Austrin-Ontis Unlimited

Many outsiders consider the survival of Austrin-Ontis Unlimited as evidence of a human obsession that stretches back for centuries. Of course, Austrin-Ontis accepts the tradition of supplying armaments with pride. Categorizing Austrin-Ontis remains a difficult task for diplomats and historians alike. It stands somewhere between a corporate stellar nation and a confederation of rugged colonies. Most Austrin’s see no contradiction between maximizing the profit line and exercising the desire to demonstrate their products whenever possible

### Game Benefits:

Austrin heroes can specialize in Heavy Weapons or Modern Ranged Weapons. Any use of this skill has a -1 step

### History

Arms dealers are nothing new to human history, and by the early half of the 21st century, the industry was booming. As new superpowers rose and corporations staked their claims to global power, both national and corporate armies felt the need for state-of-the-art, military-grade arms. Simultaneously, many free-minded citizens who were intimidated by the world’s changes soothed their fears by arming themselves. By 2050, personal firearms were rapidly spreading throughout otherwise civilized nations.

Austrin Arms and Ontis Ordnance devoured corporations of the previous century. Both companies had grown into diverse conglomerates with holdings in dozens of industries from transportation to agriculture. Austrin focused on personal arms, marketing itself to concerned citizens worried about protecting their homes and families. Ontis met the demands of a professional army. Over time, the possession of powerful, advanced weapons became popular in many frontier areas of the solar system. Ontis began to market itself to the public, and thus started an economic war between the corporations. Aggressive advertising pushed gun sales ever higher in those nations that allowed ownership, and corporate-sponsored smuggling sent weapons into the rest.

The competition ended in 2112 with Austrin Arms’ hostile takeover of its competitor. With its new military-grade weaponry and research facilities, Austrin-Ontis Unlimited became on of Earth’s most powerful corporations. It clung to monopolistic control of the arms trade and ruthlessly obliterated any attempts to encourage competition. Simultaneously, A-O trained a lavishly equipped corporate security force. The A-O private army mushroomed in size to exceed that of many nations. To command this ideal army, the megacorporation hired experienced military commanders from existing armies.

The result was never ideal. Given the newest toys to play with from the moment of enlistment, A-O soldiers tended to be highly individualistic. Competition among the troops in accuracy, speed, and nerve spread through the entire company. While sometimes these games were simple contests at a shooting range, duels and individual acts of violence also increased, plaguing the corporation’s ability to organize.

Most analysts believe that Austrin-Ontis would have consumed itself from within had existing trends continued. Fortunately for the Austrin’s, the stardrive arrived to transport humanity to other star systems. Like most multinationals that survived the century, Austrin-Ontis made the choice to leave Earth and the restrictions that governments could impose. The same rugged independence and boldness that plagued attempts to bring order to the corporate ladder served the Austrin’s well in space. Austrin-Ontis defied the trend of governments and corporations tightening down on their new colonies.

Without guidance or organization from above, many Austrin colonies failed. Fortunately, new groups of hardy adventurers always stood ready to take their places, and the Austrin-Ontis stellar nation rose on the backs of the fallen. Officially, the nation remains incorporated, and Austrin’s retain employment under the auspices of a board of directors and a CEO. In practice, the Austrin’s grew used to the freedoms and liberties that life on a faraway colony provided. During its early days, most Austrin-Ontis colonies met or exceeded production quotas, and the corporation didn’t tighten controls until the First Galactic War. Even today, A-O provides a far more relaxed atmosphere than that of other corporate nations, such as VoidCorp.

#### *The First Galactic War*

The First Galactic War came as a shock to most Austrin’s. At the war’s inception, the corporate management relocated to Powder, one of Austrin-Ontis’s well-established worlds. As demand for A-O weapons rose, profits from the war filled the corporate treasury. At the same time that is was supplying arms, Austrin-Ontis fought against all of its neighbors at one time or another. The Terran Empire was the primary enemy, but Austrin’s also attacked the Leodal States and the fledgling Orion League. The Austrin’s pushed the Terran’s out of their space and more than held their own against the stellar nations around them. Most important, Austrin-Ontis Unlimited kept its reputation as arms supplier to the interstellar community, even though it was both a supplier and a combatant.

#### *The Second Galactic War*

History texts lay the responsibility for inciting GW2 on Austrin-Ontis Unlimited. The accusation is well-founded. Between the wars, A-O merchants roamed the galaxy as arms dealers and rogues. Desperate to increase sales, the Austrin’s soon gained a reputation for creating business – stirring up trouble wherever they went to raise the demand for weaponry. No conclusive evidence has yet been found linking Austrin-Ontis operatives to the Mutant Uprising of Tau Ceti, though most of the rebels were armed with A-O arms. As A-O representatives point out, though, Austrin weapons are common throughout human space.

The war proved disastrous. Demand for A-O weapons fell as stellar nations saw the foolishness of fueling an enemy’s economy and built up their own weapons industries. After initial successes – the Leodal States fell in 2355 – Austrin-Ontis fought the combined forces of the Nariac Domain and VoidCorp. By joining the Profit alliance and trading space for time, Austrin-Ontis survived. Self-interest motivated even the Orions to assist A-O occasionally, lest the members of the Expansion Pentad rest on their boarder instead of the Austrin’s. The systems between Austrin-Ontis and the Nariac Domain became a wasteland of battered planets that were eventually donated to Concord Prime. By the end of the war, even some Austrin’s admitted a certain exhaustion.

#### *Today*

During the war, Austrin-Ontis joined an alliance motivated by a single goal: increasing the revenue of its members. The same goal extends throughout this stellar nation. Members travel the galaxy in search of deals and opportunities for profit. As long as a member of the society adds to the profit line, the corporation allows its people freedom to transact their business however they wish. Failure doesn’t meet with the same result; Austrin’s who fail to meet sales or production goals are consigned to serve in the A-O bureaucracy, pushing paper for the rest of their lives. Forbidden from transacting A-O business, these wretched failures suffer the highest indignity: Their right to bear arms is revoked.

The consequences of failure and the corporation’s blind eye toward method have promoted a popular image of Austrin’s as desperate, bullying tradesmen. While there is a great deal of truth in this public conception, most Austrin’s don’t confine their interest to making the deal of the century. Even while in search of making money, most Austrin’s are would-be heroes, rugged individuals who travel to the edges of known space and beyond. The same individualism has kept pistol duels as an accepted practice. If both parties agree to the duel, murder is legal in the A-O sphere of influence.

Military service is voluntary but common. The corporation lures volunteers by providing its soldiers with the best equipment – state-of-the-art firearms, for the most part. Three weeks into training, enlistees receive an automatic rifle, which they may keep after three years of service. Furthermore, the A-O military maintains its strength by lavishly supporting its troops. As a result, Austrin’s tend to be highly effective when operating alone or in small units. In large actions, Austrin’s sometimes fail to demonstrate strict discipline and training.

Thirteen fortress ships bear the Austrin-Ontis logo. The Austrin Navy mirrors the army’s strengths and weaknesses – fantastic equipment without direction. Dispite the Navy’s successes in the war, the corporation favors a large standing army to this day. Even Navy troops and officers prefer personal combat; their specialty is disabling and boarding enemy ships. Once aboard an enemy vessel, Austrin’s take a mad delight in wholesale slaughter.

The A-O capital planet Powder is said to contain enough firepower to level dozens of star systems, though this may be an exaggeration. It is true, however, that Austrin-Ontis has devoted an substantial level of resources to the protection of the planet. Defense drones and cascading layers of roaming satellites cordon off the entire system into defensive sectors; the defenses combine strategies of strength and depth.

In the Verge, A-O influence is focused on the planet Galvin, contested by the Thuldan Empire. However, Austrin salespeople are a frequent sight throughout the region, as they peddle arms to the local governments. Since the majority of Verge equipment is quite dated, there’s a large market available for the latest A-O models. Sales to the Ptolemy pirates have been proven, but no Verge nation can stop the A-O juggernaut, and the Concord has yet intervened. They have also applied for permission to resettle Vieron.

Austrins are gun-crazy traders. Pundits claim to abandon notions such as the “typical Austrin”. Citizens of the 26th century can only laugh. The traits a nation shares are what hold it together. What holds the Austrins together is a love of firearms, the belief in violence as the crucible of character, and even a somewhat quaint notion of personal honor. Austrins learn not to shy away from confrontation or competition. Witness human history. War and conflict bring aut the need for development. Recognition of kindred souls allows the rugged frontiersman to survive the 26th century.

Austrin tend to be direct, honest folk. They tell it as they see it. This trait and its fame has served them well in their weapons-trading throughout the galaxy.

Austrins gain a -1 step bonus on either their Heavy Weapons or Modern Ranged Weapons broad skill and their respective specialty skills.

### *Sources*

*Star\*Drive Campaign Setting - ISBN 0-7869-0738-X*