Portfolio: Talon

This portfolio originally appeared in Jump Point 7.7.
Prior to the Second Tevarin War, spaceflight was a very different endeavor than today. Many civilian ships confidently explored the unknown without weapons, instead preferring to haul extra water, food, oxygen, and components. Adding armaments to private ships was legal but required a rigorous permitting process. Ship weapons were considered a niche industry geared mainly toward the military and security forces and some civilian spacecraft didn’t even come with weapon mounts.

However, during the seven-year conflict, Tevarin warlord Corath’Thal strategically scattered heavily armed and shielded ships to create a much more nimble and agile fleet. These units were capable of attacking Humanity on every front and disappearing before authorities could organize armed resistance. With the military and local militias stretched thin, civilians needed to arm their ships for personal protection. Unfortunately, the era’s standard civilian weapons were no match for the Tevarin’s powerful phalanx shields. Bigger and more powerful weapons were required, and Taisei ‘Talon’ Jessop had a plan and the means to better arm the public for their own protection.

Means of Protection
Born in 2535, Taisei Jessop’s family had deep roots in the Croshaw system. Over the previous century, the Jessop’s had accrued a vast fortune through shipping, mining, and construction. From landing zone hangars to rest stops and refueling stations, it would be almost impossible to visit Croshaw during the 25th century and not do business with at least one company that the family had a stake in. Yet, as Taisei Jessop came of age, a combination of bad business investments and extravagant spending meant most of the family fortune had been squandered. Croshaw’s elite even joked that the most valuable thing the family still possessed was their well-respected name.

Jessop grew determined to reverse his family’s fate. He ascended to the CEO position of the company in 2579 after orchestrating a boardroom coup that unseated his cousin Polima. His promise to reverse the family’s fortune initially stumbled as his controlling managerial style stifled innovation and convinced startups to avoid their investment capital. Even so, he quickly garnered a reputation for being intense and intelligent. This earned Jessop the nickname “Talon” for the way he tenaciously tackled a task. As a former business partner said, “once Talon hooked himself into something, he never let go.”

Jessop’s leadership proved to be a moderate success – enough to keep him in power, but not to return the family to its previous glory. Then, in 2603, the Second Tevarin War erupted. The Empire’s normal commerce ground to a halt, forcing Jessop to look for investments outside of Croshaw. During one such trip, his convoy came under attack by Tevarin forces. Jessop barely survived after his ship’s ballistic cannons overheated. It was only a well-placed missile fired by his security team that saved the day. Upon returning home, Jessop ensured that his family, friends, and confidants had proper armaments on their ships. The cost and complication of doing so opened his eyes to an opportunity.

As most companies clamored for government contracts related to the war effort, Jessop focused on providing the public a means of protection. After exclaiming that “guns are too damn complicated,” he decided to produce missiles and torpedoes. As a nod to his nickname, Jessop called the company Talon. And like his reputation, once it sunk its hooks into the ship munitions market, it never let go.

Exploiting the Aftermath
Arming civilians with devastating ordnance proved to be popular during the Second Tevarin War. Jessop emptied the family coffers and exploited his deep business connections to secure the proper funding, facilities, and most importantly during a time of strict rationing, a steady stream of supplies. Though countless others started similar businesses at the time, Jessop had the wherewithal to make it a reality and a lasting success.

During one particularly successful marketing campaign, missile racks were given away and installed for free if purchased with enough munitions to fill them. Talon distributors flouted the onerous UEE permitting process and even told customers to contact the company if a government representative bothered them about the installation. Members of the board feared that this tactic could lead to an altercation with the UEE government. It turned out that was exactly what Jessop wanted.

The UEE wouldn’t turn their attention to Talon until they had won the Second Tevarin War, because while a well-armed populace proved to be a helpful and popular idea during the war, it had considerably less appeal in its aftermath. When the government eventually opened an investigation into Talon, Jessop was able to unleash a phalanx of lawyers to protect the business in conjunction with a well-prepared public relations team that leaned hard on the perception that Talon had saved countless civilian lives during the war. This sparked a vigorous debate about the role of the UEE in personal security with Talon’s name at the center. For years, Jessop bragged that this free advertising was the best thing to ever happen to the brand. Of course, it didn’t hurt that Talon’s missiles and rockets also earned a reputation for being both powerful and reliable.

Eventually, the UEE loosened its regulations and allowed each system to set its own standards. A deregulation race ensued as systems realized that stricter laws scared away some commercial traffic and took plenty of personnel to enforce. It wasn’t long before ships armed with heavy ordnance were the standard, not the exception, across the Empire.

Today, there are few pilots not familiar with Talon’s line of missiles, torpedoes, ordnance racks, and grenades. The company’s reputation for making dependable military-grade munitions for the public remains intact. Yet, Jessop’s role in the creation of the company still divides many. Some historians consider Jessop a heroic freedom fighter, while others describe his legacy as that of a greedy war profiteer. Despite this divide, there’s one thing everyone can agree on – if it can fly, there’s a Talon that can blow it up.

Dieses Portfolio erschien ursprünglich in Jump Point 7.7.
Vor dem Zweiten Tevarin-Krieg war die Raumfahrt ein ganz anderes Unterfangen als heute. Viele zivile Schiffe erkundeten selbstbewusst das Unbekannte ohne Waffen und zogen es stattdessen vor, zusätzliches Wasser, Nahrung, Sauerstoff und Komponenten zu transportieren. Die Bewaffnung privater Schiffe war legal, erforderte jedoch ein strenges Genehmigungsverfahren. Schiffswaffen galten als eine Nischenindustrie, die hauptsächlich auf das Militär und die Sicherheitskräfte ausgerichtet war, und einige zivile Raumschiffe waren nicht einmal mit Waffenhalterungen ausgestattet.

Während des siebenjährigen Konflikts verstreute der Tevarin-Kriegsherr Corath'Thal jedoch strategisch schwer bewaffnete und abgeschirmte Schiffe, um eine viel flinkere und wendigere Flotte zu schaffen. Diese Einheiten waren in der Lage, die Menschheit an allen Fronten anzugreifen und zu verschwinden, bevor die Behörden bewaffneten Widerstand organisieren konnten. Da das Militär und die lokalen Milizen dünn gesät waren, mussten die Zivilisten ihre Schiffe zum persönlichen Schutz bewaffnen. Leider waren die zivilen Standardwaffen dieser Zeit den starken Phalanx-Schilden der Tevarin nicht gewachsen. Größere und mächtigere Waffen waren erforderlich, und Taisei "Talon" Jessop hatte einen Plan und die Mittel, um die Öffentlichkeit zu ihrem eigenen Schutz besser zu bewaffnen.

Mittel zum Schutz
Die Familie von Taisei Jessop wurde 2535 geboren und hatte tiefe Wurzeln im Croshaw-System. Im Laufe des vorigen Jahrhunderts hatten die Jessops durch Schifffahrt, Bergbau und Bauwesen ein riesiges Vermögen angehäuft. Von Landezonen-Hangars bis hin zu Rastplätzen und Tankstellen war es fast unmöglich, Croshaw im 25. Jahrhundert zu besuchen und nicht mit mindestens einem Unternehmen, an dem die Familie beteiligt war, Geschäfte zu machen. Doch als Taisei Jessop volljährig wurde, bedeutete eine Kombination aus schlechten Geschäftsinvestitionen und extravaganten Ausgaben, dass der Großteil des Familienvermögens vergeudet worden war. Die Elite von Croshaw scherzte sogar, dass das Wertvollste, was die Familie noch besaß, ihr angesehener Name sei.

Jessop war fest entschlossen, das Schicksal seiner Familie umzukehren. Er stieg 2579 zum CEO des Unternehmens auf, nachdem er einen Coup in der Vorstandsetage inszeniert hatte, durch den seine Cousine Polima abgesetzt wurde. Sein Versprechen, das Familienvermögen rückgängig zu machen, scheiterte zunächst, da sein kontrollierender Führungsstil Innovationen erstickte und Startups davon überzeugte, ihr Investitionskapital zu meiden. Trotzdem erwarb er sich schnell den Ruf, intensiv und intelligent zu sein. Dies brachte Jessop den Spitznamen "Talon" ein, weil er eine Aufgabe beharrlich anpackte. Wie ein ehemaliger Geschäftspartner sagte: "Sobald Talon sich einmal in etwas eingehakt hatte, ließ er es nie wieder los.

Jessops Führung erwies sich als ein mäßiger Erfolg - genug, um ihn an der Macht zu halten, aber nicht, um die Familie zu ihrem früheren Ruhm zurückzuführen. Dann, im Jahr 2603, brach der Zweite Tevarin-Krieg aus. Der normale Handel des Reiches kam zum Erliegen und zwang Jessop, sich nach Investitionen außerhalb von Croshaw umzusehen. Während einer dieser Reisen wurde sein Konvoi von tevarinschen Truppen angegriffen. Jessop überlebte nur knapp, nachdem die ballistischen Kanonen seines Schiffes überhitzt waren. Nur eine gut platzierte Rakete, die von seinem Sicherheitsteam abgefeuert wurde, rettete die Lage. Nach seiner Rückkehr nach Hause sorgte Jessop dafür, dass seine Familie, Freunde und Vertrauten auf ihren Schiffen ordentlich bewaffnet waren. Die Kosten und Komplikationen, die damit verbunden waren, öffneten ihm die Augen für eine Gelegenheit.

Da die meisten Unternehmen nach Regierungsaufträgen im Zusammenhang mit den Kriegsanstrengungen verlangten, konzentrierte sich Jessop darauf, der Öffentlichkeit ein Mittel zum Schutz zu bieten. Nach dem Ausruf, dass "Gewehre zu verdammt kompliziert sind", beschloss er, Raketen und Torpedos herzustellen. Als Anspielung auf seinen Spitznamen nannte Jessop die Firma Talon. Und wie sein Ruf, hat sie, sobald sie ihre Haken im Markt für Schiffsmunition versenkt hatte, nicht mehr losgelassen.

Ausnutzung der Nachwirkungen
Die Bewaffnung der Zivilbevölkerung mit verheerenden Geschützen erwies sich während des Zweiten Tevarin-Krieges als beliebt. Jessop leerte die Familienkasse und nutzte seine guten Geschäftsbeziehungen, um die richtige Finanzierung, Einrichtungen und - was am wichtigsten ist - in einer Zeit strikter Rationierung einen stetigen Strom von Vorräten zu sichern. Obwohl zahllose andere zu dieser Zeit ähnliche Unternehmen gründeten, hatte Jessop das nötige Kleingeld, um es zu verwirklichen und zu einem dauerhaften Erfolg zu machen.

Im Rahmen einer besonders erfolgreichen Marketingkampagne wurden Raketengestelle verschenkt und kostenlos installiert, wenn genügend Munition gekauft wurde, um sie zu füllen. Die Talon-Händler missachteten das beschwerliche UEE-Genehmigungsverfahren und rieten den Kunden sogar, sich an das Unternehmen zu wenden, wenn ein Regierungsvertreter sie wegen der Installation belästigte. Mitglieder des Vorstands befürchteten, dass diese Taktik zu einer Auseinandersetzung mit der UEE-Regierung führen könnte. Es stellte sich heraus, dass dies genau das war, was Jessop wollte.

Die UEE würde ihre Aufmerksamkeit erst dann auf Talon richten, wenn sie den zweiten Tevarin-Krieg gewonnen hätte, denn während des Krieges erwies sich eine gut bewaffnete Bevölkerung als hilfreiche und beliebte Idee, die jedoch nach dem Krieg erheblich an Attraktivität verlor. Als die Regierung schließlich eine Untersuchung zu Talon einleitete, konnte Jessop eine Phalanx von Anwälten zum Schutz des Unternehmens zusammen mit einem gut vorbereiteten PR-Team einsetzen, das sich stark auf die Annahme stützte, dass Talon während des Krieges unzählige zivile Leben gerettet hatte. Dies löste eine heftige Debatte über die Rolle der UEE im Bereich der persönlichen Sicherheit aus, wobei der Name Talon im Mittelpunkt stand. Jahrelang prahlte Jessop damit, dass diese kostenlose Werbung das Beste sei, was der Marke je passiert sei. Es schadete natürlich nicht, dass die Raketen und Flugkörper von Talon auch den Ruf erwarben, sowohl leistungsstark als auch zuverlässig zu sein.

Schließlich lockerte die UEE ihre Bestimmungen und erlaubte jedem System, seine eigenen Standards zu setzen. Es folgte ein Deregulierungswettlauf, als die Systeme erkannten, dass strengere Gesetze einen Teil des kommerziellen Verkehrs verscheuchten und viel Personal zur Durchsetzung benötigten. Es dauerte nicht lange, bis Schiffe, die mit schweren Geschützen bewaffnet waren, im ganzen Reich der Standard und nicht die Ausnahme waren.

Heute gibt es nur noch wenige Piloten, die nicht mit der Talon-Reihe von Raketen, Torpedos, Geschützträgern und Granaten vertraut sind. Der Ruf des Unternehmens, zuverlässige Munition in Militärqualität für die Öffentlichkeit herzustellen, ist nach wie vor intakt. Dennoch spaltet Jessops Rolle bei der Gründung des Unternehmens immer noch viele. Einige Historiker halten Jessop für einen heldenhaften Freiheitskämpfer, während andere sein Vermächtnis als das eines gierigen Kriegsprofiteurs beschreiben. Trotz dieser Kluft können sich alle in einer Sache einig sein - wenn es fliegen kann, gibt es einen Talon, der es in die Luft jagen kann.

This portfolio originally appeared in Jump Point 7.7.
Prior to the Second Tevarin War, spaceflight was a very different endeavor than today. Many civilian ships confidently explored the unknown without weapons, instead preferring to haul extra water, food, oxygen, and components. Adding armaments to private ships was legal but required a rigorous permitting process. Ship weapons were considered a niche industry geared mainly toward the military and security forces and some civilian spacecraft didn’t even come with weapon mounts.

However, during the seven-year conflict, Tevarin warlord Corath’Thal strategically scattered heavily armed and shielded ships to create a much more nimble and agile fleet. These units were capable of attacking Humanity on every front and disappearing before authorities could organize armed resistance. With the military and local militias stretched thin, civilians needed to arm their ships for personal protection. Unfortunately, the era’s standard civilian weapons were no match for the Tevarin’s powerful phalanx shields. Bigger and more powerful weapons were required, and Taisei ‘Talon’ Jessop had a plan and the means to better arm the public for their own protection.

Means of Protection
Born in 2535, Taisei Jessop’s family had deep roots in the Croshaw system. Over the previous century, the Jessop’s had accrued a vast fortune through shipping, mining, and construction. From landing zone hangars to rest stops and refueling stations, it would be almost impossible to visit Croshaw during the 25th century and not do business with at least one company that the family had a stake in. Yet, as Taisei Jessop came of age, a combination of bad business investments and extravagant spending meant most of the family fortune had been squandered. Croshaw’s elite even joked that the most valuable thing the family still possessed was their well-respected name.

Jessop grew determined to reverse his family’s fate. He ascended to the CEO position of the company in 2579 after orchestrating a boardroom coup that unseated his cousin Polima. His promise to reverse the family’s fortune initially stumbled as his controlling managerial style stifled innovation and convinced startups to avoid their investment capital. Even so, he quickly garnered a reputation for being intense and intelligent. This earned Jessop the nickname “Talon” for the way he tenaciously tackled a task. As a former business partner said, “once Talon hooked himself into something, he never let go.”

Jessop’s leadership proved to be a moderate success – enough to keep him in power, but not to return the family to its previous glory. Then, in 2603, the Second Tevarin War erupted. The Empire’s normal commerce ground to a halt, forcing Jessop to look for investments outside of Croshaw. During one such trip, his convoy came under attack by Tevarin forces. Jessop barely survived after his ship’s ballistic cannons overheated. It was only a well-placed missile fired by his security team that saved the day. Upon returning home, Jessop ensured that his family, friends, and confidants had proper armaments on their ships. The cost and complication of doing so opened his eyes to an opportunity.

As most companies clamored for government contracts related to the war effort, Jessop focused on providing the public a means of protection. After exclaiming that “guns are too damn complicated,” he decided to produce missiles and torpedoes. As a nod to his nickname, Jessop called the company Talon. And like his reputation, once it sunk its hooks into the ship munitions market, it never let go.

Exploiting the Aftermath
Arming civilians with devastating ordnance proved to be popular during the Second Tevarin War. Jessop emptied the family coffers and exploited his deep business connections to secure the proper funding, facilities, and most importantly during a time of strict rationing, a steady stream of supplies. Though countless others started similar businesses at the time, Jessop had the wherewithal to make it a reality and a lasting success.

During one particularly successful marketing campaign, missile racks were given away and installed for free if purchased with enough munitions to fill them. Talon distributors flouted the onerous UEE permitting process and even told customers to contact the company if a government representative bothered them about the installation. Members of the board feared that this tactic could lead to an altercation with the UEE government. It turned out that was exactly what Jessop wanted.

The UEE wouldn’t turn their attention to Talon until they had won the Second Tevarin War, because while a well-armed populace proved to be a helpful and popular idea during the war, it had considerably less appeal in its aftermath. When the government eventually opened an investigation into Talon, Jessop was able to unleash a phalanx of lawyers to protect the business in conjunction with a well-prepared public relations team that leaned hard on the perception that Talon had saved countless civilian lives during the war. This sparked a vigorous debate about the role of the UEE in personal security with Talon’s name at the center. For years, Jessop bragged that this free advertising was the best thing to ever happen to the brand. Of course, it didn’t hurt that Talon’s missiles and rockets also earned a reputation for being both powerful and reliable.

Eventually, the UEE loosened its regulations and allowed each system to set its own standards. A deregulation race ensued as systems realized that stricter laws scared away some commercial traffic and took plenty of personnel to enforce. It wasn’t long before ships armed with heavy ordnance were the standard, not the exception, across the Empire.

Today, there are few pilots not familiar with Talon’s line of missiles, torpedoes, ordnance racks, and grenades. The company’s reputation for making dependable military-grade munitions for the public remains intact. Yet, Jessop’s role in the creation of the company still divides many. Some historians consider Jessop a heroic freedom fighter, while others describe his legacy as that of a greedy war profiteer. Despite this divide, there’s one thing everyone can agree on – if it can fly, there’s a Talon that can blow it up.