User:Kermit/Megacorporations

Megacorporations are one of the few pillars holding up the Spur as it is known today; they are the logistical and industrial titans that drive the Spur forward, the weapons manufacturers and security solutions to drive the Spur back into the dirt, and the bureaucratic and pharmaceutical giants to keep us going just a little longer. For this, their holds on the markets across space are unshakable, their sway behind closed doors decisive, and the repercussions for their mishaps fleeting. To find a job with a megacorporation is often the quickest way to achieve a stable footing in life, with greater benefits and more secure positions compared to non-megacorporate jobs, however the demands are often high. Once in, there are few ways out, and to lose your job with a megacorporation is to have a permanent black stain on your record.

History

The first megacorporations arose out of the fast-paced landscape of Earth’s 22nd Century, a period defined by fierce economic competition between Earth’s nations – particularly across the East and West divide – and the start of the race to colonise the planets of the Sol System, all spurred by the strife caused by Earth’s earlier climate crisis. Corporations that operated within their home nation conglomerated with others, then with corporations neighbouring their home nation: first Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals that dominated Asia’s markets, formed out of an agreement between Chinese biomedical companies then joined by neighbouring Singaporean and Japanese companies; following suit, Hephaestus Industries, that formed out of North America and West Europe’s defence and heavy industry companies.

At every generation-defining moment, there was a megacorporation to witness and capitalise upon it. During the climate crisis, the early megacorporations worked with their respective states to mitigate disasters and reintroduce what was lost, where overtime they achieved what was initially thought a lost cause – resurrecting life on Earth. Come humanity’s first contact with aliens, the megacorporations were quick to broker deals, endeavouring to sink their talons into any fresh market they could – the rewards are clear, with Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals and Einstein Engines soaring ahead on the backs of the technologically superior Nralakk Federation, and Hephaestus Industries having acquired what even NanoTrasen struggled with after Biesel’s secession – an entire planet, Moghes. After the discovery of phoron that has defined recent history, the megacorporations – NanoTrasen Corporation, in particular – found a new monopoly with which to hook others on, though its supply now dwindles.

Formed in the shadows in 2458 and revealed in 2462 amid the second invasion of Biesel, the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate now forms the unbreakable chain that connects the Spur's megacorporations. Unified only in their shared desire to identify new sources of phoron – such as the deposit discovered by the SCCV Horizon in 2464, now harvested by the Orchard Moon – the Conglomerate may yet see the Spur through the phoron crisis. That is if it does not buckle under internal pressures or the ingenuity of the solo Einstein Engines that seeks to eliminate the Spur's dependence on phoron first.

Megacorporations

Megacorporation	Overview	Specialities	See Also
NanoTrasen Corporation ‘The leader in all things phoron.’	The largest and arguably the most influential of the megacorporations of recent times, NanoTrasen's ascension can be wholly owed to its iron grip over the Republic of Biesel and the subsequent discovery of phoron that it was quick to form a monopoly over. Today, the Spur's phoron supplies dwindle and their chosen pawn no longer sits atop Biesel's government, leading to a rather uncertain future for the megacorporation. Due to NanoTrasen's influence across the Spur and generous benefit packages, anyone from any walk of life can find employment with the megacorporation. Aboard the Horizon, NanoTrasen employees are employed in Science, Medical and Service.	● Applied Phoronics ● Anomalies Studies ● Administration & Legal ● Biotechnology ● Food Sciences ● Pharmacology	● The Trasen Family ● Republic of Biesel ● Phoron
Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals ‘Building a brighter future.’	The biomedical giant and the oldest megacorporation in the Spur, Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals dominates the the practise of medicine and the fields of research which feed it. Arranged in a keiretsu structure, Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals is composed of many smaller companies which all cross-invest to ensure each company dominates its place in a market on its planet, with Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals acting as an admin and legal hub for its members, swooping in to take control of paradigm shattering research. Today, Zeng-Hu Pharamceuticals focuses on perfecting the human body, through both genetic and cybernetic means, out of this research has come embryonic cloning, limb cloning, and the most advanced synthetics yet. Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals has strict hiring standards and is known only to hire the best. Not only paid well, prospective employees are often enticed by the promise of high-end cybernetics and genetic treatments that are often handed down as benefits by veteran staff. Aboard the Horizon, Keiretsu employees are employed in Science and Medical.	● Biotechnology ● Pharmacology ● Medical Bioengineering ● Genetics & Cloning ● Terraforming ● Administration & Legal	● Nralakk Federation ● Federal Technocracy of Galatea ● Origins in Asia
Hephaestus Industries ‘The anvil on which the world is shaped.’	The industrial titan, Hephaestus Industries was born out of West Europe and North America's military industries that snowballed in size during the 21st Century. Their bulk resource exploitation, manufacturing and logistics have kept the Spur's journey into the stars fuelled and stays on planets comfortable - for most... Today, Hephaestus Industries continues to strengthen its monopoly on industry through its relationship with the Izweski Hegemony, seeing a prime opportunity to access a new workforce. The company for the blue collars, Hephaestus Industries hires far and wide, willing to provide the opportunity to grow to anyone and attracting them with a benevolent company atmosphere - if you can look past often slack safety standards. Aboard the Horizon, Hephaestus employees are employed in Engineering and Operations.	● Engineering ● Material Engineering ● Mechanical Engineering ● Robotics ● Bulk Fabrication & Transport ● Civilian Commodities ● Civilian Starships ● Heavy Industrial Equipment	● Izweski Hegemony ● New Hai Phong ● Himeo ● Major Synthetic Production Facilities ● The First Trans-Stellars
Zavodskoi Interstellar ‘Even one matters on the battlefield.’	With a hand in nearly every conflict since the Cold War, how best to kill another continues to be the driving force behind Zavodskoi Interstellar's contribution to the Spur's technological advancement. Who and what stakes do not matter; conflict is another resource to exploit and a battleground is the perfect setting for an experiment to deploy new technology. Today, Zavodskoi Interstellar continues to cement its position in the Spur by developing a strong relationship with the Empire of Dominia, rarely short of its own conflicts and conquests, and by defending liberty and corporate interests through the supplying of the fledgling Tau Ceti Armed Forces, having recently had the Solarian Armed Forces turn a shoulder on them. Though their market is death, Zavodskoi Insterstellar has a crafted image of professionality to maintain. As a result, Zavodskoi Interstellar's hires are often regarded as some of the courteous contractors out there, the image of the company always coming first. Aboard the Horizon, Zavodskoi employees are employed in Security, Science and Engineering.	● Engineering ● Weapons Engineering ● Military Vehicle Engineering ● Genetics ● Security Contracting	● Empire of Dominia ● Origins in the USSR and Warsaw Pact ● Tau Ceti Armed Forces Equipment
Idris Incorporated ‘Astronomical Figures. Unlimited Power.’	Where credits flow, Idris Incorporated can be found. Idris Incorporated's empire of influence is fueled by the countless banks across the Spur, an ornate web of lucrative loans and insurance plans, and expensive insider secrets offered only to the highest paying of their finance clients. In recent times, Idris have expanded into the tourist and consumer goods markets, using their expertise to both create iconic brands known throughout the Spur and to out maneuver competitors. Now, with the ongoing phoron crisis, Idris Incorporated's wealth and sage advice has never been more needed by the states and megacorporations of the Spur. Idris Incorporated contractors are expensive; class and high-standards are part of the deal. Yet, the equally high salaries afforded to the employees who thrive in Idris' demanding atmosphere make it all worth it for some. Aboard the Horizon, Idris employees are employed in Service and Security.	● Finance ● Tourism & Cruise Transport ● Designer Fashion ● Civilian Luxuries	● Silversun ● Crevus ● Idris Reclaimation Units
Private Military Contracting Group ‘Always on guard, always on watch.’	An amalgamation of private military companies of variable character that have been permitted to work with the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate, the Private Military Contracting Group was established to provide one point of contact for the Chainlink and other clients to be able to browse the more reputable PMCs of the Spur. No one military contractor from the PMCG is the same due to the varied groups that have been permitted to work with the SCC. Aboard the Horizon, PMCG employees are employed in Medical and Security.	● Military Contracting ● Military Legal	● Eridani Armed Forces ● PMCG-TCAF Training Exercises
Orion Express ‘Faster than light.’	Blink and you'll miss them, Orion Express is a fledgling megacorporation whose freighters and mobile stations zip around to ensure corporate supply needs are met around the Spur. Having secured a stable footing, Orion Express now lends its various services to the rest of the Spur, with speed and convenience owing a premium - fast deliveries, fast mail, fast food, fast mining. New on the scene, Orion Express has very low hiring standards to keep its workforce bolstered, making for a great foot in the door to a megacorporate job for those young or with gritty pasts. Aboard the Horizon, Orion employees are employed in Operations and Service.	● Small Logistics ● Mail & Consumer Deliveries ● Small Resource Shipments ● Specialist Equipment	Nothing yet!
Einstein Engines ‘Lead by our history, leading our future.’	Throughout the Spur's history, Einstein Engines was the indefatigable megacorporate power, triumphing in every field they broke into and reaping the benefits of their close relationship with both the Solarian Alliance and Nralakk Federation. Following the discovery of phoron however, the status quo was shattered and NanoTrasen Corporation stole the throne; now with the phoron scarcity reaching its apogee and warp travel back in fashion, Einstein Engines is eager to seize it back. Due to their close relationship with the Solarian Alliance and market conflicts with NanoTrasen, Einstein Engines refused to join the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate. Einstein employees are not employed aboard the Horizon.	● Engineering ● Warp Drives ● Robotics ● Bulk Fabrication ● Scientific Equipment ● Civilian Starships	● Alliance of Sovereign Solarian Nations ● Nralakk Federation ● Phoenixport ● The Warp Gate Project ● Einstein Engines v NanoTrasen Corporation (2462) ● Industrial Reclamation Mandate of 2463