Fwurg

[Nehket Aeka]

((OOC: This thread is private to the members of cabinet and their aides.))

Chancellor Nehket Aeka had called for a meeting of the members of cabinet to discuss her plans for improving the Bozzy Spine, and thereby lowering the required maintenance.

"Thank you all for coming", she started when all invited parties had arrived.

"About a year ago the Bozzy Spine was improved by improving maintenance techniques. Current research has shown that there are several technical improvements that can be done to make the Bozzy Spine even more efficient."

"This would be the first time that we step away from restoring the functionality of the Bozzy Spine by extending it towards other locations, and instead use the know-how of the Union to enhance upon the existing framework. The technical office has drawn up plans to enhance the Bozzy Spine."

"I have tabulated the necessary information in this document:"

The document has eight chapters divided over about a hundred pages. Luckily, it also featured a nice fact-sheet with an executive summary and some key figures:

Bozzy Spine Jump Trajectory Efficiency Project

The Bozzy Spine JTE project will deploy several hyperspace-anchored measuring stations and precalculation arrays to improve jump trajectory estimates used to route trade fleets. In effect, less calculation power will be needed due to the repetitive navigational nature of trade vessel jumps. Maintenance costs will be lowered by 3.5%, and jump efficiency for repetitive trajectories will increase with 0.8% to 2.9%.

The following costs are associated with the project. Values are given in both actual goods, and estimated tax value:

Tax:

8333

(8333 )

Hyperspace Nodes:

2083

(9374 )

Holonet Relays:

417

(1877 )

Total estimated cost: 19583

"As you can see, the plan calls for an investment of 8333 , 2083 and 417 . These will be used to improve the infrastructural efficiency of the Bozzy Spine. This will free up 425 per , which I hope to use to lower tax bracket 1 back to its original 10%."

"I hope to call upon your ministries to support this project through the use of your contingency budget. I propose to divide the costs as follows", the chancellor produces a second much shorter document:

• Finance: 5000
• Commerce: 5000
• Justice: 5000
• Defence: 2500
• Foreign Affairs: 2500

"The ministry of finance will carry any additional costs due to public tender price fluctuations or sudden unforeseen additional costs. Furthermore, with the help of the minister Atheos of Foreign Affairs, we have already reached an agreement with the Free Confederacy: they are willing to take upon them half of the costs of 13 -2. This has already been calculated into the project proposal."

"Can I count on your support?"

((OOC: Sorry Fedor, your expertise as the minister of Foreign Affairs was not usable due to the fact that the whole Free Confederacy would have remained silent if I had not contacted Mercury through out-of-band channels. Apologies for not having this opportunity to actually do something with your power of office O_o))

[Lady Peinaili de Montrève]

"The ministry of Commerce will support this project as well as the Sundarian Federation." Peinaili said after the Chancellor had explained her plans with the Bozzy Spine.

[Atheos]

"The ministry of Foreign Affairs supports this project, it is always a good thing to lower that tax bracket back down and it will be a hallmark of this electoral period.

Furthermore I would like to attend you to the Bozzy spine improvement funds which was constructed last electoral period under the Ministry of Commerce by myself, anticipating such a project would take place soon. At current it holds 5000 ."

[Nehket Aeka]

"In that case, I propopose to lower all ministry contributions with 1000 , if you agree. That way, the coverage of costs is easier to justify. It would also leave some fund for other projects. I have updated the cost division memo."

• Finance: 4000
• Commerce: 4000
• Justice: 4000
• Defence: 1500
• Foreign Affairs: 1500

[Senator Standro of the Confederacy of Excaria]

"I am not sure spending the defence budget on this would be opportune at this time. However, for the sake of further restoring our economy, I will agree, presuming future investments into the unions defence will be made at some point."

[Senator Mathi-ey C'b'rton of the Divine Fiefdom of Highmons]

"The Ministry of Justice is willing to make this offer for the good of the Union."

[Nehket Aeka]

"Of course, minister Standro. I look forward to a proposal by the Ministry of Defence on possible improvements on the Union's defence.

With your agremeents, we have now covered the costs of the project. I shall have the necessary public tenders announced, and I will draft a bill to change tax bracket 1 back to its original 10%."