[glow=blue]Terran contractors:[/b][/glow]
Triton Dynamics[/u]
GTF Ulysses, GTF Erinyes, SF Mara (terrans), GTS Hygeia, GTFr Triton, GTI Ganymede, GTD Hades, GTCv Deimos, UD-8 Kayser, GTM-31 Disruptor Missile
Triton Dynamics was the second-largest contractor of the Great War, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Galactic Terran Intelligence Research and Development. Triton oversaw the design of many prototypes and advanced fighters, including the Ulysses fighter, Disruptor cannon and Stiletto missile, and was privileged to refit the captured Shivan Dragon fighter. Triton is the without question the most innovative and adaptive company around, renowned for its ability to make things work. The new Erinyes fighter, for example, can carry almost any primary or secondary weapon in its large weapon banks, and Triton adapts Vasudan and even Shivan technologies with ease. Triton Dynamics’ claim to infamy is its large part in the design and construction of the GTD Hades in Delta Serpentis. After the GTI rebellion was ended in 2336 and the collapse of the GTA, Triton became an independent corporation and is now a respectable manufacturer of both military and civilian designs.
Subach-Innes[/u]
Subach HL-7,GTM-12 Cyclops, GTFr Poseidon, GTT Argo
The small-arms and land vehicle manufacturer Subach-Innes is a major seller to the GTVA army, producing many tanks, transports, and handheld weapons. Due to the high performance of their army models, Subach was the first choice for the GTVA’s fighter-mounted weapons division when Bessimer-Kohn went out of business. Subach proved itself capable of the task by refining the xaser weaponry pioneered by Bessimer, and developed the phenomenally successful Subach HL-7 sidearm. The deployment of the Cyclops torpedo cemented Subach’s hold on the GTVA weapons contract, and it is now experimenting in advanced subspace and meson-based technologies.
Bessimer-Kohn[/u]
GTSG Watchdog, GTSG Cerberus, GTSG Alastor, GTS Centaur
Bessimer-Kohn was a sister corporation to Han-Ronald, and the single largest weapons manufacturer during the Great War. Energy weapons and reactor producer Bessimer and Sons merged with missile and ballistic weapons manufacturer Kohn Industries shortly after the start of the Unification War, and sold its weaponry to anyone who would buy it. Their plasma turrets were cheap and energy efficient, and installed on every Fenris, Leviathan, and Orion that came off the lines. Their Fury missiles, as well as the MX and Phoenix series of missiles, were standard on Terran fighters long before first contact with the Vasudans. Bessimer-Kohn also produced the Watchdog, Cerberus, and Alastor sentry guns, as well as the Centaur support ship. Plasma turret factories ran at full-tilt until the development of beam weaponry and flak cannons. Bessimer-Kohn suddenly found itself with a huge surplus of unwanted and useless plasma turrets, and with the demise of Han-Ronald, the once-mighty corporation went bankrupt. The GTVA military acquired its assets and divided them up between contractors Subach-Innes and Mesa Corp. The only Bessimer-Kohn weapons still in service are the Hornet missile, Prometheus cannon, and Alastor sentry gun.
AGAY Fluctuators[/u]
AGAY Fluctuators handles power management systems for most GTVA ships, though RNI uses their own designs. AGAY developed the Energy Transfer System now in use on all Terran and Vasudan fighters and bombers, following the widespread use of energy-based primary weapons. AGAY's designs also assist in reactor overloads, power storage, and enery transfer.
RNI systems[/u]
GTF Hercules Mark II, GTF Myrmidon, GTB Boanerges, GTSG Mjolnir, GTC Aeolus, GTG Zephyrus
RNI was a short-lived corporation based in the GTVA colony of Laramis. After Han-Ronald’s decay, the new GTVA decided to find a new contractor to design their fleet from the ground up. The surprising choice of RNI Systems, previously known only for their lightweight alloys and mining colonies, was sound on paper but ultimately doomed. RNI recruited a new generation of architects, shipwrights, and engineers fresh out of university and set them to work, designing and manufacturing the wildly successful Hercules Mark II and Myrmidon fighters, and the famous Aeolus escort cruiser. Sadly, RNI never turned a profit on their military investments. Initial enthusiasm by the military tacticians was diluted by the excessive cost of the upgrades, and Aeolus production was stopped after only twenty-four units. Additionally, many of RNI’s top designers went on to more promising careers at Nankam, leaving the corporation without any staff or financial resources. The RNI assets were purchased by Subach-Innes in 2367, but allowed the corporation to remain as an independently functioning satellite. RNI still manufactures the craft designed in its heyday, but has few new models in development, instead concentrating on mining, metallurgy, and alloys.
Han-Ronald Corp.[/u]
GTF Hercules, GTF Loki, GTF Apollo, GTF Valkyrie, GTB Artemis, GTB Medusa, GTB Ursa, GTC Fenris, GTC Leviathan, GTD Orion, GTI Arcadia
When someone mentions Terran starship design, they're probably talking about Han-Ronald Corporation, the largest manufacturer of Terran spacecraft during the Great War. Every Terran warship that saw battle against the Shivans in that conflict, with the exception of the Ulysses fighter and Athena bomber, was designed and manufactured by Han-Ronald. The partnership with arms manufacturer Bessimer-Kohn led to significant decreases in subsystem installation costs, one of the keys to its success. Han-Ronald has had strong ties to the GTA military ever since the introduction, and phenomenal success of, the Fenris cruiser in the late days of the Unification War. Since the GTA military invested heavily in Sol-based Han-Ronald, the loss of Sol in 2335 brought significant financial difficulties on the corporation. While the design team completed the Loki scout fighter and was later responsible for the mediocre GTB Artemis, it never recovered from that crippling blow.
Morgan Technologies[/u]
Morgan Technologies was a research and development conglomerate in the Tau Sigma colonies, assisting in terraforming and colonization efforts there. At some point in the events surrounding the Derelict incident, Morgan went rogue and began outright attacks against GTVA installations, convoys, and warships. Their motivation remains unknown, and their flagship, the MTD Augira, is still at large.
Dynamic Metamer[/u]
GTB Athena, GTB Zeus, GTFr Chronos, GTDr Amazon, GTT Elysium, GTSC Faustus, GTM Hippocrates
One of the few devoted civilian corporations to turn out a military design, Dynamic Metamer provided drones, transports, and cargo containers for civilian purposes since before the discovery of Subspace. Why the GTA gave Dynamic Metamer the contract for the GTB Athena is unknown, but for a time it was a popular choice among bomber pilots for its decent armor and vast afterburner capacity. Dynamic Metamer was unfamiliar with the more advanced GTA weapons systems, however, and the bomber was mothballed after technicians discovered they couldn’t mount Prometheus, Banshee, or Tsunami weapons on it. The company risked losing its first military contract, which had brought in more money in one year than the sales of the Elysium ever had, and asked Triton Dynamics to assist in the design of a replacement bomber. As a result the GTI gained sole ownership of the Zeus strike bomber, capable of mounting the most advanced weaponry they could develop. The Zeus saved Dynamic Metamer their strike bomber contract, but a number of factors, including the development of beam cannons, the Maxim gun, and advanced assault fighters, drained demand for light bombers. After many of the Zeus bombers in service defected to the NTF, Dynamic Metamer sold off the rest of the rights to Triton Dynamics and elected to return to the civilian market.
KresCo Engineering[/u]
KresCo is an independant contractor hired by many larger corporations to prototype new fighter designs. KresCo keeps files and prototypes on many ships that never saw production, but many of their designs did see widespread deployment. KresCo keeps a working relationship with StratComm Inc. and occasionally sells its designs to Pteros.
Comet propulsion systems[/u]
Comet's engine designs are unremarkable, slow, sturdy and reliable. Most GTVA capital ships use Comet engine systems because of their compartmentalized systems. Repair crews can isolate, circumvent, repair, or replace engine components in minutes instead of hours, making high-risk rescue missions possible. Many GTVA lives and capital ships have been saved by the choice of Comet's engines. High-performance fighter engines, however, are better left to Nankam and Triton.
Nankam Aeronautical[/u]
GTF Ares, GTF Pegasus, GTF Perseus, Artemis DH powerplant, GTD Hecate, GTA Charybdis, SOF Banshee
Nankam fills the niche in the SOC that was once Triton Dynamics’ role in the GTI. Once a manufacturer of high-performance aircraft for atmospheric combat, Nankam was heavily subsidized by the SOC to develop fighters that would outperform standard GTVA craft. The Charybdis AWACS, Pegasus stealth fighter, and various upgrades to the Artemis and Hercules II show promise in Nankam’s future with the SOC. Much like the SOC reaches into every branch of the GTVA, Nankam is a consultant for many of Subach-Innes and Triton Dynamics’ latest designs. The Perseus fighter was successful enough to reach general deployment, and Nankam also had a large part in the design of the Hecate destroyer.
Baranec Acquisitions[/u]
PTCv Baranec, PTF Kulas
Baranec Acquisitions produces machine parts, such as gears, shocks, bearings, and pistons, from scrap purchase and ore mining operations. Raw materials, ore, scrap metal and debris are melted down, refined into separate elements and alloys, smelted and pressed into whatever parts are needed. Baranec asks no questions of its clients when they sell scrap or place orders, making it a favorite of pirate groups and salvagers as a dump for stolen goods. Despite their shady reputation, Baranec was needed to produce millions of parts for the GTVA Colossus, leading to large salvage and scrapping operations in the aftermath of several NTF battles.
Snapka/Flegel Weapons Systems[/u]
Weapons control systems are Snapka’s specialty, enabling dozens of weapon turrets and beam artillery emplacements to track and attack their targets with a minimum of technical difficulty. Their revolutionary beam cannon fire control system, colloquially known as ‘Beam-Free-All,’ was the greatest success for the company. BFA weapons subsystems were installed on the Colossus and every Hecate and Deimos that was ever produced, as well as on many retrofitted Orion-class destroyers.
StratComm Incorporated[/u]
GTDn Archangel, GTCa Phoenix, GTD Raynor
StratComm is a post-Capellan company founded to explore new large-scale warship classes, including missile frigates, dreadnaughts, and carriers. Prototypes have been successful thus far, but their true combat effectiveness remains to be seen.
Johnson Munitions[/u]
Fusion Mortar, N-1 Harbinger
As a supplier to the GTA and later GTVA terrestrial military, Johnson Munitions pales in comparison to Subach-Innes in terms of size. However, their mortar and mobile artillery emplacements still have a place in the GTVA armies, and Johnson was contracted to build the missile launcher batteries of the Colossus.
Rampage Ltd.[/u]
GTB Tigris, GTF Canis, GTCv Nereid
Rampage specializes in conversions from the popular civilian atmospheric 'Homeworld' models to military-grade fightercraft and bombers. Though not as durable, reliable, or powerful as dedicated military designs, Rampage's conversions are a popular pick among planetary police and home-guard units for their economic value.
[glow=green]Vasudan contractors:[/b][/glow]
Mekhu Enterprises[/u]
GVF Seth, PVF Anubis, GVB Sekhmet, GVS Nephtys, PVFr Bast, GVFr Bes, GVG Anuket, PVC Aten, GVI Cheops, PVS Scarab, GVSC Imhotep, Mekhu HL-7
Mekhu is an extremely diverse Vasudan corporation, extending into military and civilian affairs alike. Providing everything from foodstuffs to insurance services, freighters to computer systems, family-owned Mekhu has served the Vasudan people for nearly 400 years. Mekhu exerts considerable political influence, and was a strong supporter of Khonsu II during his ascension. The diversity of the corporation helped it succeed where many Terran contractors failed, and the Vasudan renaissance of the post-war era is due in no small part to excellent planning by Mekhu’s board of directors.
Akheton Corporation[/u]
GVF Horus, GVF Serapis, GVB Osiris, GVB Bakha, GVF Ptah, GVD Hatshepsut, GVA Setekh, GVCv Sobek, GVI Cairo, Akheton SDG
Akheton’s designs are far more militaristic in nature than Mekhu’s, yet more graceful than Sahr's, resulting in a perfect blend of Vasudan design and functionality. Preferring finesse to brute force, Akheton has produced many beautiful, fast, and technologically advanced designs for the Vasudan military, and is the envy of many Terran contractors. New designs such as the Serapis, Bakha, and Sobek consistently amaze the Vasudan military with their effectiveness, and tacticians love the way the capabilities of the warships match the strategies they have chosen.
Sahr Corporation[/u]
GVF Thoth, GVF Tauret, PVB Amun, Seth powerplant, GVFr Satis, PVD Typhon, GVC Mentu, GVT Isis, PVI Karnak, GVF Shu
Sahr is the heavyweight of the three main Vasudan contractors, producing heavily armed and armored designs for offensive missions. Sahr engineers first discovered the benefits of collapsed molybdenum armor and became a large supplier of armor plating to both the Terran and Vasudan militaries. Sahr’s primary shipyards in Altair were captured when the Hammer of Light gained control of that system in 2335, and the heavy machinery and experimental weapons developed by Sahr kept the system in HoL hands for some time. The system was liberated in Operation Templar, and Sahr’s new designs for the Tauret assault fighter and Mentu cruiser serve the alliance well.
Pteros Design[/u]
GVI Viraj, GVB Maahes, GVSG Viminas, GVSC Nibada
Pteros is the newest Vasudan corporation, formed under an agreement between the Vasudan military and Mekhu Enterprises to manage assets in the new colonies of Delta Naragesi. The first task of the company was to design an easily expandable space colony. The first of this class, the GVI Viraj, so impressed the investors that Pteros was permitted to pursue whatever designs it saw fit. Though Pteros does come up with an original design now and then, it specializes in purchasing and developing discarded concepts and prototypes from Mekhu and Akheton. Pteros also maintains a close relationship with Terran contractors, adapting and refining ideas the Terrans put into service first.
Mesa Corp.[/u]
Flak gun, PVM-7 Fang missile, PVM-1 Barracuda rocket, GTM-10 Piranha
Mesa is a munitions supplier for the Vasudan navy. Its claim to fame is the invention of the Flak Gun as a defensive screen for the Typhon destroyer, now mounted on all new GTVA ship classes. While their missile designs during the Terran-Vasudan War were readily accepted by the Vasudan navy, once the war ended it became clear that the Terran alternatives were far superior. Mesa, rather than pursue new Vasudan alternatives, licensed weapon designs from Bessimer-Kohn and Subach-Innes and turned its lines over to the production of Terran weaponry. Few pilots know that every Piranha bomb in service was assembled by the Mesa Corporation. Mesa maintains affiliations with many Terran corporations, going so far as to redesign its corporate logo to incorporate Terran design.
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Well. This is all in accordance to FS Canon, as far as I know. That's lots of background for you campaign designers and tech room buffs out there. And if you're trying to decide which contractor your new ship looks like, this ought to help. A note on the pimping: StratComm, Rampage, and I each have distinct modeling styles, seperate from any existing Freespace corporation, so I gave us independant companies. Nominations for new corporations are accepted. Tomatoes may be thrown.
