Nepharius Fontaine

"Essentially, you'll be responsible for how the public becomes informed about this company. Now, I've seen your resume, and this is nothing you haven't done before. This is the same stuff that every responsible public corporation is benefited from having." Fontaine rested his palms on his knees. "As PR supervisor, you will also monitor how the public feels about our products. It's no secret that many are sensitive to the fact that some... applications of our technology is implemented in military capacities." For an instant, Fontaine wasn't even sure if his statement had made any sense. He wasn't one to skirt around an issue, in fact, he was known for his directness in serious situations. He found explaining this information to be quite awkward, perhaps due in part to the recent problems ISTS had been having with its public image, and the subtleties that existed regarding how interior members of the corporation felt themselves about its operating procedures. "But," Fontaine contintued, "the pay is indeed very good!"

"Ah yes, Mr. Cadio. I recieved your resume through the Holonet just yesterday. Thankyou for coming in." Fontaine recognized the style in which the newcomer spoke. In fact, he'd run a job-competency analysis on the man just days before. The test incorporated various factors such as past experience, test scores, personal preferences, and psychological as well as medical exams. "You must be here for the Public Relations position. I believe you will find it is high-paying enough." Of this, Fontaine was sure. His company had come under much scrutiny and criticism from many cirlces of influence throughout the galaxy, due to some notions that ISTS was sympathetic to the Alliance. This was, of course, true, but image is everything in the business. Fontaine motioned for Cadio to follow him into a conference room. "So tell me, sir, why is it you wish to work for ME?"

"And an expertise that is most valuable to say the least..." Fontaine interrupted, walking up behind Malachi. "When you're in my business, its the little things that often get overlooked, unfortunately. Hi, I'm Nepharius Fontaine... and I see you've met my executive staff -- or what remains of it." Fontaine offered a half smile toward Augustus. "Philip, I've just come from a meeting with the board. It appears your suspicians were correct regarding our situation. That's the third regional office to get shut down this month." Fontaine hoped his discussion would ease the newcomer into a sense of familiarity with what otherwise could be percieved as a secretive and highly introverted office condition. It was no secret that Fontaine was not the most sociable person on Corellia. "You see, friend, we've been in a period of transition here, as many senior officers here at ISTS have been relocated or dismissed or... whatnot, and your arrival is most welcome." Fontaine did not usually mingle outside of the confines of his office, but he was trying to change his persona. It was one he was never really comfortable with, anyway. "Philip, if you will, take Mr. ... what was it? Malachi? To the orientation room and tell him about what we offer here at ISTS." Just then, another man entered (Slip-ka-Not). Hearing that the man was here for a job, Fontaine decided to delay his retreat to his private quarters. "Exactly what job are you here for, sir?"

Augustus' ship set down atop the ISTS corporate headquarters. Once inside, Fontaine went to his private suite, checking on a few personal things and grabbing a bite to eat. To his dismay, he discovered that most of the Board members had also retreated from the Coruscant battle, knowing that Fontaine would likely be on Corellia. He sent a private message to Augustus. ******************************** Philip, looks like we're not off the hook yet. Our presence has been requested in Conference Room 338 in two hours. Yeah, it's the Board. ********************************

"I do say, Philip, it was a rather enjoyable experience lounging on Mon Calamari for the better part of two weeks. But... back to business." Fontaine pulled out some papers from his briefcase, and handed one to the vice-president. "This is a tracking of our earnings for this last quarter. As you can see, they are down. The Accounting Division managers have each reported to me that this is due to a lessened comsumption on the part of the Empirial forces. Furthermore, the depression on Coruscant as a result of the battle there two months ago took a heavy toll. Coruscant IS the economy, afterall, as far as the technology sector is concerned." Fontaine scratched his head, trying to find his place again on the paper... "...and we can expect this conflict to further affect the Perlemian Trade Route in a highly negative way. The Hydian will be a bit more highly trafficked than usual, but without Coruscant it is nothing. The truth is, we need to open up newer markets and expand on those we have been lacking in." Fontaine gave Augustus a mildly sarcastic look. "In short, we have to renew our contracts with the Empire."

((It's been a few days.)) Fontaine boarded the Deuxieme and awaited departure. "Once we reach Corellia, we'll take an inventory of our business. By that I mean, we must, in these times of war, be fully aware of our part. We cannot afford to be careless." The ship departed Mon Calamari and shot into space...

"No, my ship is not here at the moment... I took a private company transport to get here. Let's take yours. Do you mind?" Fontaine gathered his things, and prepared to leave the planet.

Fontaine nodded as he was poured a glass of champagne. "Thankyou very much." He inspected the bottle. "A fine, year, I see." The man took a generous sip, and looked out the window at the sea of water below. "It really is a shame, you know. Those suits. I mean, they will likely be destroyed. It's common knoweldge that the Alliance has no reservation when it comes to deploying their specialty units. Alliance special forces... Alliance marines... they always see the brunt of the battle. Not that they aren't capable, that's for sure." The two nodded in agreement, pausing to reflect on the thought. "You could say, still, that I am torn between these aspects of the conflict. I am somewhat biased towards the Alliance, but their loss is good business. No. I definitely would rather have an Alliance victory than a minor to large defeat and more technology sold. Yeah." Fontaine slumped down in a nearby chair. He'd started his company with a vision, and wondered now if that had been warped by his time as a businessman. "I used to be a simple scientist, you know. Combine this, rerout that. Now, I feel as if I might be the very thing that cause me to form ISTS. Integrated... Systems... Technology... ... ... Solutions... WHAT A BUNCH OF CRAP THAT IS!" The man was in a reserved rage. He wanted to throw his glass at the nearby window. He started to pull back his hand, then noticed the drink that still remained. He quickly emptied the glass, and sent it crashing into the window. It didn't break, and merely rolled onto the carpet near his feet. Fontaine took a moment to calm himself. "I apologize. I've had problems with my temper in the past, and sometimes I just let it get the best of me." He said in a solemn voice. "Well. Since my meetings on Coruscant are obviously canceled, we may want to head back home to Corellia. Oh! Where are my manners. How was Cissila?"

Fontaine welcomed Dr. Augustus in with a solemn voice... "Good. You've arrived." He put his hand on the man's shoulder. "It's been only a few weeks, Philip, and already things are going down the garbage compactor. Do tell me there is good news from Corellia." Fontaine gave a serious look, holding it for a moment... "Just kidding, old friend. I'll admit I've had a few too many this morning. Afterall, watching the most important planet in the galaxy get overrun by a bunch of pirates is a bit much to take in. Yes. I saw it on my communicator when I woke up. It truly is amazing how the Imperials continue to materialize after every loss to come back with a death wish as big as the Death Star herself." It was no secret that Fontaine was sympathetic to the Alliance, and he had embarked on a personal campaigne in the last year to try to halt all ISTS manufacturing that would aid the Empire. He turned to his business partner.. "Listen. With this recent activity, I wouldn't be surprise if the Alliance is given a run for its money. Unfortunately for us, however, that money is connected to you and I, and ISTS. We ARE, afterall, the premiere provider for many of the Alliance's subsidiaries, and THEY provide the Alliance with technology. I tell you, it is no mystery that we are supplying them through backchannels. We get away with it simply because we have no ONE policy toward one side or the other." Fontaine had thus far avoided the fact that he'd just supplied the Alliance with battle gear that was currently being used in the fight against the Empire on Coruscant. "That reminds me, did your office get the confirmation of delivery from Admiral Remant'e?"

Nepharius Fontaine woke up from a nice night's sleep. Grabbing his ISTS issue 'Informapad' he logged on to check his messages as well as the latest news. "My heavens!" He gasped, upon seeing footage of the massacre occuring on Coruscant. "I suppose I'll be canceling my meeting there for next week. I do hope things go well." The middle-ages man meant it, at least in one way. He wanted the Alliance to win. It wasn't so much the fact that he liked them, he just despised the Empire's tactics and policies. And it wasn't a business desire, either, to have the Empire win over the "Rebs" as they were called by most of the ISTS Board of Regents. The truth was, if the Board knew that he'd supplied EXTRA suits to General Remant'e, then he'd be the object of much hatred come next Monday morning's meeting. If there was a good thing about the attack, it was that it spared him the need to attend to such a meeting.

An ISTS logistical security courier brought a communique for Remant'e. The message read as... ********************************** Admiral Remant'e, I have just been informed that my weapons plants have completed your order as follows: - 560 durasteel gyroscope HUD suits - 1120 blaster pistols (dualized, two for each suit) - 560 vibroswords - 50 high caliber sniper rifles - 50 6-shot grenade launchers - 120 disposable sets of grenade launcher explosives rounds - 400 fletchette rifles - SafeDeath (copyright) auxiliary weapons packets (attacheable to suits) - 10,000 thermal detonators, with time-release and impact-release options - 500 portable medical kits I realize you only asked for 500 suits, but we made a few too many (the glory of mass-production and ISTS ingenuity, I'd like to think!) Anyway, there's no charge on the extra 60, nor the corresponding surplus weapons that go with them. And the med kits are on me; just a little thanks for doing business with us. My associate, Dr. Augustus will be joining you soon to make the final arrangements. He is on Corellia now, and is in dire need of a business trip. I assure you, he is eager to meet you. By the way, I am enjoying the executive suit. If it weren't for my attachments elsewhere, I would consider moving here! ************************************

Nepharius Fontaine sat in a comfortable chair overlooking the beautiful Mon Calamari waters. His quarters were quiet, and he had just woken up from a long nap. Checking his personal communicator, he saw that he had a few messages waiting for him. One was from the Coruscant Trading Board and Authority office notifying him of the acceptance of a new line of metal alloys for production. "Good." He said to himself. Falling back to sleep, he slumped back down on the chair

Fontaine recieved the General's message, and was glad to hear things were moving. Taking off his suit coat, he sat down on a sofa in his suite, and picked up his communicator to call his secretary on Corellia. *********** Mara, I'm going to be here on Mon Calamari a little bit longer than I expected, but things are progressing, albeit slower than I thought. Just cancel my meetings with the board for the next week. I'm sure they won't mind. Haha! And... listen, I'm going to need you to come in on... Saturday. Uh, yeah. Need you to take care of those TPS reports. -Nepharius Out *********** Fontaine hoped he hadn't offended her with his sarcasm.

"Yes, General. I had assumed that you would need some sort of a go/no go from your superiors." Fontaine put the pad and pen down on the table in front of Regium. "In the mean time, you know where to find me. I will take up your offer of remaining here for a night or two while you meet with, what was his name? The new commander of the Alliance. I had heard that Kirana Sunrider relinquished power to another for personal reasons..." "In any event, I must complement you on your use of window curtains in this room. They are quite lovely." Being the neat organizer and aesthetic judge that he was, Fontaine knew a little something about good taste.

Nepharius Fontaine nearly laughed at the idea, combined with the Gerneral's eating of a particularly juicy species of fruit. ...Imperial Entanglements... "General, as long as I remain in control of my company, I can make that assurance. Of course, there are those who believe I should not have that control, so I can only speak of myself." Fontaine walked over to the general and handed him a datapad. "Now, if you will, we can get the ball rolling on some basic items." Fontaine handed him his personal 'Identicate' pen. ISTS issue, of course.