Factions
The Two major nations of Vendetta are the Itani, Serco.
The UIT is formed of a loose conglomeration of corporations, civilians and other subfactions, most of whom owe allegiance (at least in name) to the UIT Senate. In reality, the UIT is nearly a constant power struggle between various corporations, who vie for technology, resources and Serco/Itani contracts. During the early advent of the interstellar Serco/Itani conflict, most of the corporations began their own weapons and ship development programs, hoping to capitalize on the war by selling their products to the embattled major nations. However, a second purpose became apparent when a "rogue pirate clan", who may have actually been mercenaries or employees of Axia Technology Corp, assaulted a Valent Robotics station, devestating the development site for a new product that competed with a similar Axia creation. Both were competing for the same Serco contract, but this was the first time competition had been raised to such levels. Valent responded in kind, launching a full assault on Axia and sparking the first of the corporate wars. These conflicts were finally brought to an end when TPG, the hundred pound gorilla of UIT military research, forcibly engaged all the other corporations simultaneously with a massive armada and dictated a cease-fire. Since then there has been a wary and untrusting "peace" among the UIT corporations, where they all play nicely in view of the Senate or TPG, but are known to continue their in-corporate conflicts in secret.
Contents
TPG Corporation
Largest corporate member of the Union of Independent Territories. Also the most powerful and well-known organization in the UIT, surpassing even the government Senate. TPG Corp originally allowed the people of the UIT to escape from Serco Prime, through the creation of the original UIT spacecraft. Today they are the largest manufacturer of spacecraft in the known universe, maintaining diplomatic and technological relations with both the Serco and Itani. Founded in the distant past by a group of free-thinking dreamers and hopeful engineers, TPG has managed to keep their innocence more than most of the other UIT corporations. They are by far the most morally upstanding of the UIT members, often railing against the corporate warfare, feuding and espionage which has become so commonplace in the Union. [1]
- Special Items: TPG offers special ships such as the Atlas X and Marauder X. It also offers some enhanced low-level weapons like the Sparrow Blaster.
- Station Locations: For a list of stations click here.
- Trade Goods: For a list of goods sold by TPG click here.
BioCom Industries
BioCom is a relative startup in the UIT corporate family. Founded not long after the historic Serco request of diplomatic relations with the UIT in AD4346, BioCom was created by a group of scientists who acquired access to Serco recent bio-engineering and implantation technology. More recently, they have diversified into other areas, combining their bio-engineering and implantation expertise with the AI and robotics knowledge of Valent Robotics. Little is known of the fruits of this rare cooperative effort between two UIT corporations, but all developments are shrouded in heavy secrecy and security.[2]
- Specials: BioCom is rumored to offer a special Vulture ship.
- Station Locations: For a list of stations click here.
- Trade Goods: For a list of goods sold by BioCom click here.
Valent Robotics
The second-eldest of the UIT corporations, after TPG, was founded not long after the UIT left their planetary homes on Serco Prime to find a better life among the stars. Valent became an early pioneer in mining robotics and other mechanisms that were extrordinarily important during those first years of spaceborne colonization. More recently they've come to diversify heavily into a number of fields, including weapons research, but their primary bread-and-butter comes from semi-automated mining drone design. Rumors have persisted for several decades of an impressive cooperative project with BioCom. However, the two companies have been remarkably successful at keeping a lid on their activities.[3]
- Specials: For very high faction points, and Trade License 13, you can get a special Valent Marauder which has expanded cargo capacity. They also offer a special bus.
- Station Locations: For a list of stations click here.
- Trade Goods: For a list of goods sold by Valent click here.
Orion Heavy Manufacturing
Orion started out making drill bits for Xithricite excavation (long before the advent of laser drilling), and has since expanded into a multifaceted powerhouse with divisions developing everything from large-scale space station projects to advanced weapons design. Like most of the other UIT member corporations, Orion diversified into weapons and spacecraft following the start of the second Serco-Itani conflict. They now construct a number of popular spacecraft and weapon designs, as well as larger scale freighter and transport projects for several nations and factions.[4]
- Specials: Offers enhanced versions of the Centurion and Hornet ships, as well as a special Phase Blaster gun.
- Station Locations: For a list of stations click here.
- Trade Goods: For a list of goods sold by Orion click here.
Axia Technology Corp
- Specials: The Axia bus has a lower mass than the normal bus, and two weapons slots. There are also enhanced Wraith and Marauder ships. Axia offers a special positron blaster gun as well.
- Station Locations: For a list of stations click here.
- Trade Goods: For a list of goods sold by Axia click here.
Corvus Prime
Corvus, while not a corporation in any legal sense, certainly has a tangible economic impact on activities within the UIT, and the universe as a whole. This black market cluster of stations has become a major haven for pirate activity, mercenaries and corporations who simply wish to avoid Senate oversight. All manner of underground activities take place here under the baleful eye of the mysterious Syndicate, the little-known enforcing overlords of Corvus Prime. No lawful entities attempt to bring this region under their sway, partially because of the Syndicate's not-insignificant influence and firepower, and partially because of the logic that.. if Corvus were destroyed, they would simply reorganize in another, unknown location. "Better to know where the hornets nest" stated one law enforcement representative. This rationale is made that much easier by the Syndicate's strictly defensive posture within Corvus space. No attempts are made to expand or to influence other regions, and in fact the Syndicate is almost never heard from, even within their own territory. It is believed they have high-level economic dealings with several of the major corporations, but nothing is known of their membership, size, organization or leadership. Law enforcement agencies ceased to attempt to penetrate the organization long ago, when operative after undercover operative failed to return or report.[5]
- Specials: Corvus has a thriving black market, and offers equipment for 1-2 licenses lower than usual, even to people with -200 Corvus standing. For high standing, there are special ships; the Corvus Marauder and Corvus Vulture.
- Station Locations: For a list of stations click here.
- Trade Goods: For a list of goods sold by Corvus click here.
Tunguska Heavy Mining Concern
- Specials: With high faction, Tunguska offers two special ships; a Mining Marauder and a souped up Centaur.
- Station Locations: For a list of stations click here.
- Trade Goods: For a list of goods sold by Tunguska click here.
Aeolus Trading Prefectorate
- Station Locations: For a list of stations click here.
- Trade Goods: For a list of goods sold by Aeolus click here.
Ineubis Defense Research
- Station Locations: For a list of stations click here.
- Trade Goods: For a list of goods sold by Ineubis click here.
Xang Xi Automated Systems
Xang Xi is a longtime developer of component systems for computing and robotics. Occasionally a competitor of Valent Robotics, they mostly focus their efforts on government and defense contracts. They are well established in the areas of targeting computers, missile and torpedo autonomous performance and behaviour. Civilian contracts also make up a large part of their portfolio, with everything from autonomous waste treatment to station enhancement and construction. In recent years they have become one of the primary manufacturers of critical components for mineral refinement.
The organization and background of Xang Xi are somewhat more bizarre and less known than their public portfolio. They maintain the facade of normal corporate management, but their CEO is apparently appointed by an unusual eight-member group within the company known as the Octagon. It is believed that this group actually makes all significant decisions for the company. Xang Xi is also the corporation that is most often linked to the Corvus Syndicate, but only rumor and conjecture exist to connect the two.[6]
