Imperial Annexation Consortium

The Imperial Annexation Consortium was created by the Mertens Corporation board and a caucus of Imperial Senators after concerns of increasing influence from independent factions within imperial systems. The Consortium works from within systems together with Imperial factions to increase their economic and security state through means of trading and missions. Members also specialize in the engagement in active combat zones during civil wars. Commanders within the pilot’s federation are free to join the Consortium as long as they are aligned with the empire. Joining may increase their wealth considerably as they receive benefits from completing missions and delivering combat bonds.

Prominent founders of the consortium are senators Zemina Torval, Ewan Boyd and Layton Mertens. Layton Mertens has stepped forward as head of the consortium and will oversee and plan operations and activities. The consortium officially registered as an entity on Jan 1st 3307 and started operating on the same day.

The consortium is funded by the Mertens Corporation and the caucus of senators. Commentators outside the Imperial ranks have been critical of the consortium due to the concern of the Mertens Corporation using the consortium as a form of interest representation to increase influence in Imperial politics.

The Mertens Corporation

The Mertens Corporation is an Imperial Corporation founded by Laurens Mertens in 2974. The Corporations main office is based in the Jumuzgo system. Founder Laurens Mertens set out a goal to make the empire the leader in technology, design and being self-sufficient. The Corporation supplies parts for the Imperial Army and Navy aswell as Gutamaya. Contracts were provided due to the large mining operations and manufacturing experience within the corporation. The corporation is also renowned within the empire for their contributions to the Imperial Scientific Community.

The Mertens Corporation is currently producing and developing power-specific weapons and utilities for Imperial powers, manufacturing expertise and knowledge of valuable new technologies allowed the corporation to develop these:

· The Imperial Hammer for A-Lavigny Duval

· The Prismatic Shield Generator for Aisling Duval

· The Mining Lance for Zemina Torval

· Advanced Plasma Accelerator for Denton Patreus

The home system is the Jumuzgo system, based 26.26 LY from Achenar. The Mertens Corporation favored this system since there are several earth-likes and water-based planets. The system also has 6 high metal content worlds, which are used for gathering resources. It’s headquarters is set on the 2nd planet from the star, called Rura which is the planet where the majority of the population lives, it is orbited by the Laurens Mertens Station dedicated to the founder of the corporation.

Next to Rura is the 3rd planet called Metis this planet is currently being terraformed and is the planet where power-specific weapons and utilities are developed. The planet contains most of the research and development labs where material science studies are conducted as well as chemical and biological studies. Cloning operations also take place on this planet. Most people who live on the planet live in the underwater cities.

Next to Metis is the 4th planet called Lion. This planet is populated by workers that work at mining outposts and manufacturing plants. The First planet from the sun is called Hephaestus. This planet oversees all high metal content planets in the system, being one itself. Being so close to the star, this planet contains more mining outposts and manufacturing factories than any other planet in the system.

Branches and Subsidiaries

The corporation currently has several branches. Listed in order of establishment:

Mertens Research and Development (Established in 2974)
Mertens Mining (Established in 3003)
Mertens Manufacturing (Established in 3005)
Mertens Cloning (Established in 3040)

History

Laurens Mertens was born in 2940 on Capitol in Achenar and born into a wealthy family. His father Dexton Mertens was a Rear-Admiral in the Imperial Navy and his great-grandfather served as a general in the Battle of Achenar. Like his older brother Cayne, Laurens served 10 years in the Imperial Navy but decided to resign after his brother was killed in combat. In 2970 he met his wife Maelynn Simons in the Jumuzgo system which was just being colonized. Laurens saw an opportunity to create a corporation together with his wife. He did this in 2974 by investing in a headquarters in Rura. Laurens asked helped from his father Dexton in 2975. Dexton introduced Laurens to prominent and influencial members within the Imperial Senate and Navy. These contacts greatly helped expand the corporation rapidly in terms of size, wealth and reputation. Soon the most prominent and promising members of the imperial scientific community were working for Mertens. Dexton Mertens died in 3002 from natural causes. The inherited money was used to invest in the corporations mining operations by setting up mining outposts on the six metal rich content planets in the Jumuzgo system with a headquarters on Hephaestus. This move greatly increased profits for the corporation and also required more jobs which resulted in an economical boom. In 2990 Laurens and Maelynn had their first child, a disabled boy which they named Clayton Mertens. In 3020 Maelynn gave birth to another boy named Theodors Mertens and in 3039 she gave birth to Harrison Mertens.

Throughout the late 2900's and early 3000's the corporation continued to expand. In 3040 cloning was removed from the scientific branch and was given its own branch with a headquarters on Metis. In 3060 Metis received top secret manufacturing facilities in the depth of the ocean. in 3062 the Imperial Senate approved for the Mertens Corporation to be a material supplier for Gutamaya and the Imperial Navy. Laurens Mertens owned 100% of the corporation up until 3095 when he fell ill. He sold 10% of his share to Gutamaya, 5% to the Imperial Government and allowed for another 10% to go public for stock market trading. In 3105 Laurens died in his sleep following complications from his illness at the age of 165. Harrison Mertens who had been running the company together with his father since 3078 took control of the other 75% of the company previously owned by his father. Under the control of Harrison the Mertens Corporation continued to grow. During his reign as C.E.O. Harrison focused on improving conditions and safety for workers as well as housing accommodation on Lion. In 3170 the corporation finished researching revolutionary terraforming equipment which was approved by Harrison to be tested on Metis. In 3198 the empire tasked Gutamaya and the Mertens Corporation to start research and development on capital-class frame shift drives. Harrison Mertens died in 3223. His second daughter Lisette Mertens and her husband John Beckers stepped up to run the corporation. Lisette remains in control of the 75% which was owned by her father but did not take up the C.E.O. position she gave the position to her husband John Beckers. In 3302 the Mertens Corporation was awarded the contract by the Imperial Senate to Research, Develop and Produce all empire related power-specific weapons and utilities.

Family

Laurens Mertens was born in 2940 on Capitol in Achenar and born into a wealthy family. His father Dexton Mertens was a Rear-Admiral in the Imperial Navy and his great-grandfather served as a general in the Battle of Achenar. Like his older brother Cayne, Laurens served 10 years in the Imperial Navy but decided to resign after his brother was killed in combat. In 2970 he met his wife Maelynn Simons. Together they had 3 sons. The first of which, Clayton, was born in 2990 but was disabled at birth. He died at age 35 in 3025 due to complications.

In 3020 their second son Theodors was born in Jumuzgo. Theodors pursued a career in politics and became the first senator of the Jumuzgo system in 3065 with financial backing and influence from his father. His son Layton was born in 3202. Theodors died in 3230 from a heart attack at the age of 210. Layton Mertens followed in his fathers footsteps and became senator in 3231.

Harrison Mertens was born in 3039 and became C.E.O. of the Mertens Corporation after the death of his father in 3105. Together with his wife he had two daughters named Milaia born in 3130 and Lisette born in 3165 . Harrison died in 3223 at the age of 184. His daughter Lisette inherited the Corporation together with her husband John Beckers in 3223. John Beckers became C.E.O. of the Mertens Corporation. Together they have 2 sons names Neacel and Aidan Beckers.