Portfolio: RSI
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English
This portfolio originally appeared in Jump Point 5.9.
In the pantheon of enduring corporate entities, one would be hard pressed to find a company that has become as entwined with Humanity’s development as Roberts Space Industries. Whether sailing through the cosmos or walking down your average street, RSI’s contributions to our society are everywhere, but not many know the origin of this institution of innovation.
The Beginning
While most corporate endeavors begin with a dream and a single product, entrepreneur Chris Roberts’ dream was to create a culture that would foster creativity and innovation — one that would change with the times and continue to look to the future. His goal was nothing less than a company that would stay consistent and relevant in the marketplace regardless of whether it was next week or a thousand years down the line.
The great irony was that although the company became synonymous with a wide array of spaceships and terraforming, the ‘Space’ in Roberts Space Industries was an aspirational reflection of where Humanity could evolve to, rather than the company’s actual focus. The first product RSI released in 2043 was actually a hyper-efficient battery converter for ground-based civilian vehicles.
Officially formed in 2038, Roberts Space Industries’ founder, a young and enterprising inventor named Chris Roberts, established the core tenets of the company’s philosophy long before he began working on his first creation:
Learn from the past
Reach for the future
Fuel innovation
Cultivate talent
Always be relevant
Earth of the 21st century was a vastly different world than we know today. Although Humanity had travelled to space, it was a rare event and so cost-prohibitive that it was only possible for a few of the various ruling provinces of the era. The truth was that Earth was reaching a critical mass of overpopulation. Numerous wars erupted across the planet as the populace faced food, water and energy shortages.
Roberts looked for innovators from a variety of disciplines to join his team in an attempt to alleviate some of issues of the day. Some of RSI’s initial products ranged from a compact water-purification system to an energy-efficient power network. There was even a small expansion into cricket farming.
Although his company found modest success in these endeavors, Roberts refused to be complacent and continued to seek out greater innovations. In 2061, while studying a recent crop of doctoral dissertations from a prestigious engineering school, he came across the work of Dr. Scott Childress, whose thesis envisioned exciting work in the field of more affordable engine systems for spacecraft.
The prospect of making space travel more accessible reawakened a lifelong dream. Roberts quickly met with the fresh graduate and put together a team to help translate this dream into the real world. Although the process was not without its setbacks, in 2075 Roberts Space Industries unveiled their prototype Quantum Core Engine. Suddenly, space travel didn’t seem that fantastical anymore.
Building Worlds
The implications of this technology were immediately recognized around the world. Exploration missions were suddenly feasible, as piloted vessels could now push further into the solar system. Various states (called ‘countries’ at that time) that previously couldn’t afford space travel were suddenly able to embark on missions of their own as well.
Roberts knew that although making space more accessible was a giant leap forwards for our species, it still didn’t solve Earth’s teeming population, which was reaching a critical mass. He pulled together a dedicated team from RSI’s various subsidiaries to create their most ambitious technology yet: terraforming a planet. This scientific conundrum became Roberts’ obsession until he passed away in 2108.
Though terraforming remained elusive in Roberts’ life, the new CEO continued to practice his corporate philosophy of seeking out innovators and finally, though it would take two generations of team members and almost forty years, RSI unveiled a technological breakthrough on 2113:04:21 that would lay the groundwork for terraforming a world. With a potential solution in sight, governments of the world, corporations and scientific minds came together to create a global collective focused on terraforming Mars (which at the time was completely uninhabitable). Finally, there was hope of relieving Humanity’s desperate population problem.
This project lasted decades and faced an incalculable loss when an accident, known as the Mars Tragedy, caused the deaths of nearly five thousand early settlers. During the glacial pace of this project’s sprawling scope, the Chairman’s policy of project diversification yielded another spectacular achievement. Responding to issues faced by the terraforming division’s efforts to transport resources to Mars, RSI’s Astro Development Team created the Zeus, the first commercially available spacecraft.
With Roberts Space Industries now at the forefront of spacecraft and terraforming tech, the company had firmly bound itself with Humanity’s development. As decades turned into centuries, terraforming technology would continue to be refined and RSI would expand further into ship development. It seemed like the company was incapable of going anywhere but up. However it turned out that the biggest threat wouldn’t come in the form of alien wars or maintaining market relevance.
It would come in the form of Human nature.
The Dark Age
For many, the ascension of Ivar Messer to Prime Citizen was a welcome change. At the time, the UPE had well-documented scenarios where endless bureaucratic debate completely stalled the government’s ability to do anything, so cutting through the dialogue in a single direction wasn’t seen as particularly ominous.
Unfortunately, Ivar consolidated his power over the years and subtly removed any checks that could challenge him, making it difficult for most people of that time to realize exactly what was happening. As his son took over the title of Imperator, the Second Tevarin War provided a perfect opportunity to remind the public why they needed decisive leadership.
As the Messers became more and more ensconced in their position, RSI lost their military contracts to Aegis Dynamics, the manufacturer that created the weapons of war favored by Ivar Messer. Several of RSI’s divisions still worked closely with the scientific bureaus and terraforming oversight committees, but as a whole, the company converted into a primarily commercial and civilian corporation.
That wasn’t to say that RSI was immune from the Messers’ wrath. In 2757, the shocking death of Anthony Tanaka reverberated through the Empire. Although the event was never mentioned in any news cycles, footage of the twelve-year-old boy’s refusal to work and subsequent execution on a factory floor still made its way through underground activist channels.
RSI CEO Avel Gedima was one of the few prominent public figures who not only acknowledged the sad death, but ordered a complete evaluation of all RSI facilities to make sure that they were adhering to all health and safety standards. A few months later, Ulysses Messer X released ‘damning and incontrovertible evidence of corporate malfeasance’ to the NewsOrgs, claiming that Gedima had embezzled imperial finances for personal use. The case languished in the courts for years, but the constant barrage of ‘evidence’ forced Gedima to step down.
After the Fall
In the wake of the revolution that toppled the Messers, the Empire experienced a period of free fall. The newly installed Imperator Toi and the restored High Advocate and High Secretary were busy trying to ferret out the rotten elements of the government, while the various planets seemed to turn on each other. For awhile, accusations of having collaborated with the Messer became the weapon of choice. Some of these charges were legitimate, but the unscrupulous used the accusation to escape debts or finally resolve feuds with their enemies. While Aegis Dynamics felt the brunt of the people’s fury and were commonly cited as symbols of tyranny, they weren’t the only ones to suffer from these witch hunts.
As a company, RSI hadn’t exactly prospered under the Messer’s rule, but they had maintained their status as a prominent company. Several historians of the era asserted that while RSI didn’t actively promote the Messer agenda, they consistently failed to use their considerable influence to decry it.
In response to these allegations, RSI established the Future Foundation, a specific division of the company devoted to charitable foundations and grants, and announced that for the first time since the founding of the company they were going to add a new tenet to Chairman Roberts’ original list of corporate philosophies:
Stand for good
The Modern Age
From their civilian ships like the Aurora all the way up to cutting-edge military vessels like the Bengal carrier, Roberts Space Industries continues to be a constant force of innovation in the vast corporate landscape. Meanwhile, the Future Foundation awards millions of credits a year to help promote education, fund new research and even provide housing opportunities.
By sticking to the core concepts outlined by a visionary entrepreneur almost a thousand years ago, it’s clear that RSI is going to be a fixture in Human development for a long time to come.
In the pantheon of enduring corporate entities, one would be hard pressed to find a company that has become as entwined with Humanity’s development as Roberts Space Industries. Whether sailing through the cosmos or walking down your average street, RSI’s contributions to our society are everywhere, but not many know the origin of this institution of innovation.
The Beginning
While most corporate endeavors begin with a dream and a single product, entrepreneur Chris Roberts’ dream was to create a culture that would foster creativity and innovation — one that would change with the times and continue to look to the future. His goal was nothing less than a company that would stay consistent and relevant in the marketplace regardless of whether it was next week or a thousand years down the line.
The great irony was that although the company became synonymous with a wide array of spaceships and terraforming, the ‘Space’ in Roberts Space Industries was an aspirational reflection of where Humanity could evolve to, rather than the company’s actual focus. The first product RSI released in 2043 was actually a hyper-efficient battery converter for ground-based civilian vehicles.
Officially formed in 2038, Roberts Space Industries’ founder, a young and enterprising inventor named Chris Roberts, established the core tenets of the company’s philosophy long before he began working on his first creation:
Learn from the past
Reach for the future
Fuel innovation
Cultivate talent
Always be relevant
Earth of the 21st century was a vastly different world than we know today. Although Humanity had travelled to space, it was a rare event and so cost-prohibitive that it was only possible for a few of the various ruling provinces of the era. The truth was that Earth was reaching a critical mass of overpopulation. Numerous wars erupted across the planet as the populace faced food, water and energy shortages.
Roberts looked for innovators from a variety of disciplines to join his team in an attempt to alleviate some of issues of the day. Some of RSI’s initial products ranged from a compact water-purification system to an energy-efficient power network. There was even a small expansion into cricket farming.
Although his company found modest success in these endeavors, Roberts refused to be complacent and continued to seek out greater innovations. In 2061, while studying a recent crop of doctoral dissertations from a prestigious engineering school, he came across the work of Dr. Scott Childress, whose thesis envisioned exciting work in the field of more affordable engine systems for spacecraft.
The prospect of making space travel more accessible reawakened a lifelong dream. Roberts quickly met with the fresh graduate and put together a team to help translate this dream into the real world. Although the process was not without its setbacks, in 2075 Roberts Space Industries unveiled their prototype Quantum Core Engine. Suddenly, space travel didn’t seem that fantastical anymore.
Building Worlds
The implications of this technology were immediately recognized around the world. Exploration missions were suddenly feasible, as piloted vessels could now push further into the solar system. Various states (called ‘countries’ at that time) that previously couldn’t afford space travel were suddenly able to embark on missions of their own as well.
Roberts knew that although making space more accessible was a giant leap forwards for our species, it still didn’t solve Earth’s teeming population, which was reaching a critical mass. He pulled together a dedicated team from RSI’s various subsidiaries to create their most ambitious technology yet: terraforming a planet. This scientific conundrum became Roberts’ obsession until he passed away in 2108.
Though terraforming remained elusive in Roberts’ life, the new CEO continued to practice his corporate philosophy of seeking out innovators and finally, though it would take two generations of team members and almost forty years, RSI unveiled a technological breakthrough on 2113:04:21 that would lay the groundwork for terraforming a world. With a potential solution in sight, governments of the world, corporations and scientific minds came together to create a global collective focused on terraforming Mars (which at the time was completely uninhabitable). Finally, there was hope of relieving Humanity’s desperate population problem.
This project lasted decades and faced an incalculable loss when an accident, known as the Mars Tragedy, caused the deaths of nearly five thousand early settlers. During the glacial pace of this project’s sprawling scope, the Chairman’s policy of project diversification yielded another spectacular achievement. Responding to issues faced by the terraforming division’s efforts to transport resources to Mars, RSI’s Astro Development Team created the Zeus, the first commercially available spacecraft.
With Roberts Space Industries now at the forefront of spacecraft and terraforming tech, the company had firmly bound itself with Humanity’s development. As decades turned into centuries, terraforming technology would continue to be refined and RSI would expand further into ship development. It seemed like the company was incapable of going anywhere but up. However it turned out that the biggest threat wouldn’t come in the form of alien wars or maintaining market relevance.
It would come in the form of Human nature.
The Dark Age
For many, the ascension of Ivar Messer to Prime Citizen was a welcome change. At the time, the UPE had well-documented scenarios where endless bureaucratic debate completely stalled the government’s ability to do anything, so cutting through the dialogue in a single direction wasn’t seen as particularly ominous.
Unfortunately, Ivar consolidated his power over the years and subtly removed any checks that could challenge him, making it difficult for most people of that time to realize exactly what was happening. As his son took over the title of Imperator, the Second Tevarin War provided a perfect opportunity to remind the public why they needed decisive leadership.
As the Messers became more and more ensconced in their position, RSI lost their military contracts to Aegis Dynamics, the manufacturer that created the weapons of war favored by Ivar Messer. Several of RSI’s divisions still worked closely with the scientific bureaus and terraforming oversight committees, but as a whole, the company converted into a primarily commercial and civilian corporation.
That wasn’t to say that RSI was immune from the Messers’ wrath. In 2757, the shocking death of Anthony Tanaka reverberated through the Empire. Although the event was never mentioned in any news cycles, footage of the twelve-year-old boy’s refusal to work and subsequent execution on a factory floor still made its way through underground activist channels.
RSI CEO Avel Gedima was one of the few prominent public figures who not only acknowledged the sad death, but ordered a complete evaluation of all RSI facilities to make sure that they were adhering to all health and safety standards. A few months later, Ulysses Messer X released ‘damning and incontrovertible evidence of corporate malfeasance’ to the NewsOrgs, claiming that Gedima had embezzled imperial finances for personal use. The case languished in the courts for years, but the constant barrage of ‘evidence’ forced Gedima to step down.
After the Fall
In the wake of the revolution that toppled the Messers, the Empire experienced a period of free fall. The newly installed Imperator Toi and the restored High Advocate and High Secretary were busy trying to ferret out the rotten elements of the government, while the various planets seemed to turn on each other. For awhile, accusations of having collaborated with the Messer became the weapon of choice. Some of these charges were legitimate, but the unscrupulous used the accusation to escape debts or finally resolve feuds with their enemies. While Aegis Dynamics felt the brunt of the people’s fury and were commonly cited as symbols of tyranny, they weren’t the only ones to suffer from these witch hunts.
As a company, RSI hadn’t exactly prospered under the Messer’s rule, but they had maintained their status as a prominent company. Several historians of the era asserted that while RSI didn’t actively promote the Messer agenda, they consistently failed to use their considerable influence to decry it.
In response to these allegations, RSI established the Future Foundation, a specific division of the company devoted to charitable foundations and grants, and announced that for the first time since the founding of the company they were going to add a new tenet to Chairman Roberts’ original list of corporate philosophies:
Stand for good
The Modern Age
From their civilian ships like the Aurora all the way up to cutting-edge military vessels like the Bengal carrier, Roberts Space Industries continues to be a constant force of innovation in the vast corporate landscape. Meanwhile, the Future Foundation awards millions of credits a year to help promote education, fund new research and even provide housing opportunities.
By sticking to the core concepts outlined by a visionary entrepreneur almost a thousand years ago, it’s clear that RSI is going to be a fixture in Human development for a long time to come.
German
Dieses Portfolio erschien ursprünglich in Jump Point 5.9.
Im Pantheon der dauerhaften Unternehmenseinheiten wäre es schwer, ein Unternehmen zu finden, das so eng mit der Entwicklung der Menschheit verbunden ist wie Roberts Space Industries. Ob Sie nun durch den Kosmos segeln oder auf der Straße gehen, die Beiträge von RSI zu unserer Gesellschaft sind überall vorhanden, aber nicht viele kennen den Ursprung dieser Innovationsinstitution.
Der Anfang
Während die meisten Unternehmen mit einem Traum und einem einzelnen Produkt beginnen, war der Traum des Unternehmers Chris Roberts, eine Kultur zu schaffen, die Kreativität und Innovation fördert - eine Kultur, die sich mit der Zeit verändert und weiterhin auf die Zukunft ausgerichtet ist. Sein Ziel war nicht weniger als ein Unternehmen, das konsistent und marktrelevant bleiben würde, unabhängig davon, ob es nächste Woche oder tausend Jahre später war.
Die große Ironie war, dass, obwohl das Unternehmen zum Synonym für eine breite Palette von Raumschiffen und Terraforming wurde, der "Space" in Roberts Space Industries eine aspirative Reflexion darüber war, wohin sich die Menschheit entwickeln könnte, und nicht der eigentliche Fokus des Unternehmens. Das erste Produkt, das 2043 auf den Markt kam, war eigentlich ein hocheffizienter Batteriekonverter für bodengebundene Zivilfahrzeuge.
Der Gründer von Roberts Space Industries, ein junger und unternehmerischer Erfinder namens Chris Roberts, der 2038 offiziell gegründet wurde, etablierte die Kernprinzipien der Unternehmensphilosophie, lange bevor er mit der Arbeit an seiner ersten Kreation begann:
Aus der Vergangenheit lernen
Greifen Sie nach der Zukunft
Kraftstoffinnovation
Talente fördern
Immer relevant sein
Die Erde des 21. Jahrhunderts war eine völlig andere Welt, als wir sie heute kennen. Obwohl die Menschheit in den Weltraum gereist war, war es ein seltenes und so kostspieliges Ereignis, dass es nur für einige der verschiedenen herrschenden Provinzen dieser Zeit möglich war. Die Wahrheit war, dass die Erde eine kritische Masse an Überbevölkerung erreichte. Auf der ganzen Welt brachen zahlreiche Kriege aus, als die Bevölkerung mit Nahrungsmittel-, Wasser- und Energiemangel konfrontiert wurde.
Roberts suchte nach Innovatoren aus verschiedenen Disziplinen, die sich seinem Team anschlossen, um einige der Probleme des Tages zu lösen. Einige der ersten Produkte von RSI reichten von einer kompakten Wasseraufbereitungsanlage bis hin zu einem energieeffizienten Stromnetz. Es gab sogar eine kleine Erweiterung der Cricketzucht.
Obwohl sein Unternehmen bei diesen Bemühungen einen bescheidenen Erfolg hatte, weigerte sich Roberts, selbstgefällig zu sein und suchte weiterhin nach größeren Innovationen. Im Jahr 2061 stieß er während seines Doktoratsstudiums an einer renommierten Ingenieurschule auf die Arbeit von Dr. Scott Childress, dessen Dissertation eine spannende Arbeit auf dem Gebiet erschwinglicherer Antriebssysteme für Raumfahrzeuge vorsah.
Die Aussicht, die Raumfahrt zugänglicher zu machen, erweckte einen lebenslangen Traum. Roberts traf sich schnell mit dem neuen Absolventen und stellte ein Team zusammen, um diesen Traum in die Praxis umzusetzen. Obwohl der Prozess nicht ohne Rückschläge verlief, präsentierte Roberts Space Industries 2075 seinen Prototyp Quantum Core Engine. Plötzlich wirkte die Raumfahrt nicht mehr so fantastisch.
Welten bauen
Die Auswirkungen dieser Technologie wurden weltweit sofort erkannt. Explorationsmissionen waren plötzlich möglich, da pilotierte Schiffe nun weiter in das Sonnensystem vordringen konnten. Verschiedene Staaten (damals noch "Länder" genannt), die sich die Raumfahrt bisher nicht leisten konnten, konnten plötzlich auch eigene Missionen starten.
Roberts wusste, dass die Erschließung des Weltraums für unsere Spezies zwar ein großer Schritt nach vorne war, aber immer noch nicht die wimmelnde Population der Erde löste, die eine kritische Masse erreichte. Er zog ein engagiertes Team aus den verschiedenen Tochtergesellschaften von RSI zusammen, um ihre bisher ehrgeizigste Technologie zu entwickeln: Terraforming a planet. Dieses wissenschaftliche Rätsel wurde zu Roberts' Besessenheit, bis er 2108 starb.
Obwohl das Terraforming in Roberts' Leben schwer fassbar blieb, praktizierte der neue CEO weiterhin seine Unternehmensphilosophie der Suche nach Innovatoren, und schließlich, obwohl es zwei Generationen von Teammitgliedern und fast vierzig Jahre dauern würde, präsentierte RSI am 2113:04:21 einen technologischen Durchbruch, der die Grundlage für die Umgestaltung einer Welt schaffen würde. Mit einer möglichen Lösung in Sichtweite kamen Regierungen der Welt, Unternehmen und wissenschaftliche Köpfe zusammen, um ein globales Kollektiv zu bilden, das sich auf das Terraforming des Mars konzentriert (der damals völlig unbewohnbar war). Schließlich bestand die Hoffnung, das verzweifelte Bevölkerungsproblem der Menschheit zu lösen.
Dieses Projekt dauerte Jahrzehnte und erlitt einen unkalkulierbaren Verlust, als ein Unfall, die so genannte Mars-Tragödie, den Tod von fast fünftausend frühen Siedlern verursachte. Während des eisigen Tempos, in dem sich die Reichweite dieses Projekts ausdehnte, erbrachte die Politik der Projektdiversifizierung des Vorsitzenden eine weitere spektakuläre Leistung. Als Reaktion auf die Probleme, mit denen die Terraforming-Abteilung bei ihren Bemühungen konfrontiert ist, Ressourcen zum Mars zu transportieren, hat das Astro-Entwicklungsteam von RSI die Zeus entwickelt, die erste kommerziell erhältliche Raumsonde.
Da Roberts Space Industries nun an der Spitze der Raumfahrt- und Terraformtechnologie steht, hatte sich das Unternehmen fest mit der Entwicklung von Humanity verbunden. Im Laufe der Jahrzehnte, die zu Jahrhunderten wurden, wurde die Terraforming-Technologie weiter verfeinert und RSI expandierte weiter in die Entwicklung von Schiffen. Es schien, als wäre das Unternehmen nicht in der Lage, irgendwo anders hinzugehen als nach oben. Es stellte sich jedoch heraus, dass die größte Bedrohung nicht in Form von Alien-Kriegen oder der Aufrechterhaltung der Marktrelevanz bestehen würde.
Es würde in Form der menschlichen Natur geschehen.
Das Mittelalter
Für viele war der Aufstieg von Ivar Messer zum Prime Citizen eine willkommene Veränderung. Damals hatte die UPE gut dokumentierte Szenarien, in denen eine endlose bürokratische Debatte die Fähigkeit der Regierung, etwas zu tun, völlig blockierte, so dass die Durchsetzung des Dialogs in eine einzige Richtung nicht als besonders bedrohlich angesehen wurde.
Leider konsolidierte Ivar seine Macht im Laufe der Jahre und entfernte subtil alle Kontrollen, die ihn herausfordern könnten, was es für die meisten Menschen jener Zeit schwierig machte, genau zu erkennen, was geschah. Als sein Sohn den Titel des Imperators übernahm, bot der Zweite Tevarinkrieg eine perfekte Gelegenheit, die Öffentlichkeit daran zu erinnern, warum sie eine entschlossene Führung brauchte.
Als die Messers sich immer mehr in ihrer Position versteckten, verlor RSI ihre Militärverträge an Aegis Dynamics, den Hersteller, der die von Ivar Messer favorisierten Kriegswaffen herstellte. Einige der Abteilungen von RSI arbeiteten noch immer eng mit den wissenschaftlichen Büros und den Aufsichtsgremien für Terraforming zusammen, aber insgesamt wandelte sich das Unternehmen in ein hauptsächlich kommerzielles und ziviles Unternehmen.
Das sollte nicht heißen, dass RSI immun gegen den Zorn der Messers war. Im Jahr 2757 hallte der schockierende Tod von Anthony Tanaka durch das Reich. Obwohl das Ereignis in keinem Nachrichtenzyklus erwähnt wurde, fanden Aufnahmen von der Weigerung des zwölfjährigen Jungen, zu arbeiten und der anschließenden Hinrichtung in einer Fabrikhalle, immer noch ihren Weg durch unterirdische Aktivistenkanäle.
RSI CEO Avel Gedima war eine der wenigen prominenten Persönlichkeiten des öffentlichen Lebens, die nicht nur den traurigen Tod anerkennen, sondern eine vollständige Bewertung aller RSI-Einrichtungen anordnen, um sicherzustellen, dass sie alle Gesundheits- und Sicherheitsstandards einhalten. Einige Monate später gab Ulysses Messer X den NewsOrgs "vernichtende und unbestreitbare Beweise für Firmendelikte" heraus und behauptete, Gedima habe kaiserliche Finanzen für den persönlichen Gebrauch unterschlagen. Der Fall schmachtete jahrelang vor Gericht, aber die ständige Flut von "Beweisen" zwang Gedima zum Rücktritt.
Nach dem Sturz
Im Zuge der Revolution, die die Messers stürzte, erlebte das Imperium eine Zeit des freien Falls. Der neu installierte Imperator Toi und der wiederhergestellte Hohe Vertreter und Hohe Sekretär waren damit beschäftigt, die faulen Elemente der Regierung aufzuspüren, während sich die verschiedenen Planeten gegeneinander zu wenden schienen. Vorwürfe, mit dem Messer zusammengearbeitet zu haben, wurden für eine Weile zur bevorzugten Waffe. Einige dieser Anklagen waren legitim, aber die Skrupellosen nutzten die Anklage, um Schulden zu vermeiden oder schließlich Fehden mit ihren Feinden zu lösen. Während Aegis Dynamics die Hauptlast der Wut des Volkes spürte und gemeinhin als Symbole der Tyrannei zitiert wurde, waren sie nicht die einzigen, die unter diesen Hexenjagden litten.
Als Unternehmen hatte RSI unter der Herrschaft der Messer nicht gerade Erfolg gehabt, aber sie hatten ihren Status als führendes Unternehmen beibehalten. Mehrere Historiker der damaligen Zeit behaupteten, dass RSI zwar nicht aktiv für die Messer-Agenda wirbt, sie es aber immer wieder versäumt haben, ihren erheblichen Einfluss zu nutzen, um sie zu kritisieren.
Als Reaktion auf diese Vorwürfe gründete RSI die Future Foundation, eine spezielle Abteilung des Unternehmens, die sich mit gemeinnützigen Stiftungen und Zuschüssen befasst, und kündigte an, dass sie zum ersten Mal seit der Gründung des Unternehmens einen neuen Grundsatz in die ursprüngliche Liste der Unternehmensphilosophien von Chairman Roberts aufnehmen würden:
Steht für das Gute
Die Neuzeit
Von ihren zivilen Schiffen wie der Aurora bis hin zu hochmodernen Militärschiffen wie dem bengalischen Träger ist Roberts Space Industries nach wie vor eine ständige Innovationskraft in der riesigen Unternehmenslandschaft. In der Zwischenzeit vergibt die Future Foundation jährlich Millionen von Credits, um die Bildung zu fördern, neue Forschungen zu finanzieren und sogar Wohnraum zu schaffen.
Indem man sich an die Kernkonzepte hält, die ein visionärer Unternehmer vor fast tausend Jahren skizziert hat, ist klar, dass RSI noch lange Zeit ein fester Bestandteil der menschlichen Entwicklung sein wird.
Im Pantheon der dauerhaften Unternehmenseinheiten wäre es schwer, ein Unternehmen zu finden, das so eng mit der Entwicklung der Menschheit verbunden ist wie Roberts Space Industries. Ob Sie nun durch den Kosmos segeln oder auf der Straße gehen, die Beiträge von RSI zu unserer Gesellschaft sind überall vorhanden, aber nicht viele kennen den Ursprung dieser Innovationsinstitution.
Der Anfang
Während die meisten Unternehmen mit einem Traum und einem einzelnen Produkt beginnen, war der Traum des Unternehmers Chris Roberts, eine Kultur zu schaffen, die Kreativität und Innovation fördert - eine Kultur, die sich mit der Zeit verändert und weiterhin auf die Zukunft ausgerichtet ist. Sein Ziel war nicht weniger als ein Unternehmen, das konsistent und marktrelevant bleiben würde, unabhängig davon, ob es nächste Woche oder tausend Jahre später war.
Die große Ironie war, dass, obwohl das Unternehmen zum Synonym für eine breite Palette von Raumschiffen und Terraforming wurde, der "Space" in Roberts Space Industries eine aspirative Reflexion darüber war, wohin sich die Menschheit entwickeln könnte, und nicht der eigentliche Fokus des Unternehmens. Das erste Produkt, das 2043 auf den Markt kam, war eigentlich ein hocheffizienter Batteriekonverter für bodengebundene Zivilfahrzeuge.
Der Gründer von Roberts Space Industries, ein junger und unternehmerischer Erfinder namens Chris Roberts, der 2038 offiziell gegründet wurde, etablierte die Kernprinzipien der Unternehmensphilosophie, lange bevor er mit der Arbeit an seiner ersten Kreation begann:
Aus der Vergangenheit lernen
Greifen Sie nach der Zukunft
Kraftstoffinnovation
Talente fördern
Immer relevant sein
Die Erde des 21. Jahrhunderts war eine völlig andere Welt, als wir sie heute kennen. Obwohl die Menschheit in den Weltraum gereist war, war es ein seltenes und so kostspieliges Ereignis, dass es nur für einige der verschiedenen herrschenden Provinzen dieser Zeit möglich war. Die Wahrheit war, dass die Erde eine kritische Masse an Überbevölkerung erreichte. Auf der ganzen Welt brachen zahlreiche Kriege aus, als die Bevölkerung mit Nahrungsmittel-, Wasser- und Energiemangel konfrontiert wurde.
Roberts suchte nach Innovatoren aus verschiedenen Disziplinen, die sich seinem Team anschlossen, um einige der Probleme des Tages zu lösen. Einige der ersten Produkte von RSI reichten von einer kompakten Wasseraufbereitungsanlage bis hin zu einem energieeffizienten Stromnetz. Es gab sogar eine kleine Erweiterung der Cricketzucht.
Obwohl sein Unternehmen bei diesen Bemühungen einen bescheidenen Erfolg hatte, weigerte sich Roberts, selbstgefällig zu sein und suchte weiterhin nach größeren Innovationen. Im Jahr 2061 stieß er während seines Doktoratsstudiums an einer renommierten Ingenieurschule auf die Arbeit von Dr. Scott Childress, dessen Dissertation eine spannende Arbeit auf dem Gebiet erschwinglicherer Antriebssysteme für Raumfahrzeuge vorsah.
Die Aussicht, die Raumfahrt zugänglicher zu machen, erweckte einen lebenslangen Traum. Roberts traf sich schnell mit dem neuen Absolventen und stellte ein Team zusammen, um diesen Traum in die Praxis umzusetzen. Obwohl der Prozess nicht ohne Rückschläge verlief, präsentierte Roberts Space Industries 2075 seinen Prototyp Quantum Core Engine. Plötzlich wirkte die Raumfahrt nicht mehr so fantastisch.
Welten bauen
Die Auswirkungen dieser Technologie wurden weltweit sofort erkannt. Explorationsmissionen waren plötzlich möglich, da pilotierte Schiffe nun weiter in das Sonnensystem vordringen konnten. Verschiedene Staaten (damals noch "Länder" genannt), die sich die Raumfahrt bisher nicht leisten konnten, konnten plötzlich auch eigene Missionen starten.
Roberts wusste, dass die Erschließung des Weltraums für unsere Spezies zwar ein großer Schritt nach vorne war, aber immer noch nicht die wimmelnde Population der Erde löste, die eine kritische Masse erreichte. Er zog ein engagiertes Team aus den verschiedenen Tochtergesellschaften von RSI zusammen, um ihre bisher ehrgeizigste Technologie zu entwickeln: Terraforming a planet. Dieses wissenschaftliche Rätsel wurde zu Roberts' Besessenheit, bis er 2108 starb.
Obwohl das Terraforming in Roberts' Leben schwer fassbar blieb, praktizierte der neue CEO weiterhin seine Unternehmensphilosophie der Suche nach Innovatoren, und schließlich, obwohl es zwei Generationen von Teammitgliedern und fast vierzig Jahre dauern würde, präsentierte RSI am 2113:04:21 einen technologischen Durchbruch, der die Grundlage für die Umgestaltung einer Welt schaffen würde. Mit einer möglichen Lösung in Sichtweite kamen Regierungen der Welt, Unternehmen und wissenschaftliche Köpfe zusammen, um ein globales Kollektiv zu bilden, das sich auf das Terraforming des Mars konzentriert (der damals völlig unbewohnbar war). Schließlich bestand die Hoffnung, das verzweifelte Bevölkerungsproblem der Menschheit zu lösen.
Dieses Projekt dauerte Jahrzehnte und erlitt einen unkalkulierbaren Verlust, als ein Unfall, die so genannte Mars-Tragödie, den Tod von fast fünftausend frühen Siedlern verursachte. Während des eisigen Tempos, in dem sich die Reichweite dieses Projekts ausdehnte, erbrachte die Politik der Projektdiversifizierung des Vorsitzenden eine weitere spektakuläre Leistung. Als Reaktion auf die Probleme, mit denen die Terraforming-Abteilung bei ihren Bemühungen konfrontiert ist, Ressourcen zum Mars zu transportieren, hat das Astro-Entwicklungsteam von RSI die Zeus entwickelt, die erste kommerziell erhältliche Raumsonde.
Da Roberts Space Industries nun an der Spitze der Raumfahrt- und Terraformtechnologie steht, hatte sich das Unternehmen fest mit der Entwicklung von Humanity verbunden. Im Laufe der Jahrzehnte, die zu Jahrhunderten wurden, wurde die Terraforming-Technologie weiter verfeinert und RSI expandierte weiter in die Entwicklung von Schiffen. Es schien, als wäre das Unternehmen nicht in der Lage, irgendwo anders hinzugehen als nach oben. Es stellte sich jedoch heraus, dass die größte Bedrohung nicht in Form von Alien-Kriegen oder der Aufrechterhaltung der Marktrelevanz bestehen würde.
Es würde in Form der menschlichen Natur geschehen.
Das Mittelalter
Für viele war der Aufstieg von Ivar Messer zum Prime Citizen eine willkommene Veränderung. Damals hatte die UPE gut dokumentierte Szenarien, in denen eine endlose bürokratische Debatte die Fähigkeit der Regierung, etwas zu tun, völlig blockierte, so dass die Durchsetzung des Dialogs in eine einzige Richtung nicht als besonders bedrohlich angesehen wurde.
Leider konsolidierte Ivar seine Macht im Laufe der Jahre und entfernte subtil alle Kontrollen, die ihn herausfordern könnten, was es für die meisten Menschen jener Zeit schwierig machte, genau zu erkennen, was geschah. Als sein Sohn den Titel des Imperators übernahm, bot der Zweite Tevarinkrieg eine perfekte Gelegenheit, die Öffentlichkeit daran zu erinnern, warum sie eine entschlossene Führung brauchte.
Als die Messers sich immer mehr in ihrer Position versteckten, verlor RSI ihre Militärverträge an Aegis Dynamics, den Hersteller, der die von Ivar Messer favorisierten Kriegswaffen herstellte. Einige der Abteilungen von RSI arbeiteten noch immer eng mit den wissenschaftlichen Büros und den Aufsichtsgremien für Terraforming zusammen, aber insgesamt wandelte sich das Unternehmen in ein hauptsächlich kommerzielles und ziviles Unternehmen.
Das sollte nicht heißen, dass RSI immun gegen den Zorn der Messers war. Im Jahr 2757 hallte der schockierende Tod von Anthony Tanaka durch das Reich. Obwohl das Ereignis in keinem Nachrichtenzyklus erwähnt wurde, fanden Aufnahmen von der Weigerung des zwölfjährigen Jungen, zu arbeiten und der anschließenden Hinrichtung in einer Fabrikhalle, immer noch ihren Weg durch unterirdische Aktivistenkanäle.
RSI CEO Avel Gedima war eine der wenigen prominenten Persönlichkeiten des öffentlichen Lebens, die nicht nur den traurigen Tod anerkennen, sondern eine vollständige Bewertung aller RSI-Einrichtungen anordnen, um sicherzustellen, dass sie alle Gesundheits- und Sicherheitsstandards einhalten. Einige Monate später gab Ulysses Messer X den NewsOrgs "vernichtende und unbestreitbare Beweise für Firmendelikte" heraus und behauptete, Gedima habe kaiserliche Finanzen für den persönlichen Gebrauch unterschlagen. Der Fall schmachtete jahrelang vor Gericht, aber die ständige Flut von "Beweisen" zwang Gedima zum Rücktritt.
Nach dem Sturz
Im Zuge der Revolution, die die Messers stürzte, erlebte das Imperium eine Zeit des freien Falls. Der neu installierte Imperator Toi und der wiederhergestellte Hohe Vertreter und Hohe Sekretär waren damit beschäftigt, die faulen Elemente der Regierung aufzuspüren, während sich die verschiedenen Planeten gegeneinander zu wenden schienen. Vorwürfe, mit dem Messer zusammengearbeitet zu haben, wurden für eine Weile zur bevorzugten Waffe. Einige dieser Anklagen waren legitim, aber die Skrupellosen nutzten die Anklage, um Schulden zu vermeiden oder schließlich Fehden mit ihren Feinden zu lösen. Während Aegis Dynamics die Hauptlast der Wut des Volkes spürte und gemeinhin als Symbole der Tyrannei zitiert wurde, waren sie nicht die einzigen, die unter diesen Hexenjagden litten.
Als Unternehmen hatte RSI unter der Herrschaft der Messer nicht gerade Erfolg gehabt, aber sie hatten ihren Status als führendes Unternehmen beibehalten. Mehrere Historiker der damaligen Zeit behaupteten, dass RSI zwar nicht aktiv für die Messer-Agenda wirbt, sie es aber immer wieder versäumt haben, ihren erheblichen Einfluss zu nutzen, um sie zu kritisieren.
Als Reaktion auf diese Vorwürfe gründete RSI die Future Foundation, eine spezielle Abteilung des Unternehmens, die sich mit gemeinnützigen Stiftungen und Zuschüssen befasst, und kündigte an, dass sie zum ersten Mal seit der Gründung des Unternehmens einen neuen Grundsatz in die ursprüngliche Liste der Unternehmensphilosophien von Chairman Roberts aufnehmen würden:
Steht für das Gute
Die Neuzeit
Von ihren zivilen Schiffen wie der Aurora bis hin zu hochmodernen Militärschiffen wie dem bengalischen Träger ist Roberts Space Industries nach wie vor eine ständige Innovationskraft in der riesigen Unternehmenslandschaft. In der Zwischenzeit vergibt die Future Foundation jährlich Millionen von Credits, um die Bildung zu fördern, neue Forschungen zu finanzieren und sogar Wohnraum zu schaffen.
Indem man sich an die Kernkonzepte hält, die ein visionärer Unternehmer vor fast tausend Jahren skizziert hat, ist klar, dass RSI noch lange Zeit ein fester Bestandteil der menschlichen Entwicklung sein wird.
Chinese
This portfolio originally appeared in Jump Point 5.9.
In the pantheon of enduring corporate entities, one would be hard pressed to find a company that has become as entwined with Humanity’s development as Roberts Space Industries. Whether sailing through the cosmos or walking down your average street, RSI’s contributions to our society are everywhere, but not many know the origin of this institution of innovation.
The Beginning
While most corporate endeavors begin with a dream and a single product, entrepreneur Chris Roberts’ dream was to create a culture that would foster creativity and innovation — one that would change with the times and continue to look to the future. His goal was nothing less than a company that would stay consistent and relevant in the marketplace regardless of whether it was next week or a thousand years down the line.
The great irony was that although the company became synonymous with a wide array of spaceships and terraforming, the ‘Space’ in Roberts Space Industries was an aspirational reflection of where Humanity could evolve to, rather than the company’s actual focus. The first product RSI released in 2043 was actually a hyper-efficient battery converter for ground-based civilian vehicles.
Officially formed in 2038, Roberts Space Industries’ founder, a young and enterprising inventor named Chris Roberts, established the core tenets of the company’s philosophy long before he began working on his first creation:
Learn from the past
Reach for the future
Fuel innovation
Cultivate talent
Always be relevant
Earth of the 21st century was a vastly different world than we know today. Although Humanity had travelled to space, it was a rare event and so cost-prohibitive that it was only possible for a few of the various ruling provinces of the era. The truth was that Earth was reaching a critical mass of overpopulation. Numerous wars erupted across the planet as the populace faced food, water and energy shortages.
Roberts looked for innovators from a variety of disciplines to join his team in an attempt to alleviate some of issues of the day. Some of RSI’s initial products ranged from a compact water-purification system to an energy-efficient power network. There was even a small expansion into cricket farming.
Although his company found modest success in these endeavors, Roberts refused to be complacent and continued to seek out greater innovations. In 2061, while studying a recent crop of doctoral dissertations from a prestigious engineering school, he came across the work of Dr. Scott Childress, whose thesis envisioned exciting work in the field of more affordable engine systems for spacecraft.
The prospect of making space travel more accessible reawakened a lifelong dream. Roberts quickly met with the fresh graduate and put together a team to help translate this dream into the real world. Although the process was not without its setbacks, in 2075 Roberts Space Industries unveiled their prototype Quantum Core Engine. Suddenly, space travel didn’t seem that fantastical anymore.
Building Worlds
The implications of this technology were immediately recognized around the world. Exploration missions were suddenly feasible, as piloted vessels could now push further into the solar system. Various states (called ‘countries’ at that time) that previously couldn’t afford space travel were suddenly able to embark on missions of their own as well.
Roberts knew that although making space more accessible was a giant leap forwards for our species, it still didn’t solve Earth’s teeming population, which was reaching a critical mass. He pulled together a dedicated team from RSI’s various subsidiaries to create their most ambitious technology yet: terraforming a planet. This scientific conundrum became Roberts’ obsession until he passed away in 2108.
Though terraforming remained elusive in Roberts’ life, the new CEO continued to practice his corporate philosophy of seeking out innovators and finally, though it would take two generations of team members and almost forty years, RSI unveiled a technological breakthrough on 2113:04:21 that would lay the groundwork for terraforming a world. With a potential solution in sight, governments of the world, corporations and scientific minds came together to create a global collective focused on terraforming Mars (which at the time was completely uninhabitable). Finally, there was hope of relieving Humanity’s desperate population problem.
This project lasted decades and faced an incalculable loss when an accident, known as the Mars Tragedy, caused the deaths of nearly five thousand early settlers. During the glacial pace of this project’s sprawling scope, the Chairman’s policy of project diversification yielded another spectacular achievement. Responding to issues faced by the terraforming division’s efforts to transport resources to Mars, RSI’s Astro Development Team created the Zeus, the first commercially available spacecraft.
With Roberts Space Industries now at the forefront of spacecraft and terraforming tech, the company had firmly bound itself with Humanity’s development. As decades turned into centuries, terraforming technology would continue to be refined and RSI would expand further into ship development. It seemed like the company was incapable of going anywhere but up. However it turned out that the biggest threat wouldn’t come in the form of alien wars or maintaining market relevance.
It would come in the form of Human nature.
The Dark Age
For many, the ascension of Ivar Messer to Prime Citizen was a welcome change. At the time, the UPE had well-documented scenarios where endless bureaucratic debate completely stalled the government’s ability to do anything, so cutting through the dialogue in a single direction wasn’t seen as particularly ominous.
Unfortunately, Ivar consolidated his power over the years and subtly removed any checks that could challenge him, making it difficult for most people of that time to realize exactly what was happening. As his son took over the title of Imperator, the Second Tevarin War provided a perfect opportunity to remind the public why they needed decisive leadership.
As the Messers became more and more ensconced in their position, RSI lost their military contracts to Aegis Dynamics, the manufacturer that created the weapons of war favored by Ivar Messer. Several of RSI’s divisions still worked closely with the scientific bureaus and terraforming oversight committees, but as a whole, the company converted into a primarily commercial and civilian corporation.
That wasn’t to say that RSI was immune from the Messers’ wrath. In 2757, the shocking death of Anthony Tanaka reverberated through the Empire. Although the event was never mentioned in any news cycles, footage of the twelve-year-old boy’s refusal to work and subsequent execution on a factory floor still made its way through underground activist channels.
RSI CEO Avel Gedima was one of the few prominent public figures who not only acknowledged the sad death, but ordered a complete evaluation of all RSI facilities to make sure that they were adhering to all health and safety standards. A few months later, Ulysses Messer X released ‘damning and incontrovertible evidence of corporate malfeasance’ to the NewsOrgs, claiming that Gedima had embezzled imperial finances for personal use. The case languished in the courts for years, but the constant barrage of ‘evidence’ forced Gedima to step down.
After the Fall
In the wake of the revolution that toppled the Messers, the Empire experienced a period of free fall. The newly installed Imperator Toi and the restored High Advocate and High Secretary were busy trying to ferret out the rotten elements of the government, while the various planets seemed to turn on each other. For awhile, accusations of having collaborated with the Messer became the weapon of choice. Some of these charges were legitimate, but the unscrupulous used the accusation to escape debts or finally resolve feuds with their enemies. While Aegis Dynamics felt the brunt of the people’s fury and were commonly cited as symbols of tyranny, they weren’t the only ones to suffer from these witch hunts.
As a company, RSI hadn’t exactly prospered under the Messer’s rule, but they had maintained their status as a prominent company. Several historians of the era asserted that while RSI didn’t actively promote the Messer agenda, they consistently failed to use their considerable influence to decry it.
In response to these allegations, RSI established the Future Foundation, a specific division of the company devoted to charitable foundations and grants, and announced that for the first time since the founding of the company they were going to add a new tenet to Chairman Roberts’ original list of corporate philosophies:
Stand for good
The Modern Age
From their civilian ships like the Aurora all the way up to cutting-edge military vessels like the Bengal carrier, Roberts Space Industries continues to be a constant force of innovation in the vast corporate landscape. Meanwhile, the Future Foundation awards millions of credits a year to help promote education, fund new research and even provide housing opportunities.
By sticking to the core concepts outlined by a visionary entrepreneur almost a thousand years ago, it’s clear that RSI is going to be a fixture in Human development for a long time to come.
In the pantheon of enduring corporate entities, one would be hard pressed to find a company that has become as entwined with Humanity’s development as Roberts Space Industries. Whether sailing through the cosmos or walking down your average street, RSI’s contributions to our society are everywhere, but not many know the origin of this institution of innovation.
The Beginning
While most corporate endeavors begin with a dream and a single product, entrepreneur Chris Roberts’ dream was to create a culture that would foster creativity and innovation — one that would change with the times and continue to look to the future. His goal was nothing less than a company that would stay consistent and relevant in the marketplace regardless of whether it was next week or a thousand years down the line.
The great irony was that although the company became synonymous with a wide array of spaceships and terraforming, the ‘Space’ in Roberts Space Industries was an aspirational reflection of where Humanity could evolve to, rather than the company’s actual focus. The first product RSI released in 2043 was actually a hyper-efficient battery converter for ground-based civilian vehicles.
Officially formed in 2038, Roberts Space Industries’ founder, a young and enterprising inventor named Chris Roberts, established the core tenets of the company’s philosophy long before he began working on his first creation:
Learn from the past
Reach for the future
Fuel innovation
Cultivate talent
Always be relevant
Earth of the 21st century was a vastly different world than we know today. Although Humanity had travelled to space, it was a rare event and so cost-prohibitive that it was only possible for a few of the various ruling provinces of the era. The truth was that Earth was reaching a critical mass of overpopulation. Numerous wars erupted across the planet as the populace faced food, water and energy shortages.
Roberts looked for innovators from a variety of disciplines to join his team in an attempt to alleviate some of issues of the day. Some of RSI’s initial products ranged from a compact water-purification system to an energy-efficient power network. There was even a small expansion into cricket farming.
Although his company found modest success in these endeavors, Roberts refused to be complacent and continued to seek out greater innovations. In 2061, while studying a recent crop of doctoral dissertations from a prestigious engineering school, he came across the work of Dr. Scott Childress, whose thesis envisioned exciting work in the field of more affordable engine systems for spacecraft.
The prospect of making space travel more accessible reawakened a lifelong dream. Roberts quickly met with the fresh graduate and put together a team to help translate this dream into the real world. Although the process was not without its setbacks, in 2075 Roberts Space Industries unveiled their prototype Quantum Core Engine. Suddenly, space travel didn’t seem that fantastical anymore.
Building Worlds
The implications of this technology were immediately recognized around the world. Exploration missions were suddenly feasible, as piloted vessels could now push further into the solar system. Various states (called ‘countries’ at that time) that previously couldn’t afford space travel were suddenly able to embark on missions of their own as well.
Roberts knew that although making space more accessible was a giant leap forwards for our species, it still didn’t solve Earth’s teeming population, which was reaching a critical mass. He pulled together a dedicated team from RSI’s various subsidiaries to create their most ambitious technology yet: terraforming a planet. This scientific conundrum became Roberts’ obsession until he passed away in 2108.
Though terraforming remained elusive in Roberts’ life, the new CEO continued to practice his corporate philosophy of seeking out innovators and finally, though it would take two generations of team members and almost forty years, RSI unveiled a technological breakthrough on 2113:04:21 that would lay the groundwork for terraforming a world. With a potential solution in sight, governments of the world, corporations and scientific minds came together to create a global collective focused on terraforming Mars (which at the time was completely uninhabitable). Finally, there was hope of relieving Humanity’s desperate population problem.
This project lasted decades and faced an incalculable loss when an accident, known as the Mars Tragedy, caused the deaths of nearly five thousand early settlers. During the glacial pace of this project’s sprawling scope, the Chairman’s policy of project diversification yielded another spectacular achievement. Responding to issues faced by the terraforming division’s efforts to transport resources to Mars, RSI’s Astro Development Team created the Zeus, the first commercially available spacecraft.
With Roberts Space Industries now at the forefront of spacecraft and terraforming tech, the company had firmly bound itself with Humanity’s development. As decades turned into centuries, terraforming technology would continue to be refined and RSI would expand further into ship development. It seemed like the company was incapable of going anywhere but up. However it turned out that the biggest threat wouldn’t come in the form of alien wars or maintaining market relevance.
It would come in the form of Human nature.
The Dark Age
For many, the ascension of Ivar Messer to Prime Citizen was a welcome change. At the time, the UPE had well-documented scenarios where endless bureaucratic debate completely stalled the government’s ability to do anything, so cutting through the dialogue in a single direction wasn’t seen as particularly ominous.
Unfortunately, Ivar consolidated his power over the years and subtly removed any checks that could challenge him, making it difficult for most people of that time to realize exactly what was happening. As his son took over the title of Imperator, the Second Tevarin War provided a perfect opportunity to remind the public why they needed decisive leadership.
As the Messers became more and more ensconced in their position, RSI lost their military contracts to Aegis Dynamics, the manufacturer that created the weapons of war favored by Ivar Messer. Several of RSI’s divisions still worked closely with the scientific bureaus and terraforming oversight committees, but as a whole, the company converted into a primarily commercial and civilian corporation.
That wasn’t to say that RSI was immune from the Messers’ wrath. In 2757, the shocking death of Anthony Tanaka reverberated through the Empire. Although the event was never mentioned in any news cycles, footage of the twelve-year-old boy’s refusal to work and subsequent execution on a factory floor still made its way through underground activist channels.
RSI CEO Avel Gedima was one of the few prominent public figures who not only acknowledged the sad death, but ordered a complete evaluation of all RSI facilities to make sure that they were adhering to all health and safety standards. A few months later, Ulysses Messer X released ‘damning and incontrovertible evidence of corporate malfeasance’ to the NewsOrgs, claiming that Gedima had embezzled imperial finances for personal use. The case languished in the courts for years, but the constant barrage of ‘evidence’ forced Gedima to step down.
After the Fall
In the wake of the revolution that toppled the Messers, the Empire experienced a period of free fall. The newly installed Imperator Toi and the restored High Advocate and High Secretary were busy trying to ferret out the rotten elements of the government, while the various planets seemed to turn on each other. For awhile, accusations of having collaborated with the Messer became the weapon of choice. Some of these charges were legitimate, but the unscrupulous used the accusation to escape debts or finally resolve feuds with their enemies. While Aegis Dynamics felt the brunt of the people’s fury and were commonly cited as symbols of tyranny, they weren’t the only ones to suffer from these witch hunts.
As a company, RSI hadn’t exactly prospered under the Messer’s rule, but they had maintained their status as a prominent company. Several historians of the era asserted that while RSI didn’t actively promote the Messer agenda, they consistently failed to use their considerable influence to decry it.
In response to these allegations, RSI established the Future Foundation, a specific division of the company devoted to charitable foundations and grants, and announced that for the first time since the founding of the company they were going to add a new tenet to Chairman Roberts’ original list of corporate philosophies:
Stand for good
The Modern Age
From their civilian ships like the Aurora all the way up to cutting-edge military vessels like the Bengal carrier, Roberts Space Industries continues to be a constant force of innovation in the vast corporate landscape. Meanwhile, the Future Foundation awards millions of credits a year to help promote education, fund new research and even provide housing opportunities.
By sticking to the core concepts outlined by a visionary entrepreneur almost a thousand years ago, it’s clear that RSI is going to be a fixture in Human development for a long time to come.
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- 17268
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- Published
- 6 years ago (2019-10-03T00:00:00+00:00)