Interspace Commerce is a Public Limited Corporation which deals heavily into insuring high value cargo and financing projects and small and large businesses alike.
Background:
Interspace Commerce was founded by Agiera and Deep Space Engineering in a partnership between the companies in 218 A.S. The goal was to begin funding and stimulate the construction and usage of jump gate and trade lane technology outside the House Liberty. Originally named Interspace Corporate, Interspace Commerce became one of the largest financial concerns in the Sirius Sector in less than a year due to its backing from Agiera Technologies and Deep Space Engineering and its jump gate/trade lane project.
In 318 A.S., Interspace Commerce expanded into Kusari and set up Roppongi Station within the New Tokyo System. The move angered a large number of conservative Kusari politicians, as it was the first time the Kusari Hideyoshi Shogunate bent the laws of Kusari to accommodate a foreign permanent settlement and business to invest in Kusari. Up until then, all foreign immigration, permanent settlements and businesses were strictly forbidden in Kusari.
When the Hideyoshi Shogunate was removed and replaced with a Samura sponsored Shogunate, Roppongi Station, and by extensive Interspace Commerce expansion into Kusari seemed uncertain. Luckily by then, even conservative Kusari politicians realized it was better to ignore Interspace Commerce's expansion into the House as it still controlled all the jump gates and trade lanes within the House. If Interspace Commerce was forced out, so would all the jump gates and trade lanes, which the Kusari economy had already become to dependent on. This lead the Blood Dragon terrorist movement to accuse foreign businesses corrupting the Kusari Government, and see it has one of the reasons the Hideyoshi regime was taken over. This had lead the Blood Dragons were hostile to Interspace Commerce.
In 350 A.S., Interspace Commerce became the largest and thus primary financier for jump gates and trade lanes in houses other than Liberty, and in 521 A.S., Interspace Commerce constructed Bonn Station in the New Berlin system to oversee the construction of jump gates and trade lanes within the House Rheinland. This however caused problems and short comings in 523 A.S. when the Houses Rheinland and Kusari forced Interspace Commerce to write off billions of credits in debts owed by the respective governments for jump gates and trade lanes as they nationalized their economies. In exchange, Interspace Commerce was given tolls for the next 200 years by Kusari and Rheinland for using the jump gates and trade lanes in each House. This left Interspace Commerce very bitter against both Rheinland and Kusari, as the tolls never truly accounted for the debt entirely for Interspace Commerce.
When the Red Hessian, Bundschuh and Unioner movement started up in Rheinland, Interspace Commerce conducted secret underhand dealings with them and allowed them to dock in Bonn Station to rearm and resupply, although no hard evidence was ever gathered. When rumors popped up of Interspace Commerce conducting such dealings, the Rheinland Government placed the Battleship Strausberg in 815 A.S. (after one year of delay due to Unioner terrorist attacks) to keep check on Interspace Commerce's dealings.
Interspace Commerce conducted the same dealings with the Golden Chrysanthemum terrorist movement and began to fund them as well. While rumors of such dealings also popped up the same way they did in Rheinland later, Interspace Commerce has called off these allegations as "slander".
When the Okinawa System was discovered at the Border Worlds in 812 A.S., both the GMG and Kishiro were eager to move in and capitalize on the system as fast as possible. In a deal with Interspace Commerce to invest and finance the development of the system, the GMG resentfully signed the deal with Interspace Commerce, who would get 5% of all H-fuel profits. After years of delayed development due to raids, attacks and sabotage which almost certainly originated from the Hogosha, both Furyoku Station and Fujisawa Mining Facility finally opened in 816 A.S. Most piracy and raids in the system are suspected to have originated or sponsored by the Hogosha due to Interspace Commerce's dealings and influence with the Golden Chrysanthemum movement, which has prevented any Golden Chrysanthemum attacks in the system. Kishiro and GMG are also known to "turn a blind eye" whenever a Golden Chrysanthemum vessel docks with Furyoku Station as well.
In 700 A.S., in partnership with Agiera Technologies, Interspace Commerce and Agiera developed the Universal Ship Identification system (USI) which gave Interspace Commerce the ability to track ships and lay tariffs appropriately. Some of the Houses expect this gives Interspace Commerce an edge in competition, however so far nothing has been proven. Some of the original developers of the USI had also defected to the Lane Hackers Organization as they were not happy with their payment. An unknown contingent of undercover Lane Hacker sympathizers within IC now use the USI to give away the location of shipping transports to other pirates. Agiera security patch updates have always been compromised due to the Lane Hacker sympathizers.
Interspace Commerce's Departments:
Interspace Commerce Corporate Insurance Department
The Corporate Insurance Division sets about making insurance schemes meant for large businesses and corporations such as Universal Shipping, Republican Shipping and Samura Heavy Industries just to name a few. The insurance schemes allow the cargo shippings of each company to be insured in case of piracy and/or terrorist activities.
Interspace Commerce Financing Department
The Financing Department gives out loans as well as other business plans for both small and large businesses alike (thus effectively acting like a Bank).
Interspace Commerce Cargo Insurance Department
The Cargo Insurance Department could be described as Interspace Commerce's shipping division, however this term is not entirely correct. Interspace Commerce deals mostly in cargo insurance and financing, and has no transports of their own trading. Any transport carrying the Interspace Commerce IFF/ID is effectively carrying cargo which belongs to another business but is insured by Interspace Commerce.
IFF/ID & Tag:
All Interspace Commerce Insured Shipping will use an Interspace Commerce IFF AND ID. The faction Tag is: [IC]Shipname
Ship List:
The ship list is literally too long to post here, and unnecessary as well. In general, Interspace Commerce is allowed to use any generic freighter/transport (Heron, Crane etc), any House specific freighters/transports (Mastodon, Colossus), as long as they are not inside conflicting Houses. Any fictionalized freighters/transports are NOT permitted for use (such as the GMG Whale) as of this time.
Permitted Equipment:
Any civilian or generic equipment may be used. Everything else is restricted.
Commodity List and Trade Route Policy:
Since Interspace Commerce does not engage in Shipping Activites (like cargo shipping) and only provides 'cargo insurance' to individual traders, any freighter or transport carrying the Interspace IFF/ID is technically an independent trader who's cargo is insured by Interspace Commerce. As such, Interspace Commerce IFF/ID'ed transports may deal in any commodities and go through any routes they wish, given both the commodity and route is lawful, and falls within the respective house laws as well (no embargo running, not bringing any illegal commodities in one House even if their legal in another etc.).
The Chief Executive Officer is the highest ranking corporate officer appointed by the Board of Directors. He/She is in charge of total management of the corporation.
Chairman of the Board of Directors - Currently Mr. Gary Alderman (StrikeTheory)
The Chairman of the Board of Directors resides over busines meetings and manages them in a business friendly and orderly fashion. Outside the meeting room, the Chairman of the Board of Directors acts as the spokesperson of the company. The Chairman is appointed by the Board.
Director - Currently vacant
A Director in the Board of Directors is voted in by the company's shareholders. They then take part in the decision making process of the company.
Non Board of Directors Ranks
Department Manager - Currently vacant
A Department Manager manages one of the three departments within Interspace Commerce and makes sure they run smoothly and efficiently.
Independent Business Manager with IC Insured Cargo - Currently Vacant
While each and every house has large corporations, the respective economies continue to depend upon smaller businesses. These are Interspace Commerce's 'cargo shippers' so to speak (although that term would never quite be correct). These Individual (and -TECHNICALLY- Independent)Business Managers usually own their owns mall shipping businesses and carry the Interspace IFF/ID as a sign that their cargo has been insured by Interspace Commerce (If anyone else has a better name for this rank, please do share).
Shareholder - Everyone in the Company
Anyone who owns a share is essentially a shareholder and has the power to select who gets to be in the Board of Directors. Essentially, anyone working for Interspace Commerce, is a shareholder.
*Please note that while in RP Interspace Commerce is a Public Limited Company, OoRP'ly, I will be calling all the shots. This is too prevent other groups of people getting themselves recruited and changing the leaders around for their own, or someone else's benefit.
Diplomacy
Allied
All Liberty Lawful Organizations (Liberty Navy, Liberty Police Inc. and Liberty Security Force)
Friendly
Liberty Lawful Corporations (Universal Shipping, Agiera Technologies, Deep Space Engineering etc.), Bretonian Lawful Organizations and Corporations (Bretonian Armed Forces, Bretonia Mining and Materials etc.)
Neutral
Everyone Else
Hostile
All Unlawful Organizations, Pirates, Terrorists, Smugglers etc.
Extremely Hostile
Lane Hackers
Special Relations
Rheinland Revolutionary Alliance
Consisting of the Red Hessians, Unioners and the Bundschuh (but not the LWB due to their attacks of Synth Foods shipping who's cargo is insured by IC), due to the Rheinland Government's treatment of IC forcing the company losses of billions of credits which were never paid back through its tolls on jump gates and trade lanes either, Interspace Commerce is known to periodically fund and finance RRA attacks upon the Rheinland Government and its economy.
Golden Chrysanthemums
Due to the Kusari Government having forced upon IC writing off billions of credits worth of debt which were never truly compensated even with 200 years of tolls on jump gates and trade lanes, Interspace Commerce is known to occasionally fund and finance Golden Chrysanthemum attacks upon Kusari Government and economic targets. Golden Chrysanthemums are also known to land, rearm and resupply themselves in Furyoku Station in Okinawa.
Recruitment Policy:
I am aware unofficial factions are not allowed to recruit on the forums, however this is just a simply explanation as to what IC recruitment would look like. Since the IC don't charter any transports, only insure their cargo, IC would not be recruiting any ship captains into the corporations. Instead (assuming we become official and are allowed to post on Faction Recruitment forum), IC would ask individual business eladers and managers to have their cargo 'insured' (which would mean getting an Interspace Commerce IFF/ID). IC would then decide whether or not to 'insure' the businesses cargo (let them join or not, so to speak).
Clarification of how Interspace Commerce will Operate
As for the Corporate Insurance Division, basically, I plan on creating an insurance scheme which corporations (official corporate factions ONLY) could hitch on.
Basically, taking medical insurance as an example, if 100 people pay 1000 credits to IC, IC would have 100 thousand credits. Out of those 100 people, only 5 may actually get sick. If their medical costs are 5000 credits each, IC would pay for their medical treatment through the insurance plan. Therefore, the 5 sick people are practically getting 4000 credits off, and IC would still have 75,000 credits left, thus, everyone wins. I'm currently attempting to create something similar with cargo shipping for corporations, but I'm having some difficulty, so if you have any suggestions, please do share.
As for the Financing Department, its basically a Bank, like the Lancelot Bank and the Mandalorian Bank as well. t would give out loans with interests and expect tem to be paid back. In case they aren't paid back, we may make some arrangements with mercenary and bounty hunter factions.
And if you're still not clear on our shipping, basically, any ship carrying Interspace Commerce IFF/ID would technically be a small, lawful business which has had its cargo 'insured' by IC. This allows these 'individual businesses' to trade where-ever they want, however they want with whatever they want, given the follow IC's guidelines.
' Wrote:I like this idea.
Add Bretonian lawfuls & corporations to 'friendly', since you're allied. Add Lane Hackers to hostile, specifically to hostile.
Also GC use Roppongi to spread cardamine within Kusari, don't forget that. Also, where do I sign up?:D
Well according to the wiki, IC was neutral with Bretonian corps, and also according to the wiki, lane hackers had the same amount of hostile rep as pirates so I put them on the same place together. I can see how Bretonian corps would be friendly to IC though consider they are one of the houses which -didn't- screw IC over.
As for the GC using Roppongi to spread cardamine, I'm not too sure IC knows about that, so I'll get back to you on that one.
The Lane Hackers are direct enemy of the Interspace. They're hacking into IC databases, use USI as they want (I mean USI scanner systems).
What about Bretonians - wiki isn't really updated all the time. Put them as friendly and don't bother, since allmost every lawful Libertonian corporation puts them as friendly.:P
Good, finally someone brave and smart enough to take on this challenge. I've always thought about it but it would always be a secondary interest. One of the practical ideas that I've had is that the best anti-fraud measure is to get an IC Eage fly with the convoy as escort and oversight. Being reasonably good escort pilot, I coud sign up for that sometime during July or August.
To sum it up:
the insurance contract terms should be smart - i.e. no refunds for getting hit by the same pirate on the same run duriing the same day (or within a short period of time) - if the trader knows there are pirates, he has to hire more protection, report it to local authorities, or change route.
Taking the insurance to another level, paying more would get them an escort, which of course does make the money worth it as it increases the safety. (perhaps have an escort certification programme to evaluate individual pilot qualities from which the cost would be derived)
Probably the best way to go about the insurane fees would be a pay-per-run method (with signing a contract via neural net beforehand).
How to set up the numbers best is something fun to design - but I'm not an insurance agent. Perhaps later on it might be useful to open the insurance business to trusted independent traders as well, though encouraging them to join official factions via bonuses & better contract terms might be great, too.
@ Hribek: Haven't gotten a chance to read your post yet, will do so after dinner.
@Elven: I'll update the diplomacy after dinner, thanks for explaining the whole USI bit on skype:).
In other news, the background has been updated with some information on the USI, as have the ranks and roster (although not fully). Diplomacy is subject to change, and I will be adding in a ZOI soon after.
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Just a note, Bowex likes it when people negotiate for the use of our ships. We produce the Shire and Shetland. There'd be no problem with us selling them to you, but making a thread about it generates valuable PR for both of us. Plus it'll give you documentation for your official faction bid. Win-win, ey? :P
' Wrote:Just a note, Bowex likes it when people negotiate for the use of our ships. We produce the Shire and Shetland. There'd be no problem with us selling them to you, but making a thread about it generates valuable PR for both of us. Plus it'll give you documentation for your official faction bid. Win-win, ey? :P
Alright, we'l be sure to ask you guys before we use 'em:). I only put them there because I think IC ID already allowed house specific transports to be used since I had already seen many IC ID'ed Ryujin's and all, and even saw a forum thread in which a person was asking what ID would suit them best for a house specific 5K transport without limited options.
Sounds like a good idea to make a player faction for IC again.. I would even think of joining, even though it probably wouldnt make much difference for my own IC ship thats allready doing much of these things on its own.. 2 thing's that would totally make me swear allegiance to a player faction based on IC:
1: IC is FILTHY rich, wouldnt it make sense that we would have contracted a ship builder to make a ship thats especially ours.. Maybe only 4K cargo max, but then armored to the teeth, to protect the goods that have been insured..
And 2:
Make an ID or "repair" the existing one, so that the Hessians and GC's no longer require we make the entire houses they belong to hostile in order to dock with their bases..
Doesn't make sense to me that IC unofficially and secretly and all that, helped fund GC and Hessians, and yet, when i fly one of my favorite routes between New Tokyo and New Berlin, swarms of them are always CD'ing my ship, at least 2 times pr. system, and i then have to blow them up to ever get moving again..
And its stated either in the IC ID description or the Faction description that we can indeed lawfully dock with their bases, what ever that means, it shouldnt mean they try to blow us up..
Anyways, just some rambling, use it, dont use it, i dont care, my words are insured, so even if no one uses them, i get a full refund:)Hehe