My name is Francois Vermillion and you are watching Uxeau News Network from Uxeau, Quillan. UNN is a new media service from Quillan, Languedoc, run by a team of young and ambitious specialists striving to deliver quality content to our users every day. I humbly invite you to join us on our mission on covering the latest news in Gallia and beyond!
Today we are taking an interview with Monsieur le Chevalier, Fabian Montluc, Baron de Unxeau-de-Quillan, the owner of Montluc Advanced Engineering and co-founder of our news studio regarding the state of business and administration in Languedoc.
Bonjour, Monsieur Montluc. Welcome to our studio. Following the collapse of the monarchy, the world in Languedoc got much smaller as we were left aside of the main track of Gallic politics. In such a small space, the institution of a new corporation with over 1.000 working places does not go unnoticed. So please tell us and our viewers, Monsieur Montluc, what made you take such a difficult decision to start a business in a troubled system of Languedoc?
Bonjour, Francois. Thank you for having me! It was an honour to partake in the establishment of a new media service on Quillan and I am delighted to see a team of professionals like yourself working here. I hope the viewers will have the opportunity to experience it themselves in the upcoming products of yours.
Your question is a tough one, I admit. What would a noble seek on Quillan when most nobles either headed to the Hebrides or to newly established Grand Duchy of Burgundy? Some even laid low on New Paris as far as I heard. My choice to come and invest in Languedoc ensued many difficulties, I agree. But it also opens many opportunities.
There are two main reasoning for choosing Quillan and the base of operations, a business one, and a personal one. Let’s start with talking business, oui? As far as I see it, liberal regulations that might be subject to change, lack of strict political affiliation, and proximity to Sirius make Languedoc an interesting choice for HQ.
Think of it, we are not subject to strict socialist-like legislation of la Republique that absorbed the vision of le Conseil on business. Languedoc Provisional Government still adheres more to the Royal Legal Codex that is much more liberal for businesses, and for new corporations in particular. In addition, the local population is only roughly 75.000 people, and despite steadily rising, will still remain rather small for the time being unless we can attract people with prospects of a successful and stable future. To build such a future, the local government does need businesses and looks favourable on the establishment of new corporations. We bring jobs, we bring goods, we bring profits, and expect a favourable treatment that the local government kindly provides. A similar situation is in Dauphine wherein the population is by far smaller and is centred around a few big spaceports. There the government kindly provided us with leasing rights for the shipyard. Besides, the local governments can benefit greatly from our speciality, the ships, be them civilian or military.
Lack of political affiliation is also good: the system does not take part in the “races” between la Republique, the Duchy, or the Enclave. These “races” are not good for businesses and stability. Therefore, the choice of Quillan is quite reasonable from the business perspective.
If I may join the discussion, Baron, but how about the competition, say, with the GMS?
No trouble at all, Francois, I am glad you asked this question. As far as I see it, GMS, IDF and EFL right now have more important matters to attend to. In the wake of the collapse of the state, such big corporations have tons of bureaucratic matters to take care of. Take rights of property, for example. Those need to be settled with the parties concerned, like la Republique or the Grand Duchy, and to be again legally confirmed with the new administration. Quite the fuss, if you ask me! While I think EFL will have it easy, the other companies might experience some issues. Besides, there is a matter of royal capital as quite some shares of those corporations were in the property of the Crown. That is sensitive information and I have no idea whether the royalty and nobility managed to withdraw their shares. If so, there will be some capital deficit that will make things harder.
Under such conditions, I don’t think that those corporations even notice our existence, we are too small for them. But we are certainly looking forward to cooperating with the titans of Gallic entrepreneurship, and to benefit our customers from the quality competition should there be one.
You were previously saying there are also personal reasons for moving to Quillan. I am certain, our viewers will be interested in that. Besides, you are a famed bachelor, are you not?
*chuckles* Well, Francois, when I said “personal reasons” I assure you, I did not mean chasing the beautiful mademoiselle of Quillan. It is true, though: after my beloved wife, Josephine, deceased eight years ago, I have been a bachelor. I have three kids to support me and to take care of, so when choosing the place to go to I was also considering the future for them as well.
Languedoc looks relatively safe. It does not pose much interest for the large players on Gallic arena as of now so I do not expect military activity in the region. Aside from that, I mentioned affiliation before. Should have I gone to Grand Duchy of Burgundy or to the Hebrides, I would have committed my life and those of my children to the cause of the local highborn - the Dukes. I respect the hierarchy of the nobility, but nobody can replace le Roi right now as I see it. Nobility is clearly not welcome in la Republique, and Minarchy is too lawless for me to go to. So Languedoc looked quite promising.
I also believe I have a duty before the people of Gallia. If my capital, my work, and my skills can benefit the revitalisation of the region - this is what I, as a Baron and Gallic highborn, have a moral obligation to do. We created quite a lot of jobs and provided a lot of ex-servicemen of the Royal Navy with the familiar work and good pay. I even made a public promise to pay the pension for those years they valiantly served under King’s banner. So I hope to contribute to making Languedoc the pearl of Gallia it deserves to be. No less applies to Dauphine, there is just no planet to refer as a “pearl” *chuckles*.
Thank is a very noble goal indeed, Monsieur Montluc, and I can personally say you are succeeding so far in the task - jobs provided, our media agency established. You have quite the plans and vision for the future. In this context I cannot but ask: you being a distinguished noble and a decorated veteran, do you have any plans to enter the local politics, and how do you view the political development of the region in the future?
Merci pours your kind words, Francois. The question of yours is rather tricky. I have to really carefully pick my words not to anger any real people in power. The political establishments in Languedoc and Dauphine have been very kind, understanding, and reasonable to me, and have been doing best what they could to preserve the local population. The neutrality chose, in my opinion, was the right move - it is yet to be seen what course of action will be chosen by the legacy states of the Kingdom. As for me joining the government - if the people want me to play the part and if the legitimate local governments allow me to cooperate, I would certainly step up to the position and use all my skills and experience to benefit the people and ensure Languedoc and/or Dauphine to remain a safe haven for all people of Gallia.
Do you think being involved in business invalidate you as a politician?
You see, Francois, one can say that Quillan de facto belongs to GMS - most of the surface is uninhabited, and the remaining settled space comprise small towns, the planetary capital, and mines. Most of those mines with adjacent wasteland belong either to private local mining corporations or to GMS. So most of the planet is in corporate ownership and this reflects the politics - the are GMS people in the provisional government. I do not see links with the business as an obstacle to running into politics, the two are too intertwined here. But I do promise that I certainly would abstain from abusing the political system for the benefit of Montluc Advanced Engineering should I be let into politics.
So far my political engagement is limited to owning Uxeau-de-Quillan, a small town we organised after arriving to Languedoc. It is a small tribute to my holdings on Orleans, Uxeau “de Orleans”. But since I lost my barony, now I am technically a baron of nothing. I am very grateful, though, that the local provisional government allowed me to retain my title, Baron of Uxeau, and symbolically to become the first local “aristocrat with familial holdings”, the baron of Uxeau-de-Quillan. In the town where mostly my employees reside alongside with some other sympathisers and people looking for better fortune similarly to how I and my family came to Quillan, I do the administrative work but all in line with the local legislation.
Uxeau-de-Quillan on planet Quillan in Languedoc
As for the future of Gallia - I can’t make predictions. As any Gallic noble, I received formal education in public administrations and politics, aside from my engineering degree. And the theory holds there are too many undefined variables. Be Gallia united or not, and under which banner. Will there be internal strife for gaining power (most probably will be), the status of nobility and the previous administration, the position of corporations that were digging the Royal regimen, etc. My humble prognosis - the state will begin to slowly consolidate. But the crucial ideological difference between the Grand Duchy and la Republique will not let it unify completely. I favour neither of the parties, although I have many friends with the Duchy, and hope the people of Quillan and Gap will be able to choose their future themselves. Speaking about relations with Sirius - I certainly think that there will come normalisation. But the tragedies of war are not forgotten overnight, and thus we expect prejudice against us.
Merci beaucoup, Monsieur Montluc, for your time with us. I remind the viewers that today our guest has distinguished Monsieur le Chevalier, Fabian Montluc, Baron de Unxeau-de-Quillan, and the owner of Montluc Advanced Engineering. You can watch the recording of this interview on our webpage, alongside new TV-shows and other media content, both exclusive and from our partners all across Gallia. Stay tuned and follow us on social media! Comment the news in the blog below and best commentators will be invited to the studio. This was Francois Vermillion for UNN. Au revoir!