Silver Shogun

[Webstral]

Some sort of public relations coup would be a helpful addition to Tokugawa's narrative. Whatever it is would need to occur while everyone still has easy access to TV and radio broadcasts. If, in the months leading up to the TDM, Tokugawa did something that was lauded by the media across the state of Nevada, maybe even across the nation, various authorities including the military may seek to use him as an ally or co-opt him into their own PR plans. Then they find themselves outmaneouvered by Tokugawa, the master of spin, as he moves himself into a position of actual (not just puppet) prominence.

I like this idea, but I'm going to use it for someone else. At the moment, I'm leaning towards having Tokugawa's image among the Nellis types come about as a result of his unusually high level of planning and involvement during the period of time leading up to Thanksgiving 1997. He knows many city officials because he and his staff were proactive in asking how things were supposed to evolve in the event that EMP knocked out the grid and other strikes destroyed the transportation system. (I suppose in that way Tokugawa is rather similar to Thomason in that they take getting ready for the worst case more seriously than the balance of their peers.)

I have been thinking that the immediate aftermath on the Strip have markedly different results for different hotels. The Phoenix, located at the southern end of the Strip very near Luxor, deals with the initial chaos much more effectively than most other casinos. There are challenges inside and outside that change Tokugawa and his staff in a major way; but with a plan in place and a superior security force, The Phoenix is able to protect its physical integrity and the lives of most of the guests. Not so everywhere on the Strip. One casino collapses in a catastrophic fire. Others suffer very significant damage. The situation really doesnt get under control until forces out of Nellis arrive on the Strip. It does not escape the notice of the surviving casino owners that casinos protected by Tokugawas private security fared the best during the crisis. This is one reason for the rest of the casino leadership to pick him as the chairman of a new board governing the casinos, their assets, and the surviving guests as soon as order is restored on the Strip. The chairman or his designee work directly with the surviving government on matters like food distribution, head count, public health, physical security, and so on. The city folks tell Nellis that Tokugawa is a good egg with whom theyve been working. At any rate, hes a much better choice than the other options.

This makes me think that I need to do a little research on how this sort of thing is managed in real life. If theres a major earthquake that knocks out power and throws the city back on its own resources, how are things set up so that the needs of the guests at the major hotels are met

Im thinking of changing the name of the casino to Phoenicia so I can use the name Phoenix Security for the private security company partially controlled by Tokugawa.

[Targan]

This makes me think that I need to do a little research on how this sort of thing is managed in real life. If theres a major earthquake that knocks out power and throws the city back on its own resources, how are things set up so that the needs of the guests at the major hotels are met

If things in the US are anything like they are here, planning and structural engineering rules and regulations get tighter over time. If the Phoenix/Phoenicia was a very new casino, it no doubt incorporated all of the latest and greatest structural/safety/fire suppression/emergency power/water sewerage systems. That alone would make it all the more likely it would survive intact and functioning while the casinos around it fail and fall.

Then there's the targeted clientele. I've never visited Vegas but I'm guessing that some of its casinos market themselves to a much more affluent crowd than others. What if one of the Phoenix/Phoenicia's major selling points was that it had absolutely everything covered in terms of taking care of its favoured clients ER-grade infirmary. Gen sets and fuel for weeks of uninterrupted power. Better than average water pumping and filtration from independent reservoirs. First rate air conditioning including air filtration. Michelin star rated restaurants with vast larders containing the very best in culinary ingredients. Maybe even tax breaks related to a reserve FEMA facility in the basement.

[Webstral]

If things in the US are anything like they are here, planning and structural engineering rules and regulations get tighter over time. If the Phoenix/Phoenicia was a very new casino, it no doubt incorporated all of the latest and greatest structural/safety/fire suppression/emergency power/water sewerage systems. That alone would make it all the more likely it would survive intact and functioning while the casinos around it fail and fall.

Then there's the targeted clientele. I've never visited Vegas but I'm guessing that some of its casinos market themselves to a much more affluent crowd than others. What if one of the Phoenix/Phoenicia's major selling points was that it had absolutely everything covered in terms of taking care of its favoured clients ER-grade infirmary. Gen sets and fuel for weeks of uninterrupted power. Better than average water pumping and filtration from independent reservoirs. First rate air conditioning including air filtration. Michelin star rated restaurants with vast larders containing the very best in culinary ingredients. Maybe even tax breaks related to a reserve FEMA facility in the basement.

Now that's an interesting idea.