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Galactic Spanning Corporation

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The Galactic Spanning Corporation is a megacorporation in Tachyon: The Fringe. It is one of two organizations that Jake Logan chooses to become a member of after he is exiled to the Fringe.

Background[]

Based in the Sol Region, the Galactic Spanning Corporation, also known as GalSpan, is a massive megacorporation that rose to prominence as a leader in space mining. Its subsidiary, GalSpan Propulsion Systems, allowed it to expand into starship design, and a strong partnership with Phobos Proprietary Systems opened the door for lucrative military weapons development projects, among other pursuits. GalSpan is one of the first Sol-based companies to expand operations into the Fringe,[1] where they have claimed ownership of an entire region, which they named after themselves: GalSpan.

The company pursues profit as its highest goal to make good returns for its shareholders. Its slogan, "Profit equals value,"[1] illustrates this. GalSpan is a wealthy company, and it accommodates their employees lavishly with sign-on bonuses, well-compensated work, full medical benefit packages, stock options, and flexible hours.[2] However, the company's cutthroat approach to being as financially successful as possible will not prevent them from suddenly terminating the employment of highly useful employees if it means bettering its own odds.[3][4] This ruthless nature either attracts like-minded employees or changes them to act in a similar way toward others, and this coldness led GalSpan rivals to coin the derogatory terms "Spanner" and "corper" to refer to GalSpan and its employees.

GalSpan is bitter enemies with the Bora.

2368-2501[]

GalSpan to Pursue

Asteroid field similar to the ones prospected by GalSpan

Founded in 2368, GalSpan began as an industrial prospecting company.[1] The company's fortune changed when it discovered several fields of high-yield asteroids, and it quickly became a leader in the space mining industry.[1] It invested its newfound riches into other companies and expanded in size. GalSpan's new divisions and subsidiaries branched into advanced composite production,[1] starship design, military weapons, contract pilot work, business fashion,[5] and more.

GalSpan eventually reached a position where it could design its own starships and ship weapons. It engineered the Glint Light Laser and the Flare Medium Laser, two lasers that are staple weapons for many Sol-based contract pilots. One of GalSpan's most frequent collaborators in these pursuits was Phobos Proprietary Systems, and one creation they made together was the Orion multirole fighter.[6] The subsidiary GalSpan Propulsion Technologies developed the engine upgrade Afterburner Reserve, which became so ubiquitous that the afterburner of nearly every fighter in the galaxy can accommodate this upgrade. In this way, GalSpan contract pilots who flew GalSpan ships and fired GalSpan weapons became a flying advertisement for the Spanning Corporation, which reinforced the brand and proved the effectiveness of the company's products. As a result, large companies like Advanced Ganymede Technologies purchased Orion and Pegasus fighters for its own fleet. GalSpan weapons became popular enough that some Fringe ships have begun to adopt GalSpan lasers into their loadout.[7] GalSpan's partnership with PPS grew so successful that in 2509 the two attempted to merge, but this buyout was ultimately not ratified by the United Sol Government in fear that GalSpan would become too powerful in the Sol Region.[8]

2502-2509[]

Despite great successes in various areas of industry, GalSpan never abandoned the one specialization that transformed it into the corporate behemoth that it is today: space mining. In 2502, when corporations began taking interest in the unregulated wilderness that is the Fringe,[9] GalSpan plotted its next steps beyond Sol. It was not much later that GalSpan appointed Gustav Atkins as Regional Director of the Fringe Acquisition and Mining Division,[1] and the company expanded into the Fringe.

Director Atkins full size

Gustav Atkins is appointed to direct Fringe operations

Director Atkins claimed the GalSpan Region as the company's main holdings in the Fringe, gained stations in the Hub and Frontier, made forays into the Twilight, and built research stations in Ripstar. GalSpan's appeal for mining rights in the Fringe was passed by the USG, and Roland Belliar, the current CEO of GalSpan, announced that GalSpan would begin "extrasolar mining operations."[10]

The explosive growth that GalSpan was undertaking required a high intake of new contract pilots to protect its increasing number of assets from rival corporations. In addition to making published advertisements,[2] the company deployed representatives in popular starbases to draw in promising pilots.[11] Tricia Bales, GalSpan's Fringe contract operator, is one such representative. GalSpan applicants are required to submit a resume, portfolio, test ring rating, and DNA sample.[2] Despite their recruitment efforts, GalSpan is sometimes left with surplus work and will occasionally turn to the Void Runners, a pirate clan in the Frontier, to fulfill contracts.[12] This has led to a furtive alliance between the two, though GalSpan publicly denies any involvement with pirates.[12]

GalSpan and Bora clash

Bora ships revolting against GalSpan's presence in the Fringe

These large strides forward were not without their drawbacks. The Bora Mining Guild, a far-space colony that had settled in the Fringe centuries before GalSpan considered moving beyond Sol, saw the corporation's expansion as an intrusion on their home territory and pushed back violently against GalSpan. The two organizations began to fight in an endlessly escalating series of skirmishes, ambushes, and assassinations. These fights take a large toll on GalSpan resources. One single Bora fighter group led by Susan Bradley is responsible for a 20% drop in the company's Fringe profits.[13] This in turn causes GalSpan shareholders to doubt the sustainability of GalSpan's Fringe pursuits.

In light of this conflict, Fringe mining earns mixed results for GalSpan. The mining venture has so far exceeded expectations,[14] but rumors begin circulating that GalSpan is pursuing something even greater than traditional space mining in the Fringe. These rumors prove to be true when GalSpan announces its development of the Hephaestus Mining Complex. This project is known as the Hephaestus Project.

GalSpan-Bora War[]

Hephaestus sketch news

Sketch of Hephaestus revealed in TNS news

The focal point of the GalSpan-Bora War is the Hephaestus Project, which is the development of a mining platform that can both mine and process ripstars unassisted. It is headed by Director Atkins, and if successful, it will cement GalSpan as the most powerful corporation in the Fringe. To complete the project, GalSpan acquires multiple items over the course of the war to aid its development.

The first item in the project is the Bora Containment Device. Ripstars are traditionally difficult to harvest, but the Bora created a device that can attract and contain them safely. One of these devices is kept in the Bora's Independence Station in the Hub. GalSpan legally seizes control of the station to flush the Bora out so that the Bora transport the device in a convoy. GalSpan disables the freighter that is carrying it and steals the device to be reverse engineered.

As Bora raids on GalSpan assets continues, GalSpan determines that the leader of the Bora is a pilot named Susan Bradley. She remains elusive to capture.

GalSpan performs two important tests next. After outfitting a cruiser with the containment device, GalSpan attacks the Bora station Virtue in the Frontier to break loose the ripstars that are held at the station. The device works as intended, and it pulls the ripstars aboard the cruiser. While GalSpan has no easy way to process the ripstars yet, this proof of concept reveals that the project is on the right course. The second test is shipping a replica piece of the Hephaestus from GalSpan to the Ripstar Region to ensure that this transportation is viable. However, the test ends in failure when the transport carrying the replica self-destructs, which shows that GalSpan needs to reinforce the Hephaestus.

To obtain the second item in the Hephaestus Project, GalSpan turns to the Ripstar Region where special ripstar-formed objects called KC2 crystals occur naturally. These crystals have innate properties that when combined with other materials makes them much more durable. This solves the design weakness of the Hephaestus.

Advanced drone active

One of Dr. Cassitor's advanced drones

One of the last remaining items needed to complete the Hephaestus Project is a maintenance force that can repair and defend the Hephaestus while it is out harvesting in the field. The Bora Containment Device emits a harmful radiation that damages people and electronics so neither humans nor traditional drones can survive nearby the mining complex for too long. GalSpan gets word that Baron Hajod knows a solution, so the company helps him kidnap Baroness Onrald's son, Alexander, as payment for this knowledge. Hajod reveals that Dr. Cassitor of the Twilight has built drones with highly resistant components. GalSpan invades Cassitor's space, steals a drone for reverse engineering, and mass-produces an army of them as a personal maintenance force in anticipation of the completion of the Hephaestus.

Not long after, an undercover GalSpan operative returns from spying on the Bora in the Ripstar Region and delivers highly classified information regarding the elusive Susan Bradley.

The final piece of the Hephaestus Project is the Fog Generator, another device made by Dr. Cassitor, that produces Twilight Fog. This final piece of the puzzle allows GalSpan to flood sectors of space with the harmful substance, acting as an obscuring cloak and a damaging area of effect to deter anyone from attacking the Hephaestus.

Soon enough, the Hephaestus is fully operational and must undergo final tests in the newly created Hephaestus Sector within the Ripstar Region. This is when the Bora launch a final assault on GalSpan to destroy the mining complex. If Jake Logan is aligned with GalSpan in the storyline, he will successfully defend the Hephaestus against the attack, pick up Susan Bradley from Liberty Starbase, and deliver her to Director Atkins so that she can safely tell her people to give up the war and escape to a new home with their lives. The Hephaestus will go on to establish GalSpan as a rich and powerful megacorporation that owns large portions of the Fringe.

Subsidiaries[]

  • GalSpan Propulsion Systems focuses on developing engine upgrades for GalSpan ships. Some of these innovations include the Afterburner Reserves and the Lateral Thrust systems.
  • GalSpan EnviroMax
  • GS Executive Wear

Organization[]

Fleet[]

The ships in GalSpan's fleet have a gray and blue color scheme and bear a notably sleek design. They feature strong shields but usually have average or poor hull ratings. GalSpan fighters have the capability to fire guided ordnance such as missiles and torpedoes. GalSpan fighter groups and capital ships are typically named after constellations—pictor, octans, and mensa—and beings from Roman and Greek mythology—gorgon, Janus, Pan, minotaur, and medusa.

  • Poseidon multirole bombers act as both defense against enemy fighters and as a light bomber to destroy capital ships.
  • Orions are the primary fighter in GalSpan's fleet. They are a jack-of-all-trades ship that performs decently in any situation.
  • Pegasus fighters are primarily used to intercept specific fighter targets and to scout.
  • Phoenix heavy bombers are GalSpan's go-to ship for destroying large targets. They boast a large loadout capacity.
  • Archangel fighters are built for heavy assault. They perform well in any combat scenario.
  • Minelayers are used to deploy mines in GalSpan space to deter unwanted visitors.
  • Frigates are light-action capital ships used as first responders and anti-fighter defense.
  • Destroyers are GalSpan's primary support capital ship. They excel against fighters but need backup against other capital ships.
  • Cruisers are the most powerful standard capital ships in GalSpan's fleet, right under carriers.
  • Carriers deliver fighters and other craft into combat. They are heavily armed and boast a very high shield rating.
  • The Hephaestus module is a half-scale replica of the front end of the larger Hephaestus Mining Complex.
  • The Hephaestus Mining Complex is GalSpan's premier mobile mining platform designed to harvest and process ripstars.
  • Shuttles serve to transport GalSpan technicians and armed passengers.
  • Drones play a large role in the GalSpan fleet. Defense drones defend their stations. Attack drones train new recruits. Advanced drones guard the Hephaestus.
  • Light freighters ship small-scale resources for GalSpan.
  • Heavy freighters transport industrial materials in bulk for the corporation.
  • Cargo barges appear infrequently, but GalSpan modified one to ferry their Hephaestus module for a transport test.
  • Medical frigates stand by in production sectors during product tests in case personnel are injured during the operation.

Locations[]

GalSpan was among the first megacorporations to venture into the Fringe, and they quickly settled the GalSpan Region, the company's main base of operations in the Fringe. Since then, they have extended their reach far into the Fringe.

Hub[]

  • Hera Sector acts as the Galactic Spanning Corporation's foothold in the Hub where their supply ships and pilots can pass through safely or proceed to the GalSpan Region via the mega-gate that rests near Hera Station.
  • Hera Station is a drop-off point for galSpan supply shipments and potentially a modest base of operations in the region.
  • Independence Sector contains Independence Station.
  • Independence Station once belonged to the Bora, but GalSpan legally won ownership of the station to force the Bora Containment Device out into the open while the Bora were evacuating the station.

GalSpan[]

GalSpan owns the eponymous GalSpan Region entirely. The headquarters in this region is Olympus Starbase.

Frontier[]

Ripstar[]

This region marks the middle ground between the GalSpan and Bora Regions[17] so it is hotly contested by forces from both sides.

  • Hellas Starbase Sector contains Hellas Starbase, GalSpan's primary starbase for Ripstar activities. It also contains the mega-gate to GalSpan.
  • Hellas Starbase is GalSpan's primary base of operations in Ripstar.
  • Canopus Research Sector contains the Canopus Research Facility.
  • Canopus Research Facility conducts important testing and development in the GalSpan-Bora War, such as reverse engineering Dr. Cassitor's advanced drones.[18]
  • Hephaestus Sector is a new sector where the fully functional Hephaestus Mining Complex is located.
  • Draconis Ripstar Field Sector marks a crossroads between multiple organizations present in the region: the Galactic Spanning Corporation, the Bora Mining Guild, and the Cinder Mercenaries.
  • Draconis Research Facility was a key data storage site for GalSpan's regional surveys when the company first expanded into Ripstar. It is mostly unused now.

Products[]

Contracts[]

Below are all contracts offered by GalSpan.

Known members[]

  • Roland Belliar - CEO
  • Gustav Atkins - Regional Director of the Fringe Acquisition and Mining Division / Carrier Captain
  • Hagen - Admiral / Carrier Captain
  • Young - Commander / Cruiser Captain
  • Martes - Frigate Captain
  • Iksa - Frigate Captain
  • Tricia Bales - Contract Operator
  • Andre Vilnir - Olympus Base Spokesperson
  • Jake Logan - Contract Pilot
  • A.J. Freesh - Contract Pilot / Wingman
  • Lakita Ramos - Contract Pilot / Wingman
  • Bernardo - Contract Pilot / Wingman
  • Tora Embers - Contract Pilot / Wingman

TNS coverage[]

Trivia[]

Gallery[]

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Star Pilot's Guide to the Fringe, pg. 23.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Star Pilot's Guide to the Fringe, pg. 28.
  3. ↑ In the post-mission debrief of A Bank Without Money, Tricia Bales mentions that Logan will be let go from the company because Fringe operations are no longer profitable, despite him helping GalSpan acquire all of the components of the Hephaestus Project.
  4. ↑ TNS article GalSpan Cutbacks Affect Thousands.
  5. ↑ GalSpan's subsidiary, GS Executive Wear, is likely a fashion brand based on its name alone.
  6. ↑ In-game shipyard description of Orion.
  7. ↑ The Midge has a Flare Medium Laser as part of its loadout.
  8. ↑ TNS article Oberon Buys out AGT.
  9. ↑ Star Pilot's Guide to the Fringe, pg. 5.
  10. ↑ TNS article GalSpan to Pursue Extrasolar Ventures.
  11. ↑ Star Pilot's Guide to the Fringe, pg. 10.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Star Pilot's Guide to the Fringe, pg. 15.
  13. ↑ TNS article Bora’s Elite Force Takes Toll on GalSpan Resources.
  14. ↑ TNS article GalSpan Mining Production Exceeds Expectations.
  15. ↑ As seen in the contract Pirate Attack.
  16. ↑ Attack drones launch from this station during a training contest during the contract Bonus Incentive Program.
  17. ↑ Star Pilot's Guide to the Fringe, pg. 31.
  18. ↑ As seen in the contract The Identity Game.
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