*** Incoming transmission *** From: Johnathan Sanders, R&D Director
To: IMG Guildcomms
Encryption: IMG guildsmen (and women) only
Subject: New opportunity
Guildsmen, Directors,
It has been a while since we have prospected and developed a new site. Most of our focus has been on the existing lucrative gold and niobium deposits within Dublin and the Tau systems. While these provide many miners displaced by the Bretonian-Kusari conflict with work, it does little for the citizens of Liberty.
While we do recruit among the unemployed of mainly Denver and Texas, many of these people simply do not want to leave Liberty, a sentiment I can understand. There is however, an opportunity within Liberty itself. A frigid world that has remained undeveloped for decades, despite the fact that resources are known to exist on it. The icy world of Hallam, in the Pennsylvania system.
Initial orbital surveys indicate the presence of mineral resources, most likely copper and cobalt, in significant quantities. However, to say that the conditions on this world are harsh would be an understatement. I am fully confident that we have the expertise to run a planetside operation, since we've done so before on this type of world. A detailed planetary prospection for possible mining colony sites will take time, and funding. Not to mention the construction of orbital facilities.
If we can tap these resources however, it would bring significant benefits to both ourselves and the Liberty economy, especially in the Pennsylvania and Colorado system. It is well known that the facilities on Denver require copper and cobalt for superconductor manufacturing. These resources are most abundant in Rheinland, and the war has cut this supply off, causing production there to have to be scaled back. The planetary conditions would cause extraction and refining to be a costly process, but the lack of an alternative makes this planet more then viable as a mining site.
Diplomatically, I do not forsee any trouble. The Zoners of Pennsylvania have never shown an interest in mining, aside from the helium deposits in close proximity to Bethlehem station. The Liberty government has so far not even responded to my requests, leading me to believe they either do not mind, or more likely, do not care. Xenos activity is fairly high in the Hallam vicinity, but after putting out a feeler to them, I am convinced that they will not oppose this idea, considering the benefit it will bring to Libertine workers. Which leaves just the usual pirates to contend with - Liberty Rogues, mainly. But I suspect they too will only harass us, they have no reason to oppose our presence.
On the developmental side, I recommend a dual approach. Our guild has experienced ice world prospectors from a previous project, as well as experienced colony builders for that enviorment. However, considering we're building something in Liberty space, it might be simpler to have the orbital facilities, consisting of a docking ring and transport moorings, constructed by Deep Space Engineering. They have more experience with that kind of work, thus can do it quicker and more cost-effective then ourselves. Setting up planetside colonies can be done using atmospheric landing craft, once suitable sites have been found, until the docking ring is operational.
Basic supplies such as food and basic commodities shouldn't be a problem, as we can import those from Eerie locally. Other commodities such as basic alloys for construction, and mining tools, can be imported from the New York system easily. We do not expect these supplies to become a problem.
Finding miners to work this colony might be difficult due to the harsh conditions planetside. However, both Texas and Denver still suffer from high unemployment rates. Our non-corporate structure gives us an advantage in mining sites with hostile conditions. Instead of a fixed income, folks are payed based on what they produce, with only a small percentage going to the guild for the facilities upkeep.
Early projections, working under the assumption of copper and cobalt deposits, indicate:
Copper extraction, in case of viable copper veins, would be difficult. The price of extracting and processing this mineral planetside would allow us to resell this at a price of 600 to 650 credits, roughly. This price would still allow for a good wage for those working the extractors and processors, and take into account the costs in fuel and equipment used for extraction.
Cobalt, if found to be available in sufficient density, would be even more difficult to process planetside. I estimate a cost of 825 to 875 credits per unit, however, considering the demand on Denver and Pueblo for this material, it is an acceptable cost.
Raising the ore from the planet for off-world extraction is both undesirable and unfeasable: The cost for raising unprocessed material out of the planets gravity well would exceed the price of the ore itself. Also, I would like to keep the labor of working the raw ore in the guild if possible.
So the question to all the guildsmen, should we invest in this world? I welcome any suggestions or possible concerns that might have been missed.
**** End transmission ****
Wide awake in a world that sleeps, enduring thoughts, enduring scenes. The knowledge of what is yet to come.
From a time when all seems lost, from a dead man to a world, without restraint, unafraid and free.
Mostly retired Discovery member. May still visit from time to time.
