Corporation

**Corporations** are organizations authorized by the state to act as a single entity and recognized as such in law for certain purposes. **Megacorporations** are giant, transstellar companies as powerful as sovereign nations and can range from simple media corporations to interstellar security firms. They make up some of the most powerful and far-reaching factions in the Settled Systems, giving them vast political, social and economic influence.

## Overview

Throughout the Settled Systems, corporations are one of the most prominent entities in everyday life. Many are interstellar conglomerates that operate 24/7, buying, selling or providing services to many around the galaxy. Corporations, and those within them, aim to get ahead by any means necessary; "cutthroat" business culture is no longer a metaphor, as blackmail, extortion, bribery, kidnapping, espionage, and assassination have all become commonplace in the white-collar world.

The most powerful corporations, termed megacorporations, operate more like nations than they do companies; some are powerful enough to form their own superpowers with influence equal to that of the United Colonies and the Herschel Nations. CEOs are more like monarchs, holding onto power for as long as they can, and using the company to do their bidding. Scandals are brushed aside and power grabs are swiftly dealt with a bullet. Junior members have to watch their backs constantly, with lower-level employees just itching at a chance for their job, and higher-level employees willing to hold onto theirs by any means necessary.

### Structure

The corporate power structure is typically set up so that the CEO or president is at the top of the food chain. Underneath them is a sea of mid-to-high-level executives, all vying for a chance to progress up the ladder. Junior execs typically run smaller projects such as extorting a smaller rival or corporate espionage. Above them are managers, who oversee a whole department; the major infighting in corporations begins here, with dirty tricks, nepotism, and dishonesty being the primary factor in promotions to the next level. At this level are the VPs, whose role mostly comprises of the day-to-day running of the company. Above them are the senior management, consisting of the various C designation officers: CEO, COO, CFO, etc. Founders, owners and major stakeholders sometimes comprise this level of the company but they are more likely to be seen on the board of directors.

## Types of Corporations

### Media

"**MediaCorps"** are giant conglomerates that control the broadcasts across the galaxy. Made up of thousands of news broadcasters, entertainment studios, and publishers, they ensure that only the right news makes it on air. Many analysts suspect that some of the larger "MediaCorps" have deep ties to governments around the world.

MediaCorps
 Freestar News | Herschel Broadcasting
 Interstellar News Service | United Media Group
 Nemesis News | Nemesis Group | Nemesis News is a 24-hour news service across Nemesis City and the only such service that the Nemesis Group has a public hold over.

### Agricorps

"**AgriCorps**" specialise in agriculture and food science, and range from small family farms to interstellar conglomerates that obey few regulations.

AgriCorps
 Roh BioCorp | Exo Group | Roh is a large agriculture corp that exports mostly synthetic foods. A majority of its business is held in the United Colonies, supplying food in the forms of fish, rice, and various rare meats.

### Manufacturing

"**ManuCorps**" are rarely affected by conflict: as long as capitalism exists, the manufacturing industry will be fine. ManuCorp products can range from vehicles, weapons & armaments, to children's toys, computers, VR & AR, cybernetics, robots and many more.

### Computing

"**CyberCorps**" are necessary for modern life in a dangerous galaxy, as almost everything revolves around a computer of some sort. With the availability of more advanced technology, as well as the emergence of the aethernet, tech corporations have cemented their place in modern society.

CyberCorp
 Zetatech | Cronos Incorporated | Specializing in computer hardware, software, and wetware design, Zetatech is among the main providers of neural processors, microchips, and robotics on the interstellar market. They also manufacture gunships, as well as security, combat, and utility drones.

### Augmentations

Much like the world of computing, augmentation, be they mechanical or biological, is at the forefront of the modern world, and the corporations which help develop this field are known as "**BioCorps**", producing and developing everything from Bioware, Cyberware, Nanotech and biosculpting technologies, to GMO crops, biofuels, cultured cells, and test-tube organs & tissues.

BioCorp
 Raven Corporation | None

### Armed Forces

"**ArmaCorps**" thrive in the extremely dangerous galaxy. Crime is rampant, modern law enforcement are ineffective and security companies are as lethal and well organized as a nation's army. Gone are the days of the rent-a-cop, who patrols a mall on the prowl for some underage punks, now a security team is a cohesive unit, deploying a small arsenal and willing to shoot first and ask questions later. Mercenary outfits have become far more widespread, with many well=funded and headed by respected war veterans.

ArmaCorp
 Vanguard | None

### Services

There are a few corporations that will work directly for the customer rather than manufacturing or developing new products.

 Byron & Finch | None
 InfoComp | None
 Sedna Salvage & Shipping | None

### Rogue

Rogue corporations act outside the law, specialising in black-market goods and/or wetwork. Rogue corporations first appeared during the post-Great Galactic War chaos and have been allowed to expand unchecked due to political and economic turmoil.

 Ashna Pharmaceutical | None
 Eclipse | None
 Elysium Group | None
 Ripper Incorporated | None
 The 24 | None

## Corporate Wars

Thanks to political meddling and corruption, corporations act with near impunity. Espionage and trade secrets are still a threat to the corporations; however criminal behavior is more likely to be used to carry it out. Anything from blackmail, extortion, to kidnapping is used. In more recent years it has resulted in large scale armed conflict.

There have been many wars between the corporations, typically on a small scale and dealt with swiftly. However, there have been six major conflicts, known as the corporate wars, that have shaken the entire galaxy.

### First Corporate War

> *Main Article: First Corporate War*
>
>

The first corporate war was fought over failing corporation Translunar, who in late 2024 refused a buyout by Eurasian Machines & Associates to accept an offer by Suen Technologies. Outraged, EMA retaliated with a failed kidnapping, which resulted in the deaths of the Suen/Translunar negotiation team. The two corporations battled it out with sporadic, small scale skirmishes for three months until EMA was rendered backrupt.

### Second Corporate War

> *Main Article: Second Corporate War*
>
>

The Second Corporate War was fought between the two GMO giants, Petrochem and Roh BioCorp. From 2183 to 2188 the two corporations fought over crop farms around Neptune, with Petrochem accusing Roh of destroying several of their farms. Within weeks, 75% of all crop cultures on both sides of the conflict were destroyed with Petrochem emerging as pyrrhic victors.

### Third Corporate War

> *Main Article: Third Corporate War*
>
>

*To be added...*