Minoebelce Corporation

The Minoebelce Corporation, or simply Minoebelce Corp., is the largest shipbuilder of the Saegon Empire. Headquartered in the city of Minoe, capital of the planet Minoebelce, the company is the worlds premier employer. Hosting several factories across the planet's surface and owning the Minoebelce Shipyards that encircle the world like an artificial ring, the vast majority of the populace works for the company, only a small percentage of inhabitants making up the rest of the planet's society.
The company has always been regarded as the leader of the empire's naval economy, responsible for some of the most successful ships to enter service, including the ever popular AC-15 and 17. However, it's dominating position has been challenged by an increasingly determined Horus Shipbuilding and up-and-coming aspirants such as Akraka Industries.
== History ==
Initial efforts to colonize surrounding systems after the Saegon achieved spaceflight were a resounding success, with fifty worlds claimed by the first year. Silas Nafziger, a successful investor in mining operations now feeding the growing war machine, sought to expand out further into the unknown regions of space. Taking a team of seventeen associates, Nafziger searched for a world rich in metals to exploit. Finding mostly cold and inhospitable rocks, the teams efforts would only prove fruitful with two moons, founding profitable but limited aluminum mines and steelworks. It would take roughly seven years before the world of Minoebelce was discovered, Nafziger's team having almost retired from their expedition. Minoebelce was a large world resembling a gas giant, scans revealing the upper atmosphere merely contained a high concentration of yellow gases (mostly argon and nitrogen with a deadly amount of CO2, the color caused by impurities). Breaching the upper layers revealed the world contained life, a limited range of plants and insects calling the place home. Nafziger and his business partners reached out to sources on Tror to acquire terraforming technologies, which at the time were groundbreakingly new and very expensive.
The men would form camp (as the air at ground-level was breathable) and begin preparations for drilling samples. The initial results showed Minoebelce's mantle was almost completely iron, which could allow significant steel production in the future. Probes sent to scout around the world revealed extensive titanium deposits dotting the landscape as well. The metals found would be perfect for ship production, more specifically military ships. Nafziger's team wanted to found their mining venture as soon as possible, and were excited for the terraforming to be completed. Nafziger, however, began to develop other ideas. With the large open world, metals key to naval production, and empty space prime for travel and construction (Minoebelce has a noticeable lack of satellites), the businessman informed his partners the plan had changed: They would form a shipbuilding company.
The team was initially skeptical and cautious, At the time, no private shipbuilder stationed off their homeworld or it's moon existed. Furthermore, the demand for more shipbuilding capabilities was lacking: Tror & Kalci were still more than capable in supplying the empire's growing needs. But Nafziger insisted and, as the majority stake, founded Minoebelce Corporation in 174 BGS (then 7 SSA).
Extensive terraforming efforts would make Minoebelce a T3 planet, and heavy investments in infrastructure made room for over a million employees. Mines sprouted up across the globe and a naval construction facility (that would eventually transform into the Minoebelce Shipyards artificial ring) was well underway. Mr. Nafziger's foresight proved to be on point: Saegon needs for civilian spacecraft, more importantly armed spacecraft, quickly outpaced home production and left Minoebelce Corp. as the sole producer of civilian craft outside the Pimin system.
== Vessels ==
Minoebelce Corp. has designed and built numerous spacecraft, mostly civilian but notable military craft as well. The SC-1 was designed and built by the Saegon government, but it was Minoebelce that produced the vast majority of these vessels for both military and civil markets.
=== AC Series ===
The Attack Cruiser line of starships began with the AC-1 in 167 BGS and was favored by off-duty military personnel. However, it wouldn't be until 159 BGS that the line really took off, the AC-15 replacing the SC-1 as the dominant starship in the empire.
The AC-16 would introduce increased speed, armor, and firepower. Sadly the 16's bulky design and rough flying experience meant the ship has been regarded as the company's biggest failure. The AC-17 was designed a year later and better fit the needs of the empire. Improving upon all aspects of the two previous iterations, and revolutionizing the structure as a style completely new to the nation, the AC-17 was met with empire-wide acclaim and was quickly accepted as the go-to vessel for both martial and civil users. The astronomically low cost to produce, along with exemplary damage absorption and output, brought in trillions in revenue from personal buyers and government contracts.
=== SC Revival ===
The Standard Cruiser Revival Project is an effort to resurrect the SC series of spacecraft for the civilian market. Currently in the planning stages, the SC-3 would be meant more for everyday users in their routine activities than the usual Saegon vessel capable of being used as a ship of war. The SC-3 will still be armed and armored, but to a much weaker degree than those found on the AC-17 or even the original SC-1.
Critics are skeptical of the project. The idea of a "weak" ship entering the market is unexplored territory, and the original successor to the SC-1 (the SC-2) similarly fell victim to an increasing need for firepower and strength. And with the overwhelming success of the AC-17, few see the need to try and add another design to the roster. But CEO Baruch Beller is insistent that the revival is a sound investment in the future, with the empire (and shareholders) watching to see what comes to fruition.