Zavodskoi Interstellar
Zavodskoi Interstellar is a manufacturing and development conglomerate founded in 2259. They specialize in all forms of weaponry, ranging from small arms and squad weapons to armoured vehicles and combat EVA equipment. Previously known as Necropolis Industries, Zavodskoi Interstellar has retreated from the genetic research scene to focus on military and police equipment in recent years. However, they still possess a significant genetics branch - though it pales in comparison to Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals.
Contrary to other megacorporations within the Orion Spur, Zavodskoi Interstellar has seen a rise in importance (and most specifically profits) since the beginning of the Phoron Scarcity, and the collapse of the Solarian Alliance. Its focus on the research and development of weaponry has made it vital to the continued “stability” of the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate, as well as any other clients that have either purchased or hired their arms.
Corporate Affairs
History
Founded in 2259 by Yefim Dementyev, Necropolis Industries (now Zavodskoi Interstellar) grew on the back of an innovative invention: the combat-capable voidsuit. Even though they were initially heavy, cumbersome, and expensive, demand for better versions led to the polished versions we know today. The demand for space-capable armour skyrocketed with the outbreak of the First Interstellar War. In the years following the war, Necropolis became heavily involved in gene modification technology and biological experimentation. They were associated with the Empire of Dominia's efforts during this period rather than the Nralakk Federation like their main competitor: Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals. A brief period of fame was briefly enjoyed by them in the area of gene therapy, biological replacement limbs, and DNA manipulation. Wise financial decisions have ensured their dominance of arms procurement all across the Orion Spur, especially in the Sol Alliance. Weapons such as the energy machete, pulse rifles, and sonic weapons have fueled their continued dominance of the weapons market. Some detractors claim that in recent years they have delved secretly into bio-weaponry and atmospheric weapons, but this has always been denied by the company’s representatives.
Necropolis was disadvantaged by Nralakk investments in Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals, which rendered its own genetic advances rapidly irrelevant, and soon realized its genetics partner - the Empire of Dominia - was nowhere near the level of the Nralakk Federation. As a result, Necropolis Industries rebranded itself as Zavodskoi Interstellar following massive cuts to its genetics division and a desire to move away from the less-than-stellar reputation of Necropolis, which had come to have its brand name associated with rumours of unethical biological experiments and potential terrorist financing.
Rather than pursue further genetics work, Zavodskoi Interstellar opted to pursue what it knew how to do better than any other megacorporation in the Orion Spur: military equipment. Three main pillars continue to drive Zavodskoi Interstellar. The largest is its classical military-industrial complex, and a massive amount of humanity's military equipment, ranging from infantry small arms to combat hardsuits to vehicles and much more, are today produced by it or one of its subsidiaries. Confiance Technologies, a recent subsidiary of Zavodskoi Interstellar, is one part of the military-industrial pillar that has even branched out into robotics. Its second pillar, as a result of Ingkom, is its robust engineering wing - Zavodskoi engineering staff are a common sight throughout the Orion Spur, though their usage within the Solarian Alliance has faltered following the Solarian Collapse of late 2462.
A third, less public, pillar of Zavodskoi Interstellar is its private security force. These officers go wherever Zavodskoi employees go and are known throughout the Orion Spur for their professionalism. According to company representatives, Zavodskoi's security wing is one of the most competitive in the Orion Spur and is trained longer than any other megacorporation's security force. A recent turnover in the highest ranks of the security forces following the rebranding of Necropolis to Zavodskoi has caused some suspicion among third-party observers, but no information has been released on this by Zavodskoi representatives.
Influence
As a hiring practice, Zavodski Interstellar finds itself poaching highly skilled workers from the other megacorporations. Workers with Zavodskoi usually flocked to the company to exploit its high pay - the dissolution of several underperforming departments and subsidiaries in more contested markets means that the company can focus and attract industry experts to work on weapons research. Although perfecting weapons of war is a task that will never truly be finished, the company is recognized as the uncontested leader in their development. As such, it holds a great deal of sway in almost every corner of the Spur.
Clients ranging from small colonial militias to interstellar governments trust and rely on the megacorporation for their expertise. In this day and age, Zavodskoi pioneers where others do not by developing and manufacturing the highest-quality niche-function firearms, or just the biggest and baddest weapons they can muster. The extent of this research dominates every echelon of the corporation leading to the unified pursuit of maximizing the efficiency of its stock, rather than trying to cover the widest range possible.
Zavodskoi Interstellar rarely works alongside Zeng-Hu contractors - intentionally so. The two corporations frequently butt heads after Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals left Zavodskoi genetics research in the dust, with the relation between the two sour at best. Although this attitude has lessened with the formation of the SCC, rivalry still occurs. This echoes down to the lowest ranks, as even the common worker can find themselves cheering onto outclassing the opposition. This isn’t an excuse to get fired for trashing your coworker.
Positronics
In the aftermath of Necropolis Industries' rebranding into Zavodskoi Interstellar, synthetics and positronics have become more of a common sight in company facilities outside of the Empire of Dominia. These Zavodskoi IPCs are however banned from command and leadership positions within Zavodskoi Interstellar due to the corporation's internal policy, which views positronics as a workforce rather than a management force. This ban includes Zavodskoi Interstellar corporate liaisons.
Newly implemented and with some in the company opposed to their presence, Zavodskoi positronics face systemic fragility within Zavodskoi Interstellar. In an effort to employ and contract out the best representation for the company, Zavodskoi will routinely memory wipe, retool, or outright scrap and sell their IPCs for workplace accidents, failure to execute an order, or underperformance. This process has been largely seen as a lighter version of the Burzian Method. This authority does not extend to Zavodskoi Interstellar corporate liaisons although they are encouraged to check in with their positronic contractor personnel from time to time. Therefore, Zavodskoi positronic contractors are often those struggling to maintain a positive evaluation or saved from the scrapyard all together.
In an effort to bolster company morale, organic personnel are able to lease out Zavodskoi asset IPCs, should they so choose. This allows personnel to ‘own’ a positronic for the home without the burden of maintenance fees. For the IPCs affected, this can work to their benefit or their demise. As more lax personnel may feel less inclined to report aberrancy, whereas other synthetics would find themselves under greater scrutiny.
It is expected for research and security Zavodskoi Interstellar IPCs to adopt the prefix Z.I. followed by their designation. An example of this formatting is Z.I. Name.
Vaurcae
In late 2463, the Zo’ra Hive announced publicly a partnership with Zavodskoi Interstellar after selling the rights to the production of the hydrogen rifle, a complex Zo’rane design that is cheap in ammunition. Shortly after, a meeting in New Sedantis was held with Zavodskoi executives and Hive officials to allow Vaurcae enter their workforce, akin to the synthetic introduction following the Necropolis rebranding. Besides Nanotrasen, Zavodskoi is the other megacorporation that is comfortable in employing Bound assets, particularly in engineering, though they have no issue with Unbound as they are considered similar to the Z.I. synthetics, despite their many differences.
Prior to striking a deal with Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals, the C’thur Hive considered a deal with Necropolis Industries as an alternative. However, the proposition never followed through and the conversation between the two parties did not resurface until 2463. It is rumored that the Zo’ra deal with Zavodskoi was made only after C’thur began to sell their workforce mainly to Ingkom. Whatever the case may be, both Hives are now on equal terms with Zavodskoi Interstellar, who has no trouble dealing with them despite their differences.
General
Current CEO: Lyudmila Zavodskoi
With a doctorate in weapons technology, Lyudmila Zavodskoi was recommended for Necropolis Industries by her cousin, Tikhon, and quickly rose to the upper echelons of Necropolis’s ladder. After Kasimir Boystov, the former CEO, slipped into a coma, it was Zavodskoi who took over, dramatically restructuring the company into Zavodskoi Interstellar. With newfound focus on research and development, arms manufacturing, and ship-building, Zavodskoi Interstellar has entered competition with Hephaestus Industries. The company has also expanded its IPC workforce across the Spur (except for the Empire of Dominia, where Dr. Zavodskoi now lives).
A shrewd and sharp-tongued woman, she has continued to entrench her corporate interests with the Empire of Dominia, and Kumar Arms are renowned across the Spur for their effectiveness. Interstellar observers worry that Dr. Zavodskoi may turn out to be as cutthroat, if not more so, than her predecessor when it comes to supplying conflict zones.
Official Title(s): Zavodskoi Interstellar Industries, Zavodskoi Interstellar Research
Motto: Even one matters in the battlefield.
Headquarters: Nova Luxembourg, Dominia, Mira Sancta
Official Languages: Tradeband, Tau Ceti Basic, Sol Common
Primary Color Scheme: Black, red, pink and pale brown/tan
Executives and Branches
Executives
Chief Security Officer: Kamilla Strelitz, Human, 35
Advisor, and seen as the second-in-command of Lyudmila Zavodskoi, Kamilla Strelitz was only recently promoted to their position after the recent rebranding of the corporation. Kamilla has shown her aptitude for her position through the continued success of campaigns initiated by Zavodskoi Interstellar, despite commanding the company’s largest sector of personnel. She is known among the ranks as being belligerent and leaves little room for failure. Those that fail to achieve the standards set often find themselves personally experiencing the wrath of Kamilla Strelitz, enough to make desensitized men cry. Despite her “cheerful” personality, she is considered to be a close friend of the company’s CEO, almost guaranteed to be by her side when Lyudmila is in public.
Chief Research Officer: Jaco Du Plessis, Human, 52
Having previously been one of few top scientists with Zeng Hu Pharmaceuticals, Jaco Du Plessis was poached by Zavodskoi Interstellar shortly after the rebranding of the corporation. He is vocal regarding his stunted growth with his prior employer, advocating for those with ambitions to instead fill the ranks of Zavodskoi Interstellar, promising a fulfilment within the corporation they couldn’t get elsewhere. Despite his position as Chief Research Officer, some consider him instead to be the “face” of the corporation, often unveiling projects spearheaded by himself mostly through Confiance Technologies. Similarly to Kamilla Strelitz, he holds his personnel to a high standard, expecting them to either “be all in, or find employment elsewhere”.
Chief Risk Officer: Tikhon Zavodskoi, Human, 68
One of few remnants of Boytsov’s reign, Tikhon Zavodskoi has managed to remain in his position as Chief Risk Officer for almost a decade. Considered to be an astute, sharp-witted individual that has successfully managed to fend the wolves off, despite the decaying nature of the company before being rebranded. Many consider his continued presence merely due to his familial relationship with Lyudmila Zavodskoi, but she has reassured that despite being her cousin, Tikhon would be undoubtedly useful to the continued perseverance of Zavoidskoi Interstellar. Tikhon is very rarely seen outside of the company’s corporate facilities, if he is it’s often with his cousin.
Branches
Tolyatti, Soviet Union, Earth, Sol: The previous headquarters of Zavodskoi Interstellar can be found in Tolyatti. The skyscraper complex consisted of three Zavodskoi buildings, a Kumar Arms building, and a ConTec building. The complex was especially austere and compact, mostly as a result of socialist influences during its construction. Today, the Tolyatti Headquarters are abandoned, thanks to the collapse of the Solarian Alliance and Zavodskoi Interstellar's move to Mira Sancta.
Cape Town, Union of South Africa, Earth, Sol: The Cape Town branch sits on the edge of a small cliff, overlooking the ocean. Home to the headquarters of Ingkom, the Cape Town branch is considered to be exceptionally beautiful and well-constructed, a hallmark of the subsidiary’s engineering prowess. The Cape Town branch continues to operate, despite Zavodskoi Interstellar's move to Mira Sancta, mostly due to the building being rented from the Solarian Alliance, instead of owned by the megacorporation.
Harmony City, Luna, Sol: The Harmony City branch sits slightly hidden from public view, with many workers complaining about the long, twisting alleys that one must walk down to get to the building. Nevertheless, the Harmony City branch is the second-largest branch of Zavodskoi Industries.
Nova Luxembourg, Dominia, Mira Sancta: The Dominian branch can be found near the city centre, prominently overlooking the Court of Chalser. Residing in what was once a bank, the grandiose exterior encloses a large research building that is well known for its incredibly high security. It has since rapidly expanded following the move of Zavodskoi Interstellar's main headquarters and has tripled in size. The move brought with it several manufacturing plants, located across the Empire of Dominia - revitalizing the megacorporation's interest in the region.
Mendell City, Biesel, Tau Ceti: The Mendell City branch situated within District 10 is considered to be a rather artistic building and was renovated shortly before the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate was unveiled, and the culmination of the King of the World. Lyudmila Zavodskoi is said to have personally designed the building, implementing several architectural changes that did away with its Soviet design, instead appearing as a sleek, modern building that stands out among the rest of the buildings within the district.
Subsidiaries
The subsidiaries of all megacorporations are as endless as their own direct employees, with massive swaths of businesses being occupied or dropped on a daily basis on a galactic scale. Whether businesses flourish alongside or get crushed by the corporate powers is found to be a case-by-case scenario. This means that any independent business, at least outside of Tau Ceti and the Eridani Corporate Federation, can reasonably survive indefinitely without the megas grabbing them. However, should these businesses elevate to anything worthwhile, it is reasonable to assume they’ve already fallen to the whim and will of the economic rulers of the Orion Spur.
Kumar Arms
"The best defense is a Kumar offense."
General
Kumar Arms is considered the backbone of Zavodskoi Interstellar, founded in the Soviet Union, Earth in 2114. They are one of the most prominent manufacturers of military and police equipment, with a long history of selling to any customer willing to pay their prices.
Influence
Sol: Headquarters in St. Petersburg, Earth; with four major equipment manufacturing facilities across Eastern Europe.
Executives
Chief Executive Officer: Freia Salsnivna, 37, Human
Chief Security Officer: Peter Ivanov, 47, Human
Chief Engineering Officer: Nirbaan Sehwag, 66, Human
Chief Information Officer: Jingya Dayal-Zhang, 59, Human
Chief Procurement Officer: Sumit Jadhav, 37, Human
Chief Development Officer: Ivan Malinov, 54, Human
History
Kumar Arms, also known as the Kumar Machinery Development Bureau, is one of the most famous and well known arms manufacturers in the Sol Alliance, with a long history stretching back to their founding in February 2114 by Ilyich Kumarvna. Since their founding, they have sold arms to nearly every country, army, or private military company in history. Their reputation for reliable, high quality, easy to use products is well deserved, and their weapons can be found nearly anywhere in the galaxy. Acquired in 2290 by Zavodskoi Interstellar after a series of poor financial decisions following a burst of growth in the First Interstellar War, they have continued to adapt to and lead rapid developments of new types of weapons. Kumar Arms, due to investments made by Zavodskoi Interstellar, has diversified itself into more fields during the 2400s. They produce much of the Sol Alliance's military vehicles and weaponry, ranging from humble battle rifles and shotguns to the main batteries of naval vessels.
Confiance Technologies
“Have confidence in Confiance.”
General
Confiance Technologies (ConTec) is a subsidiary of Zavodskoi Interstellar, founded on Luna in 2427. They remain a successful company focusing on AI and synthetic component manufacturing. ConTec has been divided into two branches following the creation of Zavodskoi Interstellar. ConTec's military wing (Branch A) produces a great amount of the Sol Alliance Navy's on-board AIs and combat-grade robotics, and does not operate outside of Solarian space due to the sensitive data they handle. This includes the Republic of Biesel. ConTec's commercial wing (Branch B) produces non-military equipment, and can be found everywhere outside of Dominian space.
Influence
Sol: Headquarters in Firefly City, Luna; two research and development facilities on Luna; two major equipment manufacturing facilities in Luna’s orbit; one research and development facility in Monaco, France, Earth.
Executives
Chief Executive Officer: Ilya Moules-Polorov, 43, Human
Chief Research Officer: Florian Chen-Gomez, 56, Human
Chief Technology Officer: Yulia Milosolov, 61, Human
Chief Engineering Officer: Amelia Meng-Wasem, 54, Human
Chief Brand Officer: Martin Laslenev, 38, Human
Chief Quality Assurance Officer: Wei Duhon-Huang, 47, Human
Head Legal Officer: Jayden Flores-Trahan, 41, Human
History
While perhaps not being the most innovative or highly profitable corporation, Confiance Technologies was founded as part of an effort to diversify Zavodskoi Interstellar’ profit base into more stable fields. It is not uncommon to find circuits, diagrams, wires, and various parts produced by them in robotics and synthetics across the Sol Alliance. In recent years ConTec has diversified itself into Zavodskoi's military industry, and has designed personal AIs for use with Zavodskoi hardsuits and weaponry.
Ingkom
"Pride and prosperity to all."
General
Ingkom, or Bedryfsingenieurswese Kommissie, is a primarily engineering-focused subsidiary of Zavodskoi Interstellar, founded in South Africa, Earth in 2099. Initially a state-owned enterprise, it went private shortly after the sanctions placed on South Africa, due to their interference in Central Africa, were lifted by the United States of America. They became prominent through Zavodskoi Interstellar managing to absorb it after expanding its influence in the engineering sector on Earth.
Influence
Sol: Headquarters in Cape Town, Earth; three research and development facilities in Leningradsky, USSR, Earth. Tau Ceti: Regional Headquarters in Mendell City, Biesel; two major equipment manufacturing facilities in District 10.
Executives
Chief Executive Officer: Hanru De Beers
Chief Research Officer: Nokwanda Ndebele
Chief Engineering Officer: Willem Jacobs
Chief Communications Officer: Mnqobi Mbeki
Chief Financial Officer: Kavi Moonsamy
History
Founded in August 2099 by Andre Jacobs, Ingkom has a long intertwined history with South Africa and its aggressive expansion into Southern Africa, and its interference in Central Africa. Initially a state-owned enterprise was tasked with rebuilding the destroyed infrastructure of Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Eswatini after several successful military campaigns had rendered them territories. Early successes experienced by Ingkom resulted in its quick rise to importance within the South African economy, mostly due to reconstructions that allowed resource extraction operations to resume. The majority of the developed regions of these newly acquired territories were a direct result of Ingkom, and after sanctions had lifted, allowed them to prosper and expand into the international market - mostly through Zavodskoi’s acquiring of the corporation as a subsidiary.
Corporate Relations
Einstein Engines
Einstein Engines and Zavodskoi have a fairly neutral relationship - though the two do compete in the robotics sector, Zavodskoi has purchased many Einstein-made warp drives for its vessels over the years, and the two have both had generous supply contracts with the Solarian military in the past. In the modern day, Zavodskoi has lost a great deal of these contracts, while Einstein continues to hold many highly valuable government and military contracts - a factor which contributed to Zavodskoi's withdrawal of much of its Solarian business. In spite of this, it continues to purchase warp drives from Einstein frequently, due to the rising cost of phoron fuel and the easy availability of helium-3 from Zavodskoi's new home in the Empire of Dominia.
Hephaestus Industries
Hephaestus and Zavodskoi are long-enduring rivals, with the two megacorporations competing extensively in industry, manufacturing, robotics and engineering fields for decades. Mutual sabotage and espionage are common between Hephaestus and Zavodskoi, with both corporations having extensively bankrolled privateers, saboteurs and other plausibly deniable agents to sabotage their rivals. As Zavodskoi has expanded into the Empire of Dominia and Hephaestus into the Izweski Hegemony, the Sparring Sea and Badlands have become two of the largest modern battlegrounds for the megacorporations, with corporate-funded pirates commonly targeting one another's vessels. Beyond the use of privateers, Zavodskoi has often been accused of funding radical anti-Hephaestus groups within the Izweski Hegemony, most notably the Champions of Moghes - a terrorist organization which has remained suspiciously well-equipped and well-informed of Hephaestus operations. Hephaestus, meanwhile, has often been suspected of bankrolling various Dominian rebel groups in recent years, in the hopes of weakening Zavodskoi's large investment in the Empire's development. Shared membership in the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate has done nothing to quell the two giants' bitter feud, with only the shared threat of the phoron crisis forcing them into cooperation.
Idris Incorporated
Zavodskoi and Idris have been frequent competitors in the fields of security and IPC manufacturing, leading to a long-running mutual rivalry between the two corporation. Lyudmila Zavodskoi is known to have a personal distaste for Alex Mason, and Zavodskoi has frequently undercut Idris security operations in the Sol Alliance and Republic of Biesel. Zavodskoi employees are strongly discouraged from using Idris financial services, which NanoTrasen has done its best to encourage as many Zavodskoi employees in Biesel opt to make use of NanoTrasen banks instead. Idris has marketed its security division extensively as a high-class security option, with unstated implications of the marketing casting other corporations' security as little better than thuggish mercenaries, which Zavodskoi unsuccessfully attempted to sue Idris over. Though their rivalry is not as intense as that of Zavodskoi and Hephaestus, the two corporations remain on far from friendly terms.
NanoTrasen
Zavodskoi and NanoTrasen maintain a decent relationship, with little open conflict between the two corporations. Since the beginning of the phoron scarcity, however, Zavodskoi has taken full advantage of NanoTrasen's waning power in the Republic of Biesel, expanding its arms industry into the Republic. Since the formation of the Tau Ceti Armed Forces and the negotiation of several new supply contracts with Biesel's government, Zavodskoi has managed to take a great deal of business from NanoTrasen - seizing NT's position as the Republic's main weapons supplier. Though NanoTrasen still holds onto their original contract for the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion, the Minutemen and Republican Fleet are both almost entirely outfitted with Zavodskoi-made weapons, armor, and voidsuits. NanoTrasen has attempted to counteract this influence through the recent appointment of Nathan Trasen as Secretary of Defense - but even with a Trasen in such a prestigious position, Zavodskoi has still managed to secure a solid grasp on the Republic's military industry. NanoTrasen has increased funding to Nexus Corporate Security several times in an effort to use their newly-formed PMC to undermine Zavodskoi's security business in the Corporate Reconstruction Zone, with some measure of success.
Orion Express
Zavodskoi contributed large portions of its logistics division to Orion Express, and has maintained a decent relationship with the logistics corporation. Though their Solarian business has been scaled back substantially, Zavodskoi still relies on Orion vessels for transport of its goods in the Alliance, and Orion has been known to favor Zavodskoi security when outside force is required for particularly troublesome work. Orion's ties to Hephaestus are the largest source of tension between the two corporations, and Zavodskoi is rumored to have attempted to seed several of its own agents within Orion-Hephaestus joint operations in order to gather intelligence on their rival.
Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals
When Zavodskoi Interstellar was still known as Necropolis Industries, it was Zeng-Hu's major rival in the genetics sector, leading to fierce competition between the two corporations. Rumors of sabotage and corporate espionage were commonplace, and the theft of company secrets was commonplace on both sides. Following the rebrand to Zavodskoi Interstellar, however, the corporation has significantly cut back on its genetics division, leaving Zeng-Hu as a mostly unchallenged monopoly in the field. With the two megacorporations no longer in direct competition, the relationship between them has warmed significantly, with Zavodskoi choosing instead to redouble its efforts against its main rival, Hephaestus Industries. Though the two do still compete in the robotics sector, so far this has been far less of a source of tension between them.
Relations
Stellar Corporate Conglomerate
The newly founded Conglomerate’s ties with Zavodskoi are blatant with a newly founded Corporate Force Projection Fleet bearing weapons, munitions and equipment of Zavodskoi make across the board. From high-end starship pieces to antique small arms, Zavodskoi provides it all, making them a key player in the Conglomerate’s private military. This newfound niche has led to a resurgence of its presence galaxy-wide, and cooperation with the other megacorporations has proven very profitable.
Synthetics
Since its rebranding from Necropolis Industries, Zavodskoi Interstellar often employs synthetics as precise, dextrous labour in machining, manufacturing and blanket industrial work. Many stubborn advocates of hand-crafting and several subsidiaries oriented around quality have made large steps towards vilifying these robotic mechanics, claiming that the “organic touch” is the key to quality, rather than objective fact. This case often seeps down to the working persons of the company through rough opinions of the synthetics which threaten the work of their lives. Contrarily, major steps to save the company face have echoed from executives, painting out a confusing and chaotic internal struggle against synthetics in the company.
The Empire of Dominia
Since its arrival in the Dominian industrial scene, Zavodskoi has made headway to monopolizing itself over the fledgling empire as best it can, to decent success. Its sway in the Imperial politics up high remains a mystery, but the certainty of Zavodskoi presence across the Empire’s domain is all there. In recent times, the company can be found reaching out to various establishments in the Empire in an attempt to, for whatever reason it can make up, buy them out. Whether this is a pitiful desperate attempt to grab power or grow a new monopoly is on you to decide.
