The Belgardi Universal Bank bustled with the usual activity that it would on any busy day. It was a reminder of the dominance of Belgardi Universal on the world that was its corporate headquarters. People moved about with the casual rate of a set routine not really paying much attention to a new face amongst them. The young man had entered into the lobby with a briefcase and looking around. He was greeted by a receptionist droid that sent him along towards a waiting banker. The two spoke for a few minutes before the man excused himself to go to the restroom. Once he was out of sight of the bank employee he made an immediate exit from the building and tapping a button on his watch once a block away. With a shaking explosion, the Belgardi Universal Bank was no more.
The Committee
"How dare you target my bank!" Rico Belgardi shouted indignantly across the table at Brutus Nogoth.
"It was necessary for my agenda," Nogoth replied coldly and calmly.
Estro Sabrino sat at the head of the table watching the two Committee members arguing now. He pinched the bridge of his nose as he watched this play out. He couldn't believe that Nogoth had done this without asking permission.
"This is going to cause complications," Trachta said quietly at his side. The former head of COMPNOR had recently been providing his services as an adviser. Sabrino didn't trust the cyborg but knew he gave sound advice and functioned as an excellent devil's advocate.
"Damnit, Nogoth! This is what the Committee is for! So our assets don't go brutalizing one another without consultation! I could have moved a number of valuable employees out of their for the day!" Belgardi slapped his hand on the table.
"Sacrifices must be made for change," Nogoth said dismissively. This earned a number of agreements from the other more militant Committee members.
"Sacrificies?! Those were valuable employees!" Belgardi snapped back and a number of the corporate members shouted their agreement.
Recently the Union had come under strain between its more radical elements and the more business oriented ones. The corporate and criminal members had much disdain for ideology that didn't benefit them. In recent months the militant groups had begun acting more independently. This was likely due to Sabrino being more silent at Committee meetings and actions. He was in all honesty growing tired of supporting the terrorist elements of the Union. They were not profitable anymore nor useful when the Union had its own resources now.
"Are you going to let them continue like this?" Trachta asked quietly and curiously.
"Let them bicker, this was going to happen sooner or later," Sabrino muttered in reply.
"If they come to blows, the Union could suffer," Trachta warned.
Estro Sabrino slowly turned his head to look coldly at Trachta. The cyborg saw the hard expression on his face and backed away with a simple nod in understanding. This was meant to happen. The Union could not continue on its current course of action as certain elements were beginning to go rogue. The goal of the Union was to create a cooperative network of business and criminal interests. They had made the mistake of incorporating terrorists whose methods would alienate people too much. It was time to purge the ranks with bloodletting.
"I've had enough of this, you are the enemies as much as anyone else," Nogoth stood from his chair calmly and turned to leave.
"You can't just walk out on the Committee! We all agreed to this, damnit!" Rico Belgardi shouted at Nogoth.
The other militant leaders in the room started to stand and leave with Nogoth now. The criminals and businessmen all seemed stunned as the Committee lost several integral members. Several turned to look nerviously at Sabrino, still fearful of his wrath on some level. Others had looks of contempt that he hadn't stopped him, standing and leaving as well. Sabrino simply watched them leave, his hands clasped together in thought.
"So this is how empires fall," Trachta mused quietly from behind him. Sabrino just gave a very cold smile in response to that.
"Not so much a fall as a cleaning of house," Sabrino noted as he stood up, the remnants of the Committee standing as well to show respect. "I suggest that all of you prepare for what is likely to come now."
The others just nodded, knowing the Committee had fallen apart. It was the Union's only real form of governance and now it had fractured. Sabrino moved to return to his offices with Trachta following along behind him. He stepped in and dropped down at this desk.
"So this is it then? You're going to let them start killing one another?" Trachta asked in a very matter-of-fact tone.
"The Union will need to restructure after this. Our efforts while expansive have perhaps become too much. There is no profit or power in terrorism save for backing them long enough to cause an event we need. This will sever the ties and purge the ranks of unnecessary groups," Sabrino replied.
"Even useful ones at that. I fear we will lose our corporate members just as quickly as terrorist ones once this starts," Trachta warned.
"They'll hold their tongues then if they don't want to be found with their throats slit open," Sabrino said sharply.
He was sure some would try to share data but that mattered little. The Union would be stronger for this even if depleted on many levels. All that was required was for the fighting to start. Only through internal strife would they be able to gain what was needed and discard the useless.
