The Trasens
The Trasens
The Trasens are arguably the most influential family to have ever existed within the Orion Spur, having accumulated a vast network of assets thanks to the founding of NanoTrasen – borne from the Red Planet from which the family hails, being able to trace their roots to the initial colonisation of Mars – that focused on groundbreaking medical innovations such as genetic tampering and even small-scale cloning. Much of the family’s power and influence can be directly attributed to Xavier Trasen, who founded the megacorporation and pursued domination of competitors with little holding them back. It was the man’s rigorous efforts, and unyielding spirit, that allowed NanoTrasen to flourish into what it is today. The discovery of Phoron in 2417 allowed the megacorporation to establish an early monopoly on the mineral – and hold over the Republic of Biesel. NanoTrasen saw an era of unprecedented, unrestricted expansion commencing shortly after the discovery of the mineral, which only saw a slight decline when the scarcity began to unravel. Despite these setbacks in recent times, NanoTrasen remains dominant within the Orion Spur, with Miranda Trasen manning the helm of both the megacorporation and the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate – of which it forms a pseudo-holding company with the other influential organisations of the Spur.
Leonardo Trasen
Born: August 13th, 2325 (Mars)
Died: June 28th, 2405 (Mars)
Xavier’s father, and Miranda’s grandfather, Leonardo Trasen is largely considered the “beginning” of the family. Born in the waning years of Solarian Hegemony on the Martian arcology of Olympia, Leonardo was a man of low prospects and even lower hopes. Although his children would go on greatly exaggerate his humble beginnings (most famously in the 2407 biography, ‘Leon - A Trasen Story’), the real Leonardo Trasen was burdened with an unsupportive family, turbulent upbringing and a dubiously-reported substance abuse problem. . His most outstanding achievements were in the field of piloting and, later, Naval strategy. Contrary to his anti-Solarian fellows on Mars, Leonardo was lionized by the end of both the Interstellar War and the Martian World War. A hesitant loan from a distant Lunarian relative and an early freight cargo job allowed him to attend the prestigious Solarian Naval Academy, and integrate himself within the Lunarian core of the Solarian Navy. There, he would truly excel, commanding ever larger vessels as he climbed the ranks of the officers. He would spend much of his career hunting post-Interstellar War pirates on the edges of the Middle Ring, raising him to the rank of Rear Admiral, a position of incredible distinction for a Martian of low birth. Some sources (including the aforementioned biography) claim he may have had the ability to climb even higher, were it not for the Navy’s penchant for Luna-born-and-raised officers. Others have said that the only reason he gained and maintained his title (and what allowed him to support his children's laudy ambitions) was his dubiously-recorded connections to various members of Navy high command. While he would sire his first son, Xavier, with an Olympia-born childhood friend named Luisa Marcello, the marriage would not last. Not far after his promotion to Rear Admiral, he would unceremoniously divorce and then re-marry to 28-year-old Sascha König. Less than half his age, the Luna-born military clerk was most known for her minor involvement in the Marine project, before supposedly being swept up by the smitten Trasen. They would have just one child, Nita Trasen, who thanks to her father’s career received even less attention than her much older brother - in fact, their father’s absence was one of the two things the half-siblings shared later in life. – He died on June 28th, 2360 at the age of 77 – leaving behind a wife, son and daughter.
Xavier Trasen
Born: May 5th, 2345 (Mars)
Died: December 1st, 2443 (Biesel)
One of the most influential beings in the entirety of the Orion Spur’s history, Xavier Trasen has shaped the progression of humanity (alongside other species) by forming NanoTrasen. Born to a rather high-ranking naval officer within the Solarian Alliance, Xavier was expected to fall into line and enlist; similar to the path that his father had taken during his adolescent years. However, Xavier instead ventures into genetic engineering, securing himself a Bachelor of Science Degree in Genetic Modification at Mars University. Though self-claiming to have been his class’ cum laude in his holobook released by Ingi Usang Entertainment Company, investigative journalists could find no evidence suggesting his claim had any truth to it, despite NanoTrasen maintaining his supposed accomplishment.
At the age of 21, Xavier went on to found NanoTrasen, having received funding for its establishment through dubious origins; largely attributed by many critics of the man’s success as having been funnelled blood money from his father’s alleged corruption. From there, NanoTrasen rapidly broadened its horizons – though initially focusing on genetics, it would eventually develop into a competitor by a Zeng-Hu keiretsu-funded company directed by a fellow classmate that had initially promised Xaiver that he’d work with him, before being poached by the already well-established megacorporation – merely four years after its founding. It cannibalised the smaller companies that it saw as potential competitors, eventually forming a monopoly on the Red Planet. By the late 2390s, NanoTrasen became a household name to many on Mars, however, it wasn’t until the discovery of phoron that the megacorporation entered a golden age, becoming the megacorporation as it is known today.
Xavier would eventually wed Xiao Jie, a woman whom he had met during the early 2290s attempting to get a foothold within other colonies within the Solarian Alliance. It didn’t come as a surprise to anyone that had known Xavier, recalling the man as a shrewd, brutal negotiator with a brilliant mind for the sciences. Even before his corporation’s monopoly on phoron, Xavier had managed to wield incredible influence over the direction of the Orion Spur within a century, something considered by many to be a miracle of sorts. He further cemented his legacy by introducing his heir to the greater Orion Spur on March 25th, 2413. He claimed his daughter, Miranda, had been the pinnacle of humankind’s innovations into genetic tampering; proudly stating that he’d modified her to be the perfect example of man: enhanced intelligence, easily maintained physical fitness, and the best of himself and his wife, Xiao.
He would maintain his title as the richest man in the Orion Spur until his death, whereby his position would pass onto his daughter. Though he and Xiao had remained married until his death, allegations circled viciously that there had been marital problems since the death of Nita; many chalking it up to the couple now having to raise three children, but others suggest a more sinister theory as to her death found in the darker crevices of the extranet.
Nita Trasen
Born: December 13th, 2390 (Mars)
Died: November 3rd, 2420 (Valkyrie)
Half-sister to NanoTrasen’s Founder, Nita Trasen had established her own reputation within the Spur, going to significant lengths to distance herself from both her brother and the megacorporation – journeying across the stars to make a name for herself within the Coalition of Colonies. Born to Leonardo’s much younger second-wife, Sascha, Nita was said to be rather removed from family life during her formative years, with Xavier claiming it was the large age gap between them, but others suggest it was exhaustion from being paraded around due to her brother’s fame. She went on to become a renowned singer, “The Martian”, by focusing on gaining publicity among the youth during the 2210s, with some of her albums even performing remarkably well within the Solarian Alliance and the Nralakk Federation. It was during the height of her career that Nita spoke out against megacorporations, most notably her brother’s now-established corporation that had begun to become a household name; even outside of Mars. One particular condemnation caused significant damage to NanoTrasen’s reputation – since having been quashed and shunned from the public eye – that caused a divide between the family, where she remained no contact with her family until her death. Regarded by many as a senseless tragedy, Nita and her lifelong partner Darshan Ram were killed in a fiery explosion in the orbit of Valkyrie due to a malfunctioning heatsink on a shuttle they had taken to ferry themselves to Biesel. Four years prior to her death, she welcomed twin sons into her life; Darius and Nathan Trasen. They were adopted and raised alongside their cousin, Miranda Trasen, shortly after their parents’ deaths.
Xiao Jie
Born: June 16th, 2471 (New Hai Phong)
Died: May 23rd, 2446 (Biesel)
Born in Cua Song, New Hai Phong Xiao Jie had resided herself to a life not dissimilar to that of her mother, or even her grandmother – supporting her family whilst operating a blockfarm. Despite many claiming it to be a rather dim perspective for any child’s future, Xiao remained happy at following in the footsteps of the strong women within her family – regardless of the thoughts of those that frowned on such a chosen fate. Despite accepting she would remain on New Hai Phong until she died, her father had a stroke of luck and had been offered a position as an engineer within one of Hephaestus’ facilities on New Hai Phong. After having been uprooted from their lives in Cua Song, and now settling in Nhom Hy Vong, Xiao performed remarkably well within the well-established education facilities that were now available to her thanks to her father’s salary increase for the move.
She would go on to attend Mars University, venturing into the robotics industry. During her studies, she met with an already-esteemed Xavier Trasen, hitting it off with the Chief Executive Officer and eventually wedding him in a private ceremony between the families – with Nita as one of her flower girls. Xiao managed to establish a name for herself within NanoTrasen, leading the robotics research in the megacorporation. She would eventually retire from the industry following the birth of her daughter, Miranda. Miranda and her mother were inseparable during her formative years, with paparazzi frequently distributing photos of their bond whenever they were seen in public; with the death of her sister-in-law allegedly driving a wedge between Xavier and her, sweeping up Miranda in their marital disputes. There have been whistleblowers that worked for the Trasen's that revealed the two fought for months on end following Nita’s death, with Miranda at times also ignoring her father for long periods of time. Xiao’s death in 2446 would cause Miranda significant emotional turmoil, resigning herself to the shadows of NanoTrasen as she recovered from the self-proclaimed monumental loss of not just a great mind, but a great mother. Xiao and Xavier Trasen were immortalised in a statue dedicated to them in the megacorporation’s headquarters in District One by their daughter, Miranda.
Miranda Trasen
Born: March 25th, 2413 (Biesel)
Born as a public figure, thanks to Xavier Trasen’s announcement of the genetic marvel that his daughter was, Miranda was naturally the heir to her father’s fortune. Though she sits as the Acting Director of the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate and maintains her position as Chief Executive Officer of NanoTrasen, Miranda was not always shifting the Orion Spur to the whim of whichever pathway she wished to take. Genetically modified to be the perfect image of mankind, Miranda had always excelled in academics, and furthermore, in anything that she put her mind to. By the time she was eighteen, she had managed to finish a degree in a Bachelors of Science dedicated to Xenogenetics, and by twenty-one, a Bachelors degree of Commercial Law – both awarded by NanoTrasen Academy. In her formative years, she grew up with both Nathan and Darius following the death of their parents. Though cousins, Miranda recalled in interviews she sees the two as her younger brothers.
She is close to both her cousins, having been raised alongside them as if they were siblings. As a byproduct of this relationship, she is also close to their children and can often be seen in the paparazzi’s photos treating them as if they were her own – partaking in their school functions from a young age, even attending many of Melissa’s galas hosted by the “Trasen Development Benefit” and her shows from when she used to model for Idris Incorporated’s subsidiaries that have since dominated the fashion world. Though many have wondered if the ageing Trasen wants children, comments made by close associates have been incredibly vague and confusing, ranging from a desire to avoid the heir-obsession which plagued his father, to a simple inability do to so as a result of some genetic quirk. Miranda herself is utterly silent on the topic, most often claiming that she enjoys the simple refuge of staying close to her extended family, including Melissa, Marcus and Francis.
Though she is remarkably similar in appearance to her mother, Miranda has inherited many of the characteristics that made her father one of the most powerful men of his time: a shrewd sense for business, and an even more phenomenal mind for the sciences. Xiao’s influence on Miranda during her lifetime certainly affected her daughter: especially within the public, where Miranda maintains a graceful composure and pleasant-outward disposition, hiding behind her elegant facade when she cuts through it with tactful words. Despite her clear destain for her father, it’s without a doubt that Xavier’s obsession has been one of the biggest reasons for her monumental success - an irony that no doubt continues to haunt her image long after the old Trasen’s passing.
She is close to both her cousins, having been raised alongside them as if they were siblings. As a byproduct of this relationship, she is also close to their children and can often be seen in the paparazzi’s photos treating them as if they were her own – partaking in their school functions from a young age, even attending many of Melissa’s galas hosted by the “Trasen Development Benefit” and her shows from when she used to model for Idris Incorporated’s subsidiaries that have since dominated the fashion world. Though many wonders if Miranda would have a child of her own, comments from those made close to her inner circle suggest she will not have her own child; complaining it was the vainness of her father to “design her” that she wishes not to cave to his superiority complex, and rather have a close relationship with Francis, Melissa and Marcus.
Though not Martian-born, Miranda has repeatedly stated that her family observes Martian customs and traditions – and that Violet Dawn was the singular, most disastrous incident to occur throughout the Orion Spur; both in regards to the lives lost, and the economic losses sustained as a result of the explosion. She also admitted feeling sorrowful as she will likely never be able to return to her familial home, believing it was incinerated when Olympia was engulfed by the massive explosion. Since Violet Dawn, she has appeared somewhat withdrawn from the public spotlight, but this also comes alongside her promotion to Acting Director of the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate. She has often compared the latter tragedy to NanoTrasen’s removal from Solarian space, and that being uprooted from her homeland, while tragic, simply meant she was able to find a new one in Tau Ceti.
Nathan Trasen
Born: July 18th, 2416 (Xanu Prime)
One of Nita’s twins, Nathan was young when his parents passed. Being only four years old, Nathan and his brother Darius were uprooted from their lives, adopted by their uncle and aunts and raised alongside Miranda. It wasn’t easy for the young boy to adapt, and during his formative years was often teased by his peers, quickly beginning to despise the limelight placed on him due to his familial lineage – both from his mother as a notable singer, but also his uncle’s fame as Chief Executive Officer of NanoTrasen. Though his life was rather busy, Nathan was suddenly given entry into Apex & Ft Sunder Joint Military Academies – where he underwent several years of training, developing connections and relationships with the Eridani Private Military Contracting Companies, and even Idris Incorporated. Shortly after graduating from the Joint Military Academies, Nathan found employment within his uncle’s megacorporation, completing his cadetship aboard the NSS Baldr, an asset within the Solarian Alliance responsible for communication between NanoTrasen’s facilities.
Nathan went on to become the Chief Security Director of the entirety of NanoTrasen, appointed by his cousin Miranda after becoming the Chief Executive Officer. He became instrumental in the reformation of the megacorporation’s security forces, who were often viewed as beneath competitors such as the Eridani Private Military Company and Idris Incorporated – despite this, he maintained an amiable relationship with his connections, most notably Alex Mason. Though it is unknown how the two met, Alex Mason and Nathan Trasen have maintained a private friendship since the latter’s days back in the Joint Military Academies. The two’s similar personalities in public, being somewhat reserved and sullen, are likely what brought the two together – as well as their shared experience of being groomed by their respective corporate dynasties.
He wed Eva Tsukiko – an eccentric woman from Konyang – in 2440, welcoming his daughter Melissa three years later, and then a son in 2444. Nathan and Eva have rarely been seen together since his wife’s move back to Konyang to look after her mother, who has seen a rapid health decline since early 2464. Regardless, the couple is said to be privately communicating without the prying eyes of the public, despite allegations by tabloids that they’re separating from one another.
Melissa Trasen
Born: October 14th, 2443 (Biesel)
From the newer generations of Trasens, Melissa made a name for herself by modelling for well-known fashion conglomerates such as Cashien Jewellers and Le Soliel Royal; by the end of her modelling career, Melissa was modelling high-end prosthetics after an elective surgery that replaced her left hand, courtesy of Bishop Cybernetics. Now, with a successful modelling career behind her, Melissa has decided to expand her horizon and join her family in moulding the future of the Orion Spur by managing the “Trasen Development Benefit” - a charity organisation that aims to assist the poor and downtrodden within the Republic of Biesel and abroad, operating closely with the Interstellar Aid Corps. Despite her short time in philanthropy, Melissa’s charitable actions have proven to be a boon for NanoTrasen’s PR. Although considerably younger than her cousin, she is considered a close confidant and advisor to Miranda – who often recalls in interviews that she sees Melissa as a daughter.
Marcus Trasen
Born: 21st June, 2447 (Biesel)
Marcus has maintained a distance from the public eye – mostly at the request of both Miranda and Nathan Trasen, wishing to protect the younger Trasens from the predatory public, creating controversies of simple teenage behaviour. However, since his introduction to the public following his eighteenth birthday, Marcus has become somewhat of a public figure among the youth. Similarly to his sister, Marcus has become an advocate for the less fortunate, but with a particular focus on animals as opposed to people. Touring the newly incorporated Corporate Reconstruction Zone, Marcus has been seen ensuring that ecological damage has been kept to a minimum – something supported by his cousin, Miranda. He has recently been given leadership of the “Trasen Environmental Protection Charity”, which has been seen across both Mictlan and Port Antillia as an interstellar organization seeking to preserve unique ecologies. Marcus is currently studying for a combined degree in Environmental Sciences and Terraforming Engineering and has announced plans to pursue a career in NanoTrasen, ensuring the megacorporation does its part in protecting the various ecologies of the planets that they have facilities across.