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The Serpent’s Belly

Endron’s gains come at tremendous cost to the planet, which is why the Garou hate the corporation so much. So very effective is Endron Oil at what it does, it alone has done more to set back the Gaian cause than all other branches of Pentex combined. Humanity is very pliable in the right circumstances, and the powers behind Endron know just how and where to apply the right pressure. Further, every seemingly benign gesture adds to the smokescreen obscuring the true devastation of their Endron’s actions. The Garou fight back with everything they’ve got, but their efforts meet with frustration. Endron’s methods are even more direct than those of many other subsidiaries are. They don’t blink at blackmail, extortion, hiring mercenaries to murder unionized workers, or sending surprisingly well-funded criminal groups against people who rile the company’s leadership. At times, it looks like Endron’s board are more comfortable breaking the law than using legal solutions to their problems.

When governments and private institutions make deals with Endron, the bargains always work out in the company’s favor. Sometimes, the other party realizes afterward just how powerless they are in the agreement, usually when private Endron security forces flood the area. Most of the local populace buys Endron gasoline and attend schools or jobs funded by the oil giant. Withholding campaign contributions will quickly change a holdout’s tune.

A significant part of Endron’s success has been its developments on the technological side of oil drilling. Their proprietary Menantol platforms are the most famous example, being some of the most advanced oilrigs in the world. The Menantols can drill faster and more efficiently than any other rig, and are built to withstand the worst stresses Mother Nature can throw at them, a fact that Endron mentions in every press release. The rigs are gigantic mechanical leeches, sucking dry the lifeblood of the Earth, and no amount of salt (or saltwater) can scour them away. They’re more like villas or small towns than mere oilrigs, holding quarters and facilities for dozens of people, many of whom are not just crew, but also marine biologists, geologists and other specialist consultants. Some non-crew workers are truly strange, the kind of person who looks more at home in a New Age bookstore or séance than an offshore drilling rig, but the crew knows better than to ask questions. When you work for Endron long enough, especially on the rigs, you get used to seeing some weird shit.

Oil spills happen with alarming frequency, and the environmental toll is heinous. Every spill ruins miles of coastline, destroys the habitat of countless thousands of seagoing animals, and proves costly to clean up. Yet even so, Endron can turn this to its advantage. By promoting an image of regret over the necessary act of oil drilling and transport, and introducing advancements made to reduce the scope and frequency of spills, Endron gets to appear like the “good oil company.” Once more, attacking people where it really hurts, in the wallet, also proves quite effective. Developing safer alternatives takes time, at the cost of skyrocketing oil prices now, and the busy people of the First World cannot afford to wait. If it means low gas prices and stability from week to week, then the majority of working people are willing to accept accidents as they come while Endron looks for better options. Besides, how many schools does the company donate to again?

Endron’s facilities aren’t as perfect as the company claims. In 2010, a supposedly indestructible Menantol oilrig exploded, leaving an uncapped wellhead gushing for months. Nearly 250 million gallons of oil spread across the water, decimating local wildlife and tourist establishments. All parties involved scrambled to blame one another but in the end several powerful energy companies conspired to make sure Endron got their day in court. In turn, Endron eventually settled, paying more than five billion dollars in damages. The flood of negative publicity has left the company struggling for the first time since the Great Depression. Now some look upon Magadon as Pentex’s new golden calf and Endron’s Board grows desperate.

Whether onshore or off, Endron facilities display significantly high maintenance, and serious fortifications. In some cases, they resemble military compounds more than drilling facilities, with electrified fences topped with razor wire, private airstrips, armed patrols, and machine-gun emplacements. Endron’s management knows that the Garou will come, and they want to give the werewolves hell. Even when Endron loses, the damage done ultimately works in its favor, the tragedy makes the news as oil burns, ruining the land, and starting wildfires. The cost in Garou lives is high, as well; Endron’s sharpshooters keep silver bullets at hand, just in case, and keep a tally of their kills. The Garou approach Endron compounds with great caution and greater hatred.

The largest and most profitable of Endron’s oil reserves support pipelines, though at tremendous cost both financially and environmentally. While the pipelines are by far the fastest and easiest way to transport oil long distances, their construction is far from fast or easy. The process takes many years and millions of dollars, and has a catastrophic toll on the landscape all on its own. After the completion of the pipeline, Endron employees take special care to worsen the damage, poisoning the ground and water and driving rare species to extinction. Spills in the pipelines are rare, being costly enough to make a dent even in Endron’s profits, but the other damage is more profound. Even without those additions, oil pipelines tear up miles and miles of wilderness and coastlines. Though the construction has long-term effects, they normally play out in countries far removed from the family man gassing up his SUV, the hundreds of people attending boat shows, or the many thousands that drive to the beach every day. Endron trucking fleets also transport oil and equipment, using Endron-produced gasoline, which pollutes the air more than any other fuel. The sum of these things is a high price to pay for Mother Earth, indeed.