Alien Imperial Megacorp

[ottarrus]

So a question struck me and begged an answer...
If the Third Imperium has alien races fully embedded in its culture, how come there isn't an alien themed megacorp?
Additionally, would anyone be interested if I put some work into such a megacorporation as a proposal?

 

[Limpin Legin]

There are alien (non-Imperial) megacorporations just that the Imperial way of life is more suited to the development of these business entities.
AoCS2 mentions Vilani Zirunkariish and Solimani Transstar. Traveller wiki mentions others.

Sure, if you got alien megacorps of your own creation, post them so that other folk can read them.

 

[ottarrus]

Well, there are three Vilani megacorps with an Imperial LIC. The Sollies do have Transstar, which is in effect an arm of the Confederation government. There are several Aslan corps that reach megacorp status in their earnings, reach and effects on the Hierate. And the Zho's have several megacorp-like companies in their industrial complex.
The idea of an alien-owned megacorp in the Imperium came to me as I was re-reading about alien nobles in the Imperial system, wondering why there isn't one. So yeah, I think I'll fuss with this a little bit.

 

[tzunder]

I think you may be being a bit blinkered. There are many sophonts that are non human in the Third Imperium. Now, unless you are running a variant humanist Empire that is prejudicial or xeophobic, those sophonts will work in the usual megacorps. There will be Bwap accountants alongside Vargr delivery drivers and so on and so on.
The ownerships of the megacorps in the Third Imperium are closely tied to the nobility, but as you have said, there are alien nobles, and in YTU and the OTU, there are many of places for non humans to have dominant positions within the vast organisations that are megacorps.
On the other hand.. go for it.. the more the merrier..

 

[ottarrus]

I think you may be being a bit blinkered. There are many sophonts that are non human in the Third Imperium. Now, unless you are running a variant humanist Empire that is prejudicial or xeophobic, those sophonts will work in the usual megacorps. There will be Bwap accountants alongside Vargr delivery drivers and so on and so on.
The ownerships of the megacorps in the Third Imperium are closely tied to the nobility, but as you have said, there are alien nobles, and in YTU and the OTU, there are many of places for non humans to have dominant positions within the vast organisations that are megacorps.
On the other hand.. go for it.. the more the merrier..

You're making much of my point here.
EVERY Imperial megacorp has alien employees, everything from near-humans to Llelewylolies. Some even rise to powerful positions, regional managers, that sort of thing.
What I'm proposing here is a megacorporation that puts an alien merchant noble on the same social and financial footing as the Tukera, Ling, or Schunamen families.
Certainly this is a IMTU kind of thing. OTOH, there's no reason why such a company couldn't be added to the body of canon lore.

 

[MasterGwydion]

I am guessing that this doesn't exist already because most writers are humanocentric. If you can have a Vargr Archduke, then you can definitely have an alien-run megacorp.

 

[tzunder]

Ok, I guess I have always assumed that Tukera, Ling or Schunamen might be alien run.

 

[ottarrus]

Ok, I guess I have always assumed that Tukera, Ling or Schunamen might be alien run.

Nope. All are run by Human noble families. As are all the other Imperial megacorps.

 

[Anstett]

I think it depends on when they were formed. A Solomani-heritage Corp might be considered Alien Run by some.

 

[MasterGwydion]

I think it depends on when they were formed. A Solomani-heritage Corp might be considered Alien Run by some.

Humanati.

 

[Condottiere]

I am guessing that this doesn't exist already because most writers are humanocentric. If you can have a Vargr Archduke, then you can definitely have an alien-run megacorp.

That's Emperor Penguin, to you peasants.

 

[ottarrus]

I think it depends on when they were formed. A Solomani-heritage Corp might be considered Alien Run by some.

We have the ownership of all current Imperial megacorps. Every one of them is Human, Solomani and Vilani both.
And there is a zero percent chance that the Space Nazis have a non-human run megacorp. In order to reach megacorp status in Traveller's aparteid South Africa, you have to have intimate connections to the Party and that simply isn't gonna happen.

 

[Jame Rowe]

That's Emperor Penguin, to you peasants.

Hey, dohwar uh uplift penguins!

 

[Condottiere]

You can't pay taxes, if you aren't sentient.

I would suppose this extends to tariffs.

 

[steelbrok]

IMTU the Hortalez are a Hiver nest

 

[G'Naakbusters]

Sounds like a good plot arc for a long-term Traveller campaign (or series of such)! Something in the backdrop that can inform a lot of smaller plots or encounters. A non-Human corporation has achieved such success that some are starting to suggest that it might enter the "megacorp" tier, and the ripples are being felt across the Imperium.

There's a lot of potential here, I think.

"This is an inevitable result of the fallout of the Solomani Rim War, and here's why it's [insert one of following]:

• well past time
• a good development
• a sign of the decaying Imperium
• evidence of misguided "correctional" identity politics
• not a big deal either way
• an affront to the Solomani Cause
• a triumph for true Imperial values
• why the market is the true Karun
• a sign of Human favouritism for the race in question
• a Hiver plot

Depending on which race you pick, all sorts of fun wrinkles suggest themselves:

"Oh, please. That's a Dolphin-run company. Dolphins are just lackeys of Humans by default. Half of them are Solomani loyalists. Let me know when some actual *alien* makes it big".

"The Shiwonee government denounces claims that the success of this Geonee-run corporation is actually another example of Human dominance. "Geonee are not Human" stated Bigg Cheesee, chair of the Meeralo Council. "It is well known that our people are descended from the Ancients, and predate Humaniti into space."

"It's not a corporation, it's a tuhuir, that's not the same thing. The idea that it is, that's a legal fiction and ironically another example of the Imperium's default Human perspective"

 

[Terry Mixon]

What’s a karun?

 

[G'Naakbusters]

What’s a karun?

Vilani word, "emperor, king; lord; president, director"

 

[Terry Mixon]

Vilani word, "emperor, king; lord; president, director"

Thanks.

 

[ottarrus]

Thanks.

'Ishimkarun' was the 'Shadow Emperor' of the Ziru Sirka during its Imperial phase, after the Consolidation Wars up till the end. 'Ishim' is 'that which is dark, secretive, or unseen'.