Difference between revisions of "John Powers"

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==Hiding==
 
==Hiding==
Powers's bunker had actually been carefully selected and prepared three generations before his birth. As part of a long line of CEOs, his family had painstakingly set up dozens of shelters and safe houses for all sorts of emergencies. In the case of Powers, his personal space-yacht was actually a well-equipped stealth ship complete with weapons and a cutting-edge FTL drive. His flight from the system involved the aid of dozens of warships and took four days, but once outside the combat zone he, his inner circle, and their families, fled to a safe haven in the next system over.
+
Powers's secret hideout had been carefully selected and prepared three generations before his birth. As part of a long line of C.E.O.s, his family had painstakingly set up dozens of shelters and safe houses for all sorts of emergencies. In the case of Powers, his personal space-yacht was a well-equipped stealth ship complete with weapons and a cutting-edge FTL drive. His flight from the system involved the aid of dozens of warships and took four days, but once outside the combat zone he, his inner circle, and their families, fled to a safe haven in the next system.
  
Called Thurik, it was actually one of the few systems in the region not under corporate domination. There six habitable planets, three of which held large populations. Each was a sovereign nation and part of the Alliance, and while they did business with the [[Mabach Consortium]], the planets were by and large not particularly valuable. They had few natural resources to exploit and little to offer in trade.
+
Called Thurik, it was one of the few systems in the region not under corporate domination. There were six habitable planets, three of which held large populations. Each was a sovereign nation and part of the Alliance, and while they did business with the [[Mabach Consortium]], the planets had few natural resources to exploit and little to offer in trade.
  
What they did have, however, was three empty planets. Thurik I, the innermost world, was an eyeball-earth, a tidally-locked world that was only partially habitable. One small section on the horizon had temperatures conclusive to human life. While there plants and animals on the surface, a lack of anything else desirable had not made the place worth habitation. The Powers family, of course, had thought it was the perfect place to build a heavily-fortified shelter six hundred feet underground. Powers and his companions lived here for the next two years, waiting out the war entirely in isolation. The bunker was actually exceptionally well-appointed, Tim commented in his memoirs that ''"The time just flew by"''.
+
What they did have, however, was three empty planets. Thurik I, the innermost world, was an eyeball-earth: a tidally-locked world and only partially habitable. One small section on the horizon had temperatures conducive to human life. While there were plants and animals on the surface, a lack of anything else desirable had not made the place worth habitation. The Powers family, of course, had thought it was the perfect place to build a heavily-fortified shelter six hundred feet underground. Powers and his companions lived here for the next two years, waiting out the war in isolation. Tim commented in his memoirs, ''"The time just flew by"''.
  
Once the war had ended and it became clear that not only had the corporations lost, but that the executives were all now wanted fugitives, Powers felt it was time to leave for a more permanent safe-house. The bunker had always been an emergency shelter, not a long-term solution. They had brought four ships with them to the shelter, but as he was now going into permanent hiding, Powers dispatched most colleagues. His children, their mother, his butler, and several other close associates were given a ship loaded with valuables, and told to take care of themselves. Lorretta Love also departed at this time, and Tim recounted that their parting was one of the saddest things he had ever seen.
+
Once the war had ended and it became clear that not only had the corporations lost, but the executives were all now wanted fugitives, Powers felt it was time to leave for a more permanent safe-house. The bunker had always been an emergency shelter, not a long-term solution. They had brought four ships with them to the shelter, but as he was now going into permanent hiding, Powers dispatched most colleagues. His children, their mother, his butler, and several other close associates were given a ship loaded with valuables, and told to take care of themselves. Loretta Love also departed at this time, and Tim recounted that their parting was one of the saddest things he had ever seen.
  
Another ship was dispatched as a decoy; while the last two, both heavily equipped for stealth, set off. Tim mentioned in his memoirs that ''"Mabach had maybe a hundred safe-houses, a whole network set up. Johnny wasn't stupid enough to go to any of these"''. Instead, they left corporate space entirely, tracing the outer-edge of The World into a remote, sparsely-populated region coincidentally near [[Bur'I]]. This section of space was home to an inordinate number of habitable worlds. While no location ahd been scouted ahead of time, it was not difficult for the party to find a nice spot where they weren't likely to be found.
+
Another ship was dispatched as a decoy; while the last two, both heavily equipped for stealth, set off. Tim mentioned in his memoirs that  
  
Powers had planned well for this day. His two remaining ships were stocked with luxury goods, food, all the comforts he desired. He had chosen only a few well-trusted companions, all of whom were ready to live out their lives with him. Once all the provisions had been transported to the surface, one ship was piloted out of the solar system to create a false trail, while the other was sent into the sun.
+
''"Mabach had maybe a hundred safe-houses, a whole network set up. Johnny wasn't stupid enough to go to any of these"''.
 +
 
 +
Instead, they left corporate space entirely, for a remote, sparsely-populated region near [[Bur'I]], home to an inordinate number of habitable worlds. While no location had been scouted ahead of time, it was not difficult for the party to find a nice spot where they weren't likely to be found.
 +
 
 +
Powers had planned well for this day. His two remaining ships were stocked with luxury goods, food, and all the comforts he desired. He had chosen only a few well-trusted companions, all of whom were ready to live out their lives with him. Once all the provisions had been transported to the surface, one decoy ship was piloted out of the solar system to create a false trail, while the other was sent into the sun.
  
 
All of Powers's extensive planning proved fruitful, there is little evidence the Foundation or Alliance had any idea where he was hiding. Tim described their new home as ''"a veritable Eden"'', and said that if it had been up to him, they would never have tired of it.
 
All of Powers's extensive planning proved fruitful, there is little evidence the Foundation or Alliance had any idea where he was hiding. Tim described their new home as ''"a veritable Eden"'', and said that if it had been up to him, they would never have tired of it.
  
  ''"And Johhny didn't just lay around grousing all day. He didn't play the CEO card, either. Aside from a few choice pleasures, everything he brought, he brought to share. The guards were his personal bodyguards, they wouldn't have left him no matter what. They kept up patrols and everything. For the rest of us, we shared in the work equally. Johnny always liked to cook; before it was kind of his guilty pleasure. Now, it was his way of thanking us for for following him all this way. I never once saw him complain."''
+
  ''"And Johnny didn't just lay around grousing all day. He didn't play the C.E.O. card, either. Aside from a few choice pleasures, everything he brought, he brought to share. The guards were his personal bodyguards, so they wouldn't have left him no matter what. They kept up patrols and everything. For the rest of us, we shared in the work equally. Johnny always liked to cook; before, it was kind of his guilty pleasure. Now, it was his way of thanking us for for following him all this way. I never once saw him complain."''
  
Despite the relative safety, a life on a remote planet with only twenty people for companionship eventually started to ware on them. At the age of sixty-two, Powers gathered together his few followers, and announced to them that he wanted to turn himself in. If any one of them objected, he said he would never speak of it again. Seeing as most of his companions were likely facing the death penalty, even he seemed shocked when all agreed to let him do it. They activated a subspace transmitter they had on hand, and were picked up five months later by a Bur'Ian patrol ship scouting the area. The ship was very surprised to learn they were not survivors of a downed ship, but had purposefully marooned themselves.  
+
Despite the relative safety, life on a remote planet with only twenty people for companionship eventually started to wear on them. At the age of sixty-two, Powers gathered together his few followers, and announced to them that he wanted to turn himself in. If any of them objected, he said he would never speak of it again. Seeing as most of his companions were likely facing the death penalty, even he seemed shocked when all agreed to let him do it. They activated a subspace transmitter they had on hand, and were picked up five months later by a Bur'Ian patrol ship scouting the area. The ship was very surprised to learn they were not survivors of a downed ship, but had purposely marooned themselves.  
  
 
===Extradition===
 
===Extradition===
Powers and his envoy were first taken to Bur'I and held in custody, where they were treated as minor celebrities. The Corporate Wars were far enough away that they had not affected the region at all, and the average Bur'Ian was quite interested to look at a wanted mega-criminal. Powers even met with the king and dined a few times with the royal family.  
+
Powers and his envoy were taken to Bur'I and held in custody, where they were treated as minor celebrities. The Corporate Wars were far enough away that they had not affected the region at all, and the average Bur'Ian was quite interested to look at a wanted mega-criminal. Powers even met with the king and dined a few times with the royal family.  
  
He quickly learned that, like the other high-ranking executives, he had been tried in absentia and received the death penalty, and received the death penalty, quote ''"a fate he was willing to go to"''. It was only then he learned the fates of the others. Loretta Love had been captured and was awaiting execution. Powers' eldest son had received a twenty-year prison sentence(he was already a junior executive when the war began). The mother of his children and his other children had been stripped of most of the wealth powers had given them, but were managing to live comfortably in, quite ironically, a [[GS Town]]. His butler along with several members of his personal staff were serving life sentences.  
+
He quickly learned that, like the other high-ranking executives, he had been tried ''in absentia'' and received the death penalty, and received the death penalty, ''"a fate he was willing to go to"''. It was only then he learned the fates of the others. Loretta Love had been captured and was awaiting execution. Powers' eldest son had received a twenty-year prison sentence (he was already a junior executive when the war began). The mother of his children and his other children had been stripped of most of the wealth given them, but were managing to live comfortably in, quite ironically, a [[GS Town]]. His butler along with several members of his personal staff were serving life sentences.  
  
His party at the time of his capture consisted of himself, Tim Perjon, three members of his board of directors, their assistants, and twelve guards. All twenty of them had received the death sentence in absentia, but it was agreed that they should be re-tried. The guards were held briefly, then released. Though technically high-ranking members of the security force, all twelve of them had been a part of Powers' personal body guard, and had thus not participated in any measurable way in the war. There was some talk of charging them with aiding and abetting, but questions rose regarding statute of limitations, and it was eventually agreed that whatever time they deserved they had served it.
+
His party at the time of his capture consisted of himself, Tim Perjon, three members of his board of directors, their assistants, and twelve guards. All twenty of them had received the death sentence ''in absentia'', but it was agreed that they should be re-tried. The guards were held briefly, then released. Though technically high-ranking members of the security force, all twelve of them had been a part of Powers' personal body guard, and had thus not participated in the war. There was some talk of charging them with aiding and abetting, but questions rose regarding statute of limitations, and it was eventually agreed that whatever time they deserved they had served it.
  
John Powers, along with the three board members who had been in hiding with him, initially had their death sentences upheld, while the four assistants(of which Tim Perjon was technically one) had their sentences commuted to life in prison. Powers was the only one to be executed. His CFO had been in failing health, and was granted "compassionate dispensation"(Foundation speak for "allowed to die of old-age, because killing old people makes us look bad"). The two other executives were able to have their sentences commuted to life in prison in exchange for cooperating with the ongoing trials of other executives. They also provided crucial information on the network of safe houses that was surprisingly still useful after so much time.
+
John Powers, along with the three board members who had been in hiding with him, initially had their death sentences upheld, while the four assistants (of which Tim Perjon was technically one) had their sentences commuted to life in prison. Powers was the only one to be executed. His C.F.O. had been in failing health, and was granted "compassionate dispensation" (Foundation jargon for "allowed to die of old-age, because killing old people makes us look bad"). The two other executives were able to have their sentences commuted to life in prison in exchange for co-operating with the ongoing trials of other executives. They also provided crucial information on the network of safe houses, surprisingly still useful after so much time.
  
It was questioned later as to why Powers, who offered similar levels of cooperation, was not also spared. Most believe the Foundation made an example of him, but documents indicate he never requested his sentence be commuted. Instead, he asked for a few luxuries leading up to the execution, and a few rights most prisoners do not have. Among them, he was given a chance to visit with Lorretta Love one last time, and allowed to witness her execution. He was also allowed to see his children. His son, now halfway through his prison sentence, requested to be present for his father's execution, but was denied.
+
It was questioned later as to why Powers, who offered similar co-operation, was not also spared. Most believe the Foundation made an example of him, but documents indicate he never requested his sentence be commuted. Instead, he asked for a few luxuries leading up to the execution, and a few rights most prisoners do not have. Among them, he was given a chance to visit with Loretta Love one last time, and allowed to witness her execution. He was also allowed to see his children. His son, now halfway through his prison sentence, requested to be present for his father's execution, but was denied.
  
 
===Execution===
 
===Execution===
John Powers initially requested to die by firing squad, but discovered that, as he was neither a military or political leader, was not entitled to this right. He was instead offered a number of choices. In keeping with Foundation custom, the quiet dignity of suicide was made available to him by a variety of means. He was also offered execution by nitrogen narcosis, lethal injection, or hanging. Powers selected the latter, as he felt it was the closest he could get to the death he deserved. His final request was that it be completely before his sixty-third birthday. The execution was not public.
+
John Powers initially requested to die by firing squad, but discovered that, as he was neither a military or political leader, was not entitled to this right. He was instead offered a number of choices. In keeping with Foundation custom, the quiet dignity of suicide was made available to him by a variety of means. He was also offered execution by nitrogen narcosis, lethal injection, or hanging. Powers selected the latter, as he felt it was the closest he could get to the death he deserved. His final request was that it be before his sixty-third birthday. The execution was not public.
  
 
==Conspiracy Theories==
 
==Conspiracy Theories==

Revision as of 21:25, 13 June 2020

John Powers was the CEO of the Mabach Consortium, and is regarded as one of the chief instigators of the Corporate Wars. The only high-ranking executive brought to justice, he became the face of corporate oppression. For his role in the war he was tried and executed.

Early Life

In A.Y. 4657, John Powers was born into the sort of luxury it is difficult to even comprehend. According to the biography, written after his death by his long-time butler, Powers was "Delivered in a state-of-the-art birthing suite, constructed within the family home for this express purpose, and used only once. The delivery was overseen by two-dozen of the most experienced obstetricians in the company, and a four talented surgeons were on standby along with all intendant facilities". The butler goes on to explain that the birth was perfect, and Powers came into the world without blemish or fault. It is speculated his butler was in love with him, based on the language of the biography.

The Powers family wealth was such that their estate was a private moon kept entirely to themselves. About twenty-thousand people lived on the moon, all of them working for the family, which had about a hundred members. Everything about his childhood would have been carefully controlled and orchestrated to supply the finest care available, though most biographers simply comment that he was "spoiled rotten". Among the estate's many amenities were a private amusement park, zoo, aquarium, and series of palatial mansions connected by high-speed trains. John probably did not leave the moon until his early teens.

Education

Despite assumptions about his upbringing, John was surprisingly down-to-earth and pragmatic. His first real friends, outside his servants or cousins, came when he entered into the corporate training program at fourteen. It was known even then he was next in line to be Mabach's C.E.O., and most assumed he was a carbon-copy of his father.

Tim Perjon, Powers's closest friend and confident, met him during training. Tim was not in the executive program, but instead in an indoctrination program for corporate assistants, that shared parts of the same campus. The two met during leisure activities, and most of what is known about Powers' early life and personality comes from Tim's account:

"He was this sociable guy. He didn't need to have everything handed to him, he could--and did--work for things when he wanted them."

Tim initially met John after class, and knew him for several days while assuming he was another assistant in training. He was shocked to learn John was actually a future executive, but not surprised:

"He was going up in the world; you could see that if you took one look at him. The fact that he'd started out on top, well..."

Tim described John as outwardly charismatic and likable, but still calculating:

"He was a generous guy, but not in the ways you think. Obviously he had more money than anyone could spend in a thousand lifetimes, but he wasn't like, 'Hey, hang around me and you get a free ride!'. A lot of other guys had his kind of money, and they bought whatever they wanted. Johnny wasn't like that. When you hung out with him, you paid your own way, but you could tell he respected that. If I was ever a little short, he had no problem kicking some cash my way. He'd joke about me paying him back. And sometimes I did; wasn't that he didn't care. He just wanted responsible people close to him. I remember one weekend we were out in the city, stopped off for lunch at one of those cheap fast-food places; you know, the kind that have combo meals and a-la-carte? So I realize I forgot my wallet (or I was just broke) and Johnny says 'okay', and hands me not really enough money to buy a full combo-meal. He looked at me and said 'I wanna see what you do'. Well I still ate plenty well, but he was testing me in a way. He was subtle like that."

Tim explained Powers seldom bought anything for his associates, but liked to give things away.

"He was tight with his money, but would give you his jacket if you were cold".

For the duration of his education, John was known for his generosity and practicality. While others preferred to throw lavish parties, he looked for what people needed. He had a keen eye for spotting weakness, but at the same time didn't exploit it. Tim described:

"Johnny knew you couldn't buy loyalty, that's why he never tried. He knew you had to breed loyalty. By the time the program finished, he had mine. He had others'. We all knew he was going to take care of us; we just had to take care of him."

Officially, Tim Perjon was John Powers' executive assistant, and unofficially he was a paid friend. Powers had staffers to do work, but kept people like Tim at hand for his own sake. He had a tight-knit circle of similar advisers. He was very concerned with having people he could trust. Tim was a man of humble beginnings, the son of a scientist and a home-maker. He was tried after the war and given life imprisonment, a sentence he quietly carried out.

Lorretta Love

One of the most controversial figures within John Powers's inner circle was Loretta Love. Tim described her as "This smokin' hot piece we picked up one weekend cruisin' around town". Most historians dismiss her as little more than a live-in call-girl, but she was quite a bit more.

The story of their meeting was recounted by one of Powers's other confidants. Several of the young men, then 17, from the training programs had gone out for a drive in an expensive new car John had received as a gift from his father. They were driving around one of the trendy hangouts frequented by young people, when John apparently stopped the car and waved a young woman over. She was fifteen at the time, and while dressed provocatively, appeared to be enjoying a night on the town.

Powers asked her blatantly if she was a prostitute. She became very offended by the question and told him so to his face. He then got out of the vehicle and held up the keys, asking her what she would do if he gave her his car. Still offended, Love replied her body was 'not for sale at any price'. John explained 'not in trade', and asked her, casually, 'if he were to give her the car, right now, no questions asked, and walk away, what would she do with it?'. Love looked the very expensive car over, and replied she'd sell it, and use the money to put herself through school. Powers then closed his fist around the keys and informed Love that he wanted to keep the car but was going to put her through school.

As Tim later recounted:

"I took her out on a couple of dates. Johnny asked me if she 'had a brain' and I told him yeah, Lori was hot and pretty smart. I actually really liked her, she was quick-witted and fierce. But Johnny told me he didn't want me to date her anymore. I figured he wanted her for himself, but it was... a lot more complicated than that."

The exact nature of their relationship is unclear, but Love became part of Powers' inner circle. He paid for a fine education for her, and kept her on retainer. Tim admits Love was known to be John's mistress, but irregularly, and even claims to have bedded her himself a few times. However, Powers's motivations were not sex (as Tim and others attested), but, as with everything else, trust. He kept Love close at hand as a confidante. Later on she more or less took on the role of running his house, organized parties for him, and accompanied him to social events. By Tim's account:

"He needed a hot girl on his arm, that's a status symbol in our circles, but he wanted his erudite. He wanted an extra set of eyes, a partner; not just eye-candy."

Love never married, neither did Powers, but the two remained close. Tim did eventually take a wife (which he admitted to regretting), but spent most of his time with Powers. He and Love were John Powers' closest associates, and closest friends.

Career

Throughout his twenties, John Powers worked various jobs all through the Mabach hierarchy. He was appointed to each by his family, but his associates all agree he was a diligent and hard worker. The Mabach corporate structure had a number of "pogo positions", known internally as postings for people like Powers. Everyone who got a "pogo position" was the son or grandson of some important executive, and ostensibly had the job to "learn the business". In practice, being the asssistant to one of these positions meant doing all the work while some self-aggrandizing kid took the credit.

But Powers did indeed mean to learn the job, and was capable at all of his postings. While he certainly didn't 'earn' any money, he did earn some respect, and drew little challenge when he took over as C.E.O. at the age of 35.

Family

As Tim put it:

"Powers quite literally and blatantly hired a wife, except he didn't marry her."

Sue Ellen McNamara was hired by Powers to conceive an heir. He was interested in continuing the Powers dynasty, but did not want the social obligations of a wife. Instead, he held interviews for a woman to bear and raise children for him. It was purely a financial arrangement, with his heir officially created through in vitro fertilization (though Tim was quick to point out he "definitely had sex" with her, "probably a bunch of times"). Still, Sue Ellen was paid quite handsomely for her effort, as well as given free run of multiple Powers estates. She was allegedly close friends with Loretta Love. Sue Ellen is described as having never been close to Powers, she was not a part of his inner circle, but she did respect him. As she was no longer directly involved with Powers by the war, she was not tried for her association with him. Nor were her children.

Role in the Corporate Wars

It is an important fact to note that the Mabach Consortium were not the major aggressors in the war. While their actions were in no way wholly defensive, they did not instigate conflict.

Of course, even the company's own propaganda didn't put it that way.

Corporate war had been a long time in coming. Major skirmishes happened every ten or twenty years, but with more partnerships and more cooperation, it was obvious an all out battle was on the way. Powers dramatically increased the size of the security forces and maintained programs to upgrade and improve their weapons. Mabach had, during Powers's father's tenure, entered into a partnership with six other mega-corps. Mabach had the best shipyards, so all seven corporations bought warships from Mabach. The partnership provided for the common defense and simplified logistics; all seven armies used the same ships, the same weapons, the same ammunition; the only major difference was the uniforms. Powers thought this would be enough, as with his seven corps in cooperation, no one consortium could oppose them.

It's difficult to say what role Powers personally played. He was not, after all, a military strategist. He did appoint a new Head of Security (the equivalent of the secretary of the navy in a governmental military) less than a year before the outbreak of hostilities, but this may have had more to do with company policy than foresight.

When the war arrived, he left most of the actual fighting to his security chiefs, but did make top-level decisions over which assets to defend and which to let go. He also ordered several high-profile attacks on specific strategic targets, though much of this was guided by his war planners and part of the propaganda machine meant to maintain employee morale.

Mabach System and Mabach Prime

It is without question that he personally directed the defense of the Mabach System. As this was his most important corporate stronghold it wasn't unexpected. It had been assumed from the start that if the war were not resolved by 4707 the KPMM would definitely launch an attack on Cantilever Station during the orbital correction. When this happened, Powers took charge. His constituents, however, agreed that he was a keen and authoritative commander, and he did overrule the security personnel on combat decisions. It was obvious Mabach would not need to be defended, and Powers was quite an expert on the system.

The Battle of Cantilever Station was the beginning of the end for the corporations. Once the coalition fleet arrived, Powers knew it was over. He did remain long enough to see that Mabach Prime would not be destroyed, but still fled the system. Though many orders were later issued in his name, he stated during his trial that he had no further part in the war.

Hiding

Powers's secret hideout had been carefully selected and prepared three generations before his birth. As part of a long line of C.E.O.s, his family had painstakingly set up dozens of shelters and safe houses for all sorts of emergencies. In the case of Powers, his personal space-yacht was a well-equipped stealth ship complete with weapons and a cutting-edge FTL drive. His flight from the system involved the aid of dozens of warships and took four days, but once outside the combat zone he, his inner circle, and their families, fled to a safe haven in the next system.

Called Thurik, it was one of the few systems in the region not under corporate domination. There were six habitable planets, three of which held large populations. Each was a sovereign nation and part of the Alliance, and while they did business with the Mabach Consortium, the planets had few natural resources to exploit and little to offer in trade.

What they did have, however, was three empty planets. Thurik I, the innermost world, was an eyeball-earth: a tidally-locked world and only partially habitable. One small section on the horizon had temperatures conducive to human life. While there were plants and animals on the surface, a lack of anything else desirable had not made the place worth habitation. The Powers family, of course, had thought it was the perfect place to build a heavily-fortified shelter six hundred feet underground. Powers and his companions lived here for the next two years, waiting out the war in isolation. Tim commented in his memoirs, "The time just flew by".

Once the war had ended and it became clear that not only had the corporations lost, but the executives were all now wanted fugitives, Powers felt it was time to leave for a more permanent safe-house. The bunker had always been an emergency shelter, not a long-term solution. They had brought four ships with them to the shelter, but as he was now going into permanent hiding, Powers dispatched most colleagues. His children, their mother, his butler, and several other close associates were given a ship loaded with valuables, and told to take care of themselves. Loretta Love also departed at this time, and Tim recounted that their parting was one of the saddest things he had ever seen.

Another ship was dispatched as a decoy; while the last two, both heavily equipped for stealth, set off. Tim mentioned in his memoirs that

"Mabach had maybe a hundred safe-houses, a whole network set up. Johnny wasn't stupid enough to go to any of these".

Instead, they left corporate space entirely, for a remote, sparsely-populated region near Bur'I, home to an inordinate number of habitable worlds. While no location had been scouted ahead of time, it was not difficult for the party to find a nice spot where they weren't likely to be found.

Powers had planned well for this day. His two remaining ships were stocked with luxury goods, food, and all the comforts he desired. He had chosen only a few well-trusted companions, all of whom were ready to live out their lives with him. Once all the provisions had been transported to the surface, one decoy ship was piloted out of the solar system to create a false trail, while the other was sent into the sun.

All of Powers's extensive planning proved fruitful, there is little evidence the Foundation or Alliance had any idea where he was hiding. Tim described their new home as "a veritable Eden", and said that if it had been up to him, they would never have tired of it.

"And Johnny didn't just lay around grousing all day. He didn't play the C.E.O. card, either. Aside from a few choice pleasures, everything he brought, he brought to share. The guards were his personal bodyguards, so they wouldn't have left him no matter what. They kept up patrols and everything. For the rest of us, we shared in the work equally. Johnny always liked to cook; before, it was kind of his guilty pleasure. Now, it was his way of thanking us for for following him all this way. I never once saw him complain."

Despite the relative safety, life on a remote planet with only twenty people for companionship eventually started to wear on them. At the age of sixty-two, Powers gathered together his few followers, and announced to them that he wanted to turn himself in. If any of them objected, he said he would never speak of it again. Seeing as most of his companions were likely facing the death penalty, even he seemed shocked when all agreed to let him do it. They activated a subspace transmitter they had on hand, and were picked up five months later by a Bur'Ian patrol ship scouting the area. The ship was very surprised to learn they were not survivors of a downed ship, but had purposely marooned themselves.

Extradition

Powers and his envoy were taken to Bur'I and held in custody, where they were treated as minor celebrities. The Corporate Wars were far enough away that they had not affected the region at all, and the average Bur'Ian was quite interested to look at a wanted mega-criminal. Powers even met with the king and dined a few times with the royal family.

He quickly learned that, like the other high-ranking executives, he had been tried in absentia and received the death penalty, and received the death penalty, "a fate he was willing to go to". It was only then he learned the fates of the others. Loretta Love had been captured and was awaiting execution. Powers' eldest son had received a twenty-year prison sentence (he was already a junior executive when the war began). The mother of his children and his other children had been stripped of most of the wealth given them, but were managing to live comfortably in, quite ironically, a GS Town. His butler along with several members of his personal staff were serving life sentences.

His party at the time of his capture consisted of himself, Tim Perjon, three members of his board of directors, their assistants, and twelve guards. All twenty of them had received the death sentence in absentia, but it was agreed that they should be re-tried. The guards were held briefly, then released. Though technically high-ranking members of the security force, all twelve of them had been a part of Powers' personal body guard, and had thus not participated in the war. There was some talk of charging them with aiding and abetting, but questions rose regarding statute of limitations, and it was eventually agreed that whatever time they deserved they had served it.

John Powers, along with the three board members who had been in hiding with him, initially had their death sentences upheld, while the four assistants (of which Tim Perjon was technically one) had their sentences commuted to life in prison. Powers was the only one to be executed. His C.F.O. had been in failing health, and was granted "compassionate dispensation" (Foundation jargon for "allowed to die of old-age, because killing old people makes us look bad"). The two other executives were able to have their sentences commuted to life in prison in exchange for co-operating with the ongoing trials of other executives. They also provided crucial information on the network of safe houses, surprisingly still useful after so much time.

It was questioned later as to why Powers, who offered similar co-operation, was not also spared. Most believe the Foundation made an example of him, but documents indicate he never requested his sentence be commuted. Instead, he asked for a few luxuries leading up to the execution, and a few rights most prisoners do not have. Among them, he was given a chance to visit with Loretta Love one last time, and allowed to witness her execution. He was also allowed to see his children. His son, now halfway through his prison sentence, requested to be present for his father's execution, but was denied.

Execution

John Powers initially requested to die by firing squad, but discovered that, as he was neither a military or political leader, was not entitled to this right. He was instead offered a number of choices. In keeping with Foundation custom, the quiet dignity of suicide was made available to him by a variety of means. He was also offered execution by nitrogen narcosis, lethal injection, or hanging. Powers selected the latter, as he felt it was the closest he could get to the death he deserved. His final request was that it be before his sixty-third birthday. The execution was not public.

Conspiracy Theories

Deal Theory

According to public statements by high-ranking officials within the Gudersnipe Foundation, this never happened. However, if it did, then Powers's execution was staged, and he was removed to a remote prison in one of the Foundation's own total-control zones. He was given a new identity, and died in prison. He was kept mostly in isolation, but allowed some socialization with other prisoners after a time, and was given access to news and other media regarding the aftermath of the Corporate Wars. He is described as having been apologetic and repentant. If it ever happened(which the Foundation would like to remind everyone: it didn't), then it was as the result of a plea agreement reached in secret, that Powers would come out of hiding, allow himself to be punished publicly, in exchange for life imprisonment.

In another version of the story(which, again, the Foundation is adamant is untrue) he spent the rest of his life working with the prison's animal programs; either rehabilitating cats or training guide dogs, depending on whom you ask.

Lamb Theory

Another more common but less adamantly-denied theory states that Powers was "thrown to the wolves" by his fellow executives. Since tens of thousands of them escaped justice, the theory holds he was offered up as a sacrificial lamb. By allowing one of the biggest criminals of the war to face justice, it might take pressure on the others still in hiding.

This theory is less supported, especially in light of later comments by members of the Assassin's Guild, who all but admitted to making quite a sport out of hunting down escaped executives. While no numbers are known, it is thought most of them were eventually killed.