Insurrection: The Corporate Wars, #2

By R Thomas McPherson

Rick Thompson has been given the task of finding out who has been destroying scientific space stations and why? The investigation leads him on a dangerous adventure. All major Corporations in the Conglomeration have been attacked, and War is inevitable unless Rick can find out who is responsible as he tries to prevent

The Corporate Wars.

• Language: English
• Publisher: R Thomas McPherson
• Release date: Feb 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201427283

Book preview

To Nancy

Chapter 1 Election

I t’s official, said the announcer on the news channel Rick had been watching. With 97% of the votes in, Director Hobbs is now the CEO of the Wilson Corporation. CEO Hobbs was the Director of the Legal Division of Wilson... The announcer paused. It seems like the New CEO is ready to take the podium at the victory celebration. Let’s go there live.

The scene changed to a large gathering. Rick was impressed that the soft-spoken Hobbs had so many people backing him. Hobbs walked up to the podium. He seemed a little despondent but forced himself to smile. Rick knew him well enough to know that he was not happy.

Wow, said Hobbs, and the crowd went wild. When they calmed down, he continued. I never expected to win, so I have no victory speech. Again, the crowd clapped and cheered. As a member of the Board of Directors, I was expected to run for the CEO position. However, I expected to serve the new CEO with the same honesty I used to serve the people. He paused to let the crowd stop cheering. Here and now, I give my oath to the shareholders and to the people of this great corporation that I will do my best for all. Hobbs seemed like he wanted to get off the stage, but the prolonged cheers wouldn't let him. Let us move forward in peace together so that all corporations can profit.

As Hobbs walked away from the podium, everyone in the hall was screaming, clapping, and stamping their feet.

Rick turned off the news and readied himself for bed. He was glad that Hobbs was the new CEO. He was a good man and would do what was suitable for all.

It seemed like almost every one of the shareholders voted for this election. The one thing Rick always thought was strange was that any shareholder could vote. One share one vote, but you didn't have to live inside the Wilson borders. If enough foreign investors bought enough stock in the Wilson Corporation, they could take over the corp.

Yet that didn't seem likely as the Board of Directors owned 60% of the stock for Wilson. And they kept it that way. If you wanted to be on the Board of Directors, you had to buy out one of the current members. In the case of Nash, his assets were seized and would be given to the new CEO. In this case, it would be Hobbs. Rick was sure that the transfer would be taking place in the morning during regular business hours.

Rick thought about the vote. If Hobbs had 63% of the votes, then most of the Board of Directors voted for him and a large percentage of the shareholders. That was not surprising as Hobbs's popularity had gone up dramatically after prosecuting Nash. Hobbs was the face of the Wilson Corporation. Neman only had 17%, which meant that only three Board members voted for him. Graham, with 5%, indicated that he voted for himself. The rest had 2% or 3%.

Hobbs was now the richest man in the twenty-three worlds of the Wilson Corporation. And in charge of the wealthiest corporation in the galaxy. Rick was glad for him.

He was about to fall asleep when the light on his desk started flashing, letting him know that he had a phone call. Who the hell is calling me at this hour?

Rick was about to roll over and ignore it when the computer answered his question, It's CEO Hobbs on the line. Should I activate the answering service?

As soon as Rick heard it was Hobbs, he jumped out of bed and said, No, I'll answer it. Then hit the button to receive the call. Good morning, CEO Hobbs. Congratulations on the victory.

Did I wake you? Hobbs seemed concerned. That was one of the things Rick liked about Hobbs.

No Sir, I was just getting ready for bed.

I’m sorry. I should have waited until morning.

Not at all, Sir. What can I do for you? Hobbs didn't look so happy about the promotion.

Well, a couple of things. First, I want to make you a Director. Then I want to put you in charge of the Legal Division. I want you to take over my old job.

Rick couldn't understand why he wanted to promote him in the middle of the night. He shook his head. Sir, there are very few things that I wouldn't do for you, but this is one of them. No.

Can you give me a reason why you say that? Hobbs looked a little distressed.

Rick was halfway expecting this request as soon as Hobbs pulled into the lead in the election. First and foremost, I am an investigator. That's what I do best. To put me in charge of the legal division would take me off investigations and leave it in the hands of people I don't know if I can trust. Next, I don't want to play the political games around that table. Moves and countermoves are not what I do. I'm blunt and honest. I don't think the Board could handle that.

And that is exactly why I need you, said Hobbs. You called it a victory. Nothing could be further from the truth. This mess was dumped into my lap with no way to handle it. I need someone I can trust. Rick was starting to feel his resolve crumble. I'll tell you what I'll handle the Board. I know the ins and outs.

No. I still need to know what happened to Collier.

Okay, said Hobbs with an air of exasperation. Let me explain something to you. As Director of the Legal Department, you can do whatever you want. Go wherever you want. You can be out of the office for months at a time, and no one will say a word about it. You are the boss. The only one you have to answer to is me.

What about the office work? What about the caseload? What...

Rick! The hardness of Hobbs's voice stopped the questions. He continued in a softer tone. You have people to do that for you now. I haven't done anything with the legal department for the last year. The only exception has been working with you. Most of my time has been spent battling with the Board. I put good people in places that get the job done. They will take care of the day-to-day business so you can do what you need to do.

I see, said Rick noncommittally. He had already decided to do it. If for no other reason than because Hobbs asked him to.

Look, you may think my job will get easier now that I’m the CEO. The truth is that it is going to get a lot worse. Most of the Board was loyal to Nash, if for no other reason than the power he gave them. I’m going to be getting it from all sides. I need someone to cover my back.

Yes. Okay. I'll do it. Rick thought about the last time Hobbs offered him a job. In his first week, he was shot, saw a planet get blown up, and got caught in the middle of a war. He wondered what the next week would be like.

Great, said Hobbs with the excitement of a kid. I'll make the arrangements. Take the next few days off, and when you're ready, come into the office, and we'll get you set up. Thanks, Rick. Hobbs out.

After Hobbs ended the call, Rick went back to bed. He lay there thinking about the life of a Director. As a kid, Rick hated the Directors for what they had. It seemed like they had anything they wanted and didn't care about most of what they had. As he grew into a man, he hated them for the wrong decisions. The slums seemed to be getting worse, and life became more brutal. As an investigator, he hated them for the crimes they got away with.

The more Rick thought about it, the more he realized that it was the reason he wouldn't back down from the Harris case. He had hated the Directors all his life. Now Rick was going to become one of them. He was going to become the very thing he hated. Self-doubt crept in, and he wondered if he would make the same mistakes. Would he be as selfish and greedy? Would it change who he was?

No, he said out loud. He was not going to let them change him. He was going to be the Director of the legal department. There would be justice for all, or he would know why.

And that brought the thought to mind, what did Hobbs want? Hobbs did nothing without a plan and a purpose. Yes, he could trust Rick. Rick felt very loyal to Hobbs for all his support in the Harris and Nash Trials. Each time Rick put his life on the line, and Hobbs did everything possible to help him.

In return, Rick would do everything possible to help Hobbs. But the question of what Hobbs wanted was still a mystery.

Rick rolled over and went to sleep with the final thought, I'll know soon enough.

The following day Rick slept until he woke up. It was strange not to be woken by the alarm clock. It was just a matter of coming gently out of sleep. He was not aware that he could do that. He sat up in bed and realized that he had nothing to do. He was no longer the Lead Investigator of the Wilson Corporation. And he was not yet the Director of the Legal Department.

It was a startling realization that he had always defined himself as the job he did. Still, who was Rick? It was a question he couldn't answer, and he found that troubling.

Rick thought about watching a movie to get his mind away from that thought. Then he realized why he didn't really watch them any other time. They seemed a pale shadow of the real-life drama he had lived in for the past 17 years. Action and adventure, done that. Courtroom drama, been there. Who done it's, he had the scars to prove it.

His mind came back to the question of who he was. As Rick was pondering who he was, he got a call from Hobbs.

Hi, Rick. How are you doing? Hobbs seemed to be in a better mood than the last time they talked.

Well Sir, I'm ready to go back to work.

Hobbs chuckled. Nothing to do? Why don't you come into the Legal Building tomorrow, and we will get you set up.

Sir, may I ask, what do you want me to do? I mean, I don't have the slightest clue what's to be done.

It's alright, Rick. You will be given a briefing on what's needed and wanted. You have some responsibilities, and they will be explained to you. Just show up tomorrow at 10:00 and go from there. Now I have some things to take care of, so I’ll talk to you later. Hobbs out.

Rick looked at the blank screen a little disgruntled and said, You never did answer my question.

Chapter 2 Department

Rick walked into the Legal Administration building and was immediately met by security. Director Thompson, I'm Captain Jones, head of building security. I am to escort you to your new office. Jones was a tall man with a very muscular build. To Rick, he looked like an ex-military man that could fight if needed and protect when necessary. As Rick grew up in the slums, fighting was required to survive. Yet Rick would not willingly get into a fight with this man.

That's fine. Rick didn't know how to react. He was not used to his new status. In general, it seemed that people were a little stiffer and a little more distant.

As he followed Captain Jones to the lift, somehow, he felt underdressed. He had on his best suit, but the way he was being treated made Rick think that he should be wearing the finery of the CEOs.

As they entered the lift, Rick said, The CEO told me there would be a briefing? If influential people were coming to see him, he was sure that security would know about it.

Jones hit the button to go up and said, I have no data on that, Sir. I've been instructed to tell you that you have 'All access' all building areas any time of the day or night.

Well, that's good to know. Rick didn't know what else to say. It was like he was entering a new world where he didn't know the rules or what was expected of him. And the reality was that it was not far from the truth.

The rest of the ride was made in respectful silence. As the doors opened, Jones turned to the left, and it looked to Rick like they were headed to Hobbs's old office. It made sense that he would take over the office as he was taking over his job. It wasn’t until they passed Hobbs's old office that it changed Rick's mind. He wondered what was going on.

Jones went a little farther and opened the door to the conference room. Here you are, sir.

Thank you. And Rick walked in to find three people sitting at the table big enough for a crowd. The room was dark, with lighting above each of the seats.

Two men and a woman stood as Rick entered the room. A young man dressed better than Rick came around the table and extended his hand. Director Thompson, my name is Tim Slattery. I am your personal assistant. Tim was a thin man that was just slightly shorter than Rick. The investigator in Rick took notice of his appearance. His suit had a sheen like it was made from silk. Tim had dark hair and blue eyes. He seemed just what an assistant of a Director should look like.

Still, in a daze, Rick took his hand and shook it. Glad to meet you.

Tim led Rick to the head of the table. They sat, and Tim continued. Let me start with this. This is Paula Kelly.

Paula was sitting to Rick's left. She reached over to shake his hand. He took her hand, thinking she would be a fine-looking woman if she didn't have her hair in a bun and lost the glasses. High cheekbones and thick pouting lips made her look like a star from the movie videos.

I’m your decorator. I’m here to get your preferences for your office.

The long pause and blank stare must have caused confusion. Finally, Rick said, Seriously? He could not believe what he had just heard.

Paula was about to say something, but Tim spoke first. Sir, If I'm out of line, tell me. However, you need to understand that image is everything for a man in your position. The people need to see that a member of the Board of Directors is prosperous. Money is an idea backed by confidence. You need to show the people that they should have confidence in the Wilson Corporation. Especially after what has happened over the last few months.

I get it. I really do. But that’s not me, said Rick with a heavy sigh.

No, it’s not, said Tim. But it’s not for you. It’s for the people.

Alright, said Rick and looked at the man off to his right. I suppose you are my tailor? he had short but neat lite brown hair with a suit of the same type as Tim's. The vest he wore had a gold chain from one side going through one of the buttonholes to the other side. As Rick used to say, 'he looks like a man of money.

The man smiled and said, After that conversation, he pointed at Paula, I understand why you would say that. But no. My name is Don Santee. I'm from the financial department. Some paperwork needs to be filled out.

Tim added, Your tailor will be here later this afternoon.

Why don't we get the frilly stuff out of the way? said Don. Then we can get down to business.

Rick thought about it and said, Alright, I want my office to be extravagant but conservative.

Extravagant but conservative? repeated Paula. You do know that those are a contradiction in terms?

That's what I want. If they were going to make Rick into something he was not, he would not make it easy for them.

Yes Sir, said Paula. She put her pen in her notebook and closed the case. I'll have preliminary designs in the morning.

No. You are going to just do it. I have faith in you. It was not that he had faith in Paula; it was more like he didn't want to deal with it. Rick had no clue what the office should look like. She did, so he was going to let her do the job.

Yes Sir, Paula got up, and so did Rick. Seeing what Rick was doing, both Don and Tim got up as well.

Paula left the room. Once the door was closed, Don said, That was a bold move. And the three men seated themselves.

Sometimes you have to let the people under you do what they do best, said Rick as he looked over at Tim. That is what I expect. Rick really didn't know what to expect, so maybe it was better to let them do their jobs.

Understood, said Tim. Shall we get to business? Don.

Don nodded his head and opened a leather case. First and foremost, we need you to sign this. He pulled out a piece of paper and put it in front of Rick.

Somehow Rick felt like he was being backed into a corner. What is this? he asked as he picked up the page.

"That is 200 million