GOVERNMENTS & CORPORATIONS

“I work for the company. But don't let that fool you, I'm really an okay guy.”

—CARTER J. BURKE

BIG BUSINESS, BIG GOVERNMENT, AND BIG LIES

Everyone answers to someone and everybody wants to get paid. In the early 21st century, humanity stood on a precipice. Increased carbon emissions, inappropriate disposal of toxic wastes, limited nuclear exchanges, and overpopulation led to the mass extinction of several species, rampant disease, environmental decay, a worldwide energy crisis, and famine.

While stagnant governments were reluctant to change to meet these threats, multinational corporations headed by innovators like Peter Weyland stepped up and led the charge into the future. As many nations shut down their space programs, the private sector poured money and resources into pushing humanity out into the greater solar system and beyond. While politicians argued over global warming and health care, corporations set about repairing the ozone layer and curing most cancers. Establishing off-world colonies within the solar system, corporations gave humanity new places to flourish rather than wither on a damaged Earth.

As Weyland-Yutani and other companies explored the stars, they established extrasolar colonies before there was any legislation in place to govern them. As these worlds flourished, it was the corporations that made policy. Realizing their technological dependence on companies like Weyland- Yutani to both travel to and terraform these planets in the first place, the governments of Earth had no choice but to play by company rules. At the mercy of these corporate overlords, nations soon found themselves in severe financial debt to them.

Looking to the late 20th century’s formation of the European Union for inspiration, the major countries of the world soon merged to form larger nations. Dire economic necessity coupled with diminishing resources soon led to the unprecedented political merging of cultures that had been at odds in the past. During the last quarter of the 21st century, the Three World Empire was formed. The United Americas and the Union of Progressive Peoples soon followed, and governments began to regain some semblance of their old power. But the military industrial complex, interstellar commerce, and deep space mining all keep the system going, and you need the corporations to take care of that. Without them, the economy would collapse. The current depression on the Frontier is symptomatic of this political and corporate tug of war. Government control is an illusion, and it’s a bad card trick at that. You can be assured that behind every politician is a corporate overlord exerting some form of control.

What follows is a look at both the puppets and puppeteers of the 2180s.

THE COMPANY YOU KEEP: Weyland-Yutani doesn’t own everything, just mostly everything. Below is a small sampling of other corporate entities operating on the Frontier. You can bet that any of these corporations that are not allied with W-Y are on the company’s (s)hitlist.

• ALPHATECH HARDWARE: Major military contractor for the UA and other corporations.
• CHIGUSA CORPORATION: Rival of W-Y focused on colonization, plasma harvesting and mining operations.
• GEMBA SYSTEC: Electronics manufacturing and freight handling.
• HYPERDYNE SYSTEMS: ICSC subsidiary of W-Y that makes high-end synthetics and cybernetic prosthetics.
• JĬNGTÌ LÓNG CORPORATION: ICSC company that is a W-Y and Seegson rival focusing on colonization and weapons R&D.
• KELLAND MINING COMPANY: Deep Space Mining Company known for building massive orbital mining stations.
• KOORLANDER CORP: A company with tobacco farms on several colony worlds. Koorlander is the rival cigarette brand to Balaji Imperial.
• SOUTA CORP: Producers of the beer Souta Dry, a cheap alternative to Weyland-Yutani’s own Aspen Beer.
• LOCKMART: ICSC company that is the premiere builder of commercial starships.
• STEER CITY CATTLE COMPANY: A small company out of Terraform 3 that provides draft animals and quality meat to Frontier colonies.

THE THREE WORLD EMPIRE

The most technologically prosperous of the interstellar superpowers, the Three World Empire has established the most long-term colonies in the territories. Before its formation in the late 21st Century, the UK and Japan had pioneered space exploration and settlement technologies through the British Weyland Corp and the Japanese Yutani Corporation. These two innovative companies were the first to construct colonies on other planets and moons within the solar system. The three worlds the coalition’s name refers to are Earth, Mars, and Titan—the first three worlds to be inhabited by humanity.

HISTORY

The Three World Empire was the first of the conglomerate nations. With the birth of extrasolar colonies, Earth was becoming a smaller place. Realizing a pooling of resources would result in a stronger base from which to colonize the stars, the United Kingdom, Japan, India, and several developing countries joined forces in the 2180s. In addition to the aforementioned countries, member states include Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Kenya, Fiji, and more.

MILITARY AND ORGANIZATIONS

Through defense contracts and treaties, the 3WE Frontier colonies are protected by the United States Colonial Marines. However, the Three World Empire does maintain an extensive navy as well as their own limited military force in the form of the Royal Marines Commandos. While well trained and equipped with the latest in cutting edge hardware, the 3WE-RMC simply does not have the regimental strength or the reach of the USCMC. The 3WE bolsters their military with contracted soldiers from—you guessed it—Weyland-Yutani.

LEADERS

The Three World Empire is a parliamentary social democracy overseen by a constitutional monarchy. Consisting of the former royal families of Britain and Japan now intermarried as one, the Monarchy serves as a figurehead and has little to no real power. The government is headed up by an elected Prime Minister who oversees a Parliament consisting of representatives from each territory and former nation, but none of that will matter much to you out here. On the Frontier, worlds of the 3WE are maintained by a provisional governor, and it’s the policies, taxes, and tariffs set by her office that you will have to contend with.

LOCATIONS

In addition to its holdings in Sol System, the Three World Empire controls most extrasolar colonies in the Outer Veil and Core Systems. They have made a limited push into the Outer Rim and in the Frontier. Combined, these areas are called the Anglo-Japanese Arm. Notable worlds include the Corona Colony, Gorham’s Folly, Fiorina 161, and Linna 349

RELATIONS

The Three World Empire is heavily influenced by Weyland-Yutani—in fact, W-Y is the only non-state to actually have a seat in parliament. Rumors abound that several key members of Parliament have even been replaced with W-Y android duplicates, but none have been exposed—yet. The 3WE has maintained a somewhat peaceful relationship with the United Americas, though the UA is wary of the 3WE’s aggressive expansion efforts and monitors their borders at all times. As tensions rise between the UA and Weyland-Yutani, the 3WE has become caught in the crossfire. Some feel it is only a matter of time before an armed conflict breaks out along the Frontier.

CURRENT ACTIVITIES

Weyland-Yutani has backed the Three World Empire into a corner in regard to interstellar relations with the United Americas. While they don’t have a fighting force to equal the Colonial Marines, they do have an extensive Navy and are backed up by Weyland-Yutani technological and mercenary might. Rumors abound that W-Y is developing some kind of bioweapon for the 3WE, deployable from planetary orbit and extremely deadly. True or not, the reality is that the 3WE would much rather maintain the status quo than go to war, and worries that if W-Y goes too far, parliament will be forced to curb the company’s activities—an action that will undoubtedly have consequences.

THE UNITED AMERICAS

The United Americas is the most powerful starfaring and colonizing nation in the 22nd century. An economic and political giant in both the Sol system and throughout the offworld colonies, the military might of the UA is unparalleled.

HISTORY

Created to counter the financial and political might of the newly formed Three World Empire, The United Americas emerged in 2104 as a union of the nations of North, Central, and South America into one socioeconomic block. This alliance allowed the Americas to catch up to the 3WE and become pioneers of space travel and extrasolar colonies in their own right. The Washington Treaty played a pivotal role in the merger, defining the member states’ responsibilities to the union and outlining provisions for military action performed under the flag of the United Americas. The United States of America stood at the forefront of the newly formed nation, its preexisting scientific and military industrial complex paving the way for the United States Colonial Marine Corps to become humanity’s premiere peacekeeping force throughout the colonies.

When the United Americas was formed, there were already several off-world colonies settled by its member states before the union—and not all of these worlds were happy to be part of this new, all-encompassing government. Torin Prime was one of them. Refusing to acknowledge the authority of the UA, a terrorist rebel faction calling themselves the J’Har seized the colony, murdered planetside officials, and killed or imprisoned anyone not loyal to their cause. Fearful that other colonies would follow suite, the UA was left with no choice but to make an example of Torin Prime. As the J’Har rounded up more than half the population and interred them in concentration camps, the newly formed United Americas Allied Command (UAAC) worked with counter insurgents planetside to retake the world. When the J’Har managed to gain control of a flotilla of warships, the Outer Rim Defense Fleet responded in kind. The civil war escalated into a larger space war and took two years to resolve, but in the process the UA cemented their standing as a powerful nation amongst the stars.

MILITARY AND ORGANIZATIONS

UNITED AMERICAS ALLIED COMMAND: The UAAC is the joint command of military forces of all members of the United Americas. It is comprised of the United States Colonial Marine Corps (USCMC), the Canadian Colonial Armed Forces (CCAF), the Latin American Colonial Navy (LACN), The United States AeroSpace Force (USASF), and the United Americas Outer Rim Defense Fleet (UAORDF). Headed by the Secretary of Defense, the allied command is a think tank of high level admirals and generals who devise strategy for, and coordinate, all major combat operations.

THE UNITED STATES COLONIAL MARINE CORPS: Founded before the United Americas merger, the primary focus of the USCMC is to maintain the security of all UA member states and extrasolar colonies. The USCMC spearheads all military campaigns undertaken by the United Americas Allied Command. They maintain several bases across the territories and are stationed at all UA garrisons, placing them within striking distance of nearly any hot spot. While they often operate in tandem with the Aerospace Force and Outer Rim Defense Fleet, they operate their own fleet of frigates and troop transports. At a constant state of readiness, the USCMC has the technology and training to deploy troops at a moment’s notice and operate an independent unit for extended periods in hostile environments without any support. Throughout the eight decades since its inception, the USCMC has engaged in armedconflicts on nearly thirty extrasolar worlds. They have fought rogue nations and rebel colonies, as well as faced off against foreign powers in border and resource disputes. They have provided humanitarian aid in natural disasters, protected civilians in terrorist and hostage crises, and secured colonies from hostile lifeforms.

COLONIAL ADMINISTRATION: This UA division was formed to protect the rights of all off-world colonists. CA supports and monitors all UA extrasolar colonies and stations and makes sure that supply chains flow as intended, vaccines are distributed, and that a semblance of order is maintained. For decades they have fought to have a minimum wage established for colonists, only to have their efforts blocked by corporate lobbyists.

COLONIAL MARSHAL BUREAU: The law enforcement arm of the Colonial Administration is the Colonial Marshal Bureau, which maintains police offices throughout the colonies and works with the Interstellar Commerce Commission to prevent the import or export of dangerous biologicals and chemicals. All major Marshal offices have an Interstellar Commerce Commission (ICC) agent attached to them. The Marshals also often work in conjunction with UA Federal agencies.

LEADERS

The United Americas is essentially an extension of the government of the United States of America, and as such is run by a President, Vice President, and a Congress representing all member signatories. On the Frontier, any encounter with UA leadership is likely to be with a Colonial Marshal, a bureaucrat from Colonial Administration, or a commander of the Colonial Marines.

LOCATIONS

As the nations that later became the 3WE pioneered humanity's expansion into the core systems and Outer Veil, most of the colonies of the United Americas occupy a vast area of the Outer Rim Territories called the American Arm. The UA Allied Command operates military bases and stations throughout all the territories and additional colonies are laced along the Frontier. Key worlds include Bracken’s World, Terraform 3, Morning Glory, and the Crestus Garrison Systems.

RELATIONS

The United Americas and the Union of Progressive Peoples (UPP) have been in a state of cold war for decades. While the Colonial Marines are in place to keep the peace for the colonies of the American Arm, contracts and treaties with the 3WE and the Independent Core System Colonies mean that they are also obligated to protect their worlds as well. While the USCMC is not controlled by Weyland-Yutani, the company’s business holdings with the United Americas Allied Command means that the Colonial Marines can be called upon to provide security to W-Y assets at any time—a fact that doesn't sit well with many a platoon commander.

CURRENT ACTIVITIES

The United Americas has engaged in increased border conflicts with the UPP over disputed worlds. Recently, several USCMC units have gone missing, causing the UA to launch a full investigation. Colonel Percival’s recon battalion has found growing evidence that Weyland-Yutani may be directly responsible for the loss of Hadley’s Hope on LV-426—a colony under the joint jurisdiction of Colonial Administration and the company. If relations deteriorate further between the UA and W-Y, the 3WE could be dragged into the conflict, and that could mean war.

THE UNION OF PROGRESSIVE PEOPLES

A socialist government that controls a vast area of colonized space, the Union of Progressive Peoples is also the most resource-poor of the interstellar nations. Although impoverished and overcrowded, in the UPP the workers control the means of production. A state of cold war exists between the UPP and their long-time rivals, the UA—and standoffs between the Union of Progressive Peoples’ Space Operating Forces and the United States Colonial Marine Corps become more and more frequent every year.

HISTORY

In the early 22nd Century, the UPP was formed by China and Russia in direct response to a perceived combined threat of the Three World Empire and the United Americas. Locked in an ever-escalating arms race with these capitalist conglomerates, the UPP has always managed to stay only one step behind them despite the fact that they will not deal with Weyland-Yutani or any other corporations. Additional member states include Vietnam, Germany, Spain, and several other Asian and Eastern European countries. At the time of its inception, many androids were already in use within the member states of the UPP. They were not, however, granted citizenship status of any kind. Now, over sixty years later, they are still just considered machines and the property of the state.

MILITARY AND ORGANIZATIONS

SPACE OPERATING FORCES: The elite commandos of the UPP are known as the Space Operating Forces. Said to be roughly equivalent to the United States ColonialMarines, the SOF has a similar regimentalbreakdown. They maintain a fleet of warships and transport vessels, have their own dropships, and use massive, two-story armored trucks for troop deployment. While the SOF have their own AK model pulse rifle, they also use wrist-mounted AK suit guns that allow hands free firing while wearing compression armor.

MINISTRY OF SPACE SECURITY: A national security agency and secret police, the MSS gathers both internal and external intelligence for the good of the Union of Progressive Peoples. The Ministry maintains a number of operatives throughout the Frontier, undercover on both UPP controlled worlds and United American colonies. MSS spies have infiltrated top corporations and stolen their military designs. They monitor their own citizenry to make sure they stay true to the Union. In the UPP, they say trust your enemy to be your enemy, but never trust your neighbor to be your friend. The MSS is why.

LEADERS

The UPP is a socialist government with a president as the head of state and a premier who presides over the state council. The UPP Frontier is overseen by a Governor General and naval task force, and each colony has its own mayor.

LOCATIONS

Most of the discovered planets within their borders are resource poor, causing the UPP to constantly push deeper into the Frontier in search of rich, habitable worlds. As the UPP never developed atmospheric processors, they do not terraform. Instead, if a world is inhospitable, they will build a colony beneath the surface or construct habitation domes upon it. Because of this, the scattering of naturally habitable worlds the UPP has are overpopulated. Notable worlds include New Kiev, Qi Xi III, 17 Phei Phei, Xiang Colony, and the Chiu and Wan An outposts.

RELATIONS

The UPP is in a state of cold war with the United Americas. Over the past few decades, limited engagements have seen border worlds change hands or even be destroyed. Some twenty years ago, a regime change on the independent world of 8 Eta Boötis A III led to what became known as the Tientsin campaign—a bloody conflict where the UA backed an independent planet’s attempt to keep a UPP aligned government from taking power. The conflict decimated the once lush world and left it in ruins.

More recently, the UPP are rumored to be behind the destruction of both the colony on LV-426 and a Colonial Marine rescue team. The allegations are that a UPP Space Operating Force nuked the site from orbit in response to a Weyland-Yutani bioweapon under development there. Ironically, while it was W-Y who accused the UPP of the attack, they also deny there were any bioweapons at Hadley’s Hope. Much of the UPP’s more advanced technology appears to be reverse engineered from W-Y designs, something that neither Weyland-Yutani nor the UA are particularly happy about.

CURRENT ACTIVITIES

The people of the UPP are hungry. As the UPP discovers a new planet on the Frontier, colonization ships are immediately dispatched to help alleviate the overpopulation problem of their existing member worlds. Citizens don't get to decide who is moved to a new colony world. They are simply moved for the greater good of the Union. These expansionist tendencies have the United Americas concerned, and a large amount of Colonial Navy and Marine resources are devoted to protecting borders from UPP incursions. There have been many false alarms. Imagine the relief a two-man Colonial Marshal office feels when an armada of UPP ships entering a neighboring system turns out to be a colonization expedition and not a warfleet.

THE INDEPENDENT CORE SYSTEM COLONIES

The ICSC is a loose alliance of worlds that have claimed independence from any interstellar governing body. While independent from each other, member colonies sell and trade resources and pay fees to be protected by corporate armed forces. The corporate owned Central Space Consortium of the ICSC is seen as a haven for those on the run from their government. If someone with a skill set useful to a corporate colony comes seeking asylum within the CSC, the Consortium will usually buy off that person’s tribunal and make them an indentured citizen. In this way, corporations bolster their private mercenary forces and spy networks with the best of the worst elements of society.

HISTORY

Once known as the CSC, or Central Space Consortium, this sector was first formed in the 2080s by corporations looking for a way to avoid paying taxes to their earthbound governments. Establishing major holdings on off-world colonies, these corporations declared their independence and created their own laws. Companies like Weyland-Yutani, Seegson, Chigusa, Hyperdyne, and the Jĭngtì Lóng Corporation all have planetary holdings in the CSC.

As humanity’s reach stretched into the Outer Rim during the 2100s, more and more UA and 3WE colonies became dissatisfied with the support they received from their governments. Colonial administration was understaffed and overworked. Supply lines were late and the marines and marshals were spread too thin. Some colonies decided to declare themselves independent, but with no corporate giant behind them, they soon found themselves easy prey for pirates and government reclamation.

In the spirit of free commerce, the Consortium reinvented themselves as the Independent Core System Colonies and extended their reach past the core systems to offer support to any colony that wanted its freedom—and could afford to pay the CSC’s protection fees. Because the ICSC is outside of any governmental jurisdiction, individual planets set up their own rules. Several large banks and credit companies have settled here, providing security and bonds for corporations whose shady dealings might otherwise have their accounts frozen for government investigation.

MILITARY

The ICSC operates a combined security fleet of mercenary operatives from each of the corporate members. As can be guessed, while they are deadly when operating in small units, they are disastrous at fleet maneuvers and coordinated defenses simply because they do not possess the same training or follow the same rules of engagement.

LEADERS

The ICSC is run by the Central Space Consortium, a board of directors representing each major corporation and one director representing the member colonies outside of the core systems. The director’s office sends a representative to tour the independent colonies, getting a feel for what those lone worlds need from the alliance, as well as what they can supply in return.

LOCATIONS

The ICSC is clustered in the Core, in one of the richest resource-filled areas of the known galaxy—New Eden Sector. Key systems here include Volcus, Ventix, Grendel, and the colonies of Alexandria, Exeter, and St. John.

RELATIONS

Both the 3WE and the UA have imposed trade sanctions and severe import and export taxes on the ICSC. A major USCMC base is located just outside the ICSC—in part to keep a watchful eye on the independent systems, but also because Weyland-Yutani wants the Colonial Marines close in case of an invasion of the ICSC by the UPP. Even though they are separate from the major governments, the Consortium has contracts in place to use national military forces for added protection. Outside the Core, the ICSC services, protects, and trades with a smattering of independent worlds in the Outer Rim and on the Frontier, including the Solomons and Anchorpoint Station.

CURRENT ACTIVITIES

While corporations are cutthroat out in “the real world,” they are forced to play nice with each other within the boundaries of the ICSC. Together they operate a massive smuggling ring and black market operation. Opportunities abound for starship crews willing to do a quiet run from New Eden to the Frontier and back. Because of this, ICC agents and Colonial Marshals have their hands full policing the sector’s imports and exports. The Consortium has also been covertly sending recruiters to successful colonies in an attempt to convince them to leave their government and join the ICSC. This practice is illegal and Colonial Administration is monitoring the situation closely.