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
Bourne Industries began as a multinational organization with offices in countries throughout Western Europe; including the United Kingdom, Italy, Greece, and Spain. By the early 22nd century, it had established four Lunar settlements on Earth’s Moon, founded the Cydonia Labyrinthus colony on Mars, and constructed numerous outposts on the planetoid Ceres, the asteroid Psyche, and Jupiter’s moon, Europa.
Its Applied Science division developed Tachyon Wave Transmission technology which allowed transluminal communications to become a reality. Then, in 2153, its innovative FTL Drive engine design 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 2177, a collaborative mission with the Reinhold Corporation (see below) permanently colonized the Groombridge 1618 system and was essential in the construction of the Wayland Station outpost as well as several mining facilities on the planet Vassago.
When the Zendathu were first encountered, Bourne Industries was responsible for building dozens of defensive battle cruisers to protect the colonies from this ongoing threat. This also gave them an advantage when the company later pledged its support for colonial independence from Earth. Due to its role in the long civil war, all of this corporation’s assets in the Sol system were seized and reappropriated. However, this organization is now the primary leader in the space industry in two star systems and currently has constructed a fleet of ships which is only rivaled by the combined armada of the UEC.
CROMWELL COALITION
The Cromwell Coalition was originally a multinational conglomerate of privately owned companies throughout the Indo-Pacific region; including Australia, India, and Indonesia. By the early 22nd century, these individual businesses had combined their resources to establish several mining outposts on the asteroids Eunomia, Thisbe, Juno, and Winchester. This association gradually emerged as a leader in the ice mining and ore refinement industries.
During the war of colonial independence, the Cromwell Coalition remained loyal to Earth and continued to supply much needed resources. This loyalty was later rewarded when, in 2211, this company was completely funded by the UEC to establish a permanent colony on the planet Balestiere in the Eta Cassiopeiae star system.
Although this coalition continues to maintain its facilities in the Sol system, the operations on its distant colony are overseen by both the military and a government appointed Guild Baron. With an ever-increasing labor force producing vast amounts of resources, this organization has become a valuable member of Earth’s corporate empire.
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. By the early 22nd century, this corporation had established four Lunar bases on Earth’s Moon, founded the Valles Marineris colony on Mars, and constructed numerous outposts on the asteroid Davida, Jupiter’s moon, Callisto, and Saturn’s moon, Titan. This company had several ongoing freight-shipping contracts with other corporations and had especially close ties with Bourne Industries (see above).
Its Applied Science division developed the very first gravity generators used onboard spacecraft which, not only made centrifugal-force designs obsolete, but also provided inertial compensators to protect crews traveling at high velocities. In 2171, Frontier Industries founded its first interstellar colony on the planet Galbraith in the Tau Ceti system and later, in 2194, was fundamental in establishing the colonies of Draven, Corvallis, and Lassiter’s Moon in the 82 Eridani star system.
After the Human race’s first encounter with the Zendathu, this company began construction on its own fleet of defensive vessels in an effort to protect the colonies from any possible future attacks. This proved to be beneficial when Frontier Industries was subsequently compelled to lead in the fight for colonial independence from Earth. Due to its role in the long civil war, all of this corporation’s assets in the Sol system were seized and reappropriated. However, this organization is now the primary leader in the space industry in two star systems and currently has complete control over the distribution of Ichorite, the most valuable resource in the Human-occupied territories.
HOSHI ENTERPRISES
Hoshi Enterprises originally had corporate offices located primarily in Japan and excelled in spacecraft design and construction, mining and ore refinement, and skilled-worker transport. By the early 22nd century, this company had established three Lunar bases on Earth’s Moon, a permanent colony in the Arsia Mons region of Mars, and numerous mining outposts on the asteroids Diotima and Hygeia, as well as Saturn’s moon, Tethys.
Its Applied Science division developed Electro-Magnetic shielding technology which was used to protect space-faring vessels from harmful debris and cosmic radiation. Further advancements were made to starships with the addition of a structural integrity field which allowed them to withstand much higher levels of gravimetric stress. In 2165, Hoshi Enterprises was successful in establishing its very first interstellar colony on the planet Hikaru in the 61 Cygni star system. This corporation continued its expansion into space by colonizing the planet Hinode in the Gliese 876 star system, as well as constructing a series of outposts within the Tetsuo Cluster located in the Altair system.
After the Zendathu were first encountered, Hoshi Enterprises began constructing dozens of defensive ships to protect the colonies from this new threat. Later, when the civil war against Earth first began, this company attempted to remain neutral. However, when the UEC seized control of its assets in the Sol system, it eventually pledged its support to the independent systems during this long conflict. This organization is now the primary leader in the space industry in three star systems and strongly promotes the sovereignty of those colonies.
JOVIAN MINING CONSORTIUM
The Jovian Mining Consortium began as a coalition of smaller businesses located throughout the United States which had gained a great deal of political and economic influence early on within the UEC. Relying mostly on what was considered to be cheap, expendable labor; this “consortium” employed a seemingly endless supply of indentured workers who typically received on the job training as miners, freight operators, and other low-skilled occupations. By the early 22nd century, it had established numerous lucrative mining outposts on the asteroids Sylvia, Lachesis, Agamemnon, and Diomedes, as well as Jupiter’s moons Io and Ganymede.
In 2161, the Jovian Mining Consortium launched its very first interstellar transport vessel from the Agamemnon shipyard to establish a colony in the Epsilon Eridani system where they constructed the Janus Station outpost near the planet Baldur. Founded as an official stronghold for the Mining Guild, the facilities were overseen by both a Guild Baron and a large contingent of Earth’s military forces. Security increased significantly after the first encounter with the Zendathu and later this system became a strategic base of operations during the colonial civil war.
The JMC continues to maintain the overall functions of its mining outposts in both the Sol system and its distant colony. With an ever-increasing labor force producing valuable amounts of resources, this organization has become an integral member of Earth’s corporate empire.
LAO CHE SYNDICATE
The Lao Che Syndicate was originally a state-controlled organization in China that had been a leader in the space industry early on. With three Lunar bases on Earth’s Moon, the Olympus Mons colony on Mars, and a handful of mining outposts on the asteroids Pallas and Alauda; they had an ambitious plan to expand their jurisdiction to the outer Sol system before the end of the 21st century. However, with all of their off-world industries being managed by the state, after the Shanghai Revolt in 2089, most of China’s financial holdings fell into disarray.
As one of the last companies to join the UEC, the Lao Che Syndicate continued on as an independent contractor; maintaining its previous assets while shipping supplies to other off-world colonies and transporting resources back to Earth. However, much of its success was attributed to its long history of covert ventures on the blackmarket. In just over two decades, this corporation had not only established an outpost on Saturn’s moon Iapetus, but had also become even more involved in ship construction, asteroid mining, and freight distribution with the single largest labor force of both skilled and indentured workers.
In 2181, the Lao Che Syndicate combined its efforts with the Zarkov Corporation (see below) to establish their first interstellar colonies on the planets Nuwa and Buran in the 70 Ophiuchi star system. With a constant flow of new colonists, these settlements have become two of the fastest growing colonies in Human history. Both corporations were at the forefront of the defense against the Zendathu and later, during the colonial civil war, they pledged their full support to Earth. This dedication was rewarded in 2217 when they were granted the funding to colonize the planet Fusang in the Delta Pavonis star system as well. To this day, the Lao Che Syndicate continues to be one of the most powerful and influential companies within Earth’s corporate empire.
REINHOLD CORPORATION
The Reinhold Corporation was originally a coalition of smaller companies located throughout central and northern Europe; including France, Germany, Norway, and Sweden. By the early 22nd century, it had constructed the Helion Array to harvest energy from the Sun and had also established two Lunar bases on Earth’s Moon, several outposts on the asteroids Chiron, Cybele, and Kalliope, as well as Saturn’s moon, Enceladus. This corporation quickly became a pivotal financial power within the UEC due its modular space station designs and resource refinement technology.
In 2156, the Reinhold Corporation constructed the orbital habitat of Fenrir Station near the planet Odin in the Sirius star system where they began extracting a seemingly endless supply of resources. By 2167, it had increased its financial earnings to such an extent that it was able to take on a similar mission where it established the Sindri Station outpost in orbit of the planet Jotunheim in the Procyon star system. This corporation later combined its efforts with Bourne Industries (see above) and, in 2177, was essential in constructing the Wayland Station outpost near the mineral-rich planet Vassago in the Groombridge 1618 star system.
After the discovery of the Zendathu, the Reinhold Corporation began constructing its own small fleet of battleships to guard against any possible near-Earth encounters. However, during the colonial civil war, this company immediately pledged its full support in the fight for independence. Due to its role in the long conflict, all of this corporation’s assets in the Sol system were seized and reappropriated. Nevertheless, this organization is now the primary leader in the space industry in two star systems and can readily defend its colonies from any outside threats.
ZARKOV CORPORATION
The Zarkov Corporation began as a state-run organization in Russia with offices located in Belarus and Hungary as well and was the primary leader in the space industry throughout Eastern Europe. Although it was one of the last companies to join the UEC, by the early 22nd century, it had already established itself as a strong presence in the Sol system. With three Lunar bases on Earth’s Moon, the Acidalia Planitia colony on Mars, numerous mining outposts on the asteroids Vesta and Palma, and Saturn’s moons, Dione and Rhea; this corporation was highly involved in the mining industry and ship construction.
In 2181, the Zarkov Corporation combined its efforts with the Lao Che Syndicate (see above) to establish their first interstellar colonies on the planets Buran and Nuwa in the 70 Ophiuchi star system. This proved to be an effective partnership as both corporations were at the forefront of the defense when the Zendathu were encountered as a new threat. During the colonial civil war, they gave their full support to Earth by constructing the second largest fleet of battleships in Human history.
This loyalty was later rewarded when, in 2217, both corporations were granted the funding once again to colonize the planet Fusang in the Delta Pavonis star system. The joint venture became yet another successful collaboration and, to this day, the Zarkov Corporation remains one of the most powerful and influential companies within Earth’s corporate empire.