Mara Goes Letara, Ep 2-2
Mid-morning, 14th January 1952
Boardroom, Mara main factory grounds, just outside the town of Mara, Archana
After everyone had returned from the coffee break, Henri Nordhov continued from his position at the end of the table. “We were asked by our government to help sales abroad of an Archanan product, particularly in Letara.” He made another pause for dramatic effect. “Volkov Locomotive works’ newest model, the high-speed steam locomotive Class P36.”
The Class P36 in front of the Kronagrad-Basara-Express entering Kronagrad main station
Board meeting, part 2: Letara spending, part 2
The room was suddenly filled with puzzled faces. Of course, everyone were well-aware of the Class P36 as its recent entry into service was well publicised across Archana. So was the stir it caused in neighbouring Fruinia as it required them to maintain a basic infrastructure to provide water, sand and coal for the sole train in service between the two countries - the Lenagrad-Terso-Express - to be pulled by the sole type of steam locomotive still operating on Fruinian territory. Still, the P36 was faster than most Fruinian electric locomotives currently in service.
Henri continued. “They want to combine the offer to the Letaran government with assistance in repairing and enhancing their rail infrastructure as well as in exploiting the Letaran coal deposits in return for coal export in the future.”
Fedor Piechov was the first one to regain speech. “So we are now an instrument of Archanan foreign policy?”
Henri shrugged. “We are basically the only ones with contacts in the country, and ours are even in the Letaran government, and they also quite liked the Visim van over there, so someone thought it’d be easiest if we play messenger.”
Fedor was less than mollified. “I thought our core business is cars, not trains? And they are very much a capitalist democracy?!”
“First, there is nothing wrong with state spending on infrastructure, is there?” Henri retorted. “They also think after the recent natural disasters, Letara might be quite receptive for a boost of their infrastructure and industry investments. Moreover, technology sales to foreign countries and to receive raw materials in the future will help all of us.” He paused for a second, but this time rather to collect his own thoughts. Noone else voiced further dissent, or dared to do so. “When is the next time someone is going over?”
Fedor answered. “That’d be Inna… and Rodyn at some point in the next weeks. Inna, you’ll be in charge of scouting out locations to build an eventual assembly plant and submit a more detailed plan for approval until the end of March. Rodyn can introduce you to our dealerships and other contacts we have made over the last years preparing for and running in the Cannonball. When you are there, you can also take a first look for this year at the state of our three Cannonball prototypes we still have in store over there. We should also see that we formally establish a local representative in Letara so that we do not have to fly across the ocean all the time.”
Inna and Rodyn nodded in unison.
“Let me know when you have finalised your travel plans to Letara”, said Henri. “I’ll make sure that you’ll get a package with some papers from our government to deliver.”