The Builders / Cruikshank

[M.D.C]

The Builders Story:

During the times of annexation of Erie, an independent interplanetary shipping company had just arisen. These workers were a mix of ferry vessel captains, staffed personnel, and higher up executives calling the shots. Their goal was to send out as many supplies as possible for those in need, as not everyone had access to these supplies. With the Liberty Navy around however, this wouldn't last long as they believed that they were supplying resisting camps throughout the planet that may be support refugees from the defeated Insurgency. No proof of such an accusation was found, but through failed safety checks, and lacking in insurance policies, the company was forced to be shut down and moved out of the way of the Navy.

Without a steady income, the lead head (or CEO) Markus Magnum decided to invest all of his remaining funds into buying a few small ships that were for sale on safer parts of the planet. After a few weeks of negotiating with local ship dealers, Markus managed to get enough ships for his upcoming plan. These ships consisted of small civilian classed freighters, which were enough to sustain most of the workforce so everyone could still have a job. With reasons to work with Markus again, many former employees who had left when the company was shut down decided to return trusting Markus one last time.

Markus gathered his executive board, and together they came up with a plan they code named "Exodus." Their plan was to find a contract with DSE, which at the time was sending in secured convoy's in and out of Erie. Anyone who wasn't registered by the Navy wasn't allowed to leave or enter the planet during this time, which was where the contract came into play. If they could convince DSE to do a shipping run, they could manage to leave Erie without having to stay on the planet until everything going on was over. Without the patience to go bankrupt, Markus addressed all of the former employees to contact anyone they know in DSE and see if they can find a job.

For a few days everyone was motivated and even going on about how they had a name for themselves. Markus being the head, eventually heard about the names and chose to call themselves "Magnum Defiance Collaboration/Corporation" for the purposes of advertising. Being a bit more formal gave them little attention, and made everyone's hope drop very low. No jobs were ever offered by DSE, and things started to look bleak.

For the next three years, DSE wouldn't offer any jobs, as their work as theirs alone. Without jobs from DSE, it was hopeless to think "Exodus" would ever be placed into motion. However, the invasion didn't last forever, and things over time started to slowly go back to normal. During these three years, the best they could ever take were independent jobs of shipping supplies from A to B. This however barely paid for the expense of the newly reformed company, and their expenses would rise even higher if something wasn't done about it. Although they wouldn't even have to do anything, at all.

During a meeting, a mysterious figure who only referred to himself as "Cruikshank" came in through a request to speak with the "CEO of M.D.C" for some interesting business. He claimed he was a retired businessman, and an investor in fledgling companies such as this one that have potential to take off. Markus was surprised to hear from someone of his stature, for he believed things were going to fail in his company. After some talks within the meeting, there was a deal to be considered.

Cruikshank offered Markus enough money to retire, at the expense of over half of his company, and replace him as the new CEO. Majority of the executive board didn't like this idea, as working under a new leader would have some serious issues in terms of newly formed organization. Cruikshank however said that there would be no need for this, as the board would remain in their power as "advisors for the company" and continue business as usual. So, after some long consideration, Markus agreed and signed a contract stating his former leave, and transfer of the company to foreign ownership.

Some of the board still did not approve of this and argued that they should split the shares that were left of from the deal. Cruikshank then revised his deal and agreed. The final deal that they made was that Markus and those wishing to leave with him, would give up all former titles and ownership of the company, for several million credits. Markus also included that any former staff should stay within the company and not to be replaced. Cruikshank also agreed to these terms and signed the deal on his end.

In 833 A.S, the former company was re-founded on the basis of "The Builders." Markus gathered all of his former staff and employees one last time for a speech on their "re-envisioned" launch to the new owner Cruikshank. This was followed by a celebration, that they would finally be able to under way their project "Exodus" and be able to leave Erie. However, during the final moments of the speech, Cruikshank came up with other plans in mind and secretly thought to himself to break his end of the deal. His end of the deal was to promise to Markus to keep all current staff in their current positions, and to leave the board alone. This promise however was never going to last. Cruikshank's plan had just begun to unfold, which is to replace the current board, staff, and eventually the entire work force.

Under a new leadership, and with over half the shares of the company, it was now up to Cruikshank where the peoples of M.D.C fate would land.