Herald of the Stars: Chapter Two Hundred and Ninety-Five

Brigid’s outrageous and contradictory statement has everyone lean forward and pay attention to her words. Even Tanthus Moross shakes off the last of his irritation and stops scoffing the free snacks.

A small smile graces Brigid’s well-crafted face at the reaction. She waits for a moment for everyone to settle, then resumes her explanation.

“The first aspect to consider is what does total control look like? With multiple habitats and few interconnected systems, Footfall trades redundancy for independence. There are 863 void structures. Twenty are of significant size and have their own docks and shipyards. Most structures are connected by private, locally built shuttles that are far from safe, or temporary tubes. Only the fifteen largest locations, such as the six largest Hab-Fanes, are connected by bridges of varying quality.

“As Fleet Marshal Ridel pointed out, the first step in securing Footfall lies in movement, especially the docks, though bridges and consolidating habitats is the next step. With the population so low, now is an excellent time to introduce legislation about the introduction of new habitats, create new standards for shuttles, then use them as an excuse to dismantle large parts of the station for materials and seize all private transports.

“This would enable the creation of twenty-one new districts. All the old docks would be turned into industrial centres and hubs for local shipping. A new void structure would be assembled from the influx of scrap to create an official port and shipyard.

“Visiting vessels would not be permitted to use their own void craft or other vehicles to travel to the connected districts. A small diplomatic fleet of luxurious craft would be maintained to soothe egos; we can present our security as a way of showing good hospitality to Rogue Traders and other high ranking Imperial officials. 

“The right warehouse layout, auspex, and security stations would enable strict controls. Mandatory quarantine procedures and proper screening would permit us to seize ill treated slaves, minimise genestealer infiltration, and reduce sickly Chaos influence. A proper port authority can record what goods arrive and where they go. Visiting void ships would no longer be able to disgorge vast numbers of hostile troops in multiple locations with such ease. Shore leave would require registration, letting us track our temporary population through a rebuilt internal security system and so on. Any questions so far?”

Tanthus says, “Who will pay for all this investment and provide the expertise?”

“The Stellar Fleet will provide the training personnel and the initial seed funding. It will be part of our price for taking over the Red Schola. Local inhabitants will be given the opportunity to join the Stellar Fleet. The process will be the same as we used at SR-651 with citizenship and a stipend on the line for those who register. Citizenship inevitably means conscription at some point in their lives, so those who sign up will get enhanced too, should we call upon them for military service.

“The main investment will come from Rogue Traders who want to purchase one of the 21 ruling seats of Footfall. The Liege of Footfall will hold the deciding, 21st vote. The other seats will require a contribution to the investment of Footfall to maintain. Overall, this means that the Stellar Fleet is willing to fund 5% of Footfall’s renewal program.”

Calligos says, “Other than an opportunity to shape the Koronus Expanse’s most important port, what other incentives does investment provide.”

“I have a few ideas,” says Brigid, “they are up for debate. The first is a private dock for a Rogue Trader’s flagship. All goods that pass through their private dock would be untaxed and the docking fee would be paid by Footfall’s government. This is a right currently enjoyed by all Rogue Traders. I prefer to make it a point of prestige. The presence of the Barghests should be enough to discourage poor behaviour.”

“That’s a good start, but given that a Rogue Trader who holds an exclusive dock is already paying for it by funding a ruling seat, that won’t be enough,” says Calligos. “There needs to be a return of the investment.”

Brigid nods, “I quite agree. Another thought I had, so long as Chaplain Riordan agrees, is that only Rogue Traders who own a district would have permission to recruit from the Barghest’s trade school. It would provide an automatic form of vetting as only the most successful Rogue Traders would have a chance to acquire the best trained crews. It would be another point of prestige and reduce the chance of the Barghest’s efforts being squandered.”

“I will discuss the suggestion with my brothers,” says Riordan. “Our stance may change over time, depending on our own needs and how much Rogue Traders are willing to pay for Barghest trained crews.”

Calligos smirks, “Given that the knowledge base comes from the Stellar Fleet, you will not find offers lacking. If you wish to maximise your gains, set a minimum price then hold an auction once a year.”

“Thank you, Trader Calligos. I will pass on your words,” says Riordan. “Do you not fear others will acquire our crews before you?”

“I am the richest trader in the Koronus Expanse,” says Calligos, “and I trade in fear.”

Everyone stares at Calligos for a moment, unsure what to make of his statement.

Brigid taps her finger against the table twice then says, “My next suggestion is a sales tax. A Rogue Trader would gain a passive income from all trade within their sponsored district.”

“That will only work if every district has the same tax,” says Abbisine, “otherwise it would be a race to the bottom. The same goes for income tax and the inevitable exceptions to direct growth. Typically the Imperium does not tax its citizens as few earn enough resources to be worth the hassle. Businesses are taxed, imports and exports are taxed, but not people. Taxing trade would also go against the founding principle of Footfall.”

“I agree,” says Tanthus, “That is not a well thought out suggestion, Purser Issengrund. What works for your fleet and its strange peoples will not work here. I would be pleased to have the means to introduce a business tax. 

“A small tax on occupied space would also work, with the necessary regulation to prevent overcrowding or stressing infrastructure. Footfall would also have to own all warehousing to prevent misuse. 

“Warehousing would double as a good source of income and provide control over food and medicine reserves. With the right regulation, how a Rogue Trader organises their district could have some flexibility. This would create character and points of interest in each district, encouraging movement, and thus the generation of wealth.”

“I have no objections,” says Brigid. “My last suggestion was to have a list of special goods that can only be sold and purchased by Rogue Traders renting a district. I suspect that will also be met with resistance though.”

“Let’s not be too hasty,” says Calligos. “Exclusivity would enable Footfall to lock down the cold trade without actually forbidding it.”

“Trader Calligos, you are the biggest exporter of xenos goods in the Koronus Expanse,” says Brigid, her tone dry.

“So? I have the power and opportunity to increase that further. Why wouldn’t I take it? Besides, the Stellar Fleet would also benefit and it would improve the security of Footfall. Having a few, exclusive goods would net you a lot of allies, Purser Issengrund. Well, I say a lot, but I mean eighteen Rogue Trader houses, the Barghests, and the Liege of Footfall. It would tie everything together with mutual interest. Not everyone has the time or means to travel to SR-651 or Cobalt for your best goods. What else are you going to do with twenty new manufactorums, created from the old docks, that you’ll no doubt have total control over, one way or another?”

Brigid sighs, “Yes, I and my assistants came to a similar conclusion.”

“Well, there you go. I think it is a fabulous idea and I am willing to put my wealth and armies behind it. What other reason do you need?”

“None. That is quite enough, Trader Calligos. I will continue with my analysis of what control over Footfall actually looks like. Last comes the control of vital services: energy, water, air, food, and medicine. Energy, water, and air will come under the control of the Stellar Fleet. 

“While on Forge Worlds it is more common for guilds to take this role and purchase their technology and engineering support from the Mechanicus, that will not be acceptable here. 

“Guilds are engines of profit and I will not have the air we breathe and the water we drink be subject to inadequate security. One need only to look at what the Narco Tribes did with the water supply to understand that a repeat is not acceptable. 

“Control over energy is required for Bytes and the Stellar Fleet Bank is necessary for citizenship and its benefits. One should not underestimate the power of bureaucracy to keep people in line. Energy defines what we can manufacture, the strength of our shields, and just about everything else in a closed loop system floating in a vacuum. Energy independence for citizens is not an option.”

Tanthus says, his voice hesitant, “You wish to provide free water, power, and air to Footfall? To maintain and secure such systems at your own expense? Does this not run counter to your goal not to overstretch your resources? What of food and medicine?

“Reconstruction of all habitats won’t happen in one go,” says Brigid. “Providing basic resources is part of the Stellar Fleet’s policy to minimise misery and reduce desperation and the destructive choices it creates. ‘For free’ is a little misleading. Footfall will be paying the Stellar Fleet for the rebuilding and securing of its infrastructure and habitats. Footfall’s funds will come from docking fees, Rogue Trader sponsorship, and the taxes we have discussed. I have a few other suggestions for income streams which I will go over later.

“You’ll all die if we don’t rebuild and we’re the only ones with the personnel, machines, and knowledge to do so. A portion of Footfall’s income will be directed to the Stellar Fleet for this service for public areas. Rogue Trader districts will have to pay for our resources and expertise if they want anyone to live in their domains. The purpose is not profit, but security and control. 

“The Stellar Fleet will provide this service at cost. What that ‘at cost’ is depends on how much effort we have to expend to maintain the infrastructure. This data will be open to district rulers so they can see what their money buys them, and where they are wasting resources.”

Tanthus’ jaw tightens as he clenches his teeth, “I understand.”

“I do hope so,” says Brigid. “Don’t break it and you won’t have to pay for it. There is no need to assign a conspiracy to our actions. Every Byte will be accounted for, owned by the Stellar Fleet, and available for the Liege of Footfall to stare at on a per second basis.”

“Yes, I understood just fine,” says Tanthus.

“As for food and medicine, the Stellar Fleet will grow food and manufacture medicines as it always has. They will be available for sale. Free health care will be one of the new privileges for all inhabitants, paid for by Footfall, and provided at cost by the Stellar Fleet to ensure compliance with Magos Issengrund’s objectives. As a brief aside, I believe our Acquisitions and Assimilation department even made a breakthrough in emergency rations recently.”

“Oh yes,” says Laisren. “We’ve had the means to produce edible plastics for some time, though we don’t actually do so, preferring to stick with printing low grade food from algae when desperation strikes. There’s no need to store large quantities of shelf stable food, you see, when we grow so much of it, and you have to make the plastics from the algae anyway, or you end up using all the promethium stores. The edible plastics are only good for carbohydrates too. It’s really not worth the trouble.

“The new development came from the way that food printers create proteins when provided with substandard feedstock. We were able to separate out the feature and can now create a Human digestible protein powder from standard Old Earth air mix, electricity, and modified bacteria. When mixed with edible plastics and their artificial micronutrients, you have a non-perishable, zero-allergy food ration that can be boiled like grains or formed into meal replacement bars. 

“Edible plastics and artificial protein powders require complex and energy intensive processes that have a much larger volume and energy requirement for their production chain than soylent viridans, aquaponics, and hydroponics systems. That won’t be an issue at Footfall though. We do have access to all those planned manufactorums, and plenty of comets filled with frozen methane and other chemicals. Control of Footfall’s water systems will reduce how many new inputs we need to. 

“The universal ration bars don't taste great, like licking an oiled, brass cog, even with the artificial flavourings trying to cover it up, but no one needs to starve.”

“Thank you for the explanation, Artisan Toolin.”

“Oh, you’re quite welcome, High Purser Issengrund.”

“To summarise,” says Brigid, “with the creation of twenty-one districts, better local infrastructure and manufacturing, new regulations, and a new ruling body, the Stellar Fleet will have total control of Footfall without over stretching its resources, pissing of everyone who uses or lives at the station, or degrading the founding statement of the void station. Next I will explain how I hope to secure Footfall against internal and external threats through military might, rather than the softer powers of bureaucracy and vital resource control.”