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856 - CONNECT Board Meeting II
🕑 Added 2025-03-01 00:21:20 +0000 UTCSarah began her report by presenting the financial performance of GAIA Technologies over the last fiscal year. As expected, revenues continued to grow, though at a slower pace compared to the early years following the empire's formation. The initial surge in demand had been followed by a second resurgence when the Proximians were integrated into the empire, but even that had now reached a saturation point.
This was an anticipated trend—GAIA Technologies' products were so widely adopted that nearly every citizen in the empire owned at least one. The VR device, in particular, was practically mandatory, given how deeply the universal simulation had been integrated into society, offering access to countless benefits and services.
One key area of financial opportunity had been the universal simulation itself, where real-world currency was allowed for transactions. Many companies had capitalized on this, leading to substantial profit avenues. However, Sarah and Aron had made a conscious decision not to exploit this system for maximum financial gain.
Instead of enforcing aggressive monetization, GAIA Technologies functioned like Amazon Web Services for Virtual Reality, providing the infrastructure for other businesses to operate within the VR space. Companies could host their products in the virtual world, and GAIA Technologies would collect a small percentage from each real-world sale.
This approach allowed them to regulate monetization practices and prevent the VR ecosystem from devolving into a predatory, pay-to-win economy, all without direct imperial intervention.
As a result, this year's total profit stood at 12 trillion END—a staggering figure, but one achieved with sustainable growth and ethical monetization.
Once she had finished updating them on operations and financial performance, she moved on to strategic initiatives—what they referred to as plans for the future.
Typically, this section would focus on upcoming updates or new products slated for release next year. However, today’s report marked a shift in priorities.
“With the imminent opening of the Trade Hub and the anticipated introduction of VR to the Astral Conclave’s representatives and citizens, we are preparing to expand the VR network, aiming to integrate the Astral Conclave into our virtual reality system.
If the next exchange meeting results in their agreement, we can accelerate the expansion significantly. However, if they decline, we will proceed using conventional methods, though this will take longer. The fastest route relies on their cooperation, which depends on whether the government’s efforts yield the expected support.”
She continued outlining the different strategies depending on whether or not they received assistance from the other side. After about ten minutes, she concluded and opened the floor for Aron to ask any questions. Fortunately, he had none, so Nova immediately transitioned to Felix, the CEO of Hephaestus Industries and Manufacturing, for his report.
As the empire’s primary producer of nearly all physical goods—regardless of which company designed them—Hephaestus Industries was one of the most profitable enterprises. It also ranked second only to the imperial government in terms of employment numbers.
Their motto, “If you can design it, we can make it,” was more than just a slogan; it was backed by their ability to manufacture anything from a student’s passion project to a fully operational space station, all at an affordable price. Their vast scope of work and efficiency meant that they didn’t need to release their own products—business naturally came to them.
As long as they maintained their slogans, nothing seemed likely to change. With no competitors at the moment—and unless others managed to acquire an atomic printer—there was little chance of a rival emerging in the near future.
As a result, Felix’s report was relatively short. Their annual profit for this year stood at an astounding 10 trillion END.
Once he was done reporting, Nova moved on to the next CEO.
Elizabeth Oppliger of Helios Energy & Utility took the floor. Following the formation of the empire, the company initially suffered a setback when the government assumed responsibility for providing utilities to imperial citizens. However, with the expansion into space and the increasing number of ships and space stations, they quickly rebounded by supplying utilities to these vessels and selling complete energy solutions like mana batteries and fusion reactors.
Due to the sensitivity of the technology, individuals couldn’t produce their own reactors, making Helios the primary provider. This shift not only restored their business but pushed them to new heights, with projections indicating continued growth as space infrastructure expands.
Their profit for the year was 0.95 trillion END.
As with Sarah’s report, Aron didn’t ask any questions this time either, which seemed to be the norm based on the reactions in the room. After more than a decade of delivering these yearly reports, they had come to understand what piqued his curiosity and what he trusted them to handle. Over time, they had fine-tuned their presentations to preemptively address any potential questions, eliminating the need for follow-ups after the report.
With the assurance that Aron had no questions, Nova moved forward, {Rachael Richardson of Hermes, please proceed}
As a company focused entirely on commerce and delivery, Hermes remained on an upward trajectory as the empire continued to develop. The integration of VR further strengthened their position, thanks to the rule requiring that any item sold in VR must have a real-world counterpart available for delivery if the buyer desired. This ensured a constant demand for their services, making them one of the biggest beneficiaries of the VR market.
While the expansion of VR would eventually bring additional growth, their own expansion into the Astral Conclave’s territory was expected to take longer due to the vast distance. Unlike VR, which could spread digitally, their physical logistics required significant infrastructure.
However, they had a strategic advantage—insider knowledge of the Stargate program. Though the rollout date remained uncertain, they had already developed an action plan, ready to deploy the moment it became operational. This early access was a key benefit of Aron’s companies, as all patents from his projects or those developed in Lab City fell under his ownership, allowing his subsidiaries to prepare ahead of the public.
Their profit for the year was 1 trillion END.
Comments
Jade
Mass Dropp!!!
