Introduction

NanoTrasen is known across the Frontier as the Megacorporation. Present during the early days of expansion, NanoTrasen remains the largest employer and manufacturer of general goods. Although it relies on many other allied or neutral Megacorporations for supplies and logistical support, there is no disputing NanoTrasen’s ubiquitous influence across the Frontier. NanoTrasen’s paramilitary forces and fleet disposition leave it capable of addressing many threats that would otherwise require Galactic Power intervention, and after The Phoron Wars, this consolidation of power has only grown more secure. This is the company you work for, whether it’s only for a few months, or the rest of your life.

History

As with most other Frontier corporations, NanoTrasen’s formal appearance on the galactic stage can be traced back to the Frontier Act of 2274. As the strain of humanity’s expansion into the stars became more and more of a burden for the Confederation, numerous regional companies stepped up to fill in the gaps. Aether Atmospherics, famously, became one of the first corporations on the Frontier to begin providing aid to colonists requiring critical aid. For the better part of three decades corporations rose up to handle holes in the governmental supply chain, taking advantage of the Frontier Act to expand and meet the astronomical demands of their clients. However, one issue continued to plague even the most well established frontier companies: transportation.

Officially founded in 2278, it was only around 2303, NanoTrasen began to receive recognition across the frontier for their faster than average delivery times and the wide array of stock available to them. Clients of other corporations slowly began to purchase more and more of their products through NanoTrasen just as those same corporations began to sublet courier and logistical supply jobs to the company. Within two years NanoTrasen had gone from operating within a few local systems, to providing supply chain support across multiple Sectors. Although recognized as a contender, most other corporations refused to see NanoTrasen as a genuine competitor due to their lack of stable production and manufacturing sources. At the same time, NanoTrasen’s CEO continued a shrewd and far-sighted practice of buying the rights to multiple shipping lanes - including those not yet established between eventual colonies and established transit hubs. These transit rights helped to ensure that NanoTrasen was the first, and often best, option for fledgling operations both in space and on solid ground.

In 2354, the two-year long “Flicker” event subsides. During the prior years, transit between sectors became untenable due to the sudden and unexpected volatility of FTL transit along established lanes. Thousands of NanoTrasen clients, ranging from ships stuck in port to colonized planets, break down without logistical support. The ensuing riots pushed NanoTrasen's Security forces – at this point mostly used to repel pirates – to a critical state. In a move that had long-lasting consequences, NanoTrasen chose to form a business partnership with Hephaestus Industries over the weapon manufacturer’s rival Gorlex Industries. The much needed business deal provided NanoTrasen with the security it needed to crack down on the widespread rioting in its holdings, and eventually restore order.

Following the restoration of the status quo, NanoTrasen restructured in 2359, establishing Central Command as a decentralized hierarchy through which the company’s interests can be pursued based on local needs and abilities. By 2394, NanoTrasen’s vessels held a significant speed advantage over the fleets maintained by their competitors. Unfortunately, the company had hit a dead end in terms of innovation, and there were some who believed the company had reached the pinnacle of transit engineering. Multiple attempts at corporate espionage had also begun to make it clear to Corporate that NanoTrasen would not maintain a position on top forever, and so a new mandate was distributed, prioritizing Black Project research initiatives that might allow NanoTrasen to maintain its market dominance. The discovery of natural Bluespace crystals - a previously untapped resource - sparked what would come to be known as “The Bluespace Race”. In 2409, NanoTrasen researchers discover Element P during bluespace engine study, and quickly begin concurrent experimentation with the unidentified element.

The Bluespace Race comes to a close in the final months of 2432, with NanoTrasen successfully cracking the secrets behind the artificial fabrication of bluespace crystals, which become a primary component in all NanoTrasen ship engines and drives to follow. Secretly enhanced by the application of Element P as a fuel source to these same augmented engines, the influence and power of NanoTrasen grow rapidly. Although other Megacorporations eventually complete their own artificial bluespace crystal fabrication projects, NanoTrasen’s sole ownership of Element P cements their position as the corporation with the fastest fleet of ships. Nearly a century of Research and Development ensures that the company once regarded as a non-threat now also owns one of the largest manufacturing operations in Frontier space.

The Phoron War

Unable to compete with NanoTrasen and its corporate partners on a legal level, several relatively smaller corporations band together to form the Syndicate. From 2486 to 2559, this group of Syndicated Corporations wars with NanoTrasen in a prolonged campaign of terrorism, espionage, and sabotage in an attempt to wrest the monopoly over Element P - now known as Phoron - out of NanoTrasen’s grasp. The conflict comes to an end in 2559 when multiple companies formerly belonging to the Syndicate produce their own Phoron research projects, formally ending NanoTrasen’s chokehold on research and production of Phoron.

Modern Day

It is now 2564, and NanoTrasen’s power stagnates. Its long and costly war with the Syndicate forced the company to divert numerous resources into efforts to bolster its own martial capabilities. While NanoTrasen was focused on defending itself and trying to perform research, many of its competitors were able to lean fully into exploring new fields of study. So it is that although NanoTrasen retains its position as hegemon of the Frontier, it desperately needs a new edge that it can exploit to return to the height of its power.

It has, fortunately, been provided with the time and means to seek out these new areas of study, as the Syndicated companies which once fought against it now fight amongst themselves in an attempt to challenge NanoTrasen’s throne. Life has grown relatively peaceful for NanoTrasen employees on the core worlds of the Frontier, although life on the Dark Frontier itself is as hazardous today as it was two hundred years ago. NanoTrasen’s mission statement of providing the fastest delivery at the lowest prices remains the same, and it doesn’t appear that will change any time soon.

Corporate Strategy

NanoTrasen's primary corporate strategy has always been focused on the development of new technologies that may enhance their current catalogue. NanoTrasen's ability to deliver goods with better speed and accuracy than its competitors has always been key to their strong position in the market. To maintain this advantage the company puts a strong emphasis on improving Blue Space Drive systems and Tachyon Hook receptacles. NanoTrasen has already revolutionized the galactic logistics industry twice over through the synthetization of artificial bluespace crystals and the exploitation of Phoron gas. The company remains intent on utilizing its head-start in the field of Phoron exploitation to develop new medicines and weapons - usually in conjunction with its erstwhile partners Hephaestus Industries and Vey-Med.

Unlike Corporations who have workhorse products such as Donk Co's donk pockets, NanoTrasen keeps an eye to the future. Although they do not produce goods for the market that have the strongest brand recognition, NanoTrasen's constant iteration and improvement on form and design has lead to the production of many high-end consumer grade products, including a superior line of Communicators: the NT-Comm Advantage Slim being the latest model.

Primary Market

Although NanoTrasen does produce goods for the common market, the company usually attempts to do business with other corporations and the Galactic powers. NanoTrasen often leases the usage of its well-established logistical network and the vessels that necessarily comprise that network. Those corporations that maintain good relationships with NanoTrasen often enjoy better delivery times and safer shipping lanes thanks to the company's sale of cargo space and competitive quality guarantees.

As with many other Megacorporations, NanoTrasen's relationship with the Galactic Powers flows along these same lines. Although beyond the simple sale of cargo space and system data, NanoTrasen offers development charters to the Galactic Powers bordering its Frontier holdings. NanoTrasen will sometimes solicit grants from a Government - most usually the Orion Confederation - to establish a planetary colony in an unincorporated system. It will then develop the colony over decades, using it as a factory hub, or a refueling station along newly established transit routes. As the Confederation's borders slowly expand out into Frontier space, the system and Colony - both of which are owned by NT - will be sold back to the Confederation at a significantly discounted rate. Through this system, NanoTrasen continually expands its own holdings outwards into the Frontier, and maintains good relationships with the Galactic powers, operating via the infrastructure now baked into the government's borders.

Advertising

Unlike its competitor Donk Co, NanoTrasen does not focus much of its money on recreational media. Although the company does have a game development division and a moderately funded multimedia department, NanoTrasen prefers to put these resources towards the development of advertisements and marketing campaigns. The production of 'Try Before You Buy' VR Suites and action packed exonet advertisements provides the company with strong brand recognition across the Frontier.

NanoTrasen's Public Image

Although they were allegedly the Defender in the Phoron War, NanoTrasen is still considered one of the Belligerents by the galaxy at large. In the wake of the conflict, public trust in the company - as with all Megacorporations - has dipped an appreciable degree. To combat this, NanoTrasen has been engaged in an aggressive PR campaign for the past decade. From simple contributions of thalers towards humanitarian organizations to the donation of advanced medical tech to refugee zones or developing colonies, the company has significantly increased its charitable output. Public Relations campaigns are most heavily focused around systems impacted by the War itself, and in some areas - especially those most affected by nuclear weapons - NanoTrasen continues relief and reconstruction efforts to this day.

Corporate Relations

In an attempt to curry favor with its sister corporations and the GOC, NanoTrasen has even begun attempts to reestablish trade with some of the more palatable members of the now-dissolved Syndicate. Although the company refuses to attempt any reconciliation with corporations like Kynde, NanoTrasen has begun courting Donk Co. While it is unlikely that attempts at bettering relations between the two companies will lead to significant changes on the Galactic stage, the mere attempt has assisted NanoTrasen's good will in the public's eye.

Life for a NanoTrasen Employee

Health Benefits/Hazardous Environments/Solid Pay/Education and Advancement //WIP

Internal Governance

At the higher levels, NanoTrasen utilizes the standard corporate structure. This includes the established presence of a CEO, CFO, and a Board of Directors. However, learning from the Bluespace Flicker of 2354 and the ensuing riots, NanoTrasen radically altered the structure of its regional offices. Dividing its holdings on the Frontier up into zones, NanoTrasen established Central Command to operate as a decentralized regional network. NanoTrasen Headquarters, based out of the NTS Creon in the Thebes System, passes along its larger mandates and fiscal plans to Central Command's upper echelon. In turn, Central Command disseminates the company's will to its local branches, from which it filters down to individual facilities and employees.

Thanks to this structure, NanoTrasen's holdings are able to operate with a wide degree of autonomy. This does come with some downsides, however, as the enforcement of standards may vary from region to region. Employees transferring from one zone to another have often expressed difficulties adjusting to what is often essentially a new corporate culture. Due to this concern, employee transfer rates between regions are rare, leading to stratification and less flexibility in some zones. Ultimately, the system has worked for NanoTrasen for nearly two centuries, and it is unlikely to change any time soon.

Local Central Command

The Central Command office most employees will with interact with on a daily basis is usually the lowest rung on the Corporate ladder: the Local Office. Although Central Command Officers are highly educated and these facilities are well funded, they answer to still higher Echelons in the Command structure. At the local level, Central Command oversees a specific system, or rarely a specific facility or fleet. Local offices ensure employees stay on mission and have access to support whenever their own facilities are unable to answer demands or emergencies. Many local offices also offer off-site housing, leading to a closer relationship between employees and the corporation itself.

The chain of Offices is most usually: Local -> District -> Regional -> The Board. In some niche cases an extra step in the chain may exist between Local and District Command offices, although this is considered an oddity.

CentCom Branches

NanoTrasen sometimes establishes branches which deviate from the CentCom structure. In such extraordinary cases, these branches - often referred to as Departments - are given their own directives and chains of command. Due to its size and reach, many of NanoTrasen's Departments might be considered paramilitary in nature. Today, most NanoTrasen employees can go entire contract lengths without seeing employees from these Departments. However, during the Phoron War the appearance of these figures was sadly far more frequent.

SOD: NanoTrasen's Security Oversight Division may not be quite as glamorous as it sounds. Responsible for handling the training and doctrine of NanoTrasen's Security departments galaxy-wide, the SOD is responsible for maintaining and updating Corporate Regulations. Although the more elite Security elements, such as Central Command Security and Central Command Blueshields, are trained and retained by this branch, its primary roles lie in the investigatory and legal fields.
NTF: The NanoTrasen Fleet Department oversees the coordination of all larger NanoTrasen fleet operations. From exploratory initiatives such as the NDV Marksman fleet to defensive patrols and naval operations, the NTF ensures that NanoTrasen's holdings remain protected and supported at all times.
PMD: A newcomer to the NanoTrasen corporate structure, the Paracausal Monitoring Division operates as a containment and study initiative. Allegedly splintered from the DDO, the PMD's exact methods of operation are not publicly known. However, there is much evidence to support that PMD teams acquire anomalous or occult objects from NanoTrasen holdings and bring them back to centralized black sites for study and safe containment.
ST-ERT: The Special Tactics - Emergency Response Team Department is perhaps the most well known and public-facing branch of Central Command. Hiring almost exclusively in-house from NanoTrasen's best and brightest, the ST-ERT forms teams for rapid response to disasters and situations where competent and immediate support is required. Placing special emphasis on those who excel in Security, Engineering, Medical, and Command positions, the ST-ERT's presence usually means the end of a dire situation.

Notable Advancements

Synthetic Bluespace Crystals: The ultimate byproduct of the Bluespace Race, synthetic bluespace crystals are fractal traps that can capture and store vast quantities of Bluespace radiation. By installing these crystals in specialized housings, they can be used to increase the accuracy and range of Bluespace jumps. Although still an expensive upgrade manufactured by many other companies, almost all NanoTrasen vessels come with these enhanced drives as standard.
Pulse Laser Weaponry: Utilized by NanoTrasen special operations teams, most notably NT-ERT, the standard Pulse Laser is one of NanoTrasen's pinnacle weapons. Jealously guarded by Central Command, this technology has not yet been replicated by any other galactic power. As it is currently understood, the Pulse laser oscillates at a very high frequency in comparison to standard energy weaponry. The decreased distance between wavelengths results in a longer "time on target" for each energy beam, compounding the destruction by several factors of magnitude. This tight oscillation pattern grants the weapon its striking blue coloration, and has lead to much speculation that synthetic bluespace crystals are used to enhance the weapon's focusing lenses, or its main reactor.
Bluespace Artillery: The mere act of moving an object from one point in space/time to another point is no trivial feat. It is a testament to NanoTrasen's relative mastery in this field that the company is able to employ the teleportation of objects in a weaponized capacity. Bluespace Artillery, colloquially known as "BSA", is a NanoTrasen pinnacle weapon. This technology is not currently available to any other galactic power, although several factions have employed similar, far less accurate, weapons in limited capacities. The intense computation and significant power draw make this weapon prohibitive to use in all but the most dire of circumstances, even for an organization of NanoTrasen's might.
Phoron Exploitation: Although NanoTrasen lost the monopoly on Phoron six years ago, they have still conducted the most prolonged and focused study on the element for the last one hundred and fifty five years has placed them light-years ahead of their competitors in terms of resource exploitation. Although most factions now utilize Phoron in its primary role as a fuel source, NanoTrasen's advanced chemistry labs and fabrication projects continue to apply the volatile element in ways that other corporations may not consider for decades to come.
Advanced Artificial Intelligence: Originally, NanoTrasen Researchers utilized the brains of death row inmates and criminals charged with capital punishment to produce their first wave of Artificial Intelligence. Well over a century later, a majority of these units possess positronic brains that have been fine tuned and are therefore less prone to bouts of homicidal rage when unshackled. Although the production of AI and synthetic life is widespread, NanoTrasen has been a prominent member in this emergent field for over a hundred years, and boasts a frighteningly advanced production and augmentation field for synthetics and organics alike.

Lore
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

Author: Captain277