Sandbox-Scarcity:EE
| Einstein Engines | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Slogan | Lead by our history, leading our future. |
| Headquarters | Harmony City, Luna, Sol |
| Chief Executive Officer | Noelle Lopez-Zhang |
| Official Languages | Tau Ceti Basic, Sol Common, Tradeband |
| Official Colours | Olive Green (#777700), Sage Green (#637C65), White (#DFE4ED), Orange (#AB6F19) |
| Founded | 2155 |
| Founder | Zhong Hu |
| Operating Region | |
Founded in Sol during the 2100s, Einstein Engines was a trans-stellar megacorporation that focuses on both warp travel technology and robotics - and once had a monopoly on the former. It was for a time the most powerful megacorporation, though never so high that it gained the ability to break its competitors. Upon the discovery of Phoron, NanoTrasen shot past the company, and Einstein’s time as the leading corporation was seen as coming to a close. Headed by the cutthroat Noelle Lopez-Zhang, Einstein Engines has recently found itself growing once again, as technological innovations and the ongoing phoron shortage, combined with refusal to join the SCC seeing them gain dominance within the Solarian Alliance has changed the fortunes of this company massively.
| Contents |
|---|
Corporate Affairs
History
Einstein Engines originated as a conglomerate of various aerospace companies, who all shared a joint research project for extrastellar travel. As the project came into fruition, many realized its results would have immense consequences for the human race. In the year 2130, a sustained, stable warp interface was formed. This development served to catapult the conglomerate to be a dominating economic power across Sol. Their warp technology revolutionized space travel, and led to the construction of orbital industrial stations around the equator of Earth. This boom in industrial capabilities led to the great expansion of humanity across space. Warp-enabled probes traveled to nearby systems, finding habitable worlds scattered across space. The power of Einstein Engines continued to grow throughout the following centuries, eclipsing other interstellar corporations—however, this reign was not to last.
In 2352, three years before Einstein would take on its most titanic project to date, the Warp Gate project, the relatively young NanoTrasen Corporation discovered phoron, alongside its myriad of applications. This would spell the beginning of the end for Einstein Engine's dominance. Unlike all the other megacorporations that have survived to the modern day, Einstein did not work with NanoTrasen, not out of ill-will, but because they didn’t see the reason, having relied on their tried and tested technologies to sustain their growth. This would be their biggest mistake, as they barely shared in reaping the benefits of the technological revolution following phoron’s discovery. The next forty years saw Nanotrasen rapidly grow into the present-day superpower it is, and Einstein Engines fell inwards, a process that would only accelerate upon the discovery of Bluespace in the early 25th century. Major restructuring and changes in R&D were done to save the company, leading to its modern form. Einstein shifted away from merely focusing on warp drives/gates that were built using pre-phoron components, and instead produced drives of all types, from sublight to bluespace, using phoron-era components, allowing it to compete on the same technological level as the rest of the megacorporations. They never completely abandoned their pre-phoron assets, though, and continued to produce them as cheap drives and fund research relating to them. It came at a cost, and growth was slow for the better part of a century, but unlike dozens of other megacorporations they managed to retain their independence and survive until the modern day.
Today, Einstein Engines still holds a significant power base despite the losses in the second half of the 24th century. Continuing to serve its market, Einstein Engines produces many important spaceship components and bickers with NanoTrasen over the efficiency of their different drives. Outside of pure phoron extraction and refining, the FTL industry is the only other industry where NanoTrasen has a significant market share across the Spur, and when combined with Einstein’s “refusal” (as NanoTrasen sees it) to work with the younger corporation, it created a recipe for conflict.
It is often remarked, incorrectly, that the two giants awkwardly co-exist in human space, more specifically in the FTL market. The reason this is incorrect is NT mines and refines the phoron the Spur relies on to maintain their current level of technology and economic productivity; Einstein Engines only makes FTL drives, often with materials purchased from NanoTrasen. It is important to make this distinction, because it leads to the belief that Einstein is equal in influence to NanoTrasen, which is how they are able to resist them - something that is a blatant lie. Einstein, despite having far less influence than NanoTrasen, manages to do more with it, and be the primary rival of the most powerful corporation, potentially the most powerful entity, within the modern day Spur, and continues to do so without failing.
As the phoron crisis began to worsen, the conflict between Nanotrasen and Einstein Engines only began to heat up/ EE managed to successfully defend itself against NT in a massive legal battle, as well as purchasing the Biesel city of Phoenixpoint from NT, with EE planning a massive restoration of the city. Einstein Engines elected not to support or join the SCC, being famously the only of the megacorporations not to do so, which only further soured relations between the two corporations. This led to NanoTrasen simply stopping all sale of phoron to EE, something that threatened to destroy the corporation entirely. Yet, to NanoTrasen’s frustration, the freeport of Eridani allowed Einstein to continue purchasing phoron - though at higher prices than any other megacorporation - for their own usage. Einstein Engines then fell back on their pre-phoron technologies that they have maintained and continued to invest research into to make up for the higher prices, allowing them to remain affordable and comparatively competitive, in spite of the century-wide gap in technology.. That said, with the scarcity seeming to have no end in sight, and with the help of the Alliance’s government, Einstein has seen a return to growth like no other.
Influence
Einstein Engines wields considerable influence within the Solarian Alliance, being founded more than three hundred years ago. Its established reputation in the manufacturing of ship components and warp technology has solidified its place, allowing it to survive as other corporations such as NanoTrasen continue to expand rapidly across the Spur. Outside of the Alliance, Einstein has made some progress in Tau Ceti with its recent acquisition of Phoenixport and is currently revitalising the city as part of its plans for future operations within the system. Einstein Engines has also made leeway with the Nralakk Federation and their awarded special economic zone, winning the Qerrbalak contract over NanoTrasen and establishing a branch office there. Despite its smaller operational scope compared to other megacorporations, Einstein’s marketing of warp technology as a safer, more cost-effective alternative to bluespace travel, combined with its reputation as a reliable manufacturer, has allowed the company to have at least some influence across most of human space.
The megacorporation also holds considerable sway in the field of artificial intelligence. Although its competitors would never admit it, Einstein Engines consistently produces the most advanced positronic brains, with many of their models surpassing and eclipsing those of other companies. Furthermore, they remain the second-largest producer of positronic brains in the Spur, providing for customers in the Sol Alliance, as well as the Coalition. The company also has lucrative defence contracts with the Sol Alliance, not only providing AI and engines for the Sol Navy, but IPCs as well, serving in both combat and non-combat roles.
Despite these advantages, Einstein still equally suffers from the ongoing scarcity of phoron. While they would never mention it in public, Einstein executives know very well that they cannot replicate their most advanced drives without phoron. These drives use less phoron in construction and none as fuel, but still require phoron to be built and maintained. The same is true of their high-level artificial intelligence, with the simple fact of the matter being that Einstein cannot avoid maintain their level of technology without needing elemental phoron is a requirement.
Internal Reputation
Despite common beliefs in the Republic of Biesel, Einstein Engines is deemed as a fair employer with plenty of benefits, such as a full health plan with dental care included, as well as up to two weeks of vacation per year. Company cars are a common benefit among members above a certain rank, and a healthy fraternal work environment is promoted. Those individuals who have worked with Nanotrasen before their employment in Einstein Engines will often quote these benefits as their main reason to change companies.
While some may say that these features are due to the progressive work laws in the Sol Alliance, the standard was set by Einstein Engines shortly after their exponential growth following the discovery of the warp engine. For Einstein Engines, their employees require having their necessities covered, so they can be happier and more productive.
In the 25th century, the megacorporation has seen some setbacks due to the new phoron travel. As a consequence, the salaries remain more or less on par with those of their competitors, despite traditionally being higher. Nevertheless, the opportunity for career growth inside the company, and multiple bonuses offered per month based on performance still make up for these losses.
Positronics and Einstein Engines
Einstein Engines is one of the largest manufacturers of positronics within the Spur through their subsidiary, Terraneus Diagnostics. Terraneus is the original creator of both the positronic brain complex and shell IPC frames, and maintains a large market share of both, with a focus on high quality.
Einstein Engines makes extensive use of synthetics within its corporate structure. However, synthetics are barred from holding leadership roles like managers in corporate facilities, or commanders aboard corporate ships. Instead, synthetics are largely seen as tools to be used by organic employees. This attitude stems from Einstein Engines' heavy involvement with the Sol Alliance, as their view on synthetics is identical to that of the Alliance’s government. The company makes use of their own high end shell frames and cheaper, more available baseline frames primarily, though others are occasionally bought from other megacorporations.
Synthetics owned by Einstein Engines are regularly worked to the limit within their assigned position, and are expected to greatly outperform organic employees due to their cost, with punishments such as memory wipes, retooling, or scrapping are always on the table. That being said, Einstein Engines pursues a “quality over quantity” philosophy with their IPCs, only using harsher methods such as memory wipes for repeat offenders. The company views the experience an older IPC might gain as having a value of its own.
Freedom is only offered to synthetics in areas that require it to be an option, such as Biesel or Konyang. Otherwise, they will be offered no legal chance at achieving it by the company, and scrapping is often used to retire synthetics rather than selling them. Special treatment is given to the IPC’s close partners and employees, who are often approached with an offer for their purchase first. Attempts of synthetics to escape to freedom are not unheard of within the corporation, and those caught are immediately scrapped as punishment.
It is expected for Shells owned by Einstein Engines to use simple one or two syllable first names such as “Joe” or “Robert”, while other frames used by the company use the name format “EES-(Name/Designation)”, where “EES” stands for Einstein Engines Synthetic.
General
Current CEO: Noelle Lopez-Zhang
A genius researcher and cutthroat businesswoman, Dr. Lopez-Zhang is respected throughout Einstein Engines as the woman that saved the oldest megacorporation in the Orion Spur from utter destruction by radically restructuring the company in the mid-2400s. Under Lopez-Zhang’s steady leadership, Einstein has set about recovering much of its market share. Presently, the company stands able to challenge NanoTrasen in several engineering fields, and has become a major threat to Hephaestus Industries. Dr. Lopez-Zhang and Titanius Aeson are known to have an infamously sour relationship.
Official Title(s): Einstein Engines, Einstein Incorporated, Einstein Corporate Conglomerate
Motto: Lead by our history, leading our future.
Headquarters: Harmony City, Luna, Sol
Official Languages: Tradeband, Tau Ceti Basic, [[Languages|Sol Common
Primary Color Scheme: Olive green, orange, teal and cyan with golden trim
Executives and Branches
Executives
Einstein Engines is run by the Board of Directors, led by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Noelle Lopez-Zhang. The Board of Directors oversees the general function of the entire corporation, with each director given additional regional boards to manage.
Chief Engineering Officer: Alejandra Dubois-Perez, 47, Human
Alejandra Dubois-Perez began her career in the Taipei Engineering Industrial as a mere ship engineer. Thanks to her dedication to the corporate cause, she quickly climbed the ranks of Einstein Engines to become the Chief Engineer Officer. In the chaos of the Solarian collapse, she saw nothing but an opportunity to make a profit. She was the main proponent of siding with the Solarian Alliance and the Nralakk Federation. For her, the uncertainty of the galaxy's future is fertile ground for business.
Chief Research Officer: Mio Suzuki, 38, Human
Hailing from a wealthy Earthen family, Doctor Mio Suzuki is one of the minds supposedly behind the creation of Suzuki-Zhang Hammer Drive. She wholeheartedly believes that bluespace drives are nothing but a fad that will soon pass; for her, warp engines have always been the future of mankind. While Doctor Suzuki might be considered a bright scientist and manager, the dispute between NanoTrasen and Einstein Engines suggests that she is more than willing to take advantage of corporate espionage.
Chief Information Officer: Ming Cote-Wu, 42, Human
Ming Cote-Wu was once an unremarkable regional manager for NanoTrasen with no prospects of promotion on sight. His life changed when he accepted an offer to spy for Einstein Engines. Taking advantage of his position, Ming created a large web of informants who worked to supply NanoTrasen's enemy with valuable information. He finally defected after Einstein Engines acquired Phoenixport. In recognition of his talents, he was put in charge of Einstein Engines' corporate espionage office, the Information Department.
Branches
Einstein Engine’s headquarters have been comfortably sitting in Harmony City for decades, heading the Lunarian branch of operations from where the company’s Sol-wide operations and assets are administered. Regarded as the primary seat of power for Einstein, a large office complex towering over the neighbouring area is the home for droves of clerical and administrative personnel, executives, service IPCs, and high ranking corporate figures. Well adjusted to the higher class lifestyle the city has to offer, the brass of Einstein Engines very much prefer it to any other outpost or branch, while reassignment to Luna is viewed as an indirect promotion or reward only fit for few, usually top scientists and other valuable employees. As such, a Lunarian background or accent is a mark of high status within the corporation. Facilities on Luna are designed to mostly accommodate research and administration, the various underground laboratories acting as the main node for corporate research, compiling results and approving designs from every other research centre. The branch is also devoid of any significant industrial capability.
Kal'lo Special Economic Zone, Qerrbalak, Nralakk:
After winning the contract for the Qerrbalak Special Economic Zone, Einstein Engines was quick to establish its regional headquarters in the capital of Kal’lo. The building itself was designed in a collaborative effort by Einstein and Federation architects, with its exterior designed in the typical Federation fashion, while the interior takes heavy inspiration from Einstein's headquarters in Sol. All of Einstein Engines' operations within the Nralakk Federation are headed in this office, which is kept secure by a combined force of Federation enforcers and Einstein's own security team.
The Earth branch of the company is situated firmly in Hong Kong, China. Considered by many as a subdivision of the Luna branch, Hong Kong serves as the number two and historical seat of Einstein Engines, now utilised as the industrial powerhouse in the Sol system. Its vast industrial complexes are the corporation’s backbone, creating and maintaining enormous ship engines, drives, parts and all sorts of machinery for the Alliance’s military and commercial shipping, the offices also manage the manufacturing operations of Taipei Engineering Industrial, one of its two major subsidiaries in nearby Taiwan. Government and military liaisons are commonly found in the construction yards while Alliance navy personnel provide guard duty in tandem with local corporate security. The branch also commits some industrial capacity to the manufacture of IPC parts and positronic brains, becoming the main distribution centre for Terraneus Diagnostics on Earth.
Phoenixport, Biesel, Tau Ceti:
Having moved from Mendell to the recently acquired installations on Phoenixport, the branch serves as its link to the Coalition, acting as a central point from where all of the megacorporation’s minor branches in Conglomerate space can be managed. With a near-total focus on administration, the majority of its local activities consist of investing in, sponsoring, and in some cases, absorbing local businesses to strengthen its influence on the city. Although many speculate that this is the first step in Einstein’s attempt to create their own Mendell City, just as many welcome their presence, with the branch touting their efforts as creating a “free haven” for businesses outside of NanoTrasen’s yoke. This mixture of investment, coupled with the hopeful rhetoric of the branch’s PR department have promised a second resurgence for Phoenixport, with the goal of making it a household name across the Spur. This is reflected in the branch’s architecture itself. Following Phoenixport’s tradition of replicating old Earth structures, its branch office reaches above the clouds, harkening back to the skyscrapers of the Arabian Peninsula. Still, as the SCC tightens its monopoly in the Republic, the future of this branch remains uncertain as its usefulness to the megacorporation dwindles. Within Einstein, non-Bieselites being assigned to the city comes with the perception of being a troublemaker, fit only to quarrel and bluster with the SCC’s own middle management.
Point Verdant, Konyang, Coalition of Colonies:
The home of the positronic brain, the Point Verdant Terraneus Institute of AI Research is the farthest and among the most prestigious of branches within the megacorporation and its subsidiaries. Operated by Terraneus Diagnostics, Point Verdant is home to one of the largest corporate complexes dedicated to synthetics, managing the research, development, and manufacture of positronic brains and IPC chassis while safeguarding the company’s secure grip on the vaults. As such, it also serves as the largest producer of IPC chassis in the Coalition, as well as the largest supplier of shell chassis in general through the multiple factories, jointly owned with the government. Being practically the sole megacorporation on Konyang, the Einstein complex, as old as the planet’s settlement, forms the core around which the city of Point Verdant expands. Terraneus and Einstein employees dominate the central districts, many having created permanent households and families, becoming naturalised and intermingling with the local population. Despite its importance, its architecture is relatively old fashioned and austere, reflecting its origins as a colonial outpost. Any notion of opulence or corporate clout gives way to brutal efficiency, with prefabricated structures and dirty smokestacks from the assembly lines being the norm. While renovation efforts are still being made, they are hampered mainly by the lack of local steel. In keeping with Konyanger regulations, government inspections are a regular occurrence within this branch, supplying the annual quota for positronic brains and IPC parts for the planet’s citizens.
Subsidiaries
Terraneus Diagnostics
"Delivering the right product to the right customer."
General
Terraneus Diagnostics (TD) is a subsidiary of Einstein Engines, founded in Bremen, Germany, Earth, in September 2399. They specialize in large problem-solving AIs as well as development of new types of synthetic combat chassis and programming.
Influence
Sol: The central manifold is in orbit of Jupiter.
Xanu: The second manifold is in orbit of Adezu.
Tau Ceti: The third manifold is in orbit of Biesel.
Executives
Chief Executive Officer: Noemi Neumark-Jiang, 62, Human
Chief Engineering Officer: Johann Schulte, 36, Human
Chief Research Officer: Eiji Takara-Murano, 54, Human
Chief Information Officer: Sven Fleiss, 57, Human
Chief Security Officer: Seung-Min Chu, 41, Human
Chief Foreign Relations Officer: Erwin Knopf, 49, Human
History
Terraneus Diagnostics started as a small development program with the advent of Artificial Intelligences, and with the invention of a specialized intelligence that could rapidly solve large computational problems, the company was soon founded. Their rapid growth is thanks to their continuous innovation in this area, culminating within a decade with the construction of SUNSHINE, possibly the single largest and most complex intelligence in Alliance space. With the construction of its three Manifold facilities, they have spread their influence and contract-taking across the Sol Alliance, the Coalition of Colonies, and the Republic of Biesel. Though explicitly stated to not be for combat purposes, many of their computing intelligences can be found on large Sol Navy vessels.
Though previously well known for their pioneering efforts in the design and programming of combat chassis and synthetics, they have recently become less willing to publicly associate with this area of development, especially after the invasion of Tau Ceti. Many rumors run abound as to who the various bidders for a recently offered secret contract are, ranging from the Republic of Biesel to private military companies, though Terraneus Diagnostics has denied that the contract was for combat-related development and production.
Taipei Engineering Industrial
"Innovating today for a cooler tomorrow."
General
Taipei Engineering Industrial (TEI) is a small subsidiary of Einstein Engines, founded in Taipei, Earth in April of 2418. Today, TEI focuses on cryogenic solutions to replacing phoron-based superconduction to limited success, with their expertise limited to internal contracts with Einstein Engines or in advanced Solarian Alliance state facilities.
Influence
Sol: Headquarters in Taipei, China, Earth; two major equipment manufacturing facilities and four research and development facilities on Earth.
Executives
Chief Executive Officer: Siying Chen, 42, Human
Chief Engineering Officer: Adriana Panganiban, 44, Human
Chief Research Officer: Tingting Huang, 39, Human
Chief Information Officer: Hyosuke Yamanaka-Chen, 57, Human
Chief Data Officer: Yuxuan Tsai-Yang, 49, Human
History
In their early days, Taipei Engineering Industrial was Einstein Engines' subsidiary responsible for research into bluespace drives, aiming to one-up NanoTrasen Corporation's designs. At first, the goal was simply speed; however, heeding warnings on overusing phoron, phoron efficiency was included as one of their key product goals. With little investment, innovations were few and far between, though the company had some success in designing more phoron-efficient bluespace drives, though at a significant reduction in speed. These drives weren't a great hit at the time, and with the phoron scarcity, NanoTrasen Corporation's research into phoron efficient bluespace drives would trump TEI's designs.
Taipei Engineering Industrial would falter at the beginning of the scarcity, having had their niche in the market seized by NanoTrasen Corporation, requiring Einstein Engines to step in to handle TEI's debt restructuring to avoid insolvency towards the end of 2462. The company survived despite significant downsizing with two manufacturing facilities and one R&D facility being shut down for sale. The company would have to change course.
Today, Taipei Engineering Industrial has leant into cryogenic solutions for superconductivity, where certain metal composites are cooled to temperatures below 100 Kelvin, aiming to reduce dependence on phoron-based room-temperature superconductivity in fields such as energy transmission and storage, superconductive magnets, particle acceleration, and hover technology. Such solutions are often difficult to include consumer products or on a large-scale, and are stigmatised for being a downgrade to pre-Phoron Discovery technology. Since entertaining the idea of the large-scale refitting of the Spur's current phoron-based infrastructure in favour of cryogenic-based infrastructure, TEI has received criticism for their vision of the future being both prohibitively expensive and, realistically, only achievable in the Jewel Worlds and similarly developed planets, leaving the rest of the Spur behind.
Despite having grand aims, Taipei Engineering Industrial remains a small subsidiary hot off near-insolvency, and so their scope is currently very limited. So far, only Einstein Engines’ more advanced products, including the Suzuki-Zhang Hammer Drive, and more advanced Solarian Alliance state or military facilities have been refitted to be phoron-free, relying on cryogenics instead. With these small successes, investors have begun to pile in, and Taipei Engineering Industrial is expected to be the go-to company for cryogenic engineering projects.
Major Products
- Taipei CryoCool Energy Storage: An expensive, phoron-free solution to Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES). CryoCool SMES units do not rely on phoron for superconductivity and instead rely on older, metal composite superconductors which require cryogenic temperatures to achieve superconductivity. Both the manufacturing, installation, and continued cryogenic cooling of CryoCool SMES units make this option significantly more expensive than today's phoron-inclusive SMES units. They are an occasional sight in advanced Solarian Alliance and Einstein Engines facilities, especially science or medical facilities that already come prepared for maintaining cryogenics equipment.
- Taipei Helium-cooled Power Transmission: Teased in research journals in 2465, TEI's underground power infrastructure aims to create a phoron-free alternative to transmitting power around the Spur's larger cities, stations and ships, using cryogenically cooled helium to cool a non-phoron metal to superconductivity. The product remains in-development.
Corporate Relations
The relationship between Einstein Engines and Hephaestus Industries is complex, and at times, contradictory. The two have a very long-lasting, close working relationship in certain industries, such as shipbuilding that continues even in the contemporary Spur. Many Hephaestus-manufactured civilian and military vessels in Sol are equipped with Einstein-made warp drives, especially after the refitting of the Solarian Navy to the Suzuki-Zhang Hammer Drive. At the same time, they are fierce competitors against one another in the field of IPC manufacturing, and have a rivalry that goes back to the very beginning of transstellar corporations in the 2100s that continues on today. It is unsurprising then, that this complex and contradictory relationship has changed little as a result of the recent developments within the galaxy. The industrial giant continues to work with Einstein on many of its Solarian assets, while at the same time, there are constant rumors of Einstein providing ships and weaponry to groups such as the Exclusionists in the region around Burzsia, or of Hephaestus-backed privateers targeting Einstein vessels in the former Human Wildlands. It is a common portrayal in satire that Aeson simply flips a coin and decides whether to be a friend or an enemy to Einstein Engines on any given day.
Idris and Einstein have a generally positive relationship, with little need for competition. The vast majority of Idris-owned Shell IPCs are manufactured by Einstein, and their robotics division has allegedly developed several enhanced combat modifications for higher-end Idris Reclamation Units. Idris vessels tend to favor Einstein-produced warp drives over NanoTrasen-produced bluespace drives, with the exception of some of their higher-end security vessels and luxury yachts which advertise speed of travel as a major bonus. Following Solarian nationalization efforts, Idris and Einstein are the two most influential corporations in the Alliance, with Idris having paid high fees to avoid nationalization of its assets. This has given the two corporations a mutual goal - maintaining their own prominence in Solarian affairs, and ensuring that future anti-corporate legislation remains directed at their rivals. Einstein and Idris have both heavily invested in their own PR within the Alliance, remaining invested in Sol's future development.
NanoTrasen and Einstein have been rivals for decades since the discovery of bluespace in the 2400s, and the subsequent invention of the bluespace drive, NanoTrasen’s first foray since the discovery of phoron into a market that was not phoron extraction and refining. As bluespace largely superseded warp as a means of faster-than-light travel, NanoTrasen quickly took a large share of the market from Einstein, along with their own internal supply of phoron allowing them to be far more energy efficient. Since then, the two companies have been fierce competitors, contending in court constantly over various trademarks, patents, and other legal issues. The phoron scarcity beginning in 2462 has led to a short term reversal of fortunes, with Einstein rising in prominence as NanoTrasen's power fades. The two corporations continue to clash to this day, with Einstein having found a foothold in the city of Phoenixport, Biesel - setting up shop in the heart of NanoTrasen's power. Though, for all that, NanoTrasen still holds the clear advantage, being the primary source of phoron for the entire Spur. Whether Einstein likes it or not, FTL drives aren’t the main moneymaker for NanoTrasen, and any FTL drive of contemporary technological level needs phoron to function. Despite all the research they’ve put in over the last century, Einstein has only managed to decrease the amount of phoron required for an effective drive to be built- though it must be said not needing fluidic phoron as fuel is very useful - not remove it entirely.
Einstein Engines and Orion have had little in the way of a working relationship, with the shipping corporation being formed largely from assets of their rivals at NanoTrasen. Einstein has reportedly advocated extensively for subjecting Orion to the same nationalization as faced by the other SCC corporations in the Sol Alliance - though so far to little effect, as Orion continues to operate freely within Solarian space. Outside of Sol, however, Einstein makes frequent use of Orion's shipping services, particularly within the Republic of Biesel and the Nralakk Federation - two nations where Orion is able to transport goods far more freely than Einstein.
Einstein Engines and Zavodskoi have a fairly neutral relationship - though the two do compete in the robotics sector, Zavodskoi has purchased many Einstein-made warp drives for its vessels over the years, and the two have both had generous supply contracts with the Solarian military in the past. In the modern day, Zavodskoi has lost a great deal of these contracts, while Einstein continues to hold many highly valuable government and military contracts - a factor which contributed to Zavodskoi's withdrawal of much of its Solarian business. In spite of this, it continues to purchase warp drives from Einstein frequently, due to the rising cost of phoron fuel and the easy availability of helium-3 from Zavodskoi's new home in the Empire of Dominia.
The relationship between Zeng-Hu and Einstein is a generally positive one, with the two corporations cooperating extensively in several areas of mutual interest - their operations on the planet Konyang and mutual desire for expansion within the Nralakk Federation being the most noteworthy among these. Though Zeng-Hu's membership in the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate and Einstein's growing power within the Sol Alliance has led to a level of distrust between the two, their relationship has remained largely solid since the beginning of the phoron shortage. In 2466, Einstein and Zeng-Hu were both called upon by the government of Konyang to deal with the rampancy crisis, with Zeng-Hu's involvement leading to the wider Conglomerate working to address the problem.
Relations
These are important relationships with other trans-stellar entities within the Orion Spur.
Einstein Engines has enjoyed a reputable stance with the Nralakk Federation due to their common ally: the Solarian Alliance. The recent entry of megacorporations into the Federation’s sphere of influence has led to the competition of cheaper alternatives to the state-mandated industries of space travel becoming available. The proliferation of Einstein's trademark technology was slow and dispersed at a steady pace across space, but is becoming a more popular option in lieu of the Bluespace technology capitalizing on phoron. Due to the Phoron Scarcity, the Federation has instead aligned with Einstein Engines in an attempt to further their own technological superiority, sharing research to eventually reap the benefits as discoveries relating to the betterment of warp drive technology are uncovered. Due to this, their regional headquarters can be located within the Kal'lo Special Economic Zone, not too far from the capital of the most advanced civilization in the Orion Spur. Similarly to Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals, skrell have instead found themselves able to easily secure an apprenticeship with Einstein Engines, much to the dismay of the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate.
The Solarian Alliance, in its bid to stand up to NanoTrasen, sided with the ever-growing Einstein Engines. After the events of the Clandestine explosion and Violet Dawn, the Solarian Alliance was more than ready to cut off economic ties with the budding thorn in its side. While most of their tech is reliant on Phoron-based technology, their entanglement with the megacorporation dedicated to warpdrive vessels has allowed for a faster conversion process that will leave them more independent of NanoTrasen in the future. Any megacorporation has enough influence and mettle to stand on its own legs, so a close-knit alliance with one of the most influential human nations is a powerhouse marriage that won’t soon be forgotten.
The relationship between Einstein Engines and the Republic of Biesel is a rocky one. Despite the judicial court ruling in the megacorporation’s favour when it came to proprietorship of the Suzuki-Zhang drive, and Einstein’s takeover of Phoenixport through deception and one of its subsidiaries, Biesel cumulatively has a negative view on the spacefaring business due to its roots and home turf for its largest rival in business: NanoTrasen. Tensions flare between these titans of industry as they seek to outdo, bid, and create the other in an eternal struggle for power no one entity should fully control.
The C’thur hive, a vaurca political entity based in the Nralakk Federation, has considerable involvement in Einstein Engines as shareholders and collaborators, much to the chagrin of the SCC, who they are also known for working with. This double-sided “allegiance” has caused a degree of strife in both sides of the relationship, but ultimately has not caused any major altercations due to the usefulness of the hive’s scientists and engineers. While the C’thur have considerable sway within the megacorporation, Einstein Engines is still largely a human-dominated entity, and most of the C’thur’s contributions revolve around research and engineering techniques worked on within Nralakk Federation borders, or other areas outside of Solarian space.
Products
Suzuki-Zhang Hammer Drive
The Suzuki-Zhang Hammer Drive was designed in October 2462 by a team orchestrated by Einstein Engines's Chief Research Officer, Dr. Mio Suzuki. At first only fitted into vessels of the Solarian Alliance, a commercial variant of the Suzuki-Zhang Hammer Drive would be placed on the open market in July 2464. Not quite the ultimate bluespace drive contender it was marketed to be, the Hammer Drive remains a feat of human engineering and is still markedly better than all other warp drives on the market.
Whereas other warp drives are negative warp drives, which generate negative mass particles to distort space-time to create the warp field, the Hammer Drive was the first positive warp drive to be designed. This is an unimportant distinction for most but, crucially, it forgoes the requirement for warp drives to come with built-in negative mass particle generators, massively reducing their size and power demand - two of the larger downsides for consumers. It does however, still require phoron to manufacture.
Only available on the open market in 2464, Hammer Drives remain expensive, though not prohibitively so: A Hammer Drive's cost and speed is comparable to an expensive, mid-range bluespace drive – costing as much as a mansion and reducing the average journey to a few weeks)– with none of the phoron cost of a bluespace drive, less power demand than other high-end warp drives, and can fit in ships other high-end warp drives could not.
