[b]Engine's East
Headquarters of Ironclad Arsenals[/b]

Tycoon Evan Radcliffe had died at the age of 63, just ten days before the coming of Spring, from old age and poor health. Leaving one of the largest military arms companies in the whole of the Commonwealth in the hands of his 19 year old son, Samuel Radcliffe, who now stood alone in his father's old office, looking out the window at the sight of factories and forges spanning a third of a city, most of which under his direct or indirect command as part of Ironclad Arsenals and subsidies.

Despite his youth, there was no denying that the young tycoon had promise and ability. Ironclad Arsenals remained under his control, and arms contracts were in full swing for Ironclad Arsenal tanks as the nations of the world were preparing for a new year. And as usual, there would always be a need to have a bigger stick than the other guy even if war wasn't on the horizon. While their stocks were in slight flux, they stood to rise in value very soon, and the security and status quo of his company was assured for the next fifty years as long as a Tucker sat on the throne.

So why did he feel so hollow inside?

"Sir, your eight o clock meeting is here." Reported a secretary, snapping him out of his funk and bringing him back into the world he was born into. Gesturing for his latest guest to enter, he sat down at his desk and turned to get a decanter of wine out as a common courtesy whilst trying to remember who he agreed to meet. The recent days had been naught but a blurr to him, and slip ups of this kind were becoming distressingly common. He was losing focus, and he knew it.

Turning back, Tucker looked forward to see an elegant young woman in a red dress stand in front of him. It took a not inconsiderable amount of effort not to drop the decanter all over the papers on his desk at the sight of her beauty, or low-cut dress around an astounding figure.

"CEO Radcliffe? My name is Elizabeth Reiss." Greeted the young woman in red as she took a offered seat and a glass of wine as if they were natural elements to her. "I have a joint business proposal for you."

"Exactly what kind of proposal are we talking about?"

"To begin a second industrial revolution of automation." Replied Reiss, before putting a folder on Tucker's desk. Opening it, he saw a number of schematics and designs of machines. Machines in the image of man. "I would like to work with Ironclad Arsenal to create a new generation of clockwork men as a first step towards bringing this world into a new era of labor efficiency. And in the process, giving you a competitive advantage over Chekov's mech-men, one of your largests rivals in armaments. Do I have your interest?"

"I think your mad, but call my curiosity peaked. You have my complete attention, please tell me more miss Reiss."

"Thought you would like what you see.....hey, eyes up here! I didn't mean it like that!"

"I was looking at your schematics! Honest!"