Faction description below; all other relevant links are in the signature. Thanks in advance!
Gateway Interstellar
A Bretonian Trading Faction
Company History
Gateway Shipping was founded in 791 A.S. by a group of New London investors interested in hauling raw materials across house borders and independent worlds for sale to various, smaller Sirius companies. Based at the strategically located Kensington Shipping Platform in New London, the firm established a substantial clientele rather quickly. Within a decade and a half, Gateway had concluded contracts with a number of organizations to be their primary shipper, the Independent Miners Guild perhaps the largest and best known among them.
Gateway has undergone a number of changes in its short history, not least of which occurred in its leadership. Alisdair Buchanan, a Bretonian businessman, philanthropist, and populist sympathizer, and one of Gateways initial investors, came to find deeply rooted corrupt practices by a number of Gateways executives and investors following the Nomad War (800-801 A.S.). Gradually, he bought out the other investors until he owned a majority percentage of the firm, at which point he fired the executives in question and restructured the company in line with the values of employee and community development. Rechristened Gateway Interstellar, the young firm moved quickly to expand its trade division into a first-class fleet, eventually entering into markets that had been dominated by its rivals.
Today, Gateway Interstellar operates as a company that deeply values its employees and its partners, actively seeking opportunities to develop its services to both. Under Buchanans leadership, the company has not actively supported the war against Kusari for both humanitarian and economic reasons. However, Gateway has always sought the Bretonian peoples best interests, and with Kusaris incursion into Leeds System, the Mobile Headquarters for Gateway a Royal Liner has been converted to a refugee ferry to evacuate Planets Leeds and Harris, and other affected locales.
Gateway is known as a classic underdog, a small but energetic firm holding its own in a market of large conglomerates, both private and government-subsidized. While relations remain tense with its primary rival, Bretonias nationalized Borderworlds Exports, Gateway is recognized as a firm operating squarely within Bretonian identity and interests.
Organization
Vision
1. Commitment to and constant improvement in RP, both with friends and with adversaries.
2. To create a good life for Gateway employees and their families.
3. To contribute to Bretonian economic, political, and cultural well being.
4. To maintain a revenue base that allows for the maintenance and expansion of goals 1-3.
Company Structure
Gateway is led by its Board of Directors. The responsibility of the BoD is to provide strategic vision and macro-level decision-making for the faction, as well as to contribute regular investments to the factions central account. Funds are used for faction-wide expenses, including subsidizing new employees as needed (i.e., when coworker funds are not quite sufficient). Since the employees are required to pay nothing to the company, this is the factions primary source of income. The BoD is open to any employee, or any non-employee with an RP-appropriate rationale for joining and a desire to contribute time, thought, and funds.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) has ultimate responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the company. The CEO formulates company strategy and directs its diplomatic relations with all governmental, corporate, and other organizations. He or she is ultimately responsible for the development of Gateway employees, and for ensuring that company objectives are met. The CEO reports directly to the Board of Directors.
The Director of Trade Operations (DTO) oversees all shipping operations, including the procurement and equipping of trade vessels, as well as the selection of commodities and trade routes. The DTO is responsible for all Trade Department employees, for their training and evaluation, and for overseeing their advancement. The DTO may appoint an Assistant Director (ADTO) as needed to meet departmental objectives. The DTO reports directly to the CEO.
The Director of Security Operations (DSO) oversees all escort services of the company including security-for-hire to the general public handling the procurement and equipping of escort vessels and development of appropriate tactics and rules of engagement. The DSO is responsible for all Security Department employees, for their training and evaluation, and for overseeing their advancement. The DSO may appoint an Assistant Director (ADSO) as needed to meet departmental objectives. The DSO reports directly to the CEO.
It goes without saying that Trade Captains are the backbone of Gateways operations. A mixture of practical know-how, leadership skills, ingenuity, common sense, and a commitment to the crews under their command as well as to their peers is required for all Gateway captains. We concentrate on professionalism, skill, and safety; the profits tend to take care of themselves. New captains are set up in smaller transports so as to get their bearings in what can often be a daunting industry and environment. Soon enough, however, experience lends itself to an increasing rate of profit-making, and our captains find themselves able to outfit themselves in the best of trade ship design Bretonia has to offer.
Our wing of Security Pilots act as the shield for our extensive trading operations. These individuals must demonstrate not only skill as combat pilots, but also the good judgment that can discern when combat is necessary, and when the mere threat is sufficient to protect their charges. Courage and commitment are inherent to this job. Because our escorts rely on commissions for their income, rather than on the much more significant income that comes from direct trade, Gateway ensures that their initial ship and equipment setup is more than sufficient to do their jobs with excellence.
Recruitment and Hiring
All players interested in joining Gateway can post an application IN CHARACTER at the thread linked here:
Follow the instructions listed in the first post. Upon receipt of application, the applicant will be sent an interview questionnaire to evaluate his or her understanding of Gateways corporate profile and policies.
Gateways Employee Investment Programme (EIP):
Newly hired trade captains will be given command of a fully equipped civilian transport (1000 cargo). This is not a loan. Rather, it is a direct investment by the employees of Gateway in their peers. Often, new captains will be directly funded and set up by a more experienced captain, rather than by the companys central fund. As new captains gain experience and wealth, they in turn invest in new recruits.
To this end, traders may keep their profits with no obligation to Gateway other than payment for escorts. However, voluntary donations will be sought from time to time as the company fully subsidizes ship and equipment purchases for new employees. Gateway hopes that new pilots, recognizing their ships and equipment have been voluntarily purchased by their coworkers, will feel the sense of family and community to which the company has committed itself.
Newly hired escort pilots will receive a new ship, moderately armored, at company expense. As they earn fees, they can acquire stronger armor and more advanced equipment. Weaponry, however, will be furnished from the start at the most advanced level.
Vessels and Markings
Ship types and naming conventions vary by division. All employees will use the Gateway ID and tag.
Trade: Gateway)Placename
Clydesdale
Civilian Transport
Train
Percheron
Firefly
Bretonian Shire Container Transport
IMG Atlas Transport
Large Train
Bretonian Shetland Train
Security: Gateway)Firstname.Surname (can also be first initial, if not enough space)
Griffin LF
Falcon HF
Eagle VHF
Civilian Bomber
Daily Operations
Gateway Interstellar maintains a variety of trade routes within Bretonia and between Bretonia, Liberty, Rheinland, and connecting systems. Gateway also handles shipments of more basic commodities to allied bases and freeports in the border worlds. Gateway takes very seriously its business partnerships as well as the use of trade routes in Liberty and Rheinland space, and works tirelessly to maintain its reputation for professionalism and incorruptibility.
Trade, of course, is the primary function of the company, although the security division does offer escort-for-hire services at competitive prices to the general public. In addition, Gateway is committed to the growth of the Bretonian population and the enrichment of its quality of life and culture. To this end, the company has a healthy charitable contributions office and is active in a number of educational, cultural and political causes.
Central Communications System: Gateway members utilize the following message dump thread for trade route information, trade reports, and special company announcements:
***This is the factions primary means of communication. All faction members are therefore REQUIRED to check this thread regularly for announcements, and to post trade reports whenever possible.***
Employment carries both responsibilities and privileges. Regarding responsibilities, Gateway employees will be expected to do the following:
1. Abide by all Sirius (Admin) rules and expectations.
2. Obey all laws of Bretonia. Only those items legally allowed to be shipped will be found on our vessels, and our pilots will behave according to the highest standards of professionalism and courtesy.
3. All vessels, irregardless of function or cargo load, will assist any lawful vessel in need whom they encounter. This includes system-chat requests for assistance by authorities, except where leaving convoy would unreasonably compromise convoy security.
4. Cultivate active lives (RP) with assistance, as needed, from Gateway management. We are immersing ourselves into a story here, so thoughtful RP is essential.
5. Familiarize themselves with company policies and regularly read the message dump thread.
Regarding privileges, Gateway employees can expect from company leadership the following:
1. Ample opportunity for the development of piloting skills, knowledge of Sirius star systems and trade routes, and good company in the often intimidating blackness of space.
2. An open-door policy regarding suggestions for company improvement and/or the redress of grievances.
3. Full subsidization for initial vessels and equipment.
4. Mentoring for new employees by more experienced ones, as needed and/or desired.
In addition, the Bretonian public can expect from Gateway the same open-door policy regarding its operations, as can the lawful residents of any system where Gateway vessels travel.
Friendly:
Bretonian Armed Forces
Planetform, Inc.
Cryer Pharmaceuticals
Kruger Minerals
Liberty House Authorities
Liberty Corporations
Republican Express
Neutral:
Border Worlds Exports (Bowex)
Bretonia Mining and Manufacturing (BMM)
Rheinland House Authorities
Rheinland Corporations
All other entities not named elsewhere.
Unfriendly:
Kusari State Police
Kusari Corporations
Colonial Remnant
Hostile:
Kusari Naval Forces
Pirates & Criminal Organizations
Nomads
Phantoms
The Wild
The Coalition
Xenos
Harvesters
I'v been escorting two of you once, and I have no criticism whatsoever for you.
Maybe you shouldn't say to a BAF officer how Wrath is better then Templar, but oh well. That's about it.:)
Lucendez Wrote:
It is every Corsair's responsibility to die a beautiful death in defense of Crete, regardless of how OORP or how capwhoring the opposition is. Launch your fighter, joust the battlecruisers and die a beautiful death. Then, drink it down in the bar.
Well everything looks good, except a recruitment thread( haven't seen one either) and activity. Missed pirating your guys.
Maquis|Leon.LaBreau-If your interested in joining the Maquis PM me. [RM]Of.Viktor.Niklovach[RoS]GhostFace[E]David.DeWester[101st] Order|Ens.Adam.Jones[C]Jean.Claude.Moreau Kruger Security-Johann Von Struger]bd[Akio.Kimura
Actually, I think the old thread got deleted by the admins when we went unofficial, instead of it just being moved to the RP forum. That sort of hurt us, but we'll start a new one soon. Recruitment can be done on our message dump until we put a new thread up.
Our activity is actually up lately, and we're in Dublin more now, too.
' Wrote:Actually, I think the old thread got deleted by the admins when we went unofficial, instead of it just being moved to the RP forum. That sort of hurt us, but we'll start a new one soon. Recruitment can be done on our message dump until we put a new thread up.
Our activity is actually up lately, and we're in Dublin more now, too.
Good, we'll be seeing some more fun out there.
Maquis|Leon.LaBreau-If your interested in joining the Maquis PM me. [RM]Of.Viktor.Niklovach[RoS]GhostFace[E]David.DeWester[101st] Order|Ens.Adam.Jones[C]Jean.Claude.Moreau Kruger Security-Johann Von Struger]bd[Akio.Kimura
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