Portfolio: ArcCorp
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NOTE: This article was updated on March 2020 to better reflect the current design of the system.
The Company
Deemed a “mega-corporate monster” by the Terra Gazette for their growing portfolio consisting of acquired companies and even an entire planet, ArcCorp had previously been best known as the manufacturer of immensely popular quantum drives and thrusters. However, since their purchase of Stanton III from the UEE, their dedication to the creation of a privately-owned manufacturing world has overshadowed the company’s other accomplishments. With its place as one of the largest corporations in the Empire firmly intact, it is hard to believe that ArcCorp’s first iteration failed.
ArcCorp began as a deep-space exploration consortium in 2687. Started in a shipping container by a group of friends, the company aimed to use their lone Aurora spacecraft to locate and catalog jump points. Pooling credits (that included a lottery win and an unexpected inheritance) the quartet of friends began exploring the universe. They managed to discover a single jump point, but it was quickly deemed unstable and unsuitable for public use. Realizing that deep space exploration might not be the most fruitful endeavor, ArcCorp shifted their dwindling funds into the mining sector, and through a series of fortuitous moves acquired mineral rights to plots of land on newly discovered planets. Finding resources proved easier than jump points and it wasn’t long before the renamed ArcCorp Mining Consortium became significantly more profitable then the company had ever been before.
In the early 28th century, ArcCorp became involved with BCK, a massive conglomerate at the forefront of the terraforming industry. By then, ArcCorp had expanded beyond mineral rights and began to acquire land acquisitions to flip for planetary settlements. The positive synergy between the two companies resulted in record profits for both. ArcCorp’s expert salesmen could lockdown terraforming rights and have BCK process the world quickly and cheaply.
To the surprise of many, including BCK, ArcCorp used their skyrocketing profits to mount a hostile takeover of the terraforming company. The takeover was successful thanks to leaked documents revealing a series of scandals involving BCK’s CEO, but a later lawsuit claimed that ArcCorp paid a whistleblower to make the false accusations of corporate malfeasance. Even though the charges were eventually thrown out, there had been enough damage to BCK’s credibility that ArcCorp was able to move forward with the acquisition. It was neither the first nor the last time the company would be accused of dirty or unethical tactics when acquiring competitors.
In 2771, another event altered ArcCorp’s destiny. Looking to solve a problem with legacy orbital platforms, they acquired a small thruster manufacturer called NovaLight. Although the company had excellent engineers and a new line of thruster designs ready to ship, they lacked the infrastructure to mass manufacture, market, or sell them. The buyout, initially seen by observers as an overextension, lit a spark. While it took two quarters for ArcElite-branded thrusters to turn a profit, once word-of-mouth spread, they quickly became the preferred thrusters for many pilots. ArcCorp thrusters revolutionized the industry, and its technology is still considered the standard.
With two highly successful mergers under their belt, then CEO Carol Han quickly sought more acquisitions to expand ArcCorp’s growing portfolio. With the success of the ArcElite, the company’s manufacturing needs were rapidly growing, leading their next purchase to be a small maker of cargo-loader drones. From there, it seemed like almost every quarter there was a new announcement of a company or brand joining the ArcCorp family. This period of near non-stop growth was capped in 2865 when ArcCorp placed a bid for what would not only mark their largest purchases to date, but one of the biggest expenditures by a corporation in history.
The Planet
Stanton was first explored by the UEE after the system was discovered in 2851. The government used eminent domain to claim possession of the planet, and in 2865 sold it to ArcCorp, making them one of the few mega-corporations to own their own world. Construction began immediately and heavily influenced by the design mentality used in the sprawling Xi’an manufacturing planets to create a dedicated production world. ArcCorp employed construction methodologies common across the alien empire to promote the planet’s quick development. These techniques proved so successful that ArcCorp’s carefully calibrated resource supply chain couldn’t keep up with the pace of construction.
Today, this massive, terraformed super-Earth is one of the most industrialized worlds in the UEE. Nestled around the planet’s oceans and mountain ranges is a vast network of skyscrapers, factories, expansive warehouses, support service buildings, office spaces, and employee habitation centers. Though it may seem like a chaotic tangle of buildings when observed from orbit, there is actually a well-thought out methodology to the madness. ArcCorp employed organizational and supply chain experts when zoning and planning the planet. By strategically building manufacturing facilities across ArcCorp they were able to ease hauler traffic and allow for a steady flow of goods to and from the world. To make sure that manufacturing can continue round the clock, ArcCorp rotates production through different facilities, taking them offline at strategic times for routine maintenance. With this approach, the company also never runs at full capacity. Instead, they keep a percentage of their facilities idling, ready to be ramped up at a moment’s notice of a sudden surge in demand or a shut down at another plant.
Most importantly though, ArcCorp sought to open their industrial utopia to all companies. Inviting anyone to rent space and set up shop on their world, ArcCorp is different than the other private corporate planets in Stanton who prefer to restrict access to competition. Instead, ArcCorp has sought to bring as much business and infrastructure to their planet as possible. While some companies were at first worried about moving to the world due to ArcCorp’s aggressive acquisition practices, in the end the business friendly infrastructure was too tempting for many to pass up. Partitioning the planet into smaller lots differentiated by “Area” designations, companies looking to streamline their production process soon began flocking to ArcCorp. Rather than sourcing parts and resources from several different worlds, it is now possible for multiple companies to have their entire manufacturing pipeline all in the same “Area.” Plus, Stanton’s central location within the UEE makes it an ideal distribution hub. The sheer amount of economic growth on the world has attracted skilled labor and workers from across the Empire, making it easy for companies to have their pick of top talent.
Of course, not everything on ArcCorp is strictly about working. In addition to providing social hubs for employees, certain Areas have specifically been developed with visitors and off-world consumers in mind by offering shopping, entertainment and dining options. Most famous among these landing zones is Area18. Centered around Memphis Avery’s now iconic ArcCorp sculpture, Area18 embodies this unique world by presenting a neon drenched, hyper-developed location packed with business opportunities and beautiful vistas. It may be a highly curated view of this unique world, and not representative of the world as a whole, but it remains a location worth exploring.
The Company
Deemed a “mega-corporate monster” by the Terra Gazette for their growing portfolio consisting of acquired companies and even an entire planet, ArcCorp had previously been best known as the manufacturer of immensely popular quantum drives and thrusters. However, since their purchase of Stanton III from the UEE, their dedication to the creation of a privately-owned manufacturing world has overshadowed the company’s other accomplishments. With its place as one of the largest corporations in the Empire firmly intact, it is hard to believe that ArcCorp’s first iteration failed.
ArcCorp began as a deep-space exploration consortium in 2687. Started in a shipping container by a group of friends, the company aimed to use their lone Aurora spacecraft to locate and catalog jump points. Pooling credits (that included a lottery win and an unexpected inheritance) the quartet of friends began exploring the universe. They managed to discover a single jump point, but it was quickly deemed unstable and unsuitable for public use. Realizing that deep space exploration might not be the most fruitful endeavor, ArcCorp shifted their dwindling funds into the mining sector, and through a series of fortuitous moves acquired mineral rights to plots of land on newly discovered planets. Finding resources proved easier than jump points and it wasn’t long before the renamed ArcCorp Mining Consortium became significantly more profitable then the company had ever been before.
In the early 28th century, ArcCorp became involved with BCK, a massive conglomerate at the forefront of the terraforming industry. By then, ArcCorp had expanded beyond mineral rights and began to acquire land acquisitions to flip for planetary settlements. The positive synergy between the two companies resulted in record profits for both. ArcCorp’s expert salesmen could lockdown terraforming rights and have BCK process the world quickly and cheaply.
To the surprise of many, including BCK, ArcCorp used their skyrocketing profits to mount a hostile takeover of the terraforming company. The takeover was successful thanks to leaked documents revealing a series of scandals involving BCK’s CEO, but a later lawsuit claimed that ArcCorp paid a whistleblower to make the false accusations of corporate malfeasance. Even though the charges were eventually thrown out, there had been enough damage to BCK’s credibility that ArcCorp was able to move forward with the acquisition. It was neither the first nor the last time the company would be accused of dirty or unethical tactics when acquiring competitors.
In 2771, another event altered ArcCorp’s destiny. Looking to solve a problem with legacy orbital platforms, they acquired a small thruster manufacturer called NovaLight. Although the company had excellent engineers and a new line of thruster designs ready to ship, they lacked the infrastructure to mass manufacture, market, or sell them. The buyout, initially seen by observers as an overextension, lit a spark. While it took two quarters for ArcElite-branded thrusters to turn a profit, once word-of-mouth spread, they quickly became the preferred thrusters for many pilots. ArcCorp thrusters revolutionized the industry, and its technology is still considered the standard.
With two highly successful mergers under their belt, then CEO Carol Han quickly sought more acquisitions to expand ArcCorp’s growing portfolio. With the success of the ArcElite, the company’s manufacturing needs were rapidly growing, leading their next purchase to be a small maker of cargo-loader drones. From there, it seemed like almost every quarter there was a new announcement of a company or brand joining the ArcCorp family. This period of near non-stop growth was capped in 2865 when ArcCorp placed a bid for what would not only mark their largest purchases to date, but one of the biggest expenditures by a corporation in history.
The Planet
Stanton was first explored by the UEE after the system was discovered in 2851. The government used eminent domain to claim possession of the planet, and in 2865 sold it to ArcCorp, making them one of the few mega-corporations to own their own world. Construction began immediately and heavily influenced by the design mentality used in the sprawling Xi’an manufacturing planets to create a dedicated production world. ArcCorp employed construction methodologies common across the alien empire to promote the planet’s quick development. These techniques proved so successful that ArcCorp’s carefully calibrated resource supply chain couldn’t keep up with the pace of construction.
Today, this massive, terraformed super-Earth is one of the most industrialized worlds in the UEE. Nestled around the planet’s oceans and mountain ranges is a vast network of skyscrapers, factories, expansive warehouses, support service buildings, office spaces, and employee habitation centers. Though it may seem like a chaotic tangle of buildings when observed from orbit, there is actually a well-thought out methodology to the madness. ArcCorp employed organizational and supply chain experts when zoning and planning the planet. By strategically building manufacturing facilities across ArcCorp they were able to ease hauler traffic and allow for a steady flow of goods to and from the world. To make sure that manufacturing can continue round the clock, ArcCorp rotates production through different facilities, taking them offline at strategic times for routine maintenance. With this approach, the company also never runs at full capacity. Instead, they keep a percentage of their facilities idling, ready to be ramped up at a moment’s notice of a sudden surge in demand or a shut down at another plant.
Most importantly though, ArcCorp sought to open their industrial utopia to all companies. Inviting anyone to rent space and set up shop on their world, ArcCorp is different than the other private corporate planets in Stanton who prefer to restrict access to competition. Instead, ArcCorp has sought to bring as much business and infrastructure to their planet as possible. While some companies were at first worried about moving to the world due to ArcCorp’s aggressive acquisition practices, in the end the business friendly infrastructure was too tempting for many to pass up. Partitioning the planet into smaller lots differentiated by “Area” designations, companies looking to streamline their production process soon began flocking to ArcCorp. Rather than sourcing parts and resources from several different worlds, it is now possible for multiple companies to have their entire manufacturing pipeline all in the same “Area.” Plus, Stanton’s central location within the UEE makes it an ideal distribution hub. The sheer amount of economic growth on the world has attracted skilled labor and workers from across the Empire, making it easy for companies to have their pick of top talent.
Of course, not everything on ArcCorp is strictly about working. In addition to providing social hubs for employees, certain Areas have specifically been developed with visitors and off-world consumers in mind by offering shopping, entertainment and dining options. Most famous among these landing zones is Area18. Centered around Memphis Avery’s now iconic ArcCorp sculpture, Area18 embodies this unique world by presenting a neon drenched, hyper-developed location packed with business opportunities and beautiful vistas. It may be a highly curated view of this unique world, and not representative of the world as a whole, but it remains a location worth exploring.
Das Unternehmen
ArcCorp! Das so genannte Mega-Corporate Monster. Nur wenige im bekannten Raum sind nicht mit dem Konglomerat, dem Planeten, der seinen Namen trägt, seinen berüchtigten Beschäftigungspraktiken oder seinen allgegenwärtigen Fusionsgeneratoren vertraut. Auch über die Grenzen der Menschheit hinaus wird das ArcCorp-Logo zu einem vertrauten Anblick, als Ergebnis eines kniffligen Exportgeschäfts, das letztendlich einem Pendant zu Shell Corporation innerhalb des Xi'An jedes Jahr Hunderttausende von Markenmotoren liefert.
Nur wenige wissen jedoch, dass ArcCorp im Jahr 2687 tatsächlich als Tiefsee-Erkundungskonsortium gegründet wurde. Das Unternehmen, das im Wesentlichen in einem Stor-All-Hangar von einer Gruppe von Freunden gegründet wurde, wollte seine einsamen Zeus IV-Raumsonden nutzen, um Sprungbremspunkte für UEE-Bounty-Geld zu lokalisieren und zu katalogisieren. Mit dem Zusammenschluss von Credits (darunter ein Lotteriesieg und ein unerwartetes Erbe) begann das Freundesquartett den Prozess der Erforschung des Universums.
Außer, dass sie keine sehr gute Arbeit geleistet haben. Nach den Turbulenzen der 2690er Jahre hat ArcCorp einen Wandel von der Exploration (mit insgesamt einer Sprunglizenz) zum Bergbau vollzogen. Während dieser Phase der schnellen Expansion fand das Unternehmen eine beträchtliche Erfolgsgeschichte beim Erwerb von Mineralrechten an neu entdeckten Planeten. Bald war das umbenannte ArcCorp Mining Consortium eines der profitabelsten Unternehmen der Galaxie, wenn auch eines, das nichts mit dem ursprünglichen Zweck der Gruppe zu tun hatte.
Mitte des 28. Jahrhunderts engagierte sich ArcCorp erstmals mit BCK, einem riesigen Terraforming-Konglomerat an der Spitze des damals lukrativen Handels. Zu diesem Zeitpunkt war ArcCorp über die Mineralrechte hinausgegangen und handelte auch mit Planeten zur Besiedlung. Die Synergien zwischen den beiden Unternehmen waren sehr positiv, was zu einem Rekordergebnis für beide Unternehmen führte. Die erfahrenen Verkäufer von ArcCorp könnten die Rechte an einem Planeten einschränken und ihn dann schnell und kostengünstig terraformen. Als das Terraforming in Ungnade fiel, absorbierte ArcCorp BCK und die massive Unternehmensstruktur, mit der sie die moderne Galaxie mitgestaltet hatten. Dies war so etwas wie eine feindliche Übernahme, bei der der Direktor des BCK von einem noch nicht identifizierten Informanten wegen Unternehmensdelikten angeklagt wurde. Der größte Verdacht besteht darin, dass die Firma von ihrem Partner niedergeschlagen wurde, aber es sind noch keine Beweise aufgetaucht.
Im Jahr 2811 veränderte eine weitere Klimaänderung das Schicksal von ArcCorp. In diesem Jahr erwarben sie einen Motorenhersteller namens NovaLight, um ein Problem mit einigen der bestehenden Orbitalplattformen von BCK zu lösen. NovaLight verfügte über eine Reihe von verbesserten Fusionsmotoren, war aber nicht in der Lage, diese ordnungsgemäß herzustellen oder zu verkaufen. Der Buyout, der von den Beobachtern zunächst als Fehler angesehen wurde, löste einen Funken aus. Innerhalb von zwei Quartalen waren die Fusionsmotoren der Marke ArcLight profitabel. Innerhalb von fünf Jahren waren sie der erste Triebwerkstyp für große (über 100 Meter) Raumfahrzeuge. Heute sind die ArcCorp-Fusionsmotoren die Grundlage für die Technologie, aus der sich der gesamte Wettbewerb entwickelt.
Heute ist ArcCorp die endgültige Megacorp; das so große Unternehmen, dass es einen Planeten kaufen könnte (Stanton III). Während ArcCorp immer noch von einer Vielzahl von Industrien profitiert, die für ihre früheren Tage relevant sind (Bergbau, einige Terraformen und sogar eine neu gestartete Exploration), sind sie in der Öffentlichkeit nur für ihre außergewöhnlichen Fusionsmotoren bekannt.
Nicht ganz so außergewöhnlich sind die Beschäftigungspraktiken von ArcCorp, die ihnen einen etwas verdienten Ruf für die Beschäftigung kostengünstiger Arbeitskräfte einbringen. Heute leben, altern und sterben die Fabrikarbeiter von ArcCorp vollständig innerhalb des ArcCorp-Systems. Was manche als Arbeitsplatzsicherheit bezeichnen, bezeichnen andere als vertraglich gebundene Knechtschaft. Sie kaufen in Firmenläden ein, leben in Firmenunterkünften und verbringen ihr Leben auf gefährlichen Fabriken für Fusionsmotoren. Wenig Geld verlässt den Kreislauf, und selbst diejenigen, die in Rente gehen, bleiben in der Regel innerhalb des ArcCorp-Systems. Ein anhaltendes soziales Problem, das Schicksal der Mitarbeiter von ArcCorp, taucht regelmäßig in den Schlagzeilen auf, was im Allgemeinen auf Unfälle mit Fusionslinien oder Selbstmorde von Fabrikarbeitern zurückzuführen ist. Während sie von Kaizen dreimal zur "Worst Company im Universum" gewählt wurden, kommentiert das Unternehmen das Thema nicht offiziell und lässt Beobachter in der Regel nicht in ihre Arbeitsräume.
Der Planet
ArcCorp ist eines von einer sehr begrenzten Anzahl von Großunternehmen, die ihren eigenen Planeten besitzen. ArcCorp, alias Stanton III, ist die am stärksten industrialisierte Welt im menschlichen Raum. Als massiver, terrassenförmiger Überboden besteht die Welt aus Schicht um Schicht der Fabrik; so viele, dass es heute eigentlich unmöglich ist, zusätzliche Strukturen zu bauen. Neue Anlagen werden über die bestehenden hinaus gebaut. Der offizielle Hauptsitz des Unternehmens befindet sich natürlich hier, im massiven ArcCorp-Turm, der sich über alle anderen Teile der Fabrikwelt erhebt.
Der Großteil der Einrichtungen von ArcCorp auf ArcCorp (die Verwirrung wird häufig von der Bevölkerung kommentiert, von der die meisten behaupten, dass Außenstehende es einfach nicht verstehen) befindet sich im Commercial District Circle C. Neben dem Turm (und der endlosen Reihe von Fusionsmotorenwerken, die die Breitengrade des Planeten umkreisen) besitzt ArcCorp unzählige Unternehmensstädte. Es gibt eine Ferienhausindustrie für Touristen, die eingeladen sind, an vorher festgelegten Werksbesichtigungen teilzunehmen. Tatsächlich sind die eigentlichen Fusionsanlagen so gefährlich, dass eine desinfizierte künstliche Fabrik mit Hologrammen und Animatronik gebaut wurde, die interessierten Bürgern zur Verfügung steht. Es wurde zwar für Außenstehende gebaut, um den Weg zu ArcCorp für die Werksbesichtigung zu machen, ist aber auch zu einem Kernstück der lokalen Kultur geworden.
ArcCorp-the-world wurde erstmals 2903 vom Vereinigten Reich der Erde zusammen mit dem Rest des Stanton-Systems "entdeckt"; was eigentlich bedeutet, ist, dass die Regierung die Enteignungsdomäne genutzt hat, um den Planeten von den bestehenden Bewohnern in diesem Jahr in Besitz zu nehmen, und 2920 wurde er an das Unternehmen verkauft. Im Gegensatz zu anderen Unternehmens-Planeten beschloss ArcCorp, den Planeten in kleinere Parzellen aufzuteilen, anstatt ihn für die zukünftige Entwicklung zu reservieren. Andere Unternehmen (immer Nicht-Konkurrenten, aber ansonsten in keiner Weise vorselektiert) entstanden schnell rund um den Globus in einer nie dagewesenen Geschwindigkeit, bis die Kugel ihren aktuellen Zustand erreichte.
ArcCorp! Das so genannte Mega-Corporate Monster. Nur wenige im bekannten Raum sind nicht mit dem Konglomerat, dem Planeten, der seinen Namen trägt, seinen berüchtigten Beschäftigungspraktiken oder seinen allgegenwärtigen Fusionsgeneratoren vertraut. Auch über die Grenzen der Menschheit hinaus wird das ArcCorp-Logo zu einem vertrauten Anblick, als Ergebnis eines kniffligen Exportgeschäfts, das letztendlich einem Pendant zu Shell Corporation innerhalb des Xi'An jedes Jahr Hunderttausende von Markenmotoren liefert.
Nur wenige wissen jedoch, dass ArcCorp im Jahr 2687 tatsächlich als Tiefsee-Erkundungskonsortium gegründet wurde. Das Unternehmen, das im Wesentlichen in einem Stor-All-Hangar von einer Gruppe von Freunden gegründet wurde, wollte seine einsamen Zeus IV-Raumsonden nutzen, um Sprungbremspunkte für UEE-Bounty-Geld zu lokalisieren und zu katalogisieren. Mit dem Zusammenschluss von Credits (darunter ein Lotteriesieg und ein unerwartetes Erbe) begann das Freundesquartett den Prozess der Erforschung des Universums.
Außer, dass sie keine sehr gute Arbeit geleistet haben. Nach den Turbulenzen der 2690er Jahre hat ArcCorp einen Wandel von der Exploration (mit insgesamt einer Sprunglizenz) zum Bergbau vollzogen. Während dieser Phase der schnellen Expansion fand das Unternehmen eine beträchtliche Erfolgsgeschichte beim Erwerb von Mineralrechten an neu entdeckten Planeten. Bald war das umbenannte ArcCorp Mining Consortium eines der profitabelsten Unternehmen der Galaxie, wenn auch eines, das nichts mit dem ursprünglichen Zweck der Gruppe zu tun hatte.
Mitte des 28. Jahrhunderts engagierte sich ArcCorp erstmals mit BCK, einem riesigen Terraforming-Konglomerat an der Spitze des damals lukrativen Handels. Zu diesem Zeitpunkt war ArcCorp über die Mineralrechte hinausgegangen und handelte auch mit Planeten zur Besiedlung. Die Synergien zwischen den beiden Unternehmen waren sehr positiv, was zu einem Rekordergebnis für beide Unternehmen führte. Die erfahrenen Verkäufer von ArcCorp könnten die Rechte an einem Planeten einschränken und ihn dann schnell und kostengünstig terraformen. Als das Terraforming in Ungnade fiel, absorbierte ArcCorp BCK und die massive Unternehmensstruktur, mit der sie die moderne Galaxie mitgestaltet hatten. Dies war so etwas wie eine feindliche Übernahme, bei der der Direktor des BCK von einem noch nicht identifizierten Informanten wegen Unternehmensdelikten angeklagt wurde. Der größte Verdacht besteht darin, dass die Firma von ihrem Partner niedergeschlagen wurde, aber es sind noch keine Beweise aufgetaucht.
Im Jahr 2811 veränderte eine weitere Klimaänderung das Schicksal von ArcCorp. In diesem Jahr erwarben sie einen Motorenhersteller namens NovaLight, um ein Problem mit einigen der bestehenden Orbitalplattformen von BCK zu lösen. NovaLight verfügte über eine Reihe von verbesserten Fusionsmotoren, war aber nicht in der Lage, diese ordnungsgemäß herzustellen oder zu verkaufen. Der Buyout, der von den Beobachtern zunächst als Fehler angesehen wurde, löste einen Funken aus. Innerhalb von zwei Quartalen waren die Fusionsmotoren der Marke ArcLight profitabel. Innerhalb von fünf Jahren waren sie der erste Triebwerkstyp für große (über 100 Meter) Raumfahrzeuge. Heute sind die ArcCorp-Fusionsmotoren die Grundlage für die Technologie, aus der sich der gesamte Wettbewerb entwickelt.
Heute ist ArcCorp die endgültige Megacorp; das so große Unternehmen, dass es einen Planeten kaufen könnte (Stanton III). Während ArcCorp immer noch von einer Vielzahl von Industrien profitiert, die für ihre früheren Tage relevant sind (Bergbau, einige Terraformen und sogar eine neu gestartete Exploration), sind sie in der Öffentlichkeit nur für ihre außergewöhnlichen Fusionsmotoren bekannt.
Nicht ganz so außergewöhnlich sind die Beschäftigungspraktiken von ArcCorp, die ihnen einen etwas verdienten Ruf für die Beschäftigung kostengünstiger Arbeitskräfte einbringen. Heute leben, altern und sterben die Fabrikarbeiter von ArcCorp vollständig innerhalb des ArcCorp-Systems. Was manche als Arbeitsplatzsicherheit bezeichnen, bezeichnen andere als vertraglich gebundene Knechtschaft. Sie kaufen in Firmenläden ein, leben in Firmenunterkünften und verbringen ihr Leben auf gefährlichen Fabriken für Fusionsmotoren. Wenig Geld verlässt den Kreislauf, und selbst diejenigen, die in Rente gehen, bleiben in der Regel innerhalb des ArcCorp-Systems. Ein anhaltendes soziales Problem, das Schicksal der Mitarbeiter von ArcCorp, taucht regelmäßig in den Schlagzeilen auf, was im Allgemeinen auf Unfälle mit Fusionslinien oder Selbstmorde von Fabrikarbeitern zurückzuführen ist. Während sie von Kaizen dreimal zur "Worst Company im Universum" gewählt wurden, kommentiert das Unternehmen das Thema nicht offiziell und lässt Beobachter in der Regel nicht in ihre Arbeitsräume.
Der Planet
ArcCorp ist eines von einer sehr begrenzten Anzahl von Großunternehmen, die ihren eigenen Planeten besitzen. ArcCorp, alias Stanton III, ist die am stärksten industrialisierte Welt im menschlichen Raum. Als massiver, terrassenförmiger Überboden besteht die Welt aus Schicht um Schicht der Fabrik; so viele, dass es heute eigentlich unmöglich ist, zusätzliche Strukturen zu bauen. Neue Anlagen werden über die bestehenden hinaus gebaut. Der offizielle Hauptsitz des Unternehmens befindet sich natürlich hier, im massiven ArcCorp-Turm, der sich über alle anderen Teile der Fabrikwelt erhebt.
Der Großteil der Einrichtungen von ArcCorp auf ArcCorp (die Verwirrung wird häufig von der Bevölkerung kommentiert, von der die meisten behaupten, dass Außenstehende es einfach nicht verstehen) befindet sich im Commercial District Circle C. Neben dem Turm (und der endlosen Reihe von Fusionsmotorenwerken, die die Breitengrade des Planeten umkreisen) besitzt ArcCorp unzählige Unternehmensstädte. Es gibt eine Ferienhausindustrie für Touristen, die eingeladen sind, an vorher festgelegten Werksbesichtigungen teilzunehmen. Tatsächlich sind die eigentlichen Fusionsanlagen so gefährlich, dass eine desinfizierte künstliche Fabrik mit Hologrammen und Animatronik gebaut wurde, die interessierten Bürgern zur Verfügung steht. Es wurde zwar für Außenstehende gebaut, um den Weg zu ArcCorp für die Werksbesichtigung zu machen, ist aber auch zu einem Kernstück der lokalen Kultur geworden.
ArcCorp-the-world wurde erstmals 2903 vom Vereinigten Reich der Erde zusammen mit dem Rest des Stanton-Systems "entdeckt"; was eigentlich bedeutet, ist, dass die Regierung die Enteignungsdomäne genutzt hat, um den Planeten von den bestehenden Bewohnern in diesem Jahr in Besitz zu nehmen, und 2920 wurde er an das Unternehmen verkauft. Im Gegensatz zu anderen Unternehmens-Planeten beschloss ArcCorp, den Planeten in kleinere Parzellen aufzuteilen, anstatt ihn für die zukünftige Entwicklung zu reservieren. Andere Unternehmen (immer Nicht-Konkurrenten, aber ansonsten in keiner Weise vorselektiert) entstanden schnell rund um den Globus in einer nie dagewesenen Geschwindigkeit, bis die Kugel ihren aktuellen Zustand erreichte.
NOTE: This article was updated on March 2020 to better reflect the current design of the system.
The Company
Deemed a “mega-corporate monster” by the Terra Gazette for their growing portfolio consisting of acquired companies and even an entire planet, ArcCorp had previously been best known as the manufacturer of immensely popular quantum drives and thrusters. However, since their purchase of Stanton III from the UEE, their dedication to the creation of a privately-owned manufacturing world has overshadowed the company’s other accomplishments. With its place as one of the largest corporations in the Empire firmly intact, it is hard to believe that ArcCorp’s first iteration failed.
ArcCorp began as a deep-space exploration consortium in 2687. Started in a shipping container by a group of friends, the company aimed to use their lone Aurora spacecraft to locate and catalog jump points. Pooling credits (that included a lottery win and an unexpected inheritance) the quartet of friends began exploring the universe. They managed to discover a single jump point, but it was quickly deemed unstable and unsuitable for public use. Realizing that deep space exploration might not be the most fruitful endeavor, ArcCorp shifted their dwindling funds into the mining sector, and through a series of fortuitous moves acquired mineral rights to plots of land on newly discovered planets. Finding resources proved easier than jump points and it wasn’t long before the renamed ArcCorp Mining Consortium became significantly more profitable then the company had ever been before.
In the early 28th century, ArcCorp became involved with BCK, a massive conglomerate at the forefront of the terraforming industry. By then, ArcCorp had expanded beyond mineral rights and began to acquire land acquisitions to flip for planetary settlements. The positive synergy between the two companies resulted in record profits for both. ArcCorp’s expert salesmen could lockdown terraforming rights and have BCK process the world quickly and cheaply.
To the surprise of many, including BCK, ArcCorp used their skyrocketing profits to mount a hostile takeover of the terraforming company. The takeover was successful thanks to leaked documents revealing a series of scandals involving BCK’s CEO, but a later lawsuit claimed that ArcCorp paid a whistleblower to make the false accusations of corporate malfeasance. Even though the charges were eventually thrown out, there had been enough damage to BCK’s credibility that ArcCorp was able to move forward with the acquisition. It was neither the first nor the last time the company would be accused of dirty or unethical tactics when acquiring competitors.
In 2771, another event altered ArcCorp’s destiny. Looking to solve a problem with legacy orbital platforms, they acquired a small thruster manufacturer called NovaLight. Although the company had excellent engineers and a new line of thruster designs ready to ship, they lacked the infrastructure to mass manufacture, market, or sell them. The buyout, initially seen by observers as an overextension, lit a spark. While it took two quarters for ArcElite-branded thrusters to turn a profit, once word-of-mouth spread, they quickly became the preferred thrusters for many pilots. ArcCorp thrusters revolutionized the industry, and its technology is still considered the standard.
With two highly successful mergers under their belt, then CEO Carol Han quickly sought more acquisitions to expand ArcCorp’s growing portfolio. With the success of the ArcElite, the company’s manufacturing needs were rapidly growing, leading their next purchase to be a small maker of cargo-loader drones. From there, it seemed like almost every quarter there was a new announcement of a company or brand joining the ArcCorp family. This period of near non-stop growth was capped in 2865 when ArcCorp placed a bid for what would not only mark their largest purchases to date, but one of the biggest expenditures by a corporation in history.
The Planet
Stanton was first explored by the UEE after the system was discovered in 2851. The government used eminent domain to claim possession of the planet, and in 2865 sold it to ArcCorp, making them one of the few mega-corporations to own their own world. Construction began immediately and heavily influenced by the design mentality used in the sprawling Xi’an manufacturing planets to create a dedicated production world. ArcCorp employed construction methodologies common across the alien empire to promote the planet’s quick development. These techniques proved so successful that ArcCorp’s carefully calibrated resource supply chain couldn’t keep up with the pace of construction.
Today, this massive, terraformed super-Earth is one of the most industrialized worlds in the UEE. Nestled around the planet’s oceans and mountain ranges is a vast network of skyscrapers, factories, expansive warehouses, support service buildings, office spaces, and employee habitation centers. Though it may seem like a chaotic tangle of buildings when observed from orbit, there is actually a well-thought out methodology to the madness. ArcCorp employed organizational and supply chain experts when zoning and planning the planet. By strategically building manufacturing facilities across ArcCorp they were able to ease hauler traffic and allow for a steady flow of goods to and from the world. To make sure that manufacturing can continue round the clock, ArcCorp rotates production through different facilities, taking them offline at strategic times for routine maintenance. With this approach, the company also never runs at full capacity. Instead, they keep a percentage of their facilities idling, ready to be ramped up at a moment’s notice of a sudden surge in demand or a shut down at another plant.
Most importantly though, ArcCorp sought to open their industrial utopia to all companies. Inviting anyone to rent space and set up shop on their world, ArcCorp is different than the other private corporate planets in Stanton who prefer to restrict access to competition. Instead, ArcCorp has sought to bring as much business and infrastructure to their planet as possible. While some companies were at first worried about moving to the world due to ArcCorp’s aggressive acquisition practices, in the end the business friendly infrastructure was too tempting for many to pass up. Partitioning the planet into smaller lots differentiated by “Area” designations, companies looking to streamline their production process soon began flocking to ArcCorp. Rather than sourcing parts and resources from several different worlds, it is now possible for multiple companies to have their entire manufacturing pipeline all in the same “Area.” Plus, Stanton’s central location within the UEE makes it an ideal distribution hub. The sheer amount of economic growth on the world has attracted skilled labor and workers from across the Empire, making it easy for companies to have their pick of top talent.
Of course, not everything on ArcCorp is strictly about working. In addition to providing social hubs for employees, certain Areas have specifically been developed with visitors and off-world consumers in mind by offering shopping, entertainment and dining options. Most famous among these landing zones is Area18. Centered around Memphis Avery’s now iconic ArcCorp sculpture, Area18 embodies this unique world by presenting a neon drenched, hyper-developed location packed with business opportunities and beautiful vistas. It may be a highly curated view of this unique world, and not representative of the world as a whole, but it remains a location worth exploring.
The Company
Deemed a “mega-corporate monster” by the Terra Gazette for their growing portfolio consisting of acquired companies and even an entire planet, ArcCorp had previously been best known as the manufacturer of immensely popular quantum drives and thrusters. However, since their purchase of Stanton III from the UEE, their dedication to the creation of a privately-owned manufacturing world has overshadowed the company’s other accomplishments. With its place as one of the largest corporations in the Empire firmly intact, it is hard to believe that ArcCorp’s first iteration failed.
ArcCorp began as a deep-space exploration consortium in 2687. Started in a shipping container by a group of friends, the company aimed to use their lone Aurora spacecraft to locate and catalog jump points. Pooling credits (that included a lottery win and an unexpected inheritance) the quartet of friends began exploring the universe. They managed to discover a single jump point, but it was quickly deemed unstable and unsuitable for public use. Realizing that deep space exploration might not be the most fruitful endeavor, ArcCorp shifted their dwindling funds into the mining sector, and through a series of fortuitous moves acquired mineral rights to plots of land on newly discovered planets. Finding resources proved easier than jump points and it wasn’t long before the renamed ArcCorp Mining Consortium became significantly more profitable then the company had ever been before.
In the early 28th century, ArcCorp became involved with BCK, a massive conglomerate at the forefront of the terraforming industry. By then, ArcCorp had expanded beyond mineral rights and began to acquire land acquisitions to flip for planetary settlements. The positive synergy between the two companies resulted in record profits for both. ArcCorp’s expert salesmen could lockdown terraforming rights and have BCK process the world quickly and cheaply.
To the surprise of many, including BCK, ArcCorp used their skyrocketing profits to mount a hostile takeover of the terraforming company. The takeover was successful thanks to leaked documents revealing a series of scandals involving BCK’s CEO, but a later lawsuit claimed that ArcCorp paid a whistleblower to make the false accusations of corporate malfeasance. Even though the charges were eventually thrown out, there had been enough damage to BCK’s credibility that ArcCorp was able to move forward with the acquisition. It was neither the first nor the last time the company would be accused of dirty or unethical tactics when acquiring competitors.
In 2771, another event altered ArcCorp’s destiny. Looking to solve a problem with legacy orbital platforms, they acquired a small thruster manufacturer called NovaLight. Although the company had excellent engineers and a new line of thruster designs ready to ship, they lacked the infrastructure to mass manufacture, market, or sell them. The buyout, initially seen by observers as an overextension, lit a spark. While it took two quarters for ArcElite-branded thrusters to turn a profit, once word-of-mouth spread, they quickly became the preferred thrusters for many pilots. ArcCorp thrusters revolutionized the industry, and its technology is still considered the standard.
With two highly successful mergers under their belt, then CEO Carol Han quickly sought more acquisitions to expand ArcCorp’s growing portfolio. With the success of the ArcElite, the company’s manufacturing needs were rapidly growing, leading their next purchase to be a small maker of cargo-loader drones. From there, it seemed like almost every quarter there was a new announcement of a company or brand joining the ArcCorp family. This period of near non-stop growth was capped in 2865 when ArcCorp placed a bid for what would not only mark their largest purchases to date, but one of the biggest expenditures by a corporation in history.
The Planet
Stanton was first explored by the UEE after the system was discovered in 2851. The government used eminent domain to claim possession of the planet, and in 2865 sold it to ArcCorp, making them one of the few mega-corporations to own their own world. Construction began immediately and heavily influenced by the design mentality used in the sprawling Xi’an manufacturing planets to create a dedicated production world. ArcCorp employed construction methodologies common across the alien empire to promote the planet’s quick development. These techniques proved so successful that ArcCorp’s carefully calibrated resource supply chain couldn’t keep up with the pace of construction.
Today, this massive, terraformed super-Earth is one of the most industrialized worlds in the UEE. Nestled around the planet’s oceans and mountain ranges is a vast network of skyscrapers, factories, expansive warehouses, support service buildings, office spaces, and employee habitation centers. Though it may seem like a chaotic tangle of buildings when observed from orbit, there is actually a well-thought out methodology to the madness. ArcCorp employed organizational and supply chain experts when zoning and planning the planet. By strategically building manufacturing facilities across ArcCorp they were able to ease hauler traffic and allow for a steady flow of goods to and from the world. To make sure that manufacturing can continue round the clock, ArcCorp rotates production through different facilities, taking them offline at strategic times for routine maintenance. With this approach, the company also never runs at full capacity. Instead, they keep a percentage of their facilities idling, ready to be ramped up at a moment’s notice of a sudden surge in demand or a shut down at another plant.
Most importantly though, ArcCorp sought to open their industrial utopia to all companies. Inviting anyone to rent space and set up shop on their world, ArcCorp is different than the other private corporate planets in Stanton who prefer to restrict access to competition. Instead, ArcCorp has sought to bring as much business and infrastructure to their planet as possible. While some companies were at first worried about moving to the world due to ArcCorp’s aggressive acquisition practices, in the end the business friendly infrastructure was too tempting for many to pass up. Partitioning the planet into smaller lots differentiated by “Area” designations, companies looking to streamline their production process soon began flocking to ArcCorp. Rather than sourcing parts and resources from several different worlds, it is now possible for multiple companies to have their entire manufacturing pipeline all in the same “Area.” Plus, Stanton’s central location within the UEE makes it an ideal distribution hub. The sheer amount of economic growth on the world has attracted skilled labor and workers from across the Empire, making it easy for companies to have their pick of top talent.
Of course, not everything on ArcCorp is strictly about working. In addition to providing social hubs for employees, certain Areas have specifically been developed with visitors and off-world consumers in mind by offering shopping, entertainment and dining options. Most famous among these landing zones is Area18. Centered around Memphis Avery’s now iconic ArcCorp sculpture, Area18 embodies this unique world by presenting a neon drenched, hyper-developed location packed with business opportunities and beautiful vistas. It may be a highly curated view of this unique world, and not representative of the world as a whole, but it remains a location worth exploring.
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- 11 years ago (2015-04-29T00:00:00+00:00)