BXBX NOVEL Chapter 35 - Teenager's Advice
November 2012, Oval Office
"These initial terms are satisfactory for the Department of Defense. Accordingly, I\'ll be sending a military attache to Afghanistan to serve our partnership there at my behest." The stern General Douglas stated.
"We\'re currently expanding our military influence in the Balkh province."
"Price, Your team will be joining the 1014th Engineer Company in the Dihdadi district in securing a forward operating base. DOD will assign more missions based on your performance." the general added.
"This is my business card. You can notify me regarding the mission briefing when it\'s ready." Price replied.
"Alright. Now that our negotiations have concluded, you can leave us, Douglas." President Obama instructed.
The good general bade his farewells and left the oval office.
[I feel like the president will give me the talk.] Vince awkwardly thought.
"You\'re a young man, and I respect what you\'ve achieved with Future Tech in the past two years. This war in Afghanistan is crucial in our efforts in the middle east."
"The US is spread thin between East Asia, the Middle East, and NATO defended territories."
"I would like to know your thoughts about this, as one of my highest tax-paying constituents," Obama stated.
"I\'m only 14 years old, but I understand some of the intricacies of this issue. With your defense budget, the government can produce advanced weapons continuously, but I don\'t think any of that will lead to a US victory." Vince honestly stated.
"Why say that? Future Tech can potentially earn an absurd amount from military contracts, yet you\'re against developing weapons technology." Obama replied confusingly.
Price was listening in to their conversation with eagerness and curiosity.
"I don\'t want to detract from the military\'s efforts, but I\'d like to propose a different strategy," Vince said as he started his pitch.
"I recommend providing locals an opportunity to learn and integrate into a capitalist society. Due to globalization, South Korea and Japan have flourished, and I feel like the Middle East and Africa share the same potential."
"American society is not perfect. Americans work their entire lives as slaves to the dollar, including Price, you, and I. Yet, Americans tolerate this lifestyle because of our privileges—freedom of choice, equality, a chance for a better life through education."
"Instead of buying more weapons, sending more soldiers, dropping more bombs; build schools, medical buildings, mosques, expand infrastructure. Keep the locals busy in forming fulfilling lives, away from radicalism." Vince added.
The president and Price had a look of disbelief.
[Young people are much more optimistic than us oldies.] The president thought.
"I feel your sentiment, Vince, but a project like this will be prohibitively expensive," Obama replied.
"Have you heard of the Future Tech campus in Austin?" Vince asked.
"Future Tech built that entire complex in under a year. Building structures and products are our specialties. This massive undertaking is not possible at our current scale, but I\'ll take the project seriously if the US government can supply raw materials." Vince proposed.
[Hive Mind drones are easy to produce but require difficult materials to acquire in large quantities.] Vince thought.
"You want to build a tech city in Afghanistan?" Obama asked.
"The rough idea is to build infrastructure and employ teachers, engineers, anyone who is willing to work for fair pay. We\'ll provide education and technical training, awarding careers in local companies or even Future Tech if they\'re talented." Vince replied.
"We can start small and expand the budget after reviewing our impact in local Afghan society," Vince added.
Obama went silent and thought about the proposal for a few minutes.
"I\'ll speak to Leon Panetta, the secretary of defense. So we\'ll be contacting you soon about your proposal. Thank you for meeting with Douglas and me." Obama said sincerely.
"Thank you for having us and asking for my input. Until next time." Vince said before shaking the president\'s hand.
Price did the same before both left the oval office.
Vince and Price reunited with the other security operators and were escorted to the private hangar by the secret service.
"Do you really think a war could be won by building instead of destroying? Price asked.
"Yes, I do," Vince replied plainly.
[20/20 hindsight. The US will lose the war in 2021, no matter how much money the US government spends to win it.] Vince thought.
The group boarded the Dreamliner jet and enjoyed the luxurious amenities while flying to New York City.
Vince received a call from Aiya on his AIM mobile phone, connected to the jet\'s private satellite network.
"You\'ll be attending a meeting at the Time Magazine headquarters in New York tomorrow. I\'ve already prepared your stay at the Ritz-Carlton." Aiya said over the phone.
"Please update Hudson and David regarding our new partnership with DOD. I\'ll send you the report shortly." Vince replied.
"Gladly," Aiya replied before ending the call.
The private jet landed while the usual rented Black SUVs awaited.
Price stayed at the Ritz-Carlton to prepare for the Future Security mission in Deh Dadi while Vince freshened up and headed to Wall Street.
Vince and a security operator took an SUV and visited Future Tech Investments at their Wall Street office.
This investment firm has been around ever since Vince instructed Ralph to purchase stock from major corporations like Amazon, though Vince had never visited before. Close to one hundred traders could be seen around computers and an uncountable number of screens everywhere.
A caucasian man in his 30\'s with blonde hair, wearing a business suit, welcomed Vince into the office.
"It\'s nice to meet you, Vince Dalton, finally. My name is Richard Hanks, and I oversee your investments in the Nasdaq and New York Stock Exchange. I\'ve known Ralph since our Harvard years," Richard said.
"I feel the same, Richard. I just wanted to stop by and see how the investment department is doing." Vince replied.
[The business had done well investing in highly profitable markets like consumer goods, oil and gas, sea and air transportation, and other emerging technologies. These investments will be crucial in Future Tech\'s growth.] Vince thought.
"How are our finances doing?" Vince asked.
"With the use of a quarter of Future Tech\'s liquid assets in the past year, we\'ve accumulated stock worth $30 billion across all our portfolios and $10 billion in cash," Richard replied proudly.
[Future Tech\'s cash flow has been evolving as our new core businesses eclipse BitCash and Future Studios\' revenue. Selling AIM devices and technology contracts is the latest and more enormous cash cow.] Vince thought.
"Focus on telecommunications companies for now until I say otherwise. Preferably controlling stake or buy the entire thing, I\'ll give you my direct contact to request for more funds if required." Vince declared.
"Are there any notable recent acquisitions?" Vince asked.
"We trade primarily in shares and stocks of top S&P 500 companies, but there was one that was quite expensive. Ralph thought you\'d want to own a social platform, so we bought Instagram for $1.2 Billion." Richard replied.
[Instagram, huh? That\'s a steal for $1.2 billion!] Vince thought excitedly.
Stats last time checked:
15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)
$74.5 Billion in Future Tech
8350+ employees (Future Studios, Hive Mind AI, ARM, BitCash, Future Security, FT VR, Future Tech F1, Future Tech Investments)
Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner
Five company collaborators
Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings