28th Lie, Video

[plays_with_dolls]

[Boyd is standing behind his desk at Rossum HQ, a fantastic view of city visible through the window behind him.]

I want to announce that as of Monday August sixth, Rossum and Global Protection Services will no longer be doing any business with any current, or future signatory to the ImBargo Act. All current leases and licenses for Rossum devices, technology, medicine, and research will be terminated. Furthermore companies that do business in these countries that license Rossum technology will not be allowed to use, or supply that technology withing the borders of those countries. I am also withdrawing any and all funds we have invested in the infrastructure of these nations. If I as a person am not welcome on their shores then I will not allow them to benefit from the hard work of my employees, or my money.

I am aware this will negatively affect many people and for that I am sorry, but because these nations refuse to extend to us a basic human right and seem to view us as a threat, I feel I have no other option. It is only one short step from banning us from their territory to seizing our assets and I will not endanger my people, or my company by leaving open facilities in places I think that could happen. If and when these nations change their minds and attitudes toward ImPorts I will be happy to reopen business with them.

I would also like to ask all other business owners, ImPort and Native, to join me in this boycott. Together we might be able to convince them of how wrong this Act is. Thank you.

[Later on in the evening this message is released to all major new outlets.]

Comments

voice

[hastheedge]

You have me and my company's support in this, Mr. Langton.

Voice

[plays_with_dolls]

I am very pleased to hear that, Mr. Xanatos. I understand your company is involved in cutting edge research as well. Hopefully these countries will soon realize how much not having access to that will put them behind those who have embraced our community.

Voice

[hastheedge]

Hopefully. I'm not entirely sure how well a boycott will do, but it's at least doing something.

Voice

[plays_with_dolls]

Hopefully it will and as I explained to Professor Mordin, it will be more effective if we all push the technology we have even further. We need to show off the benefits that we bring to a society, or nation.

Voice

[hastheedge]

Trust me, I will. If we provide a united front, then we're much more likely to be taken seriously.

permavid.

[ecphrasis]

D'you think they'll... repeal it? [she's sad that she can't go "home" :c]

permavid.

[plays_with_dolls]

I hope they will. I'll do everything I can to pressure them to, but it's going to be a tough fight.

And I'm sorry. I can't imagine how hard this is having your own country reject you like this.

[ecphrasis]

[she smiles a little]

I haven't even gone there since arriving. I'm not sure if it's really even my country anymore.

[plays_with_dolls]

I understand. However similar they might be to the countries knew they're still different.

At this point I'm starting to wonder, for all the difficulties involved, if would just be easier for us all to find, or create a nation of our own.

[ecphrasis]

Oh, but--but where? I don't think there's any, um, unclaimed land. Or whatever it is you need to make a country.

Video

[halfwitch]

Will this help?

Video

[plays_with_dolls]

Maybe. The situation is already out of control and I'm just trying to salvage it the best I can and hopefully do some good for all of us in the process.

It will hurt the business a little bit in the short term, but I am sure we'll recover just fine. Those resources will be freed up to be used elsewhere, they'll just take time to produce some results.

Video

[halfwitch]

Good. Maybe if everyone boycotts, it'll put pressure on them to overturn this stupid ruling. And that other countries won't start this too. I know I'd hate it if I found out I could never visit Australia again.

Video

[plays_with_dolls]

That's the plan. It's going to be an uphill battle, Vulcanus has been putting out propaganda for a while now, but I think we can win. We just need to be united. Show everyone that we are a community that wants to better the world, not destroy it.

Video

[halfwitch]

That's going to be hard. Everyone's going to focus on the few bad guys we have in our community. They're the ones always in the news.

Video

[heal_or_execute]

Bold action. Hope it helps. Vulcanus' financial resources formidable. Might be capable of matching any economic loss imposed by boycott. Still, good to send a message.

Video

[plays_with_dolls]

It is possible, but as you said it's good to send a message. Honestly for this to work to its fullest we are going to need to do our best here to push the technology we have even further. This isn't about only denying money to these countries. It's about leaving them behind technological to countries that do support Imports.

So Professor if you do have any research you'd like to pursue more fully, now is the time to do so.

Video

[heal_or_execute]

Interesting strategy. Possible risk of political instability, but with obvious benefits.

ENCRYPTED

Have proposal, actually. Developed countermeasure against tech weapon in own universe, made users 'invisible' to certain sensors. Might be able to adapt it against 'corporal scans.' Would need to know more about Vulcanus tech to be sure.

Video, encrypted

[plays_with_dolls]

Professor, that is far more than I could have hoped for.

Whatever you need you'll have it. The entire company is at your disposal for this and if anyone argues with your orders tell them they can come see me after they give you what you want.

I'll see about getting what info we can about Vulcanus' tech. It will take time to shut down some of our operations in Germany and England so we'll have an excuse to have some of our people on the ground there. I might have a couple of them stay undercover to keep us informed.

Video, encrypted

[heal_or_execute]

Understood. Thank you for your support. Will make sure it's well used. [And might pry into GPS' affairs while he's at it because he just doesn't like mercs after Omega]

Had alternative theory. Vulcanus scans may not be tech-based. Have shown ability to create artificial powers before. 'ImBargo Act' may be enforced by new secret metas. Telepathy, advanced senses, capable of detecting Imports. In that case, solution likely more genetic than mechanical.

[voice, private]

[trueltning_fury]

I didn't want to go to Germany anyway.

Apologies for the abrupt time-off. It was necessary. I'm available once again. [and will completely be hiding the fact he's injured]

[voice, private]

[plays_with_dolls]

It's fine. Honestly being able to say you were off on contract somewhere would benefit us. I'm not going to lie, losing the UK and Germany is going to affect GPS. Those were developed countries that were more than happy to contract work to us. So GPS looking busy, active, it will keep anyone from circulating nasty rumors and hurting things even further.

Can I ask what your read on this situation is, General? Do you think I've made the right call here?

[voice, private]

[trueltning_fury]

Feel free to tell them I was anywhere but one of those four countries. No one needs to know where I 'vacation' when I need to get away.

[a musing hum] While I am not that well-versed in business, I do know a little about diplomacy. When an allied country does something this unexpected and unusual, a little saber-rattling in return is not entirely uncalled-for. Particularly when they have openly called on Vulcanus, a known enemy to Imports.

As long as your statement makes it clear that it's to protect people, and not some knee-jerk tantrum in response, it will probably go over well. Protecting your proprietary technology is one thing; keeping Vulcanus from getting anything else it can use against us is another.

[voice, private]

[plays_with_dolls]

I'll have it taken care of.

And thank you for your input. While this is partially about business for Vulcanus I'm sure this is a war and maybe it's time we started treating it as such.

[voice, private]

[trueltning_fury]

The opening volley may not be violence, this time. We all need to remain wary. Things have a habit of biting us when we're not paying attention. Yet, I would still advise caution.

I don't see how you had any other choice in the matter, sir. To sit back and do nothing is to be seen as weak. We do not want them to believe they've got us over a table here.