Triton Enterprises

Over the last 80 years, Triton Enterprises and a few of its competitors have bioengineered creatures of every type, from delicate, rare birds to the fiercest custom-engineered monstrosities. Most of their creations were produced to bolster populations of endangered or even extinct species. However, recent decades saw most of Triton Enterprises’ research and development directed at filling roles in theme parks, zoological exhibits, and private collections. Triton Enterprises and its competitors have less-than-stellar records for security and containment. More than once, their creations have escaped. In the worst cases these beasts have themselves been altered by exposure to a plethora of mutagens.

Creature recovery and control has become big business. Triton Enterprises and other corporations regularly pay handsomely for hunters and recovery specialists to solve their problems(3.5).

Located on its own fortified island in the Pacific, Triton Enterprises is one of the most powerful corporations on Earth in 2280. It is the world’s bioengineering leader and is the single largest producer of manufactured species on the planet. Triton also leads the way in innovation in the areas of species design and manufacture, producing plants and animals of every conceivable form and function. From the hardiest of genetically engineered vegetables for Freezone farming to wildly exotic monsters for the theme parks of Divinus, Triton has done it all.

Triton’s bioengineering exploits have not been well-received by everyone. There is a large global movement against genetic modification and the bioengineering of plant and animal species. Additionally, Triton‘s safety and containment records are less than spotless. On numerous occasions, Triton-engineered animals have escaped. The most notable escape occurred 12 July 2245, shortly after Triton Enterprises established its headquarters on Triton Island.

At that time, Triton was well known around the world as the saviour of endangered species, leading the way for several years in the manufacturing of endangered species for introduction back into the wild. Most were more than willing to forgive the periodic escape of one sort of monster or another. The story always made for exciting morning news, and injuries were rare. However, under pressure from authorities to tighten security and from protesters opposed to their work, Triton Enterprises established Triton Island. There they began expanding production of extinct species. Numerous theme and zoological parks became major customers and were willing to pay incredible prices for creatures that would attract crowds of visitors. The pressure was on to produce bigger, more exotic and dangerous creatures. Dinosaurs and animals once native to the African plains were particularly popular, and breeding programmes were started among many of Triton’s customers.

The island provided Triton Enterprises with the opportunity to work in absolute secrecy, without regulations or security concerns. The island also enabled them to begin work on several species of extinct marine creatures, including the massive megalodon shark sure to be a show-stopper.

As the sun set across the Solomon Islands, a deep sea fishing drone was attacked from below. Its sensor arrays sent images and video footage of the attacker to its control vessel several kilometres away. In seconds, the drone was destroyed, but not before it was clear to its operators that it was no normal shark that had been behind the attack. When the footage was broadcast around the world all eyes immediately turned towards Triton Enterprises. Triton came clean, explaining that earlier that morning their latest marine creation, an incredible 17 m (18.9 yd) megalodon shark had escaped its holding pen at Triton Island and was loose in the open ocean.

In spite of the bad press, Triton’s profile rose and public interest in their creations skyrocketed. Triton began to hire professional trackers and big game hunters to assist in recapturing or killing escaped creatures - a practice that continues with surprising regularity to this day. Some speculate that many of these escapes have been arranged as publicity stunts. Others suggest there may be some other motive underlying Triton’s apparent willingness to allow dangerous creatures to escape into the Wilds. Whatever the truth may be, Triton Enterprises has attracted many of the world’s most brilliant geneticists, creature designers and bioengineers (5.2.5).