{"data":{"id":16513,"title":"Portfolio: Crusader Industries","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/comm-link\/spectrum-dispatch\/16513-Portfolio-Crusader-Industries","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-links\/16513","api_public_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/comm-links\/16513","channel":"Undefined","category":"Undefined","series":"Portfolio","images":[{"id":3682,"name":"Starliner_action4_altComp.jpg","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/media\/grmkwa87qwtbgr\/source\/Starliner_action4_altComp.jpg","alt":"","size":1232150,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","last_modified":"2015-06-26T21:30:03+00:00","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/3682","similar_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/3682\/similar"},{"id":22602,"name":"CRUSADER_logo_compact.jpg","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/media\/o2k7x8n05zl51r\/source\/CRUSADER_logo_compact.jpg","alt":"","size":1358163,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","last_modified":"2018-04-11T18:06:41+00:00","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/22602","similar_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/22602\/similar"},{"id":26463,"name":"source.jpg","rsi_url":"https:\/\/media.robertsspaceindustries.com\/weozjmuuh3hwh\/source.jpg","alt":"","size":843046,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","last_modified":"2019-09-19T15:49:32+00:00","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/26463","similar_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/26463\/similar"}],"images_count":9,"translations":{"en_EN":"Writer\u2019s Note: Portfolio: Crusader Industries was published originally as a Subscriber Exclusive on April 11, 2018.\nMakers of the Genesis passenger starliner, an extensive fleet of cargo transport ships, and cutting edge shuttles, Crusader Industries is a titan of the aerospace industry; a company so powerful and prominent that it purchased a gas giant in the Stanton system to house its current headquarters. Despite its extraordinary success, founder August Dunlow was always proudest of the company\u2019s commitment to charitable work and, to this day, Crusader Industries remains one of the most generous corporate donors to nonprofits across the UEE.\n\nAs Dunlow famously said, \u201cWhat good are profits if they don\u2019t lead to progress?\u201d Over the years, some have interpreted this quote to mean that businesses need to constantly invest in themselves to stay on the cutting edge, a strategy Dunlow deployed as CEO. However, according to Francine Konello, author of Dunlow\u2019s authorized biography, the \u2018progress\u2019 Dunlow so passionately advocated was social, rather than financial. The betterment of Humanity was a lifelong passion ever since he witnessed, and was forever changed by, one of the most shocking events in UEE history.\n\nInnocence Lost\nAugust Dunlow awoke early on August 12, 2781. Too excited to sleep, he put on his uniform, ate breakfast, and rushed to school. The eleven-year-old was one of several model students selected to stand in a prominent position along the procession route through Angeli and enthusiastically wave a UEE flag as Imperator Messer X passed. Dunlow wholeheartedly fulfilled his duty, then watched from afar as the Imperator\u2019s cavalcade crept across the Caravac Bridgeway toward Khanos Stadium. He had the perfect view when the stadium exploded, sending rubble and chaos across the city. The violence triggered a coup by dissatisfied members of the military. After a night of intense battle, Imperator Messer X was dead and his cruel and ambitious son Linton, who had secretly orchestrated the attack with his sister Fiona, was quick to claim the throne. This historic moment not only changed the UEE, but started Dunlow down a path that would lead to the creation of Crusader Industries.\n\nThe destruction of Khanos Stadium killed Dunlow\u2019s mother and gravely wounded his father. They, like many Angeli residents, had been required to attend the stadium\u2019s opening ceremony. In the wake of the disaster, Dunlow dropped out of school to earn money to care for his father. At first, the boy found work with the labor crews hired to clear debris, but that job soon dried up and it wasn\u2019t long before Dunlow and his father found themselves destitute. Without money to afford a home, much less the medication needed to keep him alive, his father passed away during the year and a half that Dunlow spent on the streets. Outside of his father\u2019s death, little is known about this time in his life. Dunlow refused to discuss this period with anyone, including close friends. What he did make clear is that it was only through the generosity of Angeli\u2019s Angels, a nonprofit youth homeless shelter, that Dunlow eventually managed to get off the streets. That incredible act of kindness was not forgotten and inspired Dunlow on his first crusade to improve the UEE.\n\nEarly Activism\nDunlow received a scholarship to the University of Angeli and double-majored in business and political science. He became a fervent anti-Messer activist and proved adept at turning ideas into action, inspiring others to the cause. His public profile grew along with the size and scope of the anti-Messer rallies he began organizing.\n\nOne day, an illness kept him from boarding a ship destined for a massive anti-Messer summit in Terra. The ship exploded in-atmosphere, killing all on board. The Department of Transportation and Navigation deemed it a tragic accident, but Dunlow and others disputed the finding. Fearing that political dissidents were being targeted for assassination, his fellow activists smuggled Dunlow into Xi\u2019an space, where he laid low and worked behind the scenes. However, when the Massacre of Garron II occurred in 2792, he refused to stay hidden any longer. With the help of Xi\u2019an who supported the cause, he re-emerged to organize massive protests in Angeli. The tides of history had turned and the Messer regime was deposed within weeks.\n\nFollowing the fall, Dunlow moved to Earth and became a prominent advocate of government reform. He joined a civil rights lobbying firm and the halls of power soon wore away his naivety, making Dunlow realize that the best of intentions meant nothing without financial support. Rightly or wrongly, those with deep pockets could guarantee that their voices were heard. It was then that he decided that if he really wanted to make a difference, he would need to switch to the private sector.\n\nThe fall of the Messer regime led the UEE to reconsider many existing government contracts. Dunlow recognized that there were serious credits to be made which could then be used to support charities. He also realized that his time sweet-talking Senators left him with an extensive list of contacts that could help him secure government-funded work. Now, all he needed was a company.\n\nSeraphim Systems\nDunlow searched for an existing enterprise that wasn\u2019t maximizing its potential. Seraphim Systems, a small shuttlecraft manufacturer based in Tram, became his target. The company produced excellent planetary shuttles, but in limited quantities. It had begun to lose business because customers were unwilling to wait out the long delivery times, and it was unable to find the capital to expand its operations due to its location. A few years earlier, businesses had fled Asura following unfounded accusations from Imperator Messer XI. Fearing government sanctions as retribution, the bottom had fallen out of the market and the local economy all but collapsed. Dunlow thought that if he could get external investors, he would be able to accelerate production and rapidly grow the company without much capital expenditure. He also knew that it would be politically advantageous for Senators to grant government contracts to a company in a system wronged by the Messer regime.\n\nDunlow compiled a business plan, courted investors, and offered to buy a majority stake in Seraphim Systems. Much to his surprise, the company\u2019s board of directors rallied around CEO Janna Malone and rejected the offer. Lengthy negotiations began between the two sides but were almost derailed over a single sticking point, the company\u2019s name.\n\nDunlow disliked \u201cSeraphim\u201d but Malone argued against a change. Much like previous Seraphim CEOs, Malone was a deeply religious individual who believed the image was essential to its identity. Dunlow spent a weekend with Malone and her family explaining his desire to use the company as a platform to promote positive change. Once again, his powers of persuasion prevailed, and they compromised by calling the company Crusader Industries. As Malone wrote to her employees on the eve of the sale, \u201cOur new name, Crusader Industries, should be considered a commitment by the company not only to innovate and stay on the forefront of our field, but to vigorously advocate for what is morally right across this planet, system, and even the Empire.\u201d\n\nAdvance and Expansion\nCrusader Industries officially incorporated in 2799 and, as part of the sale, Dunlow became CEO. He deployed the investor\u2019s seed money to expand operations and used his Senate contacts to land a government contract in 2801. That year marked major profits for the company and the inauguration of a policy that continues to this day: a significant portion of profits are earmarked for charitable causes.\n\nThe company steadily grew, but Dunlow was eager to expand its donations. To do that, they would need to move beyond government contracts and secure a larger profit margin in the civilian sector. However, cutthroat competition made further expansion into the existing market difficult. For Crusader to truly become the company Dunlow envisioned, it would need another big idea. No one anticipated just how big it would be.\n\nDunlow credited Axel Adamson, then a warehouse manager, for the idea that forever changed Crusader. On a conference call addressing production delays caused by overdue shipments, Adamson exclaimed, \u201cIf we had our own fleet, I guarantee that this wouldn\u2019t happen.\u201d An exploration into the cost of procuring Crusader\u2019s own fleet opened Dunlow\u2019s eyes to an exciting new opportunity. Numerous large ship manufacturers had folded during the economic turmoil of the last decade. As he later said, \u201cIf we can make shuttles, why can\u2019t we make bigger ships?\u201d\n\nDunlow drew up a business plan and presented it to the board of directors. Initially, opposition was strong, but after a year of debate, the idea was narrowly approved. Convinced that the company\u2019s future hinged on the success of the interplanetary craft division, Dunlow recruited some of the best and brightest engineers and designers by offering them significant pay increases and stock options.\n\nIn 2812, Crusader\u2019s first carrier, the Jupiter, rolled off production lines. At first, it solely used the Jupiter to deliver its shuttles to other markets, but it wasn\u2019t long before word of the ship\u2019s solid craftsmanship got around and orders trickled in. Sales rose quickly after the first year and surpassed the company\u2019s production capacity. Careful not to repeat the mistake that Seraphim had made, Dunlow immediately reinvested profits into additional production facilities around the Empire. The Army even signed a new contract with the company to use its vehicle transports to move ground-craft to the frontlines. To the pride of Dunlow, his ships were also vital in bringing government aid across the Empire to war-torn areas that needed help the most.\n\nMeanwhile, to celebrate the company\u2019s success, Crusader Industries became, and remains to this day, the primary source of funding for Angeli\u2019s Angels, the non-profit that saved Dunlow from a life on the streets.\n\nCaplan\u2019s Plan\nAugust Dunlow remained Crusader Industries CEO for nearly five decades, retiring in 2846 to focus full time on philanthropy. Several CEOs followed in his wake. Each one committed to Dunlow\u2019s promise to devote a percentage of profits to charitable organizations, though some did so with more gusto than others.\n\n\n\nTo the shock of industry insiders, Crusader named Kelly Caplan CEO in 2863. A ship designer by trade, she had worked for the company ever since landing an internship with the design department while in graduate school. She was a major part of the team that built the company\u2019s first signature starliner. Thanks in large part to her innovative design, the launch of the Genesis-class vessel was a huge success, and before long most major transport companies were using Crusader ships. For a brief time, taking a vacation was referred to as \u201cgoing on a crusade.\u201d Yet, many stockholders were unsure if she had the business acumen to run the company. It wasn\u2019t just the singularity of experience that scared some; even more alarming were her radical ideas on how to reform it.\n\nIn 2865, Caplan convinced Crusader\u2019s board of directors to purchase a low-mass gas giant and its three moons in the Stanton system from the UEE. Caplan was convinced that the latticework of floating platforms built by the military would be an ideal place to save credits on the construction of their massive ships. She was right. After consolidating operations there, Crusader reportedly saved 40% on the backend. A significant portion of those savings was passed along to the consumer, while they also provided increased support to charitable organizations.\n\nDespite her successes, Caplan\u2019s tenure as Crusader CEO has not been without controversy. A plan to encourage other companies to establish outposts on Crusader\u2019s three moons (Cellin, Daymar, and Yela) was considered a disappointment due to the rules being too onerous. Recently, the company also came under fire when an independent watchdog group proved that Crusader\u2019s crime stats were not accurate. While the company has since revised its protocols to address the issue, it has become clear that policing and protecting an entire planet and its three moons has proven more difficult and expensive than expected.\n\nToday, Crusader remains atop the list of companies providing charitable donations. The good that it has enabled across the empire is undeniable. However, some critics have questioned whether more good could come if the company reduced its charitable spending to provide stricter security. One expert called Crusader\u2019s rising security costs \u201cthe biggest financial threat to the future of the company.\u201d\n\nAfter nearly a century and a half of success, powered in part by its willingness to adapt, one wonders if Crusader needs another radical idea to help it overcome its latest obstacle and if the company will once again find a smooth course to fly.","de_DE":"Crusader Industries, Hersteller des Genesis Passagier-Sternliners, einer umfangreichen Flotte von Frachtschiffen und modernster Shuttles, ist ein Titan der Luft- und Raumfahrtindustrie. Es ist ein so m\u00e4chtiges und bekanntes Unternehmen, dass es einen Gasriesen im Stanton-System gekauft hat, um seinen heutigen Hauptsitz unterzubringen. Trotz dieses au\u00dfergew\u00f6hnlichen Erfolgs war Gr\u00fcnder August Dunlow immer stolz auf das Engagement des Unternehmens f\u00fcr gemeinn\u00fctzige Zwecke, und bis heute ist Crusader Industries einer der gro\u00dfz\u00fcgigsten Unternehmensspender f\u00fcr gemeinn\u00fctzige Organisationen in der gesamten UEE.\n\nWie Dunlow ber\u00fchmt sagte: \"Was n\u00fctzen Gewinne, wenn sie nicht zu Fortschritten f\u00fchren?\" Im Laufe der Jahre haben einige das Angebot so interpretiert, dass Unternehmen st\u00e4ndig in sich selbst investieren m\u00fcssen, um auf dem neuesten Stand zu bleiben, eine Strategie, die Dunlow als CEO einsetzt. Laut Francine Konello, Autorin von Dunlows autorisierter Biographie, war der so leidenschaftlich bef\u00fcrwortete \"Fortschritt\" Dunlow jedoch eher sozial als finanziell. Die Verbesserung der Menschheit war eine lebenslange Leidenschaft, seit er Zeuge wurde, und wurde f\u00fcr immer durch eines der schockierendsten Ereignisse in der Geschichte der UEE ver\u00e4ndert.\n\nVerlorene Unschuld\nAugust Dunlow erwachte fr\u00fch am 12. August 2781. Zu aufgeregt zum Schlafen, zog er seine Uniform an, fr\u00fchst\u00fcckte und eilte zur Schule. Der Elfj\u00e4hrige war einer von mehreren Mustersch\u00fclern, die ausgew\u00e4hlt wurden, um an prominenter Stelle entlang der Prozessionsstrecke durch Angeli zu stehen und begeistert mit einer UEE-Flagge zu winken, als Importeur Messer X vorbeikam. Dunlow erf\u00fcllte seine Pflicht von ganzem Herzen und sah dann von weitem zu, wie sich die Kavalkade des Imperators \u00fcber die Caravac-Br\u00fccke zum Khanos-Stadion kroch. Er hatte die perfekte Aussicht, als das Stadion explodierte und Schutt und Chaos durch die Stadt schickte. Die Gewalt l\u00f6ste einen Putsch durch unzufriedene Angeh\u00f6rige des Milit\u00e4rs aus. Nach einer Nacht intensiver Schlacht war Imperator Messer X tot, und sein grausamer und ehrgeiziger Sohn Linton, der den Angriff heimlich mit seiner Schwester Fiona organisiert hatte, beanspruchte schnell den Thron. Dieser historische Moment ver\u00e4nderte nicht nur die UEE, sondern begann Dunlow auf einem Weg, der zur Gr\u00fcndung von Crusader Industries f\u00fchren w\u00fcrde.\n\nDie Zerst\u00f6rung des Khanos-Stadions t\u00f6tete Dunlows Mutter und verletzte seinen Vater schwer. Sie waren, wie viele Angeli-Bewohner, verpflichtet, an der Er\u00f6ffnungsfeier des Stadions teilzunehmen. Nach der Katastrophe verlie\u00df Dunlow die Schule, um sich um die schweren Verletzungen seines Vaters zu k\u00fcmmern. Zuerst fand der Junge Arbeit mit den Arbeitern, die f\u00fcr die R\u00e4umung von Tr\u00fcmmern eingestellt wurden, aber dieser Job trocknete bald aus und es dauerte nicht lange, bis Dunlow und sein Vater mittellos wurden. Ohne Geld, um sich ein Zuhause zu leisten, geschweige denn die Medikamente, die n\u00f6tig waren, um ihn am Leben zu erhalten, starb sein Vater in den anderthalb Jahren, die Dunlow auf der Stra\u00dfe verbrachte. Au\u00dfer dem Tod seines Vaters ist \u00fcber diese Zeit in seinem Leben wenig bekannt. Dunlow weigerte sich, diese Zeit mit jemandem zu besprechen, einschlie\u00dflich enger Freunde. Was er deutlich gemacht hat, ist, dass es nur durch die Gro\u00dfz\u00fcgigkeit von Angeli's Angels, einem gemeinn\u00fctzigen Obdachlosenheim f\u00fcr Jugendliche, gelang, dass Dunlow schlie\u00dflich von der Stra\u00dfe kam. Dieser unglaubliche Akt der Freundlichkeit wurde nicht vergessen und inspirierte Dunlow bei seinem ersten Kreuzzug zur Verbesserung der UEE.\n\nFr\u00fcher Aktivismus\nDunlow erhielt ein Stipendium an der University of Angeli und absolvierte ein Doppelstudium in Wirtschafts- und Politikwissenschaft. Er wurde ein leidenschaftlicher Anti-Messer-Aktivist und erwies sich als geschickt darin, Ideen in die Tat umzusetzen und andere f\u00fcr die Sache zu begeistern. Sein \u00f6ffentliches Profil wuchs mit der Gr\u00f6\u00dfe und dem Umfang der Anti-Messer-Kundgebungen, die er zu organisieren begann.\n\nEines Tages hielt ihn eine Krankheit davon ab, ein Schiff zu besteigen, das f\u00fcr einen massiven Anti-Messer-Gipfel in Terra bestimmt war. Das Schiff explodierte in der Atmosph\u00e4re und t\u00f6tete alle an Bord. Das Verkehrsministerium hielt es f\u00fcr einen tragischen Unfall, aber Dunlow und andere stritten die Feststellung. Aus Angst, dass politische Dissidenten zur Zielscheibe eines Attentats werden k\u00f6nnten, schmuggelten seine Mitaktivisten Dunlow in den Raum Xi'an, wo er sich zur\u00fcckhielt und hinter den Kulissen arbeitete. Als das Massaker von Garron II. im Jahr 2792 stattfand, weigerte er sich jedoch, sich weiter zu verstecken. Mit Hilfe von Xi'an, der die Sache unterst\u00fctzte, tauchte er wieder auf, um massive Proteste in Angeli zu organisieren. Die Wende in der Geschichte war erfolgt, und das Messer-Regime wurde innerhalb weniger Wochen abgesetzt.\n\nNach dem Sturz zog Dunlow auf die Erde und wurde ein prominenter Verfechter der Regierungsreform. Er schloss sich einer Lobbyfirma f\u00fcr B\u00fcrgerrechte an, und die Machthallen verschlei\u00dfen bald seine Naivit\u00e4t und machen Dunlow klar, dass die besten Absichten ohne finanzielle Unterst\u00fctzung nichts zu bedeuten haben. Richtig oder falsch, diejenigen mit tiefen Taschen konnten garantieren, dass ihre Stimmen geh\u00f6rt wurden. Damals entschied er, dass er, wenn er wirklich etwas bewegen wollte, in die Privatwirtschaft wechseln m\u00fcsse.\n\nDer Fall des Messer-Regimes veranlasste die UEE, viele Regierungsauftr\u00e4ge zu k\u00fcndigen. Dunlow erkannte, dass es ernsthafte Kredite zu vergeben gab, die dann zur Unterst\u00fctzung von Wohlt\u00e4tigkeitsorganisationen verwendet werden konnten. Er stellte auch fest, dass seine Zeit, die Senatoren s\u00fc\u00df spricht, ihn mit einer umfangreichen Liste der Kontakte lie\u00df, die helfen konnten, solch einen Regierungsvertrag zu sichern. Alles, was er brauchte, war eine Firma, die eine landen konnte.\n\nSeraphim-Systeme\nDunlow suchte nach einem bestehenden Unternehmen, das sein Potenzial nicht aussch\u00f6pfte. Seraphim Systems, ein kleiner Shuttle-Hersteller mit Sitz in Tram, wurde sein Ziel. Das Unternehmen produzierte ausgezeichnete planetarische Shuttles, aber in begrenzten Mengen. Sie hatten begonnen, Gesch\u00e4fte zu verlieren, weil die Kunden nicht bereit waren, die langen Lieferzeiten abzuwarten, und sie konnten aufgrund ihrer Lage kein Kapital finden, um ihren Betrieb zu erweitern. Einige Jahre zuvor waren Unternehmen aus Asura geflohen, nachdem sie unbegr\u00fcndete Anschuldigungen von Importeur Messer XI erhoben hatten. Aus Angst vor staatlichen Sanktionen als Vergeltung war der Boden vom Markt gefallen und die lokale Wirtschaft brach fast zusammen. Dunlow dachte, wenn er externe Investoren gewinnen k\u00f6nnte, k\u00f6nnte er die Produktion beschleunigen und das Unternehmen ohne gro\u00dfe Investitionen schnell wachsen lassen. Er wusste auch, dass es f\u00fcr die Senatoren politisch vorteilhaft w\u00e4re, Regierungsauftr\u00e4ge an ein Unternehmen in einem vom Messer-Regime gesch\u00e4digten System zu vergeben.\n\nDunlow erstellte einen Businessplan, warb um Investoren und bot an, eine Mehrheitsbeteiligung an Seraphim Systems zu erwerben. Zu seiner \u00dcberraschung versammelte sich der Vorstand des Unternehmens um CEO Janna Malone und lehnte das Angebot ab. Lange Verhandlungen begannen zwischen den beiden Seiten, waren aber wegen eines einzigen Knackpunktes, dem Namen des Unternehmens, fast entgleist.\n\nDunlow mochte \"Seraphim\" nicht, aber Malone argumentierte gegen eine Ver\u00e4nderung. \u00c4hnlich wie fr\u00fchere CEOs der Seraphim war Malone ein tief religi\u00f6ses Individuum, das glaubte, dass das Bild f\u00fcr seine Identit\u00e4t wesentlich war. Dunlow verbrachte ein Wochenende mit Malone und ihrer Familie und erkl\u00e4rte, dass er das Unternehmen als Plattform f\u00fcr positive Ver\u00e4nderungen nutzen m\u00f6chte. Wieder einmal herrschte seine \u00dcberzeugungskraft vor, und sie kompromittierten, indem sie die Firma Crusader Industries anriefen. Wie Malone am Vorabend des Verkaufs an ihre Mitarbeiter schrieb: \"Unser neuer Name, Crusader Industries, sollte als Verpflichtung des Unternehmens angesehen werden, nicht nur zu innovieren und an der Spitze unseres Feldes zu bleiben, sondern sich auch energisch f\u00fcr das einzusetzen, was moralisch auf diesem Planeten, System und sogar im Imperium gilt\".\n\nFortschritt und Expansion\nCrusader Industries wurde 2799 offiziell gegr\u00fcndet und Dunlow wurde im Rahmen des Verkaufs CEO. Er setzte das Startkapital des Investors ein, um den Betrieb auszuweiten, und nutzte seine Kontakte zum Senat, um 2801 einen Regierungsvertrag zu erhalten. In diesem Jahr wurden gro\u00dfe Gewinne f\u00fcr das Unternehmen und die Einf\u00fchrung einer Politik erzielt, die bis heute andauert: Ein erheblicher Teil dieser Gewinne wurde f\u00fcr wohlt\u00e4tige Zwecke verwendet.\n\nDas Unternehmen wuchs stetig, aber Dunlow war begierig darauf, seine Spenden zu erweitern. Dazu m\u00fcssten sie \u00fcber ihre Regierungsvertr\u00e4ge hinausgehen und eine gr\u00f6\u00dfere Gewinnspanne im zivilen Sektor sichern. Der Verdr\u00e4ngungswettbewerb erschwerte jedoch die weitere Expansion in den bestehenden Markt. Damit Crusader wirklich das Unternehmen werden kann, das Dunlow sich vorgestellt hat, braucht es eine weitere gro\u00dfe Idee. Niemand erwartete, wie gro\u00df sie sein w\u00fcrde.\n\nDunlow w\u00fcrdigte Axel Adamson, damals Lagerverwalter, f\u00fcr die Idee, die Kreuzritter f\u00fcr immer ver\u00e4nderte. Adamson rief in einer Telefonkonferenz zu Produktionsverz\u00f6gerungen durch \u00fcberf\u00e4llige Sendungen aus: \"Wenn wir \u00fcber einen eigenen Fuhrpark verf\u00fcgten, garantiere ich, dass dies nicht passieren w\u00fcrde.\" Eine Untersuchung der Kosten f\u00fcr die Anschaffung einer eigenen Flotte \u00f6ffnete Dunlow die Augen f\u00fcr eine aufregende neue Gelegenheit. Zahlreiche gro\u00dfe Schiffshersteller waren w\u00e4hrend der wirtschaftlichen Turbulenzen des letzten Jahrzehnts zusammengebrochen. Wie er sp\u00e4ter sagte: \"Wenn wir Shuttles bauen k\u00f6nnen, warum k\u00f6nnen wir dann keine gr\u00f6\u00dferen Schiffe bauen?\"\n\nDunlow erstellte einen Businessplan und legte ihn dem Vorstand vor. Anfangs war die Opposition stark, aber nach einem Jahr der Debatte wurde die Idee nur knapp angenommen. Dunlow war davon \u00fcberzeugt, dass die Zukunft des Unternehmens vom Erfolg der interplanetaren Schiffsabteilung abh\u00e4ngt, und rekrutierte einige der besten und kl\u00fcgsten Ingenieure und Konstrukteure, indem er ihnen erhebliche Gehaltserh\u00f6hungen und Aktienoptionen anbot.\n\nIm Jahr 2812 rollte der erste Tr\u00e4ger von Crusader, der Jupiter, von den Produktionslinien. Zuerst benutzten sie den Jupiter nur, um ihre Shuttles an andere M\u00e4rkte zu liefern, aber es dauerte nicht lange, bis die Nachricht \u00fcber die solide Handwerkskunst des Schiffes kam und Auftr\u00e4ge eintrafen. Der Umsatz stieg nach dem ersten Jahr schnell an und \u00fcbertraf die Produktionskapazit\u00e4t des Unternehmens. Dunlow war vorsichtig, den Fehler, den Seraphim gemacht hatte, nicht zu wiederholen und investierte die Gewinne sofort in zus\u00e4tzliche Produktionsst\u00e4tten im ganzen Reich. Die Armee unterzeichnete sogar einen neuen Vertrag mit dem Unternehmen, um mit ihren Fahrzeugtransporten Bodenfahrzeuge an die Frontlinie zu bringen. Zum Stolz von Dunlow waren seine Schiffe auch entscheidend daf\u00fcr, dass die staatliche Hilfe durch das Imperium in Kriegsgebiete gebracht wurde, die am meisten Hilfe brauchten.\n\nUm den Erfolg des Unternehmens zu feiern, wurde und wird Crusader Industries zur Hauptfinanzierungsquelle f\u00fcr Angeli's Angels, die gemeinn\u00fctzige Organisation, die Dunlow vor einem Leben auf der Stra\u00dfe rettete.\n\nCaplan's Plan\nAugust Dunlow blieb fast acht Jahrzehnte lang CEO von Crusader Industries und ging 2876 in den Ruhestand, um sich ganz auf die Philanthropie zu konzentrieren. Zahlreiche CEOs folgten ihm. Jeder von ihnen verpflichtete sich zu Dunlows Versprechen, einen Teil der Gewinne f\u00fcr gemeinn\u00fctzige Organisationen zu verwenden, obwohl einige dies mit mehr Begeisterung taten als andere.\n\n\nCrusader ernannte Kelly Caplan 2905 zum CEO, zum Schock der Brancheninsider. Als Schiffsdesignerin von Beruf arbeitete sie f\u00fcr das Unternehmen, seit sie w\u00e4hrend ihres Studiums ein Praktikum in der Designabteilung absolvierte. Sie war ein wichtiger Teil des Teams, das den ersten Starliner des Unternehmens entwickelte. Die Einf\u00fchrung der Schiffe der Genesis-Klasse war ein gro\u00dfer Erfolg, nicht zuletzt dank ihres innovativen Designs, und schon bald nutzten die meisten gro\u00dfen Transportunternehmen Kreuzfahrtschiffe. F\u00fcr eine kurze Zeit wurde Urlaub als \"auf Kreuzzug gehen\" bezeichnet. Doch viele Aktion\u00e4re waren sich nicht sicher, ob sie den Gesch\u00e4ftssinn hatte, das Unternehmen zu f\u00fchren. Es war nicht nur die Einzigartigkeit der Erfahrung, die einige erschreckte; noch beunruhigender waren ihre radikalen Ideen, wie man sie reformieren kann.\n\nIm Jahr 2911 \u00fcberzeugte Caplan den Vorstand von Crusader, einen Gasriesen mit geringer Masse und seinen drei Monden im Stanton-System von der UEE zu kaufen. Caplan war \u00fcberzeugt, dass das vom Milit\u00e4r gebaute Gitterwerk aus schwimmenden Plattformen des Planeten ein idealer Ort sein w\u00fcrde, um Kredite f\u00fcr den Bau ihrer riesigen Schiffe zu sparen. Sie hatte Recht. Nach der Konsolidierung der dortigen Aktivit\u00e4ten hat Crusader Berichten zufolge 40% im Backend eingespart. Ein erheblicher Teil dieser Einsparungen wurde an die Verbraucher weitergegeben, w\u00e4hrend sie auch die Unterst\u00fctzung gemeinn\u00fctziger Organisationen erh\u00f6hten.\n\nTrotz ihrer Erfolge war Caplans Amtszeit als Crusader CEO nicht unumstritten. Ein Plan, andere Unternehmen zu ermutigen, Au\u00dfenposten auf den drei Monden von Kreuzritter (Cellin, Daymar und Yela) zu errichten, wurde als Entt\u00e4uschung angesehen, da die Regeln zu schwerf\u00e4llig waren. Vor kurzem geriet das Unternehmen auch unter Beschuss, als eine unabh\u00e4ngige \u00dcberwachungsgruppe bewies, dass die Kriminalit\u00e4tsstatistiken von Crusader nicht korrekt waren. W\u00e4hrend das Unternehmen inzwischen seine Protokolle \u00fcberarbeitet hat, um das Problem anzugehen, ist klar geworden, dass sich die Polizeiarbeit und der Schutz eines ganzen Planeten und seiner drei Monde als schwieriger und teurer erwiesen hat als erwartet.\n\nAuch heute noch steht Crusader auf der Liste der Unternehmen, die gemeinn\u00fctzige Spenden bereitstellen. Das Gute, das es im ganzen Reich erm\u00f6glicht hat, ist unbestreitbar. Einige Kritiker haben jedoch in Frage gestellt, ob mehr Gutes kommen k\u00f6nnte, wenn das Unternehmen seine gemeinn\u00fctzigen Ausgaben reduziert, um eine strengere Sicherheit zu gew\u00e4hrleisten. Ein Experte nannte die steigenden Sicherheitskosten von Crusader \"die gr\u00f6\u00dfte finanzielle Bedrohung f\u00fcr die Zukunft des Unternehmens\".\n\nNach fast anderthalb Jahrhunderten des Erfolgs, die zum Teil von der Bereitschaft zur Anpassung getragen werden, fragt man sich, ob Crusader eine andere radikale Idee braucht, um sein letztes Hindernis zu \u00fcberwinden, und ob das Unternehmen wieder einen reibungslosen Flugkurs finden wird.","zh_CN":"Writer\u2019s Note: Portfolio: Crusader Industries was published originally as a Subscriber Exclusive on April 11, 2018.\nMakers of the Genesis passenger starliner, an extensive fleet of cargo transport ships, and cutting edge shuttles, Crusader Industries is a titan of the aerospace industry; a company so powerful and prominent that it purchased a gas giant in the Stanton system to house its current headquarters. Despite its extraordinary success, founder August Dunlow was always proudest of the company\u2019s commitment to charitable work and, to this day, Crusader Industries remains one of the most generous corporate donors to nonprofits across the UEE.\n\nAs Dunlow famously said, \u201cWhat good are profits if they don\u2019t lead to progress?\u201d Over the years, some have interpreted this quote to mean that businesses need to constantly invest in themselves to stay on the cutting edge, a strategy Dunlow deployed as CEO. However, according to Francine Konello, author of Dunlow\u2019s authorized biography, the \u2018progress\u2019 Dunlow so passionately advocated was social, rather than financial. The betterment of Humanity was a lifelong passion ever since he witnessed, and was forever changed by, one of the most shocking events in UEE history.\n\nInnocence Lost\nAugust Dunlow awoke early on August 12, 2781. Too excited to sleep, he put on his uniform, ate breakfast, and rushed to school. The eleven-year-old was one of several model students selected to stand in a prominent position along the procession route through Angeli and enthusiastically wave a UEE flag as Imperator Messer X passed. Dunlow wholeheartedly fulfilled his duty, then watched from afar as the Imperator\u2019s cavalcade crept across the Caravac Bridgeway toward Khanos Stadium. He had the perfect view when the stadium exploded, sending rubble and chaos across the city. The violence triggered a coup by dissatisfied members of the military. After a night of intense battle, Imperator Messer X was dead and his cruel and ambitious son Linton, who had secretly orchestrated the attack with his sister Fiona, was quick to claim the throne. This historic moment not only changed the UEE, but started Dunlow down a path that would lead to the creation of Crusader Industries.\n\nThe destruction of Khanos Stadium killed Dunlow\u2019s mother and gravely wounded his father. They, like many Angeli residents, had been required to attend the stadium\u2019s opening ceremony. In the wake of the disaster, Dunlow dropped out of school to earn money to care for his father. At first, the boy found work with the labor crews hired to clear debris, but that job soon dried up and it wasn\u2019t long before Dunlow and his father found themselves destitute. Without money to afford a home, much less the medication needed to keep him alive, his father passed away during the year and a half that Dunlow spent on the streets. Outside of his father\u2019s death, little is known about this time in his life. Dunlow refused to discuss this period with anyone, including close friends. What he did make clear is that it was only through the generosity of Angeli\u2019s Angels, a nonprofit youth homeless shelter, that Dunlow eventually managed to get off the streets. That incredible act of kindness was not forgotten and inspired Dunlow on his first crusade to improve the UEE.\n\nEarly Activism\nDunlow received a scholarship to the University of Angeli and double-majored in business and political science. He became a fervent anti-Messer activist and proved adept at turning ideas into action, inspiring others to the cause. His public profile grew along with the size and scope of the anti-Messer rallies he began organizing.\n\nOne day, an illness kept him from boarding a ship destined for a massive anti-Messer summit in Terra. The ship exploded in-atmosphere, killing all on board. The Department of Transportation and Navigation deemed it a tragic accident, but Dunlow and others disputed the finding. Fearing that political dissidents were being targeted for assassination, his fellow activists smuggled Dunlow into Xi\u2019an space, where he laid low and worked behind the scenes. However, when the Massacre of Garron II occurred in 2792, he refused to stay hidden any longer. With the help of Xi\u2019an who supported the cause, he re-emerged to organize massive protests in Angeli. The tides of history had turned and the Messer regime was deposed within weeks.\n\nFollowing the fall, Dunlow moved to Earth and became a prominent advocate of government reform. He joined a civil rights lobbying firm and the halls of power soon wore away his naivety, making Dunlow realize that the best of intentions meant nothing without financial support. Rightly or wrongly, those with deep pockets could guarantee that their voices were heard. It was then that he decided that if he really wanted to make a difference, he would need to switch to the private sector.\n\nThe fall of the Messer regime led the UEE to reconsider many existing government contracts. Dunlow recognized that there were serious credits to be made which could then be used to support charities. He also realized that his time sweet-talking Senators left him with an extensive list of contacts that could help him secure government-funded work. Now, all he needed was a company.\n\nSeraphim Systems\nDunlow searched for an existing enterprise that wasn\u2019t maximizing its potential. Seraphim Systems, a small shuttlecraft manufacturer based in Tram, became his target. The company produced excellent planetary shuttles, but in limited quantities. It had begun to lose business because customers were unwilling to wait out the long delivery times, and it was unable to find the capital to expand its operations due to its location. A few years earlier, businesses had fled Asura following unfounded accusations from Imperator Messer XI. Fearing government sanctions as retribution, the bottom had fallen out of the market and the local economy all but collapsed. Dunlow thought that if he could get external investors, he would be able to accelerate production and rapidly grow the company without much capital expenditure. He also knew that it would be politically advantageous for Senators to grant government contracts to a company in a system wronged by the Messer regime.\n\nDunlow compiled a business plan, courted investors, and offered to buy a majority stake in Seraphim Systems. Much to his surprise, the company\u2019s board of directors rallied around CEO Janna Malone and rejected the offer. Lengthy negotiations began between the two sides but were almost derailed over a single sticking point, the company\u2019s name.\n\nDunlow disliked \u201cSeraphim\u201d but Malone argued against a change. Much like previous Seraphim CEOs, Malone was a deeply religious individual who believed the image was essential to its identity. Dunlow spent a weekend with Malone and her family explaining his desire to use the company as a platform to promote positive change. Once again, his powers of persuasion prevailed, and they compromised by calling the company Crusader Industries. As Malone wrote to her employees on the eve of the sale, \u201cOur new name, Crusader Industries, should be considered a commitment by the company not only to innovate and stay on the forefront of our field, but to vigorously advocate for what is morally right across this planet, system, and even the Empire.\u201d\n\nAdvance and Expansion\nCrusader Industries officially incorporated in 2799 and, as part of the sale, Dunlow became CEO. He deployed the investor\u2019s seed money to expand operations and used his Senate contacts to land a government contract in 2801. That year marked major profits for the company and the inauguration of a policy that continues to this day: a significant portion of profits are earmarked for charitable causes.\n\nThe company steadily grew, but Dunlow was eager to expand its donations. To do that, they would need to move beyond government contracts and secure a larger profit margin in the civilian sector. However, cutthroat competition made further expansion into the existing market difficult. For Crusader to truly become the company Dunlow envisioned, it would need another big idea. No one anticipated just how big it would be.\n\nDunlow credited Axel Adamson, then a warehouse manager, for the idea that forever changed Crusader. On a conference call addressing production delays caused by overdue shipments, Adamson exclaimed, \u201cIf we had our own fleet, I guarantee that this wouldn\u2019t happen.\u201d An exploration into the cost of procuring Crusader\u2019s own fleet opened Dunlow\u2019s eyes to an exciting new opportunity. Numerous large ship manufacturers had folded during the economic turmoil of the last decade. As he later said, \u201cIf we can make shuttles, why can\u2019t we make bigger ships?\u201d\n\nDunlow drew up a business plan and presented it to the board of directors. Initially, opposition was strong, but after a year of debate, the idea was narrowly approved. Convinced that the company\u2019s future hinged on the success of the interplanetary craft division, Dunlow recruited some of the best and brightest engineers and designers by offering them significant pay increases and stock options.\n\nIn 2812, Crusader\u2019s first carrier, the Jupiter, rolled off production lines. At first, it solely used the Jupiter to deliver its shuttles to other markets, but it wasn\u2019t long before word of the ship\u2019s solid craftsmanship got around and orders trickled in. Sales rose quickly after the first year and surpassed the company\u2019s production capacity. Careful not to repeat the mistake that Seraphim had made, Dunlow immediately reinvested profits into additional production facilities around the Empire. The Army even signed a new contract with the company to use its vehicle transports to move ground-craft to the frontlines. To the pride of Dunlow, his ships were also vital in bringing government aid across the Empire to war-torn areas that needed help the most.\n\nMeanwhile, to celebrate the company\u2019s success, Crusader Industries became, and remains to this day, the primary source of funding for Angeli\u2019s Angels, the non-profit that saved Dunlow from a life on the streets.\n\nCaplan\u2019s Plan\nAugust Dunlow remained Crusader Industries CEO for nearly five decades, retiring in 2846 to focus full time on philanthropy. Several CEOs followed in his wake. Each one committed to Dunlow\u2019s promise to devote a percentage of profits to charitable organizations, though some did so with more gusto than others.\n\n\n\nTo the shock of industry insiders, Crusader named Kelly Caplan CEO in 2863. A ship designer by trade, she had worked for the company ever since landing an internship with the design department while in graduate school. She was a major part of the team that built the company\u2019s first signature starliner. Thanks in large part to her innovative design, the launch of the Genesis-class vessel was a huge success, and before long most major transport companies were using Crusader ships. For a brief time, taking a vacation was referred to as \u201cgoing on a crusade.\u201d Yet, many stockholders were unsure if she had the business acumen to run the company. It wasn\u2019t just the singularity of experience that scared some; even more alarming were her radical ideas on how to reform it.\n\nIn 2865, Caplan convinced Crusader\u2019s board of directors to purchase a low-mass gas giant and its three moons in the Stanton system from the UEE. Caplan was convinced that the latticework of floating platforms built by the military would be an ideal place to save credits on the construction of their massive ships. She was right. After consolidating operations there, Crusader reportedly saved 40% on the backend. A significant portion of those savings was passed along to the consumer, while they also provided increased support to charitable organizations.\n\nDespite her successes, Caplan\u2019s tenure as Crusader CEO has not been without controversy. A plan to encourage other companies to establish outposts on Crusader\u2019s three moons (Cellin, Daymar, and Yela) was considered a disappointment due to the rules being too onerous. Recently, the company also came under fire when an independent watchdog group proved that Crusader\u2019s crime stats were not accurate. While the company has since revised its protocols to address the issue, it has become clear that policing and protecting an entire planet and its three moons has proven more difficult and expensive than expected.\n\nToday, Crusader remains atop the list of companies providing charitable donations. The good that it has enabled across the empire is undeniable. However, some critics have questioned whether more good could come if the company reduced its charitable spending to provide stricter security. One expert called Crusader\u2019s rising security costs \u201cthe biggest financial threat to the future of the company.\u201d\n\nAfter nearly a century and a half of success, powered in part by its willingness to adapt, one wonders if Crusader needs another radical idea to help it overcome its latest obstacle and if the company will once again find a smooth course to fly."},"links_count":0,"comment_count":37,"created_at":"2020-03-04T00:00:00+00:00","created_at_human":"6 years ago"},"meta":{"processed_at":"2026-05-16 19:26:13","valid_relations":["images","links"],"prev_id":16512,"next_id":16514}}