The War with Extra Corporation
13 Aug 2020Extremofire
13 Aug, 3306.1952 Galactic Mean Time.
Regulus Building, Aeneas, New Carthage.
Carthage system, Imperial territory.
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Praetor Ignis "Extremo" Montis sits at his desk on the 32nd floor. While the only sound in the office is the hum of the cooling system, a holographic news reel plays at the edge of the desk. He brings a small cup of coffee to his lips, and sips quietly as the newscaster comments on the developments unfolding within. Governor Milo Peck, the civic leader of Lavigny's Legion, is giving a rallying evening speech to Legion citizens. He proclaims words of support, telling all that we will "get through this together." He continuously refers to the "unbreakable Imperial spirit." He proudly gestures at the accomplishments of the "great fleet of the royal Lavignys."
The Legion is at war.
The Praetor sips his coffee.
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Background of the War
The Extra Corporation was your typical Imperial corporate entity. Founded in the Goller system in the late 33rd century, they promised (much like most Imperial corporations) to use their assets to further Imperial interests and bolster the forces of the Imperial Navy. However, as investors both foreign and domestic began to fill the Corporation's coffers to the brim, they found it in their best interests to form their own plutocratic government, facilitating their cash flow and streamlining their logistics. A costly exercise, they began to open offices in other systems to increase their pool of resources. Things began to take a big turn when these offices, offering lucrative bonuses to Imperial citizens desiring employment, started smear campaigns against incumbent governments, declaring them unfit for control. Citizens rallied behind the "Extras," as they called themselves, excited to receive more income for their families. The Extras had a proud campaign over the course of a few years, seizing control of myriad governments. Their government territory, dubbed by their own board of directors as "E-Space," began rivaling even the most prolific Imperial governments. Indeed, their gargantuan security forces patrol almost twice as many systems as even the Legion has presence in.
Today, Extra Corporation's government has a presence in a whopping fifty-seven systems, twenty-seven of which are under direct control by their Board. By comparison, Lavigny's Legion is present in only twenty-seven.
Before these numbers were reached, they were approached by Inquisitors from the Chapterhouse of Inquisition, an Imperial government oversight department whose mission was to preserve public integrity in all governments under Imperial control. Extra Corp governments made the upkeep of Shield of Justice garrisons in E-Space difficult, with tariffs and bureaucratic red tape restricting formerly free-flowing supply caravans from the Imperial military headquarters in Kamadhenu from reaching local security. They refused to cede control, saying they will not be coerced into disrupting their governing tactics because they don't apply to Imperial supply chain proficiency.
Lavigny's Legion began to intercede. It was clear that if Extra Corporation felt they were powerful enough to not allow the Empire that hosts them to flourish, something had to be done. Representatives from the Legion engaged in diplomacy with their CEO, known only as "Jicard." They attempted the same compromises as their diplomatic predecessors, and called for the Extras to withdraw from incumbent Imperial systems. The Legion delegation received the same answer as the Chapterhouse did, but put together a non-aggression treaty to prevent the rampant corporation from absorbing more Imperial citizens. But something was triggered in Extra Corp's inner circles, and suddenly, numerous systems found themselves under attack by Extra Corp security forces. This completely blindsided the Imperial Navy which scrambled to respond.
CEO Jicard released an address to the general public, alongside his wife, known only to the public as "TNG." In this address, he condemned the Imperial High Council for their futile attempts to subvert a "small company that just wants to flourish." Conjuring messages not unlike the Emperor's Dawn and Nova Imperium, Jicard stated that Extra Corp has "recently joined 'The Unfavorables', a leaderless Imperial alliance [...] offering a check upon the needless intolerance of the current High Council which only serves to fracture the greater Imperial cause." Pandering to many the same way they always have, stating that their contracts offer lucrative payouts, they accused the "massive" Legion of the Lavigny family of "squashing competition." The greater Imperial Navy, not ignoring the fact that E-Space still encompasses over fifty systems, decided to declare war on this corporation, which they determined to be "out of control."
Lavigny's Legion sent a Century of Legionnaires to combat the security forces, an operation they're engaged with to this day. Widely considered their "sister faction," yet nearly three times the size of Lavigny's Legion in terms of territory, The 9th Legion supplemented Lavigny's Legion's navy with their own Legionnaires. While the wars seem to be under control, this alleged "small company" has put up a massive amount of hostile resistance. Even Senator Torval and Admiral Denton Patreus have pledged their forces to suppress this rampant aggression against local leaders.
Still, Extra Corp tries to slander Lavigny's Legion specifically, saying they have "invaded" their space, and deciding to target the smallest of the major forces opposing them. Lavigny's Legion has not backed down, and appears to not intend to.
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The Praetor reflects on the situation. He sips his coffee once more.
The newscast ends, shortly after Governor Peck proudly yells that "we will not let this corrupt corporation dethrone true Imperials!" Praetor Montis gets up from his seat, taking the porcelain coffee cup in his hands. He places it in a compartment in a counter to the side of his office, and walks to the window. He looks out over the breathtaking vista of Aeneas, the capital city of Lavigny's Legion. Though the Regulus building is in the center of downtown Aeneas, it's only a few blocks away from the seaside. Shrouded in perpetual sunrise, he sees birds flying across the gulf. The buildings, all covered in lightweight white Gutamayan alloy, shine brightly in the sunlight. Directly across the gulf, the Legion Campus stands vigil near a sheer cliff face, its white and golden trim reflecting the Carthaginian sunlight in numerous dazzling directions. Directly below, families of the Legion walk and play in the streets, enjoying the mild day, perhaps shopping for clothes or sampling the Aenean fare. In awe, the Praetor inhales deeply, and sighs. Placing his hands on his hips, he smiles, continuing his overwatch of his beloved city... knowing full well that other Legion cities bordering E-Space are nowhere near as idyllic.
"I will not let the Extras take my home."