We bargain not simply goods. Our stock is power, our product authority. It is our rule that brings us profit. Our will that does business. ~ Lord Yonn
The Southern Core Trading Company (colloquially called the Southern Core) is a vast corporation that operates in nearly all sectors to the South (when seen on a Standard 2D Galactic Map) of the Galactic Core. It's largest operation is trading goods on an interstellar basis, while it also holds many factories, construction facilities, ... resulting in a legally disputable trade monopoly in said sectors.
Founded over 300 years ago by Lord Sir Finnegast Yonn, it started as a simple trading company with only one ship. The then Finnegast Yonn was a cunning businessman, however, and managed to establish his company quickly, assets spread over several cubic lightyears. Finnegast Yonn had a genious mind; he quickly managed to lobby for privileges that allowed his Company, then the Yonn Trading Company, to sport light defensive weapons on it's ships. As the company grew, and was reformed into the Southern Core, it managed to gain access to heavy weapons, arming it's merchant vessels for 'protection against piracy threats', among other secondary reasons. The real reason was to establish the Southern Core as a military power, respected and feared among it's competition. A massive jolt in piracy activity made severl hundred smaller companies run to the protection of the Southern Core, assisting it to further establish it's monopoly.
The current balance is that the Southern Core holds nearly all trade routes under military guard, having lobbied for it's military force for ages. It has changed into a corporate zealot, that not only holds trade routes, but portions of colonies as well. Inhabitants are usually encouraged to work in the various production facilities held by the Soutern Core, it's strict rule making sure they have no choice.
The Southern Core's might has an undaunting side effect, however. They stop at nothing. Slave trade is not officially empowered, but suspected to be quite common. Hunting down 'alleged pirates' (read: protesters against the monopoly) and actual pirates are considered equally legal by the Southern Core's large military branch. It's fleet is often found attacking smaller governements to drop taxes, and getting support from unwitting larger governements such as the Verdian Empire and the Commonwealth of Man to assist it in pirate hunts.
The Southern Core Military Branch
I will see that any man who flies under a pirate flag gets what he deserves: a short drop and a sudden stop. ~ Lord-Commodore Aelier
The Southern Core's extensive military branch has a true military hierarchic structure and is one of the finest and most disciplined naval combat organization in existance. It is currently Led by Lord-Commodore Aelier, who is known to be as ruthless as the Southern Core itself. He will 'confisquate', interrogate, torture and kill to reach his goal, and is known to be a very cunning military commander. Earning his reputation as the Commanding Officer of a Southern Core armed merchant vessel during an anti-piracy campaing known as the Slaughter of Port Jones, Aelier is not a type to be trifled with.
The Military Branch is divided into two divisions; the naval divisions, under whom's flag fly the dreaded armed Merchantmen, and the marines, a branch of well trained servicemen, often referred to as minutemen, in analogy to ancient British soldiers on Earth.
Naval Division
Ships of the Southern Core are often referred to as Southern Coremen, and are heavily armed. Capital ships serve a dual role of acting as merchant vessels and fully capable warships.
Merchantman class Galleon
Armament
10x Larsen Hypervelocity Rocket Launcher
6x Medium Pulsed Nadion Beam (Turreted)
6x 520mm AM Propelled Variable Ordnance Driver (Equipped with HE Nuclear Fusion Shells)
1x 1040mm AM Propelled Variable Ordnance Driver (Equipped with Tactical Exotic Matter Warheads
Linesman class Brigantine
Armament
6x Larsen Hypervelocity Rocket Driver
2x Medium Pulsed Nadion Beam (turreted)
1x Enhanced Medium Pulsed Nadion Beam (spinal)
Equipment
Sandwiched Stasis Field Barrier
Gravitic Beam Destabilization Pod Launcher
-----
This is it then, the official thread. From now on, critisizm goes right here and is still appreciated, as always.
