Daumann Family
| Daumann | |
| Origin |  Rheinland |
| Affiliation | Daumann Heavy Construction |
| Members | |
|---|---|
| Walter Daumann (Primary branch)
Henrik Donau (Secondary Branch) | |
Introduction
The Daumann family has been a corporate family since the settlement of Rheinland colonists when they arrived at Sirius, and have managed to stay in command of Daumann Heavy Construction since it's creation.
Since the settlement they showed excellent skills for industrial starship design and business management, and founded Daumann Heavy Construction, which is now the biggest manufacturing corporation in Rheinland. The Daumann family has followed an ancestral imperial style of life, always passing the family's power to the first-born male, hence Daumann Heavy Construction has been led by a member and holder of the family's surname; Daumann. Despite of this style of family customs, women also take important roles in the family, many of them working for the corporation in "privileged" positions, specialized in different branches of the corporation, the Daumann family, is seen sometimes as a conservative family, outdated of the current cultural trends.
The Family structure
The Daumann family has a very strict control over its structure. They are known as an elitist family, controlling the relations of the family's members, specially those of the main branch; who are allowed to marry only certain members of certain families. The family has a branch-like structure which pretty much resembles ancient imperial Germany. The first-born male of the family is usually the heir to the family's power, and the corporation's major shareholdings. The family controls the fight for power by giving privileges to the members of the secondary branches, even more if they prove they have skills to work for the corporation.
Men and Women Role
The women's role as leading member is highly restricted, not because of their capacity or ability, but the family's "obsession" with preserving the Daumann surname as the leaders of DHC. There have been a few cases where women have taken the leading role if they keep the Daumann surname upon marriage. Women are treated just like men would, receiving the same privileges, they are trained by the family in the same areas as the rest of the family and in some cases they are even better at some tasks than their male counterparts
Men usually take a role at the corporation, and their training is based towards the interests of the family for the corporation; due to the surname Daumann being a hot-pick for Red Hessians since the date of their revolution, members are not allowed to join the military or the police forces.
Leading branch and secondary branch
The leading member of the family is the inheritor of the shares from his/her father, who is the major shareholder of the corporation. Secondary members have smaller shareholdings or found their own smaller companies, others work for the corporation in high ranking positions. Despite of this "less-privileged" position, secondary members are supported by the leading branch in anything they might need.
Family mixing
The Daumann family has always had a strict control system over the younger members' relations; they are allowed to relate with others as they please, but marriage is restricted to a few rich families in Rheinland; known families are Adler, Donau, Abendroth, and Von Rohe; however, a few other "elite" families are considered by the family in rare cases. It's because of this that they have been known for hundreds of years as "elitists". An image they are now trying to get rid of, allowing in the present for a bit more freedom, but still keeping their marriage control.
Public Relations
Despite the Daumann being an elitist family, their intentions have always been to bring prosperity to Rheinland, or so is the image they try to give. They have been responsible for more than 800 years for the construction of vessels, both military and civilian; along with personal weapons and combat vehicles and to a lesser extent, varied industrial constructions. The feelings towards the family is varied amongst Rheinlanders; some see them as family worried for the nation's well-being, however others consider them selfish; specially after the eighty years war, where Daumann's involvement on starting the war was exposed.
Security
Being target of Red Hessians agents, the Daumann spend a good percentage of their money for security. Members have most of the time bodyguards; and many don't leave their home planet unless necessary, and even then they resort to travel in heavily armored vessels with escorts, however at times, some prefer a low profile trip usually travelling alone in Tiger Sharks under false call signs or even mixed amongst civilians. The Daumann mansion is specially secure, as many other mansions in Rheinland. First it is located on a private small island where a great part Rheinland's "elite" lives. The mansion used to be a beautifully crafted building; but with the birth of the Red Hessians and their ever increasing power, most of the beauty has been replaced with ant-air defenses, long-range sensors, cameras and strengthened armor, along with a squad of security guards, turning the once beautiful mansion into a fortress. The inside however, keeps the beautiful craftsmanship it has had since its construction; with an added underground facility in case of emergency. Details of this facility remain classified.
The Family and the Government
Daumann family members were never too fanatic of politics, getting involved only when their interests were in danger and usually by means of Bribery.
Imperial Rheinland
During the empire, Daumann was considered a lower level noble family, mainly because of their lack of interest to rule anything but their company, it's members usually held the title of Freiherr, the highest rank of lower noble families. Despite their lower rank, Daumann leading members were usually called to discussions regarding economy and industry, but they never showed much interest in taking an active political role. In a few cases some leading members were appointed to higher ranks, mostly to expand their influence and possibly by bribery.
Federal Republic
With the loss of the monarchy, the titles inherited for the family were politically useless. Despite the corporation lost most of its influence, the family itself actually gained some; especially in the first years after 80 years war. With their influence Daumann managed to regain a few military contracts, though not as good as they used to be. Under this new government, the family still stayed away from government positions, or at least high ranking ones. One registered case of a member in a high ranking office is that of Helena Daumann; the third child of the leading family at that time, who was appointed for a sub-management office at the ministry of industry and economy, however due to public speculation, she left the office 2 years later.
The Family and the Military/Police
Despite the family publicly states a love for the nation and the well being; just like their involvement in the government, Daumann family members mostly never take the path of the military. Before the foundation of the Red Hessian movement, a few members from the secondary branches used to join actively, but it was rare. Now with the Red Hessians stronger than ever; Daumann members usually prefer a low profile image when travelling through space, and this cannot be achieved by serving in the military. The relations with the military, is just that of a corporation and its client. The relations with the police is similar to that of the military, though with less arguing of course.
Family Traits
800 years of mastering the family's ways has produced a series of noticeable marks on its members. Young members receive an extensive education in industry management since being very young. The Daumann are naturally good for business and making money. Most of the time the Daumann are first of their class, though this could be more a matter of pride than ability alone.
The Daumann are also known for being ruthless with the competition, most Daumanns develop an aggressive attitude to deal with competitors, usually resorting to sabotage and "under the table" deals with third parties.
Daumann are known to be ruthless with the "weaker" competition; but are also known for preferring to bribe anyone stronger than them to step aside or even to work for them. In the past some Daumann have worked with pirates, mercenaries, an even a few rogue corsairs to achieve their goals, commanding them and yelling orders from a safe place; because of this, some people consider them cowards.
Important members
Alexander Daumann N/A - 45 A.S
Founder of Daumann Heavy Construction. Alexander was a heavy spacecraft and starbase designer and entrepreneur back in Sol System, designer of civilian spacecraft and owner of several small shipbuilding companies, he lost his family and most of his industries were destroyeed during the war with the coalition and worked with the government and military after that, to enhance several military vessels. He was selected as research colonist, and was given an amount of government funds, apart form their own money, to work with the military command upon arrival at Sirius to begin industrial expansion. During the first years of colonization, in a planet that didn't allow a fast expansion, Alexander worked with the government to design what the future bases and vessels would be, meanwhile, stuck in New Berlin surface he made his family, and aided with the design of planetary exploration vessels.
54 years after the colonization, it would be his son, who dedicated his life to learn about space designing and industrial management, who would fulfill his father's mission.
Konrad Daumann 19 A.S - 103 A.S
Only son of Alexander Daumann, he would be the one to create Daumann Heavy Construction as a properly made galactic corporation, in cooperation with the military command. At 54 A.S Konrad settled his corporation and began securing funding from the government, just 6 years later; Oder shipyard was opened for business and one year later the first exploration vessel, designed by Konrad and his crew was ready to leave the shipyard. His final contribution to the corporation would be the establishment of initial business relations with the still young military and police corps in New Berlin, which would eventually skyrocket the corporations production.
Kristina Daumann 99 A.S - 60 A.S
A young spacecraft designer, she worked for the corporation during the first half of the second century of Rheinland's foundation. She showed a great skill at the design of heavy spacecraft and was responsible for the design of a new line of miners, who made their appearance in 124 A.S. Upon marriage she decided to keep her family surname, and established the family's bloodline inheritance, which disgusted other members of the family, she subdued their reactions by the transfer of a large sums of money to her brothers and sisters. After her success in the research department he would take over the corporation and control of the family.
Erick Daumann 127 - 213 A-S -
The head of the family and CEO of the corporaton during the end of the second century and beginning of the third, he was appointed in year 182 A.S, under the new monarchy, for thee title of Graf, thus establishing the family's nobility.
Nikola Daumann 517 A.S - 597 A.S
Nikola was a ruthless leader, he bribed his way to the title of Herzog and the securing of mining fields to outrun the corporation's competition, he owned the corporation in the years before the 80 years war. When the KMS Helle Wolke was lost and Kruger began aggression towards the GMG, he and the board of directors of DHC bribed several Imperial Admirals, and convinced them to annex Sigma 13, causing the war between the GMG and Rheinland, owning important shipbuilding contracts with the government he would profit from it. Nikola's son, Nikola II would take over the corporation during most of the 80 years war, after his father death, he was as ruthless and unethical as his father.
Nikola Daumann III 594 A.S - 671 A.S
He was the owner of the corporation on the last decades of the 80 years war assuming office at a late age right after his father died around 646 A.S. he showed the same unethical behavior of his father Nikola II and his grandfather, Nikola; after DHC's involvement in starting the war was revealed, he was found murdered in the Daumann mansion, the killer was never found, but many suspected of his younger brother Henrik.
Henrik Daumann 600 A.S - 691 A.S
Henrik was the younger brother of Nikola III, he was an excellent entrepreneur and created his own corporation dedicated to the design and manufacture of personal weapons. He was considered lesser by his brother, who was the heir of the corporation, and (according to himself) was treated unequally. After his brother was found dead in the Daumann mansion he took over the corporation and merged his weapons company into DHC, creating Daumann Arms Division. He always showed a slightly more ethical personality than his brother, still retaining most of the family's traits, he bribed several government officials to regain some contracts.
Helena Daumann 751 - 796
Helena was the third child of the primary branch, she showed skills at management and worked for the corporation since very young during the second half of the eight century. She was in charge of the corporation's finances, and was appointed to an office at the Rheinland's ministry of economy and industry, however due to popular speculation on how she got appointed, she was forced to quit and left the office just 2 years after her appointment. She was hired again by her brother Gerald at the corporation. She died around the age of 50, victim of a previously unknown disease. Despite no official document was ever presented, it is believed that the nomads attempted to infect the Daumann family at some point before the nomad war.
Walter Daumann 774 - To date
Walter is the current owner of the corporation, owning 73 percent of the corporation's shares. He is the founder of family's initiative to regain the corporation totally for themselves. He currently has 1 son and 2 daughters. His current heir is his daughter Rebecca, 22 years old.
Rebecca Daumann 797 A.S - To date
Current heir of the family; she has a jewelry business as a side project from working for the family corporation. The jewels are obviously mined in O11; Leading to the anger of several jewelry rival companies.
Felicia Daumann 800 A.S - To date
The younger of the Daumann siblings, one of the "Daumann twins", aged 19, she has showed a clear lack of interest towards the corporation. She is known for her conflictive behavior, and her boyfriend is the son of a pro-bundschuh politician, which has led to the anger of her family, and the imposition of certain restrictions. Despite her attitude she has shown a natural ability for business management. though she is not working with the corporation, and is actually studying political sciences.
Franz Daumann 800 A.s To date
One of the Daumann twins, 30 minutes older than Felicia. He is a natural born politician, which has made him a valuable resource for the corporation. He is working as an intern in the public relations department, while studying political sciences with her sister, though both with very different opinions. His only -known- flaw is his addiction to fighter races, which has got him in trouble more than once before.
