The Great New City

[The Union of Tinis]

"Architect Iwing, I have good news for you today."

Calzus Iwing perked his ears and turned to face Ulbert Ko, one of the members of the national construction council's executive board.

"Though this news will mean you are to be encouraged to discontinue your work on the spire project."

Iwing was at that moment highly confused. Being one of the leading architects testing and modeling the next generation super buildings had been the ultimate in good news. Nothing could be more prestigious.

"Excuse me?" he said half annoyed.

"Yes, the council has decided that they would like to request your assistance on a new project. Your record is amazing to say the least, and you have the leadership ability needed to ensure a major project gets off the ground quickly and efficently."

"Uhh, Builder Ko, I was under the impression that building the most advanced building on the planet was to be just that."

Ko smiled. "Why stop with just one building? Why not a whole city?"

"Excuse me?"

Ko laughed. "They really aren't joking when they say you never get out. The Cal deal. Their ships are being sent up now, the boundaries for the base and city have already been agreed upon, and now we need someone to lead the project. If you choose to accept this job, you'll be in charge of the Tinisian side of the construction. You'll be charged with ensuring the construction meets the agreed upon enviromental and safety codes, to make sure our workers are not abused or mistreated, and to work with the Cali private firms to make sure they do what they're supposed to. What more, you'll be working with the lead Cali architect on the design and layout of the city. You'll effectively be half of the decision process of where roads and rails end up. Where the parks are and where the towers are."

"You can't be serious," stated Iwing skepticly.

"I'm totally serious," said Builder Ko to the Pargalonian dragon. "We're entrusting you with a major next generation project that has international consequences. You're the only one with the skill and, well, right kind of people skills to do it."

"Enough with the pr there. When did you suits get crazy?"

"So are you turning down the offer?"

Iwing looked at Ko with a stern look. "I'm thinking about it. Actually. Give me a day or five to think about it."

"You get one."

"Fine. A day. This is a big deal yes? You know, switching life course all of a sudden like. And I'm actually very doubtful you fools know what you're doing. I may have the skill but there's a few other factors you may be forgetting." Iwing was alluding to the fact that though he had graduated with a PhD in architecture and had been designing for over ten years, he was still barely adolesant biologically, and had the height and gruff personality to show it. He may be nearly 30 but for his species that's still quite young.

-----

Admiral Jason Markos leaned over the railing in Matabia. The rabbit was looking at his flag ship, the TPS Embargo, an aged, but still quite formidable battleship that was presently docked at the harbor undergoing repairs.

"Sir, the Cali have sent word that the equipment should be ariving later today," spoke a young leutienant from behind two color bunny.

"Thank you. Let me know when they arrive."

"Yes sir."

------

"Ko?" asked Iwing over the phone.

"That's me."

"I've looked over all that stuff you gave me. This seems like a sweet deal."

"Thought you'd like it. Well?"

"I'm in," said Iwing, his wings spread in an ambitious pose.

[Kingdoms of Cal]

Iwing was interrupted in his planning for the new city by a knock on the door, “Enter” he says slightly annoyed at having his thoughts interrupted.

He hears some people enter his study and turns to see them. A tall aged vulpine leads the group dressed in an ill fitting and some what moth eaten suit, she looked like the kind of fur that even in the best tailored suit would still manage to make it look ill fitting. Her dishevelled hair was almost totally grey and her fur had more than a little of a peppering of grey. She smiled, and says “You must be Iwing, I have herd much about you. Mostly good” she ends with a smile.

Iwing was not used to company, from her accent it was clear that the vulpine was Calie, Teuie most likely. He had heard that the Teuie were the ones that were behind the design of the parliament building. A construction he could not help but admire, the fact they had build not one but three one mile high spires, he had to admit that he had always wanted to see the it. To build something of such magnitude out of stone strong enough that it had shrugged off a shelling. He had seen the designs, well those parts of the design that were not still classified, though it had taken them twenty years, he still thought it one of the architectural wonders of the world. It was so heavy that it had caused the surrounding mountains to move a little, but they had taken that into account.

The vulpine smiles and says “Sorry to interrupt you, I know I hate it when they interrupt me”
Iwing just looks at her quizzically.
“I am Vin Wentanie en, you opposite number so to speak” she ends.
Iwing thinks for a second and looks shocked and says “The Vin Wentanie, the designer of the Calie parliament?”
“Well that was a while back but yes, that was one of my projects, I've come out of retirement for this one. How often are you given a blank slate?”
Iwing thinks for a second, she must not be much short of one hundred years old, he knew that was a right old age for a fur. He realised that he would be working with one of his heroes...well heroines. He had always thought the architect was a male, but then he realised that it being Cal back in then it was unlikely to be a male.
Iwing says “Hello, I am.....” he didn't know how to end the sentence.
“Right these guys are the rest of my team.” she said mater of factly, ignoring Iwing's almost worshipful look.
“This is Tak Tallie en, sanitation and water, Ka Sunnie en, transportation, Le Winanie en, coms and Yan Yinanie en Energy distribution. and prodution” she says noding at each of the other vulpines in turn.
“We thought we would visit you here as we are still at a loose end. The other three members of my team are already at work. Mat Drank, geology, is checking out the site to see what we have on the bead rock front and looking for local quarying locations. Pa, local and labour relations, she is working with the corporations to find skilled workers and making sure the corps don't cause too much trouble. Finnally there is Ilinie, legal, corporate relations and various annoying things I can't be arsed with.”
Iwing smiles and asks “This is not going to be something I'm used to is it?”
“Have you ever been involved in a commercial project?”
Iwing shakes his head, tinis having a largely planned economy, commercial projects were very rare.
“You will have to learn a thing or too, I have done many commercial projects, but we do have prestige on our side.” she ended with a smile

-------

The corporations and organisation of the southern states receive a pack detailing the new city plan, as do the northern ones noting that the free city would allow a largely tax free transfer point and as it would be under Calie control it would be a very open market. It would also provide easy access to the markets in the north to the southern states and a place to work with the southern corps to the northern nations.

The other point of interest was the airport that could act as a hub for north south travel as Calie Flight National had already thrown it's hat into the ring by partnering with airport and guaranteeing five super jumbo flights a day between it and Tel. They had also stated that they would set up an air freight link between it and Drak (Cals major freight airport, with access to the MAT rail network and so most of the major Calie ports), in partnership with the Calie Royal Mail (The only governmentally owned company involved).

Several of the bulk carrier companies had also put there hat into the the ring, all running from there own ports. A number of the smaller ones were now working together to set a port up in Sanctuary, near Asylum, as it would provide the an excellent southern deep sea port to complement the new free city.

[miokalia]

Three firms in Miokalia approached Iwing with various plans for public space, low-profile structures and urban blocks. Super-height structures were not something they did, or really had much interest in, it was mainly the urban environments they were putting forth plans for.

"We of course want a bit in on this big-budget project, as we are companies and we do have to eat after all.", said one of the managers of the firm Taynan-Rem & Associates.
"This is a city of the future, and it is to be an urban environment which should be designed to handle inevitable age gracefully. It will of course, inevitably age which is the thing most do not consider when designing such things. No-one considers this more than we do. Our track record proves it."

The manager, an allosaurus sat back a little and said, "Catering to retirees and tourists in democratic design is the recipe for the construction of a slum."

One of the lead architects, a raptor with super-narrow glasses and a metrosexual pair of bright pink wide boots then said,
"I have several concepts for schools and libraries, all of them are optimized for their purpose psychostructurally. That is, they provide the ideal space for public learning and development and cart-commerce."

"If you don't mind me tooting Clavoy's horn a little", said the manager with a slight chuckle, and a roll of the raptors bright yellow eyes, "Clavar here did the Holyoke Art Museum and the new Catahkus Train Station. Both of which are very experiential structural environments which even made our retiree's and soccer-parents, accustomed to a constantly stimulating urban landscape, cower and gawk in fear of it's visual interest."

"Exaggeration.", said Clavoy, "The three of our firms have jointly crated a proposal for an entropy-resistant urban environment which includes many public services, office space, and plenty of decent housing."

"We're Miokalians. We never build a residence without empathizing with the residents who will be residing there. I can assure you every apartment, even the cheap ones, will be a pleasent place one can make into a home.", said the manager.

[Kingdoms of Cal]

Admiral Jason Markos was approached by a doe she said "The Calie should be coming into view now"

Admiral Markos looked though his binoculars and could make out a fleet approaching. It was lead by the distinctive shape of a Calie escort carrier, the HMS eagle he reckoned but it was not the largest of the ships. Further back he could see two calie bulk carriers, dwarfing the three hundred meter carrier. He walked to the dock and boarded a launch to take him to the eagle for the handover of the ship, more symbolic than anything.

His was not the only launch heading out as the command crews of the new frigate and corvette were also keen to take control of there new ships. In the case of the corvette it was a training crew as the purpose of this first corvette was to train the crews.

---
Sea Knight Sir Alan Dank looked over the carrier he had only been in charge of the ship for three years. He was a graying lupine from Sae but he had got attached to the ship. It was his last command as he was retiring now, his fifty years of service over. This was going to be the first command surrendered by a Seaie, it was a dubious honer.

The crew had now been largely replaced by tinisens and a viking transport launched leaving only him and the command crew, other than the tiniens. He had found them to be consummate sailors and felt they would look after the ship that they were getting attached to. it.

The reason the Calie were willing to give the ship up was that it did not have there stealth tech and refitting the ship to have it would cost the same as building a new one.

---
Admiral Markos' launch came along side the HMS Eagle and he was piped aboard Sea knight Dank met him on the flight deck with a naval salute, which was replied.

Dank nods and the green ensign started to be lowered.

"I present you with the HMS Eagle" Admiral Markos wasn't sure what to say or do.
He says "I accept this ship, in the name of the people of tinis"
The green ensign was lowered and a calie sailor passes the folded flag to Sir Dank.
Admiral Markos notices one of his own ensighs carrying the tinisen naval flag, but before he can nod for him to take it to the island to have it raised the sea knight said quietly "Let my people leave before you take the ship."

Admiral Markos nods and watched the sea knight and his command crew walk, rather than march to the waiting Viking air craft. Three Calie Sea Pict air craft had joined them on deck. As the Viking was catapult launched the Pict aircraft took off vertically and formed about it.

Admiral Markos nods and the tinisen naval flag flow over the three ships, the frigate having previously launched a helicopter with it's and the corvettes command crew on board.

He had to admit the Calie were prompt on delivery as he looked over at the half mile long bulk carriers sail past. The hulls of the corvettes on one pilled up like dinner plates.

He was very surprised to be handed an obviously Callie designed laptop and when is opened it it quickly booted into a program than after a little poking seemed to be a configuration program for the corvettes. He was no naval architect but the prefabricated parts were so simple as to make the construction of the ships child's play. He could use a standard variant and up gun it, though the sail pack was fascinating as the Calie used it. The ships unsinkable reputation came from the fact that they had out riders than could alone keep the ship afloat, when brought on board. He had never been told that the 75 meter corvettes could run under sail power when the sail pack was deployed. He also notices ice breaker options, Admiral Markos knew the Nat class corvettes were adaptable but not this adaptable.

[The Union of Tinis]

Jespine, Iwing's assistant watch his draconic boss come in and promptly toss himself onto the desk.

"Ko e-mailed. The handoff the Markos went well."

"Great. I'm just thrilled that the war makers got their shit."

"Something wrong sir? You seem to be laying on your desk."

"No. Nothing is wrong."

Jespine waited a minute before saying more. "Sir, another corporation called earlier inquiring about zoning."

"They can bite my tail."

Jespine waited another minute. "And Secretary Halg e-mailed too. He was wondering how the planning was going for the rail refurbish on the sea line."

"Jespine, give me a minute or ten, please."

Jespine tilted his vulpine head. "Sure I can't do anything?"

"For all their resume, Vin, Clavoy, Deshrog, and all of them.... really are grating on my nerves."

"Well, the only one you have to deal with in Vin."

"Yes, and perhaps if this was a normal project I'd still be googily eyed and compliant. But the more we discuss the plans the more... the more I want to scream. A city is not a building. Its not a spire. Its not even a neighborhood system. I feel like I'm the only one on this thing who's thinking in the right terms." Iwing shifted and was lying on his side now looking at his assistant.

"Are you sure its not just your perceptions of the situation sir? I mean that maybe the langage barrier and your different training has simply brought you to different ways of doing things and thus you feel like they're doing it wrong while in reality you are both doing it right?"

Iwing returned to lying on his belly. "Unlikely. Its... we have an opportunity here to learn from the mistakes of Arx and no one seems interested in doing such besides me. Arx is the only million plus city built out of a few shacks and a dream in under 40 years. Hell, one could argue it attained such status in a decade. But we have advantages over the initial Arx designers. Computers and more resources for one. The math geeks got a better system equation constraint down, and possibly even a better equation entirely from the sound of things. More people. Better workers. A tired and true form of fast construction efforts.

"This city can be something totallly new and unseen of before. A truly living city that transcends the problems of all others. That's what I want to see here."

Jespin nodded. "But you don't think they see this vision of yours."

"Not really. Sure the southern architecture is amusing, but..."

Iwing had a flash of genius. "I have an idea Jespine."

----

"So what is this?" asked Vin Wentanie en.

Iwing flapped his wings once. "Well... I've been thinking. Perhaps we're going about all of this the wrong way. So, I'd like to propose a right way. What are the five failures even the safest, cleanest cities, have all suffered from?"

Some suggestions were tossed out by those present at the planning meeting.

Iwing agreed with two, "Yes, maintence costs is one of them, its hard to keep a metropolis clean and fucntioning, and forgotten mainence is another. We also have errors in construction, which leads to problems later on when a system fails, those are almost unavoidable. And we have the two things we can avoid, isolationism and class divergence."

"That's some interesting thinking," mentioned Le Winanie en to one of the Taynan-Rem crew. "Not sure I get where he's going though."

"To avoid these, we need to throw everything we think we know about city planning out the window for a moment. We don't want our city dwellers of tomorrow to be sad saps who work in cubicals all day to live in apartments isolated from their neighbors forever. Some of you have good ideas to fight this, but perhaps it doesn't go far enough. I propose this."

Iwing hit the button for the next slide on the presentation. On it was a rough 3d model of a set of nine towers.

"This is just a rough idea I hashed out last night. But here it goes. You see, all the windows on these buildings are transparant on both sides. So you can see in as well as out. Cuts down on privacy yes, on some rooms, but there are private areas in the residence areas. These here? They are elevated foot paths and roads. And yes, those there connect the tops of the buildings. And that spiral there and that over there are transit points between transit levels.

"Each of these towers is a residence, a shoping district, a school, a mini-power plant, and utily center. And togeather a grouping of these towers could provide the services and utilities, except for water unless I figure out a few things, for roughly an eigth of the city. I ran the design last night through the normal models and algorthems. Its solid. It can work. It can be a major pole and center of life for a good part of the city. But if we have several, scattered like this. Then we can take care of most of the concerns of the city right off the bat. Each one will be an axel with spokes going out to the surrounding areas and buildings, servicing them. And of course they'll be link..." Next slide. "By mass transit and utilty systems, like the ones we've been talking about. In fact, by this big picture idea we could easily do away with half the roads we'd been talking about. And if we go this route for the residences, and make them true half spire scale then bam, we can use 80% of the rest of the city territory on what ever we like. Commercialism, parks, crappy duplexes, statues of Itchal Mir Nen in a bikini, what ever."

Iwing grinned and let his crazy idea settle in for a moment. "Thoughts?"

[miokalia]

"What is it with some-people and towers?", asked Clavoy when reading an email newsletter pertaining to the planning of the city, an informational thing put out by someone and read by the numerous, mostly foreign contractors involved.

"Towers, while space-efficient, are not cost efficient, and will inevitably result in something suffering.

I wonder if eer-wig has ever been to China?

China has lots of supertowers that are either packed with claustrophobic, stacked slums or luxury apartments that nobody can even afford.

I think we need to have a talk, we have no interest in crowding in on the designing that experimental mathmatically-modelled spire system wtf. I could care less about what happens with that. It's not my concern, my concern is the other stuff.

I mean, you have to surround the damn thing with something. And either that something is going to be a corporate bordello-burough OR
we do it and make it into something tolerable, and not a damn suburb... or a slum."

"I wrote that down, uh... politely, I'm going to send our proposal to Iwing again and see if maybe this time he understands it.

I mean DPM is going to buy up some land, and they aren't going to buy it if they find out Tinis is going to be an ass about it.

I mean, damn it, it's not like we're asking them to zone this up for a damn parking lot or a nuclear reprocessing plant.", said Taynan, the allosaurus.

"Maybe Iwing is afraid of colors.", said Clavoy.

[Kingdoms of Cal]

Iwing looked at the plans he had received from Wentanie. It was curious as it was clear that the calie had no idea about personal transport, to them it was something farmers used, it had no used in a city. Well other than bicycles and walking.

The heavy freight routes would cause major issues to tinis's some what less developed rail network, it would be very embarrassing to his peoples government if they came on line. The fact that they viewed the current rail network network in the area as the same kind as they would run up a quay was a little disconcerting. Also all that was the grey that was not dock was to be turned into a massive automated bonded warehouse worried him, he though he was building a city, not a massive port big enough to carry all north-south trade.


The fact the calie had just modified the map rather than making a new one suggested they were in a hurry. This was only what they referred to as level 0 to level 1 twenty meters below mean sea level to six meters above. Level -1 was sewage, water and utility lines, that were far to complex to be put on a map at this level.

Oddly the reclaimed land that was to make the air port was already having runways laid with no terminal building planned yet, it was to be a design build project and would need very skill architects to build this was not a concept that tinis was used to, how can you still be designing when your building?



He looked at the next level Six to twenty three meters above mean sea level, it was the main transit level. He was more worried by the fact that it had CAT capable lines ,the freight lines had concerned him, but the CAT lines would make a mockery of tinis's lines even the local lines were designed to run trains running at over one hundred and twenty miles per hour. It would be embarrassing for a rich investor used to the high speed rail net to get off an air craft or private yacht to have to slow down to the lower speeds of the tinisian rail network.



He sighed, if this was not to be come a massive embarrassment to his government and people they would need help. With the debt they owed to Cal and the Corps down there, they couldn't afford to do anything about it.

He smiled the shape of the buildings meant that at street level there was no infrastructure here other than the some what all pervasive tram network that they had not mapped as it would be impossible to see on the map (it would almost all be tram net). He smiled he had his mega towers and the calie were oddly very big on parks. Perhaps even the corps did value quality of life.



The last map last map was how the place was to look from space, level four , one hundred meters plus above sea level, the massive dry dock was to be covered under the skirts of the spires, the fact the calie favored stone concerned him. Also the entire lack of facilities for cars, even at the lowest level.



But he did smile, in the green belt that the spires construction required, as to not invade tinisian territory there were three stadiums and race course. The calie had not put out a tender on any of this like the airport. He suspected that a competition might be in order for them to encourage new architects.

He failed to notice that some of the streets did make a very good grands prix course, one of the designers was a petrol head and had sneaked it in.The route was also very well ventilated another sport might happen here.

Any way this was all academic there was no way they had the budget, he picks up an envelope and opens it.

He called in his PA a calie vulpine and asked "They must have missed a decimal."
"No" she replies "The corp don't do that"
"So it's IS in meeps?"
"Looks like it"
Iwing falls into his seat, the corps where paying good money...well silly money! He wondered if they wanted the place gold plated for that kind of money.

It was clear that this was to be the corps city, the money was coming from them not just the Calie government, not all the corps involved were Calie either the opportunity to open up in the north had been enough to draw in others or it was either for trade or for a far less expensive educated work force.

[Kingdoms of Cal]

Al (Cals foreign minister) was on the phone to Izixs

He says "We know you can not pay off the debt you are due to us."
There was silence.
"so we are willing to drop it, but we can't do it for no good reason."
There was a hmmm.
"So lets just say the new city matters to us and your infrastructure is a problem if we are to use it to trade from there."
There was a grunt.
"But the port must be secure so a attack on a calie ship must be viewed as equal as an attack on one of your own, this will be a reciprocal agreement. But it will be standing orders on both sides. I can spin it"
There was another hmmm
"As to your rail network in exchange for your debt we will expect you to spend what you would on debt on calie rail tech."
"Why?"
"Well I don't see an issue as we are the cheapest and best and the train works are a mutual so that should fit in with your culture?"
There was another hmmm
"Well the first CAT line does not have to be from the new city. There are a number of cities in tinis that could use a high speed link, but it would be up to you where you want to put in the first high speed electric lines. I believe you have a number of marginals."
There was a splutter but Izixs poked a button on his phone to pick up a message from his PA.
"A Ms Tea wishes to speak to you."
He repied "OK why not!"
"Good evening"
"What"
"I am the representative of the corporations involved in Ta licanie"
"What?"
"What you call the new city and a number of us have become aware that your nation is due us money"
"So"
"Well we will write it off in exchange for twenty fiver more years use of the place.

We of course will let you think about it."
She hung up.

Izixs was left in an interesting situation, his nation could go almost entirely debt free with two deals. OK the deal with the calie gov was not a problem, the tinisian rail infrastructure did need looked at and having the calie navy on side to defend them was a good thing. The extra twenty five years would be tricky.

[The Union of Tinis]

If downright impossible. The Chamber was in a sour mood these days and to get any extension passed even to the point of public referendum would require some sort of concessions to the Nationalists. The Nationalists didn't like the Tinisian debt to foreigners and the Unionists and Socialists didn't like that so much of the privately held debt had fallen into the hands of Cali corporations in recent years.

On one hand, if they dropped only the Cali government held debt and spent it on train works, they'd be free of some of the debt and wouldn't extend the Free City deal, but at the same time would owe more to the Cali corporations. But the infrastructure boost is on the list of suggested projects brought up by the Efficiency Council. If on the other hand they extended the time of the city, they loose the corporate debt.

It was still relatively early. The dragon left the phone and wandered into the kitchen for some breakfast and some thinking.

----

Everyone was silent at the meeting. Wentanie had asked him for his opinion on the plans and all he had done so far was lean back.

"Well?"

"Well, I think your business are trying to bribe my vote so they can get away with blatantly bad design flaws and inefficiencies. Not to mention in incredible insults the plan brings to northern Tinisian culture and ways."

There were several looks around the room. "Pardon?" someone asked.

"I know this might not make sense to the Cali, but the current plan you're proposing puts the available resources to their most inefficient uses. I've done some research and I understand culturally that stone buildings are the in thing right now. But if this is to be both a proper city and one that is multi-cultural, then concessions need to be made."

"Such as?"

"First off, you need a damn subway system. The street level trams are not going to cut it for efficiency. I got someone drawing up plans presently, but it basically moves half of the tram lines underground."

"What about the warehouses and the cargo lines?"

"Well on the southern edge of the city you put in way to much warehouses. If we're going to be moving cargo quickly in and out then it wouldn't be put to use. I had someone do a few simulations and it seems the average load on the warehouses will only be a third up to thirty years from now, with a peak near two thirds, if the other changes I'll be proposing are made. And in an emergency, Semita would likely be willing to rent out dock yard space.

"The high speed rail lines will not cross any subway lines as where the subway lines will be not where they are. As in they'll be just barely one level above at all times if they do cross. This can be done easily by integrating the sub lines with the tram lines. Also, the marshaling yard of your proposed size will be unnecessary as well, at least as far as area goes. Make it triple leveled and it works fine."

Iwing was almost enjoying this.

"Won't that require even more digging? And won't the inclines be impossible for the trains to surmount?"

"Yes, but put one level above and one below. The trains will be moved in total up and down by a special lift upon their entrance if their destination is not on the main level, and they will exit the lift and move on to their destination. Given modern technology, the movement of the containers on this three level set up shouldn't be to much a problem and I've already liberated the plans from a friend of mine down south. And her design would fit well with the automation already being put into the designs." Iwing smiled.

"Now," he went on. "I'm just getting started. I've talked to the city government of Semita and they'll be looking into extending the high speed lines to their city limits, which will make any necessary transitions of speeds much less noticeable there. The state government hasn't gotten back to me on the other access way.

"But transportation is a big issue. The tram ways that I've eliminated will be converted into roads that will like up to the major highways you've been so kind as to not totally ignore but pretty close to it. I'm also going to propose a next generation mono-rail system for the upper city. Its more expensive yes, but I'm finding savings elsewhere to make up for it. And since our mono-rail trains are lighter than ground trains and only slightly less speedy they will make an excellent upper level transportation mix. I'm sure your corporate overlords will enjoy never having to touch the ground."

The last bit didn't go over well but Iwing didn't care. He went on.

"Stone... the construction council hates the idea of using at the primary support structure. At the same time, I can understand your feelings on the matter. But on the other hand, manufacturing properly prepared stone and shipping it up here, as it would need to be as we don't make such stone here due to its inefficient use of resources. Your corps check would cover it, but I think the money can be better spent on making the city more accessible to non-Cali, which I'm pretty sure half this whole scheme is meant to be about. Attract Tinisians in and all.

"So, my compromise. First off, mix up the architecture of the average building. The Miokalians are right to be going for some very random stuff, they look over the bay at your cities and find them kind of dull and dense. So 20/40/40, of experimental stuff, Cali, and Tinisian modern. Spires included. For instance, five spires, all the same height, but different facades and internals. Two based off your plans, two based off mine, and one based off some crazy but good architect from elsewhere. Keeps things interesting."

There were some obviously skeptical looks.

"This not only cuts down on the use of stone by far, but gives the city that multi-cultural feel.

"Finally, again, you won't get a Tinisian worker hauling up rocks onto a babel tower with only other rocks to support him. Here."

Iwing pulled a few sketches from his folder, which he hadn't opened all meeting. A quick glance would see there were plenty of sketches still in there that resembled some of the things he's been talking about.

"On the outside it will look just like your stone support blocks. But they'll be threaded by this specially designed support column. The exact design for it is almost done. I have a simulation right now running to tell if the set up will be able to withstand the winter winds and the city canyon affect at their worst, but so far, as of this morning, the spires still stood."

"Did you run a simulation with just the stone?"

"Yes, and according to the present weather models there would be a two in fourty seven chance that the upper levels would falter within the first five years of completion. My simulation as of this morning, had yet to have one situation where this core design gave up the fight within fifty years and after four thousand simulations. I'm running a hundred thousand simulations just to be sure. But safety aside, such a compromise would likely keep the construction council involved."

-------

After talking to party leaders, Izixs was ready to make a reply to Al and Ms Tea.

"Good evening!"

"Yes, and good evening to you," replied the foreign minister. "What can I do for you?"

"I think the bribe from Ms Tea won't fly any time soon. It would certainly require another public vote and I doubt it would even get to that from the verbal abuse I've received from even my own party. But, as most of them were already interested in getting a CAT like system in Tinis, the forgiveness of the debt held by your government might be more easily forgiven if such a deal were to be made."

"So debt forgiveness for purchasing CAT lines."

"That might be the way to go. If its agreed I can start working on the legislation part soon, which would of course be the real yes or no, but I think I'll endorse it. So pending such ratification, deal?"

[Kingdoms of Cal]

Wentanie smiled, personal transport was efficient since when?

"I must admit that we are not famiaur with personal transit as it is very inefficient and energy hungry. But your suggestion that we surrender road space to it is perplexing."

Sunnie interrupts "Your characterization of the city as having no subway is a little hurtful, the rail lines are for duel use. Both for freight and public transport over distance. Your suggestion of a mono rail is laughable, a maglev would be cheaper and more effective, why you would want one escapes me.

Why in the goddesses name we would want to encourage personal transportation makes little sense to me. A good solid public transportation system should make such things pointless."

It was clear there was a culture clash between Cal and Tinis on this issue.

Yinanie piped up "There is a reason that the streets are covered, bio energy, people make heat, rather than heating the streets the people can heat the streets by being there. A fur is like a light bulb when it comes to heat, we can use this in winter, in summer we can make the buildings sweat using sea water.

The salt can be collected and sold to keep your roads clear of ice."

Wentanie chimed back in "If the corps wanted to bribe you the cheque would be in your name I don't like your impactions there.

Anyway your models are flawed. Your models run on the mean capacity not peak or projected peak. The largest carrier is now only three quarters of a mile long, the new ones are looking to be one and a quarter mile long. They are only going to get bigger, our plan has three mile long peers for a reason. Currently a bulk carrier can carry kilo tones, the new generation is likely to carry mega tones and the generation after that?

We will need the space.

how ever we do see merit in your case and the mega towers are yours to do as you wish, but the rest of the city needs to be built quickly so we must produce a standard building design ideally covering the streets so that the weather is not an issue.

Your simulations when it comes to stone involve tinisian sources and, well, tinis does not have the best stone and there is no way we would use sedimentary stone in the construction of the city, it is weak and well bad."

----
Cal puts in and odd request to KZ
"We would be thankful if you would aid us in the construction of the motorways below the city and around the naval base in the north.

Also we would be interested in what level of 'parking' would be required. This is a technology we know little of."

[Kingdoms of Cal]

Wentanie had a thought. What the tinisian and the Calie called a tram were different. She spoke "What you call a tram is not what we do. A calie tram is a multiple car thing not a single street car. The trams designed for this place are capable of moving hundreds at a go, what you deceive to be trams carry tens. We must get this plan under way.

Shall we agree to get the port and air port underway, shall we perhaps in the interim put forwards a composition to build the air port and the stadiums?"

[The Union of Tinis]

"Sure, whatever. And also, I think you misunderstand what Tinisians mono-rails are about as all the one's around here are magnetic levitating.

"And my models? You know jack about them. If you want me to take you through the process step by step fine, but we don't have six months. Let's just get the basics out of the way before we come to blows. Let's build that airport."

[Kingdoms of Cal]

Iwing sat in a bar looking like a very dissolute the small dragon, he rarely drunk, and was despairing as to what to do. The Calie seemed to be being absolutely offensive to his culture. He saw Wentanie approach him, she asked “Do you mind if I join you?”

He nodded, what else could happen? She seemed as dissolute as he was.

“I asked you to be involved personally, I know you think you are in charge but in truth neither of us are.” she sighed.
“Who is?”
“The corps, you have to relies that the Calie gov is not overly involved, they will help the corps but they are unlikely to interfere.”
“So the tinisian government will get involved.”
“Do you have any idea how much your gov owes the corps?”
“No”
“You don't want to know, Salato has made a deal with your gov to take pressure off them, in a way they can spin.....but this has to work!”
“So what are you asking?”
“This is not a tinisian project......stop blocking things, not that you can in the long term, it is pointless as once we get the land they will do what they want.”
“So I am pointless?”
“No you are causing problems, take what I have given you. This is a trillion meep investment by Cal in Tinis. Some of the corps are looking worried” She straightened here fingers, pointed them at him, and said “Don't blow it, your people will not thank you for it.”

“Please do not take offence but this is how things are, and I really wish to work with you.....If you wish you can visit the parliament building in Tel, though I have never thought of it as my best work. The new city of acianie I have always thought of as my masterpiece

You will have time as the rail links and airport will take some time.”

She smiled “I won't do anything behind your back and you can remain in contact with your people here any how.” and puts out her hand.

“Will I put out the tender on the airport and the stadiums? They will give your people involvement and those beyond.” she sighed.

"Look it is not ideal but the plans I offered you were agreed by the corps that are paying for the place, I had to fight a bit but the mega towers are yours to build as you wish. A new investor has stepped in and none of the others want to be out done. They are some what vague as to what they want but are good for there money....5 billion a building.

The specs are that all five must be more than one mile in height and good for one hundred years. Oddly the new investors, a group called Acta inc, has requested a large basement below the lowest level, they have offered double for theirs.

I know it is not ideal" she shrugs

"But you can still create your master piece here"

Wentanie knocked back her vodka and looked at him, only then did he click that she was the one defending him, his imperfect angel. She was the one fighting the politicians, most likely on both sides. He had his towers to immortalize him self she already had the parliament, but she didn't rate it. Odd perhaps he might go against his nature and take the brake and let the Calie plan go through and get inspiration for his towers.

[The Union of Tinis]

"I hear you've been making trouble."

Iwing didn't nod but his silence was a clear yes.

"That's alright," the other dragon handed him a mug. "Here. It will keep you warm when you take off."

"I feel so stressed. So compressed by the situation."

"As you should be. Its one of the reasons I supported you being our guy up there. Someone who didn't feel such pressures wouldn't of been able to get across to them what it would take for the city to be livable for Tinisians."

Iwing took a sip of the hot chocolate. He rolled it around on his tongue for a bit. It burned slightly but he didn't mind.

"So, you're saying that its because I've been an ass.... You wanted me to be blunt and offensive?"

"Duh."

Iwing shook his head. "They've made some concessions, but a great deal of the basic plan is still theres. There's more roads now, and some variation in the styles, and a few other things... But there's still so much that frustrates me. And I'm beginning to think I can't push it further towards being compatable with how most Tinisians live. It will be a big enough shock when they have to trade out their meal cards for cash or those credit chips. Its just..."

"You're near your breaking point?"

"No. I feel like I've made a bad impression. That I could of gotten more concessions, but drove it too hard. And those whom I thought were adversaries where trying to be accomidating. But now even they can't budge much more." Iwing leaned back. His horns barely missing the top of the couch. "At least it seems the residential towers are going to be my pervue."

The other dragon smiled. "Well that's something at least. A domain to have full control. An opportunity yes?"

Iwing took another sip. The steam tickled his nose. "I guess so."

"You guess so? Its your chance to put your money where your mouth is. And to make the place livable for any Tinisians whom wish to live there."

The architect shrugged. "If you say so."

"Hah! So reluctant when you're here. But so out going when with them. It really boggles the mind."

Iwing leaned forward again. "So the corporations are causing you issues then?"

Izixs shrugged. "Not much more than usual. Its troubling the efforts the Cali interests have gone to accumulate the privately held debt Tinis has. And really in the short term not a whole lot we can do about it. Many speakers worry about it though, which makes it an issue. But those old foggies forget this isn't the 80s. We're much more self sufficent now. It would be difficult if they played with our debt, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. And not nearly as bad as the Reaganomic-recessions of 83 and 85 that hit Tinis hard due to debt held by foreigners."

Iwing remembered those days. One of the few times he saw food lines that stretched over a block and daily brown outs in some areas.

"So, young Iwing. I want you to go back to the planning board there and tell them that you'll accept the present plan provided you have final say on all super tower works as is presently looking to be the case. And also stress that the construction council will listen to your recommendation but may still refuse to work on some structures due to safety concerns."

Iwing nodded and finished his hot chocolate. He stood and stretched before walking over to the mini-air lock window. "I think I can do that. Until next time then?"

"Sure, though I don't forsee me having much time for impromtu meetings this coming year. Campaign season and all. Plus there's a war on."

"Of course. Maybe after it all and we got a new city up north. Complete with two reimagined Cali style bulidings, two Tinisian progressive, and one that I haven't even thought much about yet. Oh yes, it should be fun." Iwing turned and was about to enter the air lock mechanism when he paused. "Oh, and five billion meeps a building? I'll make 'em last three hundred years at minimum, beat the minimal height easy, and have enough left over to styalize them up. I plan on having them be surprised by the left over cash."

With that the dragon existed the room and took off into the evening cold.

[Kingdoms of Cal]

Iwing was heading north on a small private jet, he expected to be landing in Semita and from there traveling to the site. The construction council had apparently been some what shocked at the calie way of doing things, the speed for one thing. It had been scant weeks since he had nodded threw the plans, with his alterations, the corps hadn't seemed to pay much attention to them Wentanie had stuck her gray mussel in on a few points, but nothing major.

He wasn't paying attention as the plane touched down, only when he exited the air craft did he notice that he had not touched down in Semita. The lack of a terminal building and the small collection of containers adapted to be make shift terminal, kinda, gave the game away.

He looked around and said to him self "By the gods they have built the airport already......."
He was interrupted by Wentanie's voice "I wouldn't go that far, but we have the light air craft strip done and the runways are almost done, but we don't have the terminal, or terminals done. Well designed even, they're going to have to be design build I reckon.

But yeah we have got the artificial island done."

"Oh, is that you Wentanie" asked, as he couldn't see her face under her hood that she had pulled down over her face and it was clear she had many layers of clothing on under her bright orange fake fur cloak.
"Yeah, how in the goddess's name do you put up with the cold here?!?!?"
"Oh you get used to it" Iwing smiled as he walked down the gangway to the ground.
"Right to practical matters." she threw him a helmet and a bright orange coat, then looked at his feet.
Iwing looked at them quizzically.
"This is a building site you know. They should have boots that fit you."
"Boots?"
"Oh calie standard, no boots, no vest, no helmet, no job. That applies to everyone."
"Boots?" It was clear that Iwing was not used to building sites, well architects rarely visited them in tinis, this did not appear to be true of the Calie.
A thought stuck him, "Your not waring a vest?"
"Well no substitute coat for vest."
"Your not waring on of those either"
"Oh the cloak, you think it's a fashion statement? Would you prefer one?"
The coat didn't really fit him, well for one thing his wings got in the way, he looked at Wentanie. She smiled "Sorry couldn't resit it we have a cloak with wing holes for you, but you will still have to ware boots and a helmet"
"I'm a dragon."
"Safety rules are safety rules, they apply to one and all."
Iwing was quickly provided with the appropriate safety gear, he was not used to waring shoes let alone boots, they were obviously designed for his kind. His splayed out feet were enclosed in a boot, probably for the first time, even though his toes had their section and the boots were designed for his kind. They were heavy and he couldn't move his toes very well.

The helmet seemed to fit well and the cloak seemed to be very comfortable. He pulled the hood up over his helmet. "So thats why she didn't seem to be waring a helmet" He thought before clumping out to meet Wentanie.

He looked about him, steam was rising in the distance, he peered to see it's source. Wentanie, noticed "They are laying the runways for the big jets" she said.

Then continued "Sorry we have to walk a bit the boat is this way, they are still working on the bridge."
"You are ancient for a fur and you walk?"
"Well thanks a lot, yeah I walk" Wentanie apparently offended then continued "That's probably why I'm not dead yet, anyway your boots are loose. Tighten them unless you want a blister"
"They are tight enough"
"No they are not" Wentanie replied getting down on her knees and pulling the straps on Iwings boots tight. For her age Wentanie was to say the least spiry Iwing looked down at his feet, each toe han individual steel toe cap. He wondered if dragons got foot oder.
"How do you put up with the weight on your feet?"
Wentanie smiled "You get used to it"
As the pair walked across the artificial island Wentanie pointed out where the private and light jet terminal might be, and where the apron and main terminals would or might go.
Iwing asked "Don't you want to plan the airport? You seem to have a good idea?"
"Naw, it's a status project and putting it out to a competition makes sense." then Wentanie smiled "Plus I have no idea how to build one, do you?"
Iwing smiled, he had no idea either.
The pair clumped on and reached the side of the second main runway, there was a small temporary dock there. Iwing had to ask "Why the artificial island for the air port?"
Wentanie smiled "Safety and space. Airports have to have a good area of space about them. You know most crashes happen on landing and take off so we would either lose a park to it or we put it in the sea."
Iwing smiled "OK that made sense"
Then he saw it, a massive cantilever bridge under construction, his jaw dropped "What the....."
"Ah that, well the engineer who designed it had one of his previous bridges fall down, not his fault, no one had maintained it in years. It's failure killed five people, a cyclone struck. I personally think he's over compensating"
"Just a little"
"The corps like it the airport is very unlikely to ever have transit problem due to the bridge...the harbor wall is more likely to fail that that thing when it's done."
Iwing realized he had competition for the iconic structure of the city, that fifth tower. He had to make it special. Being big would not be enough, even he could see the brutal elegance in the bridge.
His thoughts were interrupted "You do know you also have the city's main station under one of your towers?"
Iwing blinked "Well yes."
"It is likely to be the major entirety point to the city proper."
"Yes?"
"The extra cash you have from the towers, blow it on that."
"It's just a station."
"What a CAT capable station is never just a station. When was the last grand station built in tinis?"
"Along time ago........Ah"