the Harkonnen managed--with uncanny timing, I must say--to make
their bid at the last minute, we should not suppose that lighting will strike
twice, so to speak."

Cesare frowns. "The Ginaz can certainly handle a contract like Colivcoh. It
doesn't demand near the attention that Basal does. You Venhei have a solid
contract as it is, and to attempt to shut one of the most prominent Houses
Major such as the Ginaz out of CHOAM would be an economic blunder of
astronomic proportions."

Tolben squints at Cesare, "You seem to have had a quick change of opinion,
Director. One moment, we must be ruthless to assign the Ginaz mismanaged
contract to the best suited. Now you want to offer handouts for fear that the
economic woes of /one/ House might hurt all of CHOAM?"

Rigel says, "And a house that they are at war with nonetheless..Interesting
sire."

Cesare grows quite livid at the accusations and replies viciously, "My opinion
has not changed one iota. I stated that we should be more concerned with the
profits of CHOAM than with partiality, and that is what I am doing. My
instincts and my common sense scream to give the contract to anyone but the
Ginaz, but I recognize in them a House which, although it cannot adequately
handle something the size of Basal, can quite handle Colivcoh. Their economic
woes will most likely lead to open warfare. They shall be reduced to that in
order to survive. You know as well as I do that the first instinct of a
cornered dog is to bite, and the bite of the Ginaz could take a huge chunk out
of the Known Universe."

Nils pages through a legal pad, covered with dense writing in the Alvst
alphabet. "You must remember, cher cousine, that even when a House is not
awarded a contract, they still maintain their fief contract, keeping them busy
at home until they may be awarded another. The Ginaz fief contract is a
healthy 42 shares...more than enough to keep them from indolence."

Rigel looks at the lived Moritani and says, "I do not believe the Ginaz will
escalate hostilities my lord. I believe they are above that level.
Nonetheless, they have not bidden and should not be a factor in this."

Tolben raises a hand, "Perhaps we should resort to a vote on this matter. I do
not think the debate is fruitful." He looks to Rigel, "I assume I know the
Venhei vote?"

Rigel nods. "Indeed, we make a formal vote for...ourselves offcourse."

Cesare passes his gaze over everyone, "You know my opinion on the matter, and
if you decide to vote to the contrary then it shall be on your heads. I think
to give the contract to the Venhei shows blatant partiality and bias, and
think that the Shareholders shall view it in a likewise fashion."

Tolben mostly shrugs off the later part of Cesare's remark and looks to Nils.

Rigel gives Cesare the usual cold stare but says nothing, turning to look at
Nils.

Nils sets down his notes. "While House Alvstad is saddened by the fact that
the Ginaz may be left without contract this period, the Combine Honnete has
its rules and we must stand by them. Perhaps the Ginaz had a reason for not
making a bid this period... and although I cannot think of any reasons for
such inaction, I would assume such reasons exist." He pauses for a moment. "As
for our vote...House Alvstad votes for House Venhei."

Tolben nods along with Nils, "The Guild must agree with the sentiment of the
Director Alvstad. The Guild simply cannot vote for a House that has not
offered a bid for a contract. To do so violates the rules of this institution
and the trust of its stockholders to abide by those rules. The Guild rarely
likes to choose among the Houses on these votes, but will vote for the Venhei
to close this matter." The Guildsman picks up his pen once he is finished
speaking and scribbles.

Cesare states calmly, "So be it."

Tolben does not bother to look at the board or his papers this time, "We move
to the Essen contract on which we have two bids. Discussion?"

Rigel just nods and writes something on an official looking paper.

Cesare nods slightly, "Yes. I think it should go to the Atreides. The
Harkonnen have Basal as well as another contract, and cannot possibly handle
all three at the same time. The Atreides have a relatively small load to bear,
and should be able to support the weightiness of Essen."

Tolben looks at the other two boardmembers.

Nils checks his notes once more, and makes a quick calculation in the margin.
"The Atreides' current contract, Helman Livestock, has produced 107.9% of its
projected profit in the last period. In terms of percentage, that is the
single best performing contract in the Company! I believe the Atreides are
more than competent to pick up another contract, and I think my fellow
Boardmembers would have to agree."

Rigel looks at the Alvstad siridar and gives him a nod. "I concur sire. Such
rise in efficiency deserves another contract."

Cesare simply nods, as he has already stated his views.

Tolben shakes his thin frame with a cool chuckle, "Now the Venhei Boardmember
changes his stance of 'always choose the highest bidder.' Policy among the
Boardmembers seems to be... how to say it, rather fluid this evening." He
picks up his pen, "Call the formal vote, I shall write it, sirs."

Cesare flexes his jaw at that comment, and says, a tinge of venom to his
voice, "Yea."

Nils echoes his fellow Director. "Yea for the House Atreides."

Rigel looks at Cesare and returns his gaze to Tolben. "House Venhei votes for
House Atreides in this matter."

Tolben nods along to the call, "The Guild shall abstain. The Atreides will
receive the contract." While still writing, he moves on, "And we come to the
Fides-3 contract. Does the Venhei Boardmember have anything to say about his
House's bid on the contract?"

Rigel says, "House Venhei wishes to retract their bid for the Fides-3
contract." He finishes and looks at Nils.

Nils puts down his notebook. "I am pleased to report that under Alvstad
direction the Fides-3 contract has achieved in the 106th percentile, second
only to the Atreides' Helman contract. I see no reason to end this highly
auspicious productive streak."

Tolben finally looks up and focuses on Cesare.

Cesare opens his mouth to say something, and then shakes his head and says, "I
concur."

Rigel nods once.

Tolben shrugs and looks back down, "There were no other bids on the Fides-3
contract, so, let us make it official. The vote, gentlemen?"

Cesare says, his temper once more cooled, "Yea for House Alvstad."

Nils agrees. "Yea for House Alvstad."

Rigel bows his head slightly. "Yea, for the contract remaining in House
Alvstad's hands."

With a thump, Tolben finishes writing the vote, "The Guild abstains. The
contract will stay with the Alvstad." The old Guildsman straightens the collar
of his robe as he looks over at his agenda...

Rigel shuffles some papers back into his case, remaining with only a couple in
the table in front of him.

Cesare sits back in a far more relaxed position now that voting on the crucial
contracts has concluded.

Tolben says, "I had planned to mention briefly that the Bureau of Special
Contract Development has recommended two of their projects have matured be
moved to open bidding. These are fairly large contracts and thought it might
be of interest. However, I wonder if we are running a bit longer than we
anticipated.""

Nils nods, and stifles a yawn.

Tolben looks back at the screen, "I mention that since I think we should vote
to move the contracts to bidding at the end of next period and add the
announcement to the agenda for the Shareholders Meeting."

Cesare says in an unbemused tone, "Yea."

Rigel looks up from his papers. "Perhaps the Prime Director could inform us
about these contracts so that we may mull them over at our lords'
conveniences?"

Nils turns to a blank page in his legal pad.

Tolben looks at his papers, "A brief description should have been in the
papers you received. Delta Kaising is of course the source of shigawire.
Development believes that the planet has been made habitable enough that the
special development contract is no longer warranted. Niros is an agricultural
colony that the Bureau has decided produces enough, but more importantly,
foods of such a fine quality that interstellar shipments are feasible."

Nils jots a few quick characters in vertical lines on his tablet.

Tolben looks up, "Any questions? Or a vote to take the recommendation and make
the announcement to the shareholders?"

Nils nods. "Yea to the recommendation and to the announcement."

Cesare opens a pillbox and pops a small, reddish tablet into his mouth. After
chewing it up, he says in a rather raspy voice, "I vote Yea to take the
recommendation and make the announcement at the next shareholder's meeting."

The Count coughs and clears his throat.

Rigel says, "I follow suit with the two honorable siridars and vote yea to
both.""

Tolben nods, "The Guild votes 'yea.' It is unanimous." His chest rises in a
deep breath, "Does anyone have anything they wish to add to the meeting of the
stock holders besides the announcement of new contracts and the announcement
of awarded contracts?"

Cesare begins to put away his documents as he says, "No, Prime Director. I
have nothing to add."

Nils sits upright in his seat. "Director Alvstad motions to adjourn before the
sun comes up. Seconded?"

Cesare nods emphatically, "I second it."

Rigel nods in agreement.

Nils turns to Tolben. "If the Prime Director has nothing to add, we shall put
it to a vote."


Looking tired, the Guildsmen blinks an affirmative.

Cesare gives his vote, "Yea."


Nils echoes, "Yea."

Rigel says, "Yea."

Tolben humorlessly looks to Nils, Cesare, and then Rigel, any trace of
excitement drained from him in the last few moments, "In that case, I will
send out the announcement of the Shareholders Meeting and Agenda to all CHOAM
Shareholders in the morn. I will see you all then, in two weeks, Directors."
He rises and bows to each, but a half-bow for Rigel.

Nils stands up, shoulders his cloak, and begins to gather his belongings. He
returns the Prime Director's bow.

Cesare stands and bows to the other Directors, ignoring Rigel entirely in his
acknowledgments, "I think we have, for the most part, made wise and profitable
decisions here, gentlemen. A productive meeting indeed."

You stand up from the stable.

Tolben presses the button on the small black device that remained at his side
throughout the meeting. There is a crackle in a corner of the room and a click
at the door.

Nils' hair slowly returns to its proper shape.

Rigel stands and bows to both siridars. "My lords."

The same flock of Guildsmen, two in gray, one in orange robes efficiently move
into the room. The plain clothed one stands by the door and offers bows and
smiles to the departing nobles.

Tolben is now set 'Out-of-Character.'

Rigel picks up his papers and his case, bowing to the Prime Director as he
moves to exit.

Cesare nods to all three representatives this time and walks out the door,
ignoring the Guildsman flanking it. His quick gait denotes an obvious rush.

Nils acknowledges the bow. "You may report to your lord that we found your
performance more than satisfactory, but do wish that he himself can be present

You walk through the Inlayed Door.