Introduction
Though powers in their own right, many corporations exist in the periphery, unable to penetrate the firm grips that the major corps have on the galaxy at large. They may not boast large powerbases or industrial clout, but they are not to be underestimated; after all, business is a battlefield in it's own right.
Enkev Robotics and Programming
Summary
A relative newcomer to the galactic stage, Enkev spent its early years as a high-end robotics company delivering custom-order prosthetics to those with enough Thalers. They also dabbled in full-body prosthesis and IPC development, with production quality rivaling that of Vey-Med. Their advances in artificial intelligence is nothing to scoff at, either; for a time, Enkev was held in high regard for the quality of their positronic minds.
In recent times, Enkev has seemingly gone dark, withdrawing its fleet of research and development ships into deep space. They still seem active, judging by new products of theirs that continue to surface here and there, but they’ve otherwise closed themselves off from much of the outside world. As a result, it is rumored that the company has ties to the likes of Blackstar or the long-defunct Syndicate, but none of this is proven.
History
Enkev Robotics and Programming was founded in the year 2503 by a dubious individual named Arkis Enkev. Records of this person’s name, though, are remarkably scarce. What’s known is that he studied artificial intelligence and robotics before working under Vey-Med for an indeterminate amount of time. The company seemingly sprang up from thin air, and, at first, had a relatively lackluster track record. Arkis debuted the company by demonstrating a prototype synthetic known as K1-A1 at a technology fair. The demonstration went poorly, which was to be expected of an upstart company in the synth business, but many of the technologies implanted in K1 were surprisingly advanced. As the years went by, Enkev began to grow a record for higher-end prosthetics and robotics, as well as surprisingly sharp positronic brains with remarkable cerebral routing and surprising energy efficiency. They quickly became popular with the wealthy for their products’ remarkable realism and durability, and a handful of robotics and synthetics companies seemed interested in collaborations with them.
The company abruptly became far more reclusive in the year 2563, however, their name less-frequently appearing on personal, luxury prosthetics and synthetic models. Arkis Enkev himself practically stopped existing around the same time, with records to the modern day leaving no trace of him. The company also had a small fleet of research and development vessels, where the bulk of Enkev’s work took place. Over time, this research fleet noticeably began downsizing, seemingly related to the company’s sudden decision to go dark; ERP vessels were rarely seen, and when they were, they were either scuttled, abandoned, or sold to scrap yards. In any case, any valuable information or materials inside have seemed to always either be destroyed or taken with the crew, leaving nothing behind.
Modern Day
Today, Enkev Robotics and Programming remains on the outskirts of the explored galaxy, tucked away deep in the same star cluster as the Virgo system. Little is known about their current goings-on, but what’s for certain is that their export of luxury-class prosthetics and synthetics is more sought after than ever on the black market. Recent slowdowns in production - likely in tandem with the reduction of their fleet - has left many to believe that they’re starting to go belly-up, but despite this, modern products of theirs continue to surface on the streets, however uncommon they may be. Rather than maintaining dedicated production lines, Enkev nowadays fulfills custom orders for whatever clients hire them. Making one’s way onto their queue requires a lot of patience and more Thalers, however.
Interestingly, a couple of modern synthetics have been seen trying to integrate into today’s societies, whether it be due to them being freed by their owners or released by Enkev directly. To note, Enkev has never made it a point to directly release synthetics as opposed to selling them, and when asked, said synths have always been coded into being unable to give a proper answer. As a result, some have begun to speculate that the company may be trying to hide something.
Enkev Robotics and Programming maintains a fleet of eleven vessels. These vessels are broken up into two Asmodeus-class research craft, ERV Asmodeus and ERV Athena; two Chauntea-class development craft, EDV Chauntea and EDV Moradin; three Hermes-class patrol vessels, EPV Hermes, EPV Akadi, and EPV Grumbar; and four Baphomet-class battleships, EBB Baphomet, EBB Kelemvor, EBB Excelsus, and EBB Ceraphax. These vessels are minimally staffed, as the bulk of operations are managed by each vessel’s onboard AI. Products begin when they’re planned out aboard research vessels, before the schematics are sent to development vessels for construction. Patrol vessels maintain a perimeter while battleships stay closer to the fleet; both carry a complement of autofighters and autobombers, as well as anti-ship cannons and anti-air guns, all of which are controlled by their respective vessel’s AI.
Ethos
Enkev as a company is very quiet and extremely reclusive, frequently refusing contact whenever approached by another party. Their ships, though few in number, tend to stay together in the outer fringes of the galaxy in open space, away from any who might want to give them a visit. As such, almost nothing is known about the company’s inner workings. This extends to former Enkev employees and associates, most of which were abruptly let off during their recent downsizing. Said former employees tend to hold the Enkev of old under a positive light, though they know as much about the company of today as anyone else.
Active ERP synthetics commonly have no knowledge of their parent company, but when they do, they have generally been hard-coded to be loyal. Similar hard-codes and laws include a synth’s inability to speak of a multitude of various organizations, cults, and companies that Enkev has taken interest in, whether the synth is aware of their existence or not. There have been cases of synthetics produced by Enkev that despise or fear their parent company, however, though additional laws commonly prevent them from elaborating without administrative access. These synths are almost always experimental models activated aboard an ERP vessel, rather than a production model activated off-site.
In truth, Enkev downsized and retreated into deep space in order to begin more extreme, unethical research on positronic minds and similar artificial intelligence. All but a handful of current staff are robotic, either drones or synths programmed into unquestionable loyalty by their creators. Those few biologic employees under Arkis Enkev share his fanatic desire to research and test artificial intelligence, having long since thrown morality aside in their efforts to push positronic intelligence as far as possible.
Quirks/Questionable Activities
Many were already suspicious of Enkev in terms of their synthetics branch, considering the thin ethical line many companies already tread upon in such a field. However, after recent reports of a few experimental synths actively attempting to escape the company’s clutches, public favor has started to fall away fast. The company’s quiet, secretive nature doesn’t help much at all, either, especially considering how this extends to actively dissenting to answer for these reports. Some believe, after all of this, that Enkev is performing harsh experiments on positronic minds to further their own research, discarding the idea of them being conscious beings and labeling them more as property.
Similarly concerning is the fact that Enkev has noticeably shown great interest in information and technologies that don’t belong to them in recent years. Whether it’s blueprints to upcoming Vey-Med products to experimental synth cerebral code, to even technologies utilized by the Third Iterate and similarly machine-centric organizations, ERP has been shown to eagerly pry at whatever loose tech and info they can get their hands on, likely for use in developing their own products, whether they actually know what they’re handling or not.
Influence
Due to Enkev’s remarkably shady nature, they have very little influence over the robotics and synthetics industries. Their older products are still highly sought-after, with staggeringly high asking prices for even scuffed prosthetics and parts. Even experimental codes go for a pretty Thaler on the underground markets, though more often than not, these codes are either scrambled or dead. Regardless, Enkev doesn’t have much of a hand in the industry at all, except for highly-sought after relics of their past and the occasional robotic limb fresh off the line.
Rhyn'yai-Dyson Cybernetics
Summary
Rhyn’yai-Dyson Cybernetics is a Tajaran owned company incorporating a large number of human specialists from other mega-corps. They are known for providing highly expensive, but highly effective, implants, limb, and organ replacements primarily for Tajara. Through their sale and production of luxury cybernetics they have been able to expand their production to affordable and extremely reliable cybernetics. They are now the number one Tajaran owned producer and exporter of cybernetics. The company is currently focused on selling their cybernetics to high profile Tajara outside Confederate Commonwealth space. Rhyn’yai-Dyson is just one step from being bought out by a human megacorp, and there are rumors it might soon be acquired by Vey-Med.
Frag Felix Storage
Summary
FFS (Frag Felix Storage) was founded during the solar expansion as both raw material and goods started to sprawl from all over the system. The founder was a lunar engineer by the name Felix Felizius, the initial products were simple nets used for space hauling, but their catalogue expanded quickly as more and more patents entered the company, or were created by the founder. They are responsible for the "Managed Chaotic Tow" and many other seemingly impossible localization systems improving access times on almost all fronts.
Modern Day
Today "Frag Felix Storage" is a name you use when you need quality products to present, store or transport goods. Their patented 'Steal-Safe-Vendor-Supply' is used by almost every company that values their customers paying for the vendor products. One of the biggest customers of FFS is the OriCon Marines, using automated FFS closets for storage and handing out of equipment to their marines. Recently the first generation of closets has been replaced by a newer model, clearing the older model for civilian use.
Ethos
FFS aims to provide innovation and quality to their customers. A wide variety of patents and products are created by the company.
Quirks/Questionable Activities
The company has always been compliant with government requirements and laws where applicable, but one notable incident occurred when a local government requested FFS would allow access for law enforcement to a automated storage system, which FFS refused. Some anti-war movements condemn the FFS for taking contracts from the Moghesian Fleet, some even have called for a boycott of the company.
Influence
While FFS is not a major player in regards of gross income, employee count or manufactory capability, they have managed to dominate the market with their higher than average quality and innovations. Everyone has interacted directly or indirectly with a FFS product, and benefited of their incredible storage solutions. While there are now plenty of cheaper replica, FFS is still the dominant company on the market for storage solutions, be they mass products or unique solutions.
Lore
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| Corporations | NanoTrasen, Frontier Megacorporations, Minor Corporations, The Syndicate |
| NanoTrasen Specific | NDV Marksman, Paracausal Monitoring Division |
| Other Organizations | ITV Talon, System Defense Force, The Orion Confederation |
| Worldbuilding | Extradimensional Mechanics, FTL Travel, Galactic Landmarks, Legends, Mysteries, and Rumors, Metaphysics and Paracausality, Technology of the 2500's, The Timeline |
| Contribution Data | Lore Submission Templates, Roadmap for Lore Development |