"Stephen Kenson - Technobabel" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kenson Stephen)

In contrast to Hino's "corporate bimbo" image, Mariko Kiyonobo was all
business. She was the director of Shiawase's active Envirotech Division in
addition to her duties on the Corporate Court and juggled the two jobs with
considerable skill. Although only a junior member of the court, appointed in
the past term to replace the lackluster Lorraine Wakizaka, Mariko was not
intimidated in the slightest by the other justices and pushed the agenda of
her company forcefully and skillfully. Osborne liked her and thought the
feeling was shared by Kiyonobo. Shiawase was not overly concerned with
Renraku's activities, but Osborne believed that Kiyonobo would do what was
best for her corp and the Court.
The last to enter the courtroom and take his place on the bench was Francesco
Napoli, the Renraku representative who so concerned Hague. "Paco" Napoli did
have a con-

siderable reputation as a corporate bulldog and "resources adjuster" for
Renraku Computer Systems. His career before coming to the Corporate Court was
littered with the carefully buried bodies of people who had gotten in his or
Renraku's way at some point, but Osborne wasn't concerned about any danger
Napoli posed to Fuchi's case. Ever since the unfortunate demise of Sam Violet,
the only place Renraku hadn't prospered in the past couple years was on the
Court, where Napoli remained their only representative. Some took it to mean
Renraku had decided they were above being concerned about the august body, but
Lynn Osborne chose to interpret it as a serious error in judgment by Renraku,
one she aimed to exploit to her full advantage.
If Napoli was at all concerned about the hearing in the courtroom, he didn't
show it. Osborne had to give him credit for that. Napoli was a cool one. His
blood must be like ice, she thought, quietly watching him out of the comer of
her eye while she pretended interest in the display screen built into the
surface of the bench. Napoli settled quickly into place and exchanged
pleasantries with Hino to his right. Osborne gritted her teeth as Hino laughed
at some joke or comment of Napoli's.
Jean-Claude Priault took an old-fashioned gavel-made of real wood, no
less-from its resting place clipped to the side of the bench facing him and
rapped it slowly several times on the bench to get everyone's attention. The
cost of carrying the gavel into orbit for the use of the Corporate Court
probably could have supported the average family of four for a couple of
months. The megacorporations spared no expense where authenticity was
concerned.
"The Court will come to order," he said in his deep voice that revealed only
the slightest accent of his native French. "This meeting of the International
Corporate Court is now in session."
The room fell silent, and Osborne felt a dozen sets of eyes watching her as
she gathered her thoughts. She patiently waited through the official roll call
and the reading of the Court's charge "to protect and ensure the prosperity
and security of its members." Then, they were ready to get

down to business. Priault would normally have had the secretary of the Court
read the current item on the agenda, but no one apart from the justices were
permitted in this session, so Priault personally read it aloud from the
display on the bench.