As early as the late 20th century, many of Earth’s governments began to contract off-world operations out to private businesses. These businesses later became responsible for establishing permanent mining outposts throughout the Sol system in order to replenish desperately needed resources on Earth.
With the creation of the United Earth Conglomerate (UEC) in 2093, these major corporations were brought together under one common union for the purpose of regulating and expanding Human industry in space.
BOURNE INDUSTRIES
With its original corporate headquarters located in the United Kingdom, Bourne Industries already held dozens of high-level contracts with the European Space Agency and eventually became one of the leading members of the UEC. Early on in this corporation’s development, it built the very first manned spacecraft to land on Halley’s Comet, constructed four Lunar bases on the Moon for the purpose of extracting Helium-3 and water-ice, and even established the first permanent colony in the Cydonia Labyrinthus region of Mars.
By the late 21st century, northern Europe began to witness a massive influx of refugees from its neighboring countries who were escaping the effects of global warming on their homelands. This included the people of nearby nations such as Italy, Greece, and Spain, as well as immigrants from as far away as India and Nigeria. Bourne Industries utilized this diverse increase in population to add to its skilled-labor workforce and continued its expansion into the outer Solar system. Within four decades, this organization established mining operations on the asteroids Vesta and Psyche, as well as Jupiter’s moon Europa.
Its Applied Science division was integral in the creation of Einstein-Rosen Transmission technology which allowed FTL communications to become a reality. Then in 2133, its innovative engine design utilizing a Dark Matter Drive made it possible to establish the very first interstellar colonies in the Alpha Centauri system. Soon, the settlements of Kentaurus Prime, Toliman Gamma, and the moon, Encephides, made this the most profitable corporation in Human history. In 2168, it combined its resources with the Reinhold Corporation (see below) to colonize the Groombridge 1618 system and was essential in the construction of several mining outposts on the planet Vassago as well as the Copernicus space station.
In 2158, Bourne Industries began to relocate its entire company to the Alpha Centauri system in order to make the colonies its primary concern. It was also responsible for building dozens of defensive battle cruisers during the Zendathu-Human War and currently has a fleet of starships which is only rivaled by the combined forces of the UEC.
CROMWELL COALITION
The Cromwell Coalition was a part of the Indo-Pacific Union and was responsible for building the fortified wall which encircles the city of Darwin, Australia to protect it from rising sea levels due to global warming. This massive accomplishment brought in millions of immigrants from countries such as Indonesia and The Philippines which were also severely affected by climate change. Darwin quickly developed into a mega-city with dozens of climate controlled skyscrapers; many of which Cromwell constructed as well. Specializing in industrial manufacturing and upscale electronics, this company was supplying high-end parts and technology to some of the other corporations that were just beginning to establish outposts in the main asteroid belt.
By the mid-22nd century, several of the major corporations had begun colonizing other star systems and selling off their financial assets near Sol. The Cromwell Coalition joined the United Earth Conglomerate and proceeded to purchase several of these abandoned outposts. This company also established new bases on the asteroids Ursula and Eucharis, as well as Neptune’s moon, Proteus, and slowly emerged as a leading corporation in ice mining and the ore refinement industry.
After several colonies declared their independence from Earth, the UEC began a desperate search for new star systems to replace its lost resources. Although the Cromwell Coalition didn’t have the funds to take on an interstellar project of its own, the UEC saw a great deal of potential in this growing corporation, as well as an opportunity to expand its own territory. In 2199, the UEC financially backed the Cromwell Coalition to establish a permanent colony in the Eta Cassiopeiae star system where the planet Balestiere became the new home of over 3000 employees and their families.
The Cromwell Coalition continues to maintain its facilities in the Sol system, while its colonial mining operations are overseen by a government appointed Guild Baron. With an ever-increasing labor force producing vast amounts of resources, this corporation has become a valuable member of the UEC.
FRONTIER INDUSTRIES
Frontier Industries is one of the longest running companies in the space industry and originally had corporate offices located in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. From the beginning, it has always had a large and diverse workforce and excelled in ship construction, mining, and freight transport. Its Applied Science division developed the very first gravity generators used on board spacecraft which, not only made centrifugal-force designs obsolete, but also provided inertial compensators to protect crews traveling at high velocities. This significant innovation placed this corporation at the forefront of interplanetary travel throughout the Sol system.
By the early 22nd century, Frontier Industries had established three lunar bases on the Moon, the Valles Marineris colony on Mars, as well as mining outposts on the asteroids Juno and Eunomia. Always bold and innovative in all its endeavors, it was the first corporation to reach Saturn where it established a permanent mining colony on its largest moon, Titan. This company had several ongoing freight-shipping contracts with other corporations and had especially close ties with Bourne Industries (see above).
In 2156, Frontier Industries founded its first interstellar colony on the planet Galbraith in the Tau Ceti system. The initial mission was such an enormous achievement that the company decided to focus all of its efforts there, selling off all of its financial holdings in the Sol system to smaller emerging corporations. Over the next three decades, it established numerous mining operations on the planet’s moon, Odessa, as well as throughout the Cetian asteroid fields.
After the Human race’s first encounter with the Zendathu, Frontier Industries established the Durre Menthor shipyards located deep within the rings of Tantalus. There, the company constructed both freelance freighters as well as its own fleet of defensive vessels in an effort to defend its assets from any possible future attacks.
By the end of the 22nd century, several unpopular policies enacted by the UEC led the colonists to declare their complete independence. This single event nearly took a tragic turn as Frontier Industries was forced to lead in a fight against a SolCorp incursion. In 2209, this company also played a fundamental role in the creation of the Commonwealth Alliance which brought the Tau Ceti system and the colonies of 82 Eridani together under one sovereign union.
HEIMDALL FOUNDRY
The Heimdall Foundry originated as an Earth-based company in Norway where it manufactured high-end metal casings used in the construction of a variety of spacecraft. By the early decades of the 22nd century, it had generated enough revenue to join the UEC and establish its own outposts on the asteroids Iris and Hermione. This corporation continued to specialize in metal casting from the new ore it extracted, but soon began constructing its own vessels and accepting contracts for freight and passenger transport.
The Foundry maintained close ties with both Frontier Industries (see above) and the Reinhold Corporation (see below) and often worked as sub-contractors on many of their commercial ventures. When these two larger corporations began to sell off their outposts near Earth to focus on their colonial properties, the Foundry purchased several of these facilities and quickly became a leader in off-world commerce within the Sol system. Yet, when contending with some of the more established corporations, this company often struggled to compete.
For decades, the Foundry continued to provide a valuable service for Frontier Industries by transporting new colonists and supplies to the Tau Ceti system. In 2195, the company’s administrators were offered an opportunity to participate in a shared-colonization project in the 82 Eridani system where it established its very first interstellar colony on the moon, Draven, in orbit around the gas giant Niobe.
The Heimdall Foundry separated from the UEC in 2196 and was later instrumental in the creation of the Commonwealth Alliance between the worlds of 82 Eridani and Tau Ceti.
HOSHI ENTERPRISES
With corporate offices located in Japan, Hoshi Enterprises began as a contracted construction firm assigned to design climate-controlled mega high-rise residential units to house the thousands of refugees the country received every year due to the effects of global warming on nearby nations. This company eventually took its skills and resources into space where it excelled in interplanetary ship design and construction, mining and ore refinement, and skilled-worker transport. It quickly became one of the most prolific organizations within the Sol system and was one of the original members of the UEC.
Its highly innovative Applied Science division developed EM shield technology which was used to protect space-faring vessels from harmful debris and cosmic radiation. By the early 22nd century, Hoshi Enterprises had established three Lunar bases on the Moon as well as a permanent colony in the Arsia Mons region of Mars. This corporation continued its expansion into the outer Solar system by establishing mining outposts on the asteroids Hygeia and Aurora, as well as several permanent settlements on Saturn’s moon, Tethys.
Hoshi Enterprises made even further advancements to CG Drive technology by developing a structural integrity field which allowed space vessels to withstand nearly double the amount of gravimetric stress. This, in turn, doubled their maximum velocity and, in 2148, this company established a permanent colony on the planet Hikaru in the 61 Cygni star system. Its Mining division was so successful in the extraction and refinement of Besselium ore; it enabled the Cygnian colony to become one of the wealthiest settlements in Human history.
Although Hoshi Enterprises continued to do business with other organizations, its direct involvement with Earth lessened significantly over the next few decades. The company continued its expansion into interstellar space by colonizing the planet Hinode in the Gliese 876 star system, as well as constructing a series of asteroid outposts in the Altair system.
By the end of the 22nd century, several Human-occupied systems had declared their independence from Earth. Fearing further losses, the UEC implemented a complete corporate takeover of all remaining businesses within the Sol system. This included Hoshi Enterprises’ financial assets and was the incident that caused the company to organize its three interstellar colonies into an independent alliance of worlds.
JOVIAN MINING CONSORTIUM
This major corporation originally began as a “consortium” of smaller companies with offices located in Ireland, France, and Belgium. These were companies that combined their individual resources to establish a viable space industry of their own. Their corporate administrators had already developed a great deal of political and economic influence with the leaders of the UEC when it was first formed.
The JMC had maintained a substantial workforce from the very beginning, only outdone in sheer numbers by the Lao Che Syndicate (see below). Relying mostly on what was considered to be cheap, expendable labor; it employed a seemingly endless supply of indentured workers from nearly a dozen different countries who typically received on the job training as miners, freight operators, and other low-skilled occupations. This company quickly gained a financial stronghold by setting up lucrative mining outposts on a group of Trojan asteroids which included Hektor, Agamemnon, and Diomedes, as well as Jupiter’s moons Io and Ganymede.
In 2122, the Jovian Mining Consortium established its own shipyard facility on the Agamemnon asteroid and began building dozens of freight-haulers and mining vessels for all of its inner-system operations. Yet, in 2144, this shipyard was also responsible for constructing the company’s very first interstellar colony transport which enabled them to establish the Periphery space station near the planet Baldur in the Epsilon Eridani system.
During the long conflict with the Zendathu, the JMC contributed to the war effort by supplying a large portion of the raw building materials for much of the UEC’s security forces. Since then, the Jovian Mining Consortium has become one of the most powerful corporations in the Sol system and remains an integral member of the UEC.
LAO CHE SYNDICATE
By the mid to late 21st century, China had not only established itself as the world economic power on Earth, but as a major leader in the space industry as well. With two Lunar bases on the Moon, one of the first permanent colonies on Mars, and a handful of mining outposts in the main asteroid belt, the Chinese government had an ambitious plan to expand its jurisdiction to both Jupiter and Saturn before the end of the century. However, with virtually all of their off-world industries being regulated and managed by the state, after the Shanghai Revolt in 2089, most of China’s financial holdings throughout the Sol system were in disarray.
The Lao Che Syndicate began as a government-contracted freight company; shipping supplies to the off-world colonies and transporting resources back to Earth. However, much of its wealth was gained from years of covert ventures on the blackmarket. In less than a decade, this corporation had increased its net worth enough to begin purchasing many of the outposts previously owned by the Chinese government. This included the asteroids Ceres and Eugenia, as well as the Olympus Mons colony on Mars.
As one of the original members of the UEC, the Lao Che Syndicate was heavily involved in ship construction, asteroid mining, and freight distribution. Yet while other major corporations began to invest much of their finances in the colonization of new star systems, the Syndicate continued to build up its operations near Sol. By 2130, this corporation had established mining outposts on Saturn’s moons, Dione and Iapetus, and had become the single largest employer of both skilled and indentured workers with over 6 million people.
In 2154, the Syndicate combined its resources with its long-time business associate, the Zarkov Corporation (see below). Together, they established their first interstellar colonies on the planets Nuwa and Buran in the Epsilon Indi star system. With a constant flow of new colonists, the two settlements have continued to be the fastest growing colonies in Human history.
During the Zendathu-Human War, the Lao Che Syndicate was essential in supplying large quantities of refined Thaolium which was used in the construction of over half of SolCorp’s defensive fleet. By the end of the 22nd century, this corporation was among the last of the original members of the UEC and has become the dominant power in the Sol system once again.
The Lao Che Syndicate has continued its partnership with the Zarkov Corporation and, in 2202, colonized the Delta Pavonis star system as well. This officially established the third planet, Fusang, as the most distant Human colony within the UEC’s jurisdiction.
MANTELL CORPORATION
The Mantell Corporation began as an Earth-based industry in Canada where it manufactured drilling equipment and parts for a variety of mining operations throughout the Sol system. By the mid-22nd century, this corporation officially joined the UEC and expanded its business by constructing its own fleet of freighters in Earth’s orbit for the purpose of transporting its commercial products directly. When Frontier Industries (see above) began to sell off their outposts in the Sol system, the Mantell Corporation purchased Saturn’s moon, Titan, and was successful in increasing production in all of its mining facilities.
For many years, the Mantell Corporation maintained a close business relationship with Frontier Industries and continued to transport equipment and supplies to the colonists in the Tau Ceti system. In 2195, the company’s administrators were offered an opportunity to participate in a shared-colonization project in the 82 Eridani system where it established its very first interstellar colony on Lassiter’s Moon in orbit around the gas giant Niobe.
The Mantell Corporation separated from the UEC in 2196 and was later instrumental in the creation of the Commonwealth Alliance between the worlds of 82 Eridani and Tau Ceti.
REINHOLD CORPORATION
With its original corporate headquarters located in Germany, the Reinhold Corporation was already an active member of the European Space Agency prior to its induction into the UEC in the late 21st century.
In 2094, this corporation was commissioned to design and construct the Daedalus Array, a ten kilometer wide collection of solar panels just beyond the orbit of Earth’s moon to harvest energy from the Sun. This array provided a great abundance of natural energy for a growing population that was rapidly running out of resources.
By the early 22nd century, the Reinhold Corporation had established two separate mining facilities on the Moon for extracting Helium-3 and water-ice. This company also held corporate jurisdiction over a cluster of distant asteroids which included Sylvia, Cybele, and Camilla, as well as Jupiter’s moon, Callisto. The Reinhold Corporation quickly became a pivotal financial power due its modular space station designs, resource refinement technology, and several lucrative mining operations. Its Applied Science division made dramatic improvements to existing EM Shield technology and later developed new ways of modulating the graviton field used in FTL travel to increase velocities.
In 2138, these advancements allowed the Reinhold Corporation to establish the very first permanent orbital habitat in the Sirius star system. It wasn’t long before the team of mining engineers aboard Fenrir station began extracting vast amounts of Teslium from the moons of Odin, as well as an endless supply of energy from the binary stars themselves. By 2152, this corporation had increased its financial earnings to such an extent that it was able to take on a similar mission to permanently colonize the Procyon system where they established several mining facilities on the moons of Jotunheim. In 2168, it combined its efforts with Bourne Industries (see above) to colonize the Groombridge 1618 system and was essential in constructing the Copernicus space station near the mineral-rich planet Vassago.
After the first fateful encounter with the Zendathu, the Reinhold Corporation began constructing its very first fleet of defensive starships and developed much of the advanced weaponry that was later used during the War. To this day, it remains one of the most productive and profitable corporations in all of the outer Human colonies.
ZARKOV CORPORATION
The Zarkov Corporation had offices located in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus and was one of the few companies in that region whose off-world industries remained privately owned. As one of the founding members of the UEC, this corporation was among the first to establish a dominant financial presence throughout the Sol system. By the early 22nd century, this company had constructed two separate Lunar bases on the Moon, settled the Acidalia Planitia colony on Mars, and established mining outposts on the asteroids Patroclus and Lachesis, as well as Saturn’s moon, Rhea.
The Zarkov Corporation frequently allied itself with the Lao Che Syndicate (see above); often combining their resources together on costly business ventures. With the Corporation’s highly developed Applied Science and Ship Construction divisions and the Syndicate’s massive labor force, this arrangement repeatedly proved to be an effective partnership. In 2154, they merged their efforts once again and established their first interstellar colonies on the planets, Nuwa and Buran, in the Epsilon Indi system. With a constant flow of additional new workers immigrating to these worlds, the two settlements soon became the fastest growing colonies in Human history.
During the Zendathu-Human War, the Zarkov Corporation was essential in supplying large quantities of refined Thaolium which was used in the construction of over half the fleet used by Earth’s security forces. By the end of the 22nd century, it was among the last of the original members that still remained as a part of the UEC and has become one of the most powerful corporations in the Sol system.
The Zarkov Corporation has continued its long-time partnership with the Lao Che Syndicate and, in 2202, colonized the Delta Pavonis star system as well. This officially established the third planet, Fusang, as the most distant Human colony within the UEC’s jurisdiction.