Minamar Specialized Industries

Government

Minamar Specialized Industries is structured as a corporate entity. It is typically classified as an authoritarian free market corporatocracy, with moderate levels of corruption.

The Board of Directors is the ultimate governing authority of the corporation, effectively acting as a combined legislative and executive branch of government. It consists of 36 Directors, who are selected and appointed by majority vote from shareholders. The Board is headed by the Chief Executive Officer, who is appointed by the Board from within their own ranks, and serves until retirement or removal by the Board. The CEO is responsible for determining the direction of the corporation, and can exert a large amount of influence on the Board's decisions. Historically, the CEO has also been used as a scapegoat for scandals and poor strategic decisions made by the Board.

As the Board's primary purpose is to deliver value to its shareholders, it effectively has unlimited power over all aspects of the corporation. Shareholders may vote to institute policies or remove Directors, but in practice the Board effectively acts as an oligarchal government. While the corporate government does provide services for its employees, it is still primarily focused on profit generation. As such, amenities, utilities, and infrastructure are all for-profit, typically managed by competing subsidiary corporations spun up for specific purposes. These subsidiaries charge customers for their services, and the profit made on their sales flows back to the national MSI balance sheet. Should a subsidiary corporation go into bankruptcy, it is typically absorbed by the Board and its assets sold off, but the Board has been known to bail out particularly important or influential subsidiaries.

History

Old Olinbar Empire

The pre-Board history of Minamar is shrouded in secrecy and mystery, partly due to a lack of records and partly due to Minamar Specialized Industries rewriting it. During the latter stages of the Concord-Minamar War, in 2335 CE, a number of high-security MSI databanks were seized by Interstellar Concord special forces. These databanks have allowed historians to get a more accurate picture of the history of the megacorporation and the Olinbar species. Other sources include MSI defectors to the Numinous Equilibrium, information exchanges with MSI customers, and declassified espionage activities.

At some point in a previous galactic cycle, estimated to be approximately three to four thousand years ago, the Olinbar species discovered hyperspace, developed FTL drives, and began colonising the galaxy. Based on a lack of references towards Olinbar in contemporary archaeological sites, it is believed that the species only occupied a small portion of space. Despite this, they were able to encase their homeworld of Minamar in urban sprawl - creating what is known as an ecumenopolis, or city planet. However, approximately three thousand years ago, the Olinbar empire came under attack by a more powerful enemy, who bombarded their colonies into tomb worlds and crippled Minamar.

Pre-FTL Reversion

It appears that following this collapse, the Olinbar reverted to a pre-FTL state. Knowledge of advanced technology was lost, and the species' population was reduced to approximately half a billion between famine, disease, and orbital bombardment. The species adapted relatively swiftly to their new radioactive homeworld, and followed a relatively typical pre-FTL development path for the second time. By the 20th century CE, advanced nation-states and global trade had developed on Minamar, and Olinbar scientists had sent their first astronauts into orbit.

Some time in the mid 20th century CE, a small archaeological corporation named Minamar Specialized Industries discovered the relatively intact remains of a starship located deep within relatively unexplored ruins. Although inoperable, the starship's hyper drive and databanks were intact, providing a wealth of technical specifications and details of the fallen Olinbar empire. This information was swiftly covered up by the MSI Board, and the corporation used the technical knowledge they had gained from the ship to consolidate control over the planet with lightning speed.

Interstellar Age

By the beginning of the 21st century CE, MSI had secured political control over most of Minamar and developed the first functional hyper drives. With their new starships, MSI was able to track down the location of two former Olinbar colonies that had been lost millennia ago. Although time and orbital bombardment had left the colonies in ruins, enough infrastructure remained that MSI was able to quickly develop new colonies on the devastated worlds. There was perhaps another, more important discovery on one of the colonies: detailed schematics for a gigantic, mobile starbase. While the original specifications were unknown, MSI engineers felt confident they could reverse-engineering the schematics and construct one.

The period where the Olinbar regained their FTL capabilities was during a 'gap' in galactic cycles. Aside from the fallen empires, the enclaves, the marauders, and other small civilisations that had survived previous cycles, MSI found itself completely alone in the galaxy. Without competition, and with its recovered databanks fully analysed, the stellar corporation invested little in expansion or R&D. In fact, for the first several decades of interstellar travel, most of its efforts were focused on developing its homeworld and inner colonies. This would change when MSI scouts encountered their first pre-FTL civilisation.

"Your Ladder to the Stars"

In 2046 CE, the MSI science ship Callippus entered the Cir'Darus System and began its routine survey. When they surveyed the third planet in the system, expecting to find an uninhabited arid world, they instead found a thriving Atomic Age pre-FTL civilisation. Vigorous debate erupted throughout the corporation, but ultimately the Chief Executive Officer, Numeria Burriena, directed the corporation to pursue a strategy of her choosing. MSI would leverage its advanced technology to extract concessions from the weaker civilisation, particular a labour force that could be put to use on MSI worlds more efficiently.

The initial first contact with the reptilian Cirrulans was awkward. Despite their earlier stage of development, Cirrulan deep-space radar stations detected the uncloaked MSI ships approaching the planet, and the nations of Cirra placed their nuclear forces on high alert. With limited intelligence on the alien society, MSI diplomats (after being escorted by hundreds of propeller and jet aircraft through the atmosphere) landed in a relatively backwater nation. This offended or confused the global superpowers, who immediately began nuclear posturing against the small state and its alien visitors.

Despite this, the MSI diplomats were able to secure meetings with multiple national leaders and convince a majority of the planet to sign contracts with the corporation. In exchange for technological 'enlightenment', the states of Cirra would repay their debts through various methods, including personnel for MSI colonies. Many Cirrulans were excited to participate in a starfaring society, and the states of Cirra considered the technology transfers and advanced medical technology well worth the trade. However, further issues for MSI began to appear. Cirra was well outside MSI's starbase network, and thus required long-range transports to collect population payments. These ships were small, cramped, and had to support thousands or tens of thousands of Cirrulans for the journey back to MSI space.

Refined Business Model

Despite all the setbacks, MSI considered the Cirrulan operation a success. Upon their transfer to MSI space, Cirrulans quickly discovered that they were little more than slaves to serve their Olinbar masters. With no way to contact their homeworld, the nations of Cirra were unaware that they were signing millions of their people over to become slaves. The completion of the first Enlightenment Vessel in 2059 CE saw a drastic increase in the number of Cirrulans taken from their homeworld, as the mobile starbase was able to carry millions of indentured servants at a time.

Based on the data collected from the Cirrulan operation, MSI refined their process of 'enlightenment'. The development of cloaking devices allowed MSI science ships to survey potential targets more extensively, and efforts were made to intercept and study any communications from more advanced pre-FTL civilisations. For the less developed, MSI could simply raid underpopulation regions of the planet and collect indentured servants without alerting the civilisation as a whole. MSI was thereby able to repeat the process a number of times, carefully selecting 'clients' before revealing themselves and negotiating from a position of power. Between the initial Cirrulan uplifting and 2200 CE, MSI obtained populations from nearly two dozen worlds.

Rebellion

In 2163 CE, MSI scouts discovered the Roccan civilisation on the arid world of Nogg. This avian species was quickly identified as a high-priority target for 'enlightenment', due to their immense natural knack for engineering - a niche that was currently unfilled by any of the indentured servant species present on MSI colonies. After an accelerated period of intelligence gathering, MSI revealed a cloaked Enlightenment Vessel above Nogg in a grand first contact ceremony in 2166 CE. Initially, the Rocs proved to be model clients, requiring only minimal 'adjustments' (political pressure, blackmail, extortion, and assassinations) to get the entire planet to agree to MSI's terms. Indentured servants were taken slowly at first to minimise disruptions, but quickly ramped up during the 2180s CE.

While the governments of Nogg tried to cover up the millions of Rocs who were being taken into MSI custody, as per the hidden terms of the agreements, in 2185 CE the entire operation was exposed by a small group of journalists who had infiltrated several governments at the highest levels. This caused backlash far greater than either the national governments or MSI had expected, with mass protests, riots, and acts of terrorism against MSI and those who were considered collaborators.

While MSI was dealing with the increasing instability on Nogg, one of its Enlightenment Vessels had suddenly gone dark mid-transit. It had taken a detour on return from Nogg to pick up a shipment of indentured servants on another planet, but disappeared several weeks into its journey. The captain of the vessel had failed to transmit an updated flight plan to MSI authorities, and without any idea of the ship's location, it was deemed lost. In reality, the ship had suffered a mutiny by slaves while in an uncharted system, and crash-landed on a continental world later named Freedom's Landing.

Tensions on Nogg continued to rise, and in 2189 CE a full-scale war broke out between MSI and the Roccan Resistance. Despite their overwhelming technological superiority, the ingenuity and willingness to absorb losses allowed the Rocs to emerge victorious in 2190 CE, destroying an Enlightenment vessel and severely damaging an MSI relief fleet. Completely evicted from the Nog-Rasset System, the Board opted to cut its losses and focus on investments elsewhere, assuming the Rocs would destroy themselves with their newfound technology.

The Galactic Community

Minamar Specialized Industries was somewhat caught offguard by the rapid emergence of other starfaring civilizations at the turn of the 23rd century CE. Having been secure in their dominance for so long, they had invested little into long-term military or economic competition with peers. Luckily for MSI, many of those peers were more interested in their business than taking their worlds. MSI quickly established itself as the pre-eminent megacorporation in the galaxy - particularly when it came to the galactic slave market. MSI created a fortune by selling its indentured servants to burgeoning star nations, such as the Tzynn Empire and the Xanid Suzerainty.

However, MSI did face a number of sudden obstacles from what it considered to be upstarts. The largest of these was the emergence of Orbis Customer Synergies, another megacorporation, as a rival in the galactic market, leading to the undeclared Corporate Credit War in 2244 CE, which lasted for nearly a century. The slaves that MSI had written off - those onboard the lost Enlightenment Vessel and the Rocs - had established thriving star nations for themselves, and aligned with fellow democratic powers to form a bloc to oppose them. Even its erstwhile customers , particularly the Commonwealth of Man, often engaged in military actions against MSI or its proxies across the galaxy, causing no shortage of headaches.

When the Galactic Community was founded in 2250 CE, the megacorporation elected to join it as a founding member. MSI portrayed itself as a well-meaning corporation that looked after its customers, merely 'enlightening' the less fortunate for a minimal fee. It invested heavily in both other star nations and public relations campaigns, though these efforts often came to be sabotaged by OCS, the egalitarian states of the galaxy, and various insurgent groups.

Demographics

The primary species of Minamar Specialized Industries is the humanoid Olinbar. While not formally advantaged by the corporate government and its laws, Olinbars have numerous structural advantages in society that mean other species have a hard time competing. As such, voluntary migration to MSI space is minimal. For its worker strata, MSI relies on its core business strategy of pre-FTL enlightenment and debt repayment through indentured labourers. As such, significant portions of MSI's population are comprised of non-Olinbar indentured servants taken from the various pre-FTL civilisations that have signed agreements with the corporation.

Thanks to the free labour pool provided by MSI's indentured servants, Olinbar enjoy relatively moderate inequality and overall high standard of living compared to other megacorporations. Most Olinbar are able to afford acceptable education, healthcare, and housing, and pay into private superannuation funds in lieu of public pensions. Cybernetics have become increasingly common in recent years, mainly among the wealthy and well-connected in society. However, indentured servants experience particularly poor standards of living, with little to no services available. Some indentured servants, particularly those who work in the specialist strata, are given access to more services, though these fall far short of the average Olinbar.

Economy

Minamar Specialized Industries is a large, post-industrial market economy. As a corporation, the entire existence of MSI is to generate revenue and deliver value for their shareholders. In order to do so, it has adopted a three-prong business strategy. The core focus of this strategy is the acquisition of labour through exploitation of pre-FTL societies, and more recently, production of synthetic labour units. By underpinning its economy with cheap labour, the middle and upper class Olinbar are free to engage in an intensely consumption-based service-driven economy. This economy is operated entirely by MSI and its subsidiaries, generating substantial profit. Finally, the corporation advertises itself to other star nations with an extensive exopublic relations team, offering expertise in pre-FTL enlightenment (and optionally, how to exploit them) and cheap labour in the form of acquired pre-FTL labourers.

Most lower-level economic activity is run by MSI's smaller subsidiaries. Infrastructure, entertainment, services, housing, information technology, and the like are all low-level, while MSI remains focused on the core business model of pre-FTL enlightenment. These subsidiaries engage in fierce competition with each other for market share, though higher-level corporate authorities often step in to prevent all-out corporate warfare. While this fierce competition does not extend to the wealthier citizens of the corporation, lower-class citizens often find themselves having to compete with the much cheaper indentured servants for jobs.

Society

In the corporate culture of Minamar Specialized Industries, all citizen-employees are expected to devote their lives to two things: increasing shareholder value through hard work, and increasing shareholder value through conspicuous consumption. Ostentatious displays of wealth and consumption are status markers within society, particularly vanity projects and artistic creations. These displays of wealth are encouraged by corporate management in order to promote additional consumption of their products and services in their completely controlled market.

To outsiders, the Olinbar of MSI have a tendency to appear enigmatic and cryptic, but friendly on a surface level. Official corporate fashion guidelines require employees wear face-covering masks that reveal only the mouth, designed to hide the wearer's expressions and provide them with an edge in negotiations. These masks have become so ubiquitous that many people in non-Olinbar space do not know what an Olinbar face actually looks like. Olinbar culture also features a strong air of enigma, as individuals often deliberately withold information, speak in half-truths, or crytpically answer questions. This is partially a corporate initiative by the Board of Directors, in order to make espionage against the corporatation substantially more difficult. In their view, they are making language and culture itself more resistant to outside infiltration, and by extension, the corporation.

MSI's business model involves pre-FTL civilisations paying off the debts incurred by their 'enlightenment' through population transfers. Populations acquired by MSI are transferred to their own worlds for use as forced labourers until the pre-FTL civilisation's debt is paid off, which would take approximately 10,000 years on a standard contract. While MSI denies the specific verbiage, the Interstellar Concord and several other star nations view this practice as slavery.

As the indentured servants of MSI are separated from the free population, they have developed their own culture. A majority of the servants are in the worker strata, working as miners, farmers, soldiers, technicians, clerks, or other simple forms of labour. However, more skilled servants are trained as specialists, such as researchers, metallurgists, entertainers, and in some cases, even corporate managers. Although treated better than chattel slaves, indentured servants have virtually no rights and limited avenues of recourse if they suffer abuse.

MSI's indentured servants often stick together, forming ad-hoc community support networks for each other. When education and healthcare are unavailable, as they typically are, the community tries to organise those for its most needy. However, MSI often tries to break up these support networks and communities, utilising heavy physical and psychological conditioning to shape their servants into perfectly obedient and dependent specimens. Properly conditioned servants, particularly those trained from birth, are considered trustworthy by default in free Olinbar society, while unconditioned servants are not.

Military

The Minamar Security Service is the corporate military of MSI. Its duties follow a traditional split into the Minamar Space Security Service and the Minamar Planetary Security Service. It has a volunteer component, comprised of Olinbar and a small number of xeno citizens for commissioned and non-commissioned officers, and vast numbers of indentured battle thralls for the enlisted. Volunteer service personnel are generously paid in both currency and stock options.

Like the Tzynn Empire, the MSS heavily utilises battle thralls and slave soldiers. Battle thralls are elite slave troops trained from birth in the art of battle, conditioned for the utmost loyalty to their corporate masters. They are considered to be highly dependable, and the process is often copied (albeit in a less brutal manner) for non-military servants. In addition to the well-trained battle thralls, the MSS also utilises regular servants in simple roles, ensuring their cooperation through incentives (such as better rations and housing) and threats (bomb collars and threats against loved ones).

Following its defeat in the Concord-Minamar War, the MSS has begun rebuilding its formerly outdated fleet. In order to compensate for the Concord's abiliy to cause mass slave defections, the MSS has begun utilising robotic soldiers drawn from its synthetic labour force, as well as more simple-minded drones.