The Fasten Seat Belt sound chirped as Manus Blair dozed in his passenger seat, the 737-900 he was riding was shaking from rough air. He'd have preferred first-class, but startup companies rarely can afford those, so coach would have to do. Fine. Hours ago he was in Chile, representing business interests in his home state of California. That's what he did: he went places people generally didn't go, then he invested. And that's what he was doing now. Paramo island is an extended part of Puerto Rico, a US Territory, and after a lengthly legal process the island attained Constitutional status. It was heavily rumored to be the next US state, beating Puerto Rico itself. Now people and business were pouring in. It was like the cool new toy, that accepts US currency, has a modern Western society, and where people drive on the right side of the road. Laking an airport on the island itself, Magnus would have to land in Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic, and take a ferry to it. He felt an elbow jab him gently. "Would you like to set up a meeting with the local investors?" asked the woman sitting next to him. Manus tried to open his eyes, blinking away the fog. He stretched. "Laurie, you're a partner, not my secretary. Set it up and tell me where to be and when." he groaned. She nodded and resumed tapping absently on her laptop. Well, he was awake now. He had always represented various corporate or NGO interests, but this was different. Manus Industries. Yes. This time he was striking out on his own. He had a cocktail of friends, acquaintances and trust fund kids looking for passive income to help him get off the ground. This was his turn.