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Mining Guild: Difference between revisions
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As a trade association, the Guild represents the interests of the owners of member companies. It exists primarily to allow member companies to pool resources, collude in fixing rawmat (raw material) prices, and present a united front to governments and megacorporations bent on controlling them. Resources and services are made available to member companies as requested. | As a trade association, the Guild represents the interests of the owners of member companies. It exists primarily to allow member companies to pool resources, collude in fixing rawmat (raw material) prices, and present a united front to governments and megacorporations bent on controlling them. Resources and services are made available to member companies as requested. | ||
The range of resources and services is vast. The Guild possesses an immense fleet of rawmat transports which can be leased out to member companies. A large team of high-powered lawyers and lobbyists look out for the Guild's interests on [[Valcaria]], and ensure that Imperial nationalization efforts do not encroach on the assets of Guild member companies. The paramilitary Guild Enforcers step in when member assets need protecting from harm | The range of resources and services is vast. The Guild possesses an immense fleet of rawmat transports which can be leased out to member companies. A large team of high-powered lawyers and lobbyists look out for the Guild's interests on [[Valcaria]], and ensure that Imperial nationalization efforts do not encroach on the assets of Guild member companies. The paramilitary Guild Enforcers step in when member assets need protecting from harm - usually from pirates or civil wars. | ||
There are also hundreds of lesser services which are nonetheless important to members, from commercial insurance packages offered at below-market rates and access to exclusive commodity trading markets, to legal services and negotiators who can step in and arbitrate with local governments. The high Guild dues partially subsidize these services, but most come with additional charges. | There are also hundreds of lesser services which are nonetheless important to members, from commercial insurance packages offered at below-market rates and access to exclusive commodity trading markets, to legal services and negotiators who can step in and arbitrate with local governments. The high Guild dues partially subsidize these services, but most come with additional charges. | ||
To outsiders looking at the mighty marble Guild headquarters on [[Valcaria]] and other Valcarian worlds and the huge fleets of ships bearing Guild markings teeming through space, the Guild looks all-powerful. The Guild leadership likes to encourage this belief, but despite its many resources, the | To outsiders looking at the mighty marble Guild headquarters on [[Valcaria]] and other Valcarian worlds and the huge fleets of ships bearing Guild markings teeming through space, the Guild looks all-powerful. The Guild leadership likes to encourage this belief, but despite its many resources, the Guild's power is greatly diluted because it is an extremely decentralized organization. | ||
With over 300,000 member companies in the Guild, this is only to be expected. While the upper echelon may attempt to devise grand strategies of resource allocation and price fixing, the whole system is far too complex and unwieldy to be manipulated by any one group of individuals. This doesn't keep Guild officials from trying, but even they know there are limits; the Guild has traditionally been highly wary of external authority | With over 300,000 member companies in the Guild, this is only to be expected. While the upper echelon may attempt to devise grand strategies of resource allocation and price fixing, the whole system is far too complex and unwieldy to be manipulated by any one group of individuals. This doesn't keep Guild officials from trying, but even they know there are limits; the Guild has traditionally been highly wary of external authority - a definition broad enough to include overzealous Guild administrations. | ||
Were the Mining Guild actually as powerful as its reputation suggests, [[Altharra]] would almost certainly disband it at all costs | Were the Mining Guild actually as powerful as its reputation suggests, [[Altharra]] would almost certainly disband it at all costs - a unified entity controlling 75 percent of the [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Empire's]] raw materials would pose a threat to his rule impossible to ignore. | ||
There is one area where Guild officials are very focused in their duties, and that is in locating non-member mining operations and inviting them to join the Guild. Guild membership is strongly encouraged (read "required") for mining installations which do most of their business in intersystem trade. And most "outed" companies prefer to pay the exorbitant Guild initiation fees than face the crippling sanctions and boycotts which amazingly always follow a refusal to join. Naturally, there are many operations which get by without Guild membership, either because they are especially clever in evading detection, or too small or remote to warrant attention. | There is one area where Guild officials are very focused in their duties, and that is in locating non-member mining operations and inviting them to join the Guild. Guild membership is strongly encouraged (read "required") for mining installations which do most of their business in intersystem trade. And most "outed" companies prefer to pay the exorbitant Guild initiation fees than face the crippling sanctions and boycotts which amazingly always follow a refusal to join. Naturally, there are many operations which get by without Guild membership, either because they are especially clever in evading detection, or too small or remote to warrant attention. | ||
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==Mining Guild Recruiters== | ==Mining Guild Recruiters== | ||
Such rouge operations are sought out and invited to join the Mining Guild by specialized operatives employed by the Mining Guild. These operatives, called recruiters, vary in skill and capabilities, but the best of them rival bounty hunters and scouts in their resourcefulness and ability to avoid "accidents," ambushes, and other deadly surprises arranged by rogue mine officials who | Such rouge operations are sought out and invited to join the Mining Guild by specialized operatives employed by the Mining Guild. These operatives, called recruiters, vary in skill and capabilities, but the best of them rival bounty hunters and scouts in their resourcefulness and ability to avoid "accidents," ambushes, and other deadly surprises arranged by rogue mine officials who don't want them filing a report with the Mining Guild. | ||
Recruiters are also empowered by the Guild and the [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Valcarian Empire]] to apprehend claim jumpers when they find them. Few actually make arrests, preferring to gather evidence and turn it over to local law enforcement agencies. | Recruiters are also empowered by the Guild and the [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Valcarian Empire]] to apprehend claim jumpers when they find them. Few actually make arrests, preferring to gather evidence and turn it over to local law enforcement agencies. | ||
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The reasons for this are not hard to fathom. The early imperial power brokers of the Guild obtained their positions because their worlds produced vast amounts of raw materials. They represented billions and billions of tons of ore being produced per month, and behind that, still more billions of credits pouring into the coffers that bought their Guild positions. | The reasons for this are not hard to fathom. The early imperial power brokers of the Guild obtained their positions because their worlds produced vast amounts of raw materials. They represented billions and billions of tons of ore being produced per month, and behind that, still more billions of credits pouring into the coffers that bought their Guild positions. | ||
Eventually, these Imperial worlds exhausted their raw material reserves, and shifted their economies into new channels. Naturally, the Empire's need for raw materials did not change, and new concerns and young settlements in other regions, like the [[Par'tha Expanse]], began to fill in the void. Through sheer inertia, Imperial concerns controlled Guild activities for a few more centuries, but gradually and inevitably the center of power shifted towards the | Eventually, these Imperial worlds exhausted their raw material reserves, and shifted their economies into new channels. Naturally, the Empire's need for raw materials did not change, and new concerns and young settlements in other regions, like the [[Par'tha Expanse]], began to fill in the void. Through sheer inertia, Imperial concerns controlled Guild activities for a few more centuries, but gradually and inevitably the center of power shifted towards the Par'tha Expanse. It has remained there ever since. | ||
==The Empire and the Mining Guild== | ==The Empire and the Mining Guild== | ||
When [[Altharra]] came to power, he immediately realized that he could not build the mighty war machine he desired without the support of the Mining Guild. Gaining the support of the Guild would be a delicate procedure, since the Guild historically had always held itself at arms length from all governments large and small. But Altharra was a master at seduction, and set about bringing the Guild into his camp by offering honors and powerful government positions to its most prominent and influential officers. | When [[Altharra]] came to power, he immediately realized that he could not build the mighty war machine he desired without the support of the Mining Guild. Gaining the support of the Guild would be a delicate procedure, since the Guild historically had always held itself at arms length from all governments large and small. But Altharra was a master at seduction, and set about bringing the Guild into his camp by offering honors and powerful government positions to its most prominent and influential officers. | ||
This had the desired effect, and the Guild is now both an [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Imperial]] puppet and a fiercely independent entity in roughly equal parts. The dichotomy is, at least for now, largely invisible because the leadership and the body of the Guild support Imperial ends. Should Imperial goals ever diverge from Guild goals, however, the fault line would rupture | This had the desired effect, and the Guild is now both an [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Imperial]] puppet and a fiercely independent entity in roughly equal parts. The dichotomy is, at least for now, largely invisible because the leadership and the body of the Guild support Imperial ends. Should Imperial goals ever diverge from Guild goals, however, the fault line would rupture - and likely spell the end of the Guild as it has existed for thousands of years. | ||
The [[Altharra|Emperor]] has taken measures to prevent this, of course, by infiltrating his own operatives and servants into leadership positions. Should the Guild ever show signs of opposing Altharra, they are prepared to help him nationalize its assets and bring it directly under the control of the Empire. | The [[Altharra|Emperor]] has taken measures to prevent this, of course, by infiltrating his own operatives and servants into leadership positions. Should the Guild ever show signs of opposing Altharra, they are prepared to help him nationalize its assets and bring it directly under the control of the Empire. | ||
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Mining in the sector has become highly politicized over time, because ore originating from the [[Expanse Sector|Expanse]] had to pass through the [[Freeworlds Region|Freeworlds]], where it was saddled with tariffs, thus raising its price above competitive levels on the galactic market. This is a problem for the Expanse-based companies, because ''most'' of the sector's ore is located in the interior. | Mining in the sector has become highly politicized over time, because ore originating from the [[Expanse Sector|Expanse]] had to pass through the [[Freeworlds Region|Freeworlds]], where it was saddled with tariffs, thus raising its price above competitive levels on the galactic market. This is a problem for the Expanse-based companies, because ''most'' of the sector's ore is located in the interior. | ||
The only alternative to shipping through the Freeworlds was to ship through [[House Kerraron|Kerraron]] and [[House Rettaan|Rettaan]] territory. This is a very roundabout route for most companies not based in [[House Barahn|Barahn]] Province and thus just about as expensive a detour as paying the Freeworlds tariffs. Not that the Barahn-based companies get off scot-free | The only alternative to shipping through the Freeworlds was to ship through [[House Kerraron|Kerraron]] and [[House Rettaan|Rettaan]] territory. This is a very roundabout route for most companies not based in [[House Barahn|Barahn]] Province and thus just about as expensive a detour as paying the Freeworlds tariffs. Not that the Barahn-based companies get off scot-free - since House Barahn is a political rival of Kerraron and Rettaan, companies based in its territory pay a tariff even larger than that demanded by the Freeworlds! | ||
Needless to say, there is a lot of friction between mining companies located in the Expanse and those based in the Freeworlds, who could get their goods to the Kaen'anti Bypass and thence to the rest of the galaxy for a good deal less expense and bother. | Needless to say, there is a lot of friction between mining companies located in the Expanse and those based in the Freeworlds, who could get their goods to the Kaen'anti Bypass and thence to the rest of the galaxy for a good deal less expense and bother. | ||
The governments of the Expanse and Freeworlds got involved in turn, as had the Mining Guild itself. Despite endless talks, strikes, walk-outs, acts of sabotage, accords, and agreements, nothing ever seemed to change for long. Sooner or later some incident arose which the Freeworlds and their client mining companies used as a pretext to boost the tariffs back up to previous levels (or in a few extreme incidents, temporarily shut down the trade routes to Expanse ore shipping | The governments of the Expanse and Freeworlds got involved in turn, as had the Mining Guild itself. Despite endless talks, strikes, walk-outs, acts of sabotage, accords, and agreements, nothing ever seemed to change for long. Sooner or later some incident arose which the Freeworlds and their client mining companies used as a pretext to boost the tariffs back up to previous levels (or in a few extreme incidents, temporarily shut down the trade routes to Expanse ore shipping - which caused untold economic chaos). | ||
The Expanse mining companies didn't much like being at the short end of the stick, and continuously plotted to get around the situation (they even sponsored scouting expeditions charged with blazing new routes out of the sector, none of which met with satisfactory results). Naturally, the mining companies in the Freeworlds liked the arrangement just fine and did all they could to maintain the status quo. | The Expanse mining companies didn't much like being at the short end of the stick, and continuously plotted to get around the situation (they even sponsored scouting expeditions charged with blazing new routes out of the sector, none of which met with satisfactory results). Naturally, the mining companies in the Freeworlds liked the arrangement just fine and did all they could to maintain the status quo. | ||
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The Mining Guild, while ready to rush to the aid of member companies being repressed by local governments, was loathe to get drawn into local inter-Guild feuds. So, it had done little more than send arbitrators to assist at the periodic talks, and, at the bequest of member companies suffering suspicious losses and accidents, sabotage investigators. | The Mining Guild, while ready to rush to the aid of member companies being repressed by local governments, was loathe to get drawn into local inter-Guild feuds. So, it had done little more than send arbitrators to assist at the periodic talks, and, at the bequest of member companies suffering suspicious losses and accidents, sabotage investigators. | ||
Then, suddenly, the Kaen'anti Bypass stopped running. The Romulans disappeared, and the other races found along the Bypass stopped trading. As quickly as this happened, the majority of ore being shipped out of the [[Par'tha Expanse]] was finding its way out the opposite end of the region, into the [[Valcarian Imperial Republic]]. [[House Tadere|Tadere]] and [[House Beruna|Beruna]] Provinces, being located adjacent to the Empire, almost immediately found themselves in an unfamiliar position, one where they could determine tariffs, rather than paying them. Political alliances between houses keep the shipping costs in the | Then, suddenly, the Kaen'anti Bypass stopped running. The Romulans disappeared, and the other races found along the Bypass stopped trading. As quickly as this happened, the majority of ore being shipped out of the [[Par'tha Expanse]] was finding its way out the opposite end of the region, into the [[Valcarian Imperial Republic]]. [[House Tadere|Tadere]] and [[House Beruna|Beruna]] Provinces, being located adjacent to the Empire, almost immediately found themselves in an unfamiliar position, one where they could determine tariffs, rather than paying them. Political alliances between houses keep the shipping costs in the Par'tha Expanse fluctuating. | ||
==Expanse Mining Companies== | ==Expanse Mining Companies== | ||
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=Claim Jumpers= | =Claim Jumpers= | ||
Some Par'tha worlds contain valuable ore veins | Some Par'tha worlds contain valuable ore veins - valuable enough to make it worthwhile for small-time claim jumpers to slip into established mining operations and strike small claims in inactive areas. Skilled and stealthy miners can extract several tons of ore before being discovered. Many pull out before this unhappy event occurs, so they can return to the same spot later. Others continue to load ore into the bellies of their ships until the last second, fleeing only moments before security forces arrive to apprehend them. | ||
Claim jumpers usually sell their ore to shady buyers in the [[Freeworlds Region|Freeworlds]] who ask no questions. Since they mine only the most valuable of ores, they need only small ships to transport their cargoes. | Claim jumpers usually sell their ore to shady buyers in the [[Freeworlds Region|Freeworlds]] who ask no questions. Since they mine only the most valuable of ores, they need only small ships to transport their cargoes. | ||
[[Category:Par'tha Society]] | [[Category:Par'tha Society]] | ||