Corporate Credit War

The Corporate Credit War was a period of corporate rivalry between Orbis Customer Synergies and Minamar Specialized Industries that is considered to have lasted from 2244 CE until 2336 CE. Although called a 'war', relatively little direct fighting occurred between the two megacorporations during this time. Instead, they vied for economic dominance through diplomacy, espionage, and financial warfare.

The conflict began after a period of tensions between the two corporations in 2244 CE, when a series of bombings and cyber attacks nearly led to all-out war. Although a peaceful resolution was mediated by non-corporate powers, these events would be repeated throughout the decades. Ultimately, OCS' controversial strategy of 'demonopolisation' and willingness to work with other megacorporations weakened the position of MSI on the galactic stage, and a final blow would come with the Concord-Minamar War in 2328-2336 CE. Since the fall of MSI as the galactic economic superpower, the galaxy has seen a period of economic multipolarity between the 'new' megacorporations and an increasingly revanchist MSI.

The Conflict

Prelude

Minamar Specialized Industries was the first of the current cycle of star nations to achieve FTL travel, having done so in the early 21st century CE. In 2046 CE, MSI discovered the Cirrulan civilisation in the Cir'Darus System. A pre-FTL society, the Cirrulans were quickly exploited by MSI: the corporation would provide technological 'enlightenment', and the younger civilisation would pay off the debt incurred by this process through a variety of means. Chief among these means was the transfer of labourers to Minamar, where they would work off their species' debt until they died. This became the core strategy of MSI, and was repeated nearly two dozen times over the following 150 years.

Around 2200 CE, most of the star nations of the galaxy near-simultaneously developed the hyper drive. MSI no longer had a clear technological edge, and decades of R&D department budget cuts had left the corporation without a solid research-industrial base from which to expand. However, its century and a half headstart gave it plenty of time to develop it.

One of the civilisations that developed FTL travel was that of the Orbisur. Much like the Olinbar, the Orbisur had come under the political control of a single megacorporation: Orbis Customer Synergies. As OCS science ships explored the galaxy and made first contact with alien civilisations, OCS diplomats worked hard to establish cordial relations with them. As such, OCS gained a reputation during the early years of interstellar expansion as a likable and reliable business partner. In a similar way, MSI established itself as a major economic player in the galaxy. However, MSI's substantially larger and more developed economy made them a much more attractive trade partner, especially given their well-funded exopublic relations department.

First contact between MSI and OCS was made in 2235 CE, thanks to the Scyldari Confederacy. At the time, the Scyldari were interested in peacefully introducing xeno species to each other in hopes that they could avoid many of the first contact wars that had plagued the galaxy thus far. MSI and OCS diplomats met for the first time on Scyldaria, exchanged translation software, and then for the most part stayed out of each other's way. While OCS worked to further its relations with the United Nations of Earth and the Voor Technocracy, MSI found itself developing lucrative slave trade agreements with the Tzynn Empire.

The first sign of tension between the two megacorporations came in 2241 CE, when OCS managed to secure several substantial contracts with the Kel-Azaan Republic for its next-generation destroyers. MSI had also bid on the contracts, but had come third after OCS and the Earth-based Lockheed-Martin Corporation. In response to this perceived slight, the OCS branch office on Azak was targeted by a bombing in 2243 CE. Although no perpetrator could be found at the time, OCS strongly suspected MSI's involvement. Their suspicions would be proven correct nearly a century later, when evidence was found in encrypted MSI databanks seized by Interstellar Concord special forces.

The Crisis of '44

Lacking evidence and unable to openly retaliate against the more powerful MSI, the OCS Board of Directors approved an operation to nonetheless retaliate. OCS cyber operations discovered a vulnerability in older models of Voor optical cybernetic firmware that would allow malware to be deployed at a specific location. This vulnerability was used to deploy a piece of malware into the MSI branch office on Hiverion via an unknowing local courier, which breached the air gap via a wireless-enabled climate control system. From there, the malware accessed the central servers and deployed its payload. The entire MSI corporate network in Voor space was brought down for two weeks, during which time virtually all of the data on the branch office's servers was erased.

Like OCS the year prior, MSI lacked evidence that the other megacorporation was responsible for the attack. Voor authorities spent more time blaming MSI for their lack of cybersecurity than searching for the culprits, as the Science Council was still wary of foreign corporate interests operating in the centralised Voor economy. Still, MSI resolved to strike back against OCS. The MSI board also opted for a cyber attack, but this time, it was to be far more audacious.

In late 2244 CE, the central corporate servers on Slephus Prime catastrophically failed, leading to loss of data and several pipeline explosions. MSI had deployed a cloaked science ship modified for electronic warfare to the Orbisur homeworld, then exploited a number of vulnerable local wireless connections to install malware on multiple critical systems. Unlike the previous attacks, the cyberattack on Slephus Prime made galaxy-wide news.

Embarrassed and furious, the OCS Board immediately began making plans for another escalation in the growing 'cold war'. However, the other powers of the galaxy had taken notice of the rising tensions between the two megacorporations. While MSI was far larger and more economically integrated with much of the galaxy, OCS was also considered a valuable trading partner by many, and a full-scale war would likely spill over into noncombatant markets. Due to this, a number of star nations (led by the Scyldari Confederacy) arranged for high-level meetings between MSI and OCS officials. Although tense at first, these mediations brought the two megacorporations back from the brink of war. Ultimately, both megacorporations decided that they would rather make money in trade than spend it fighting a war.

Founding of the Galactic Market

The founding of the Galactic Community in 2250 CE marked a new era in interstellar relations. As part of the inaugural negotiations on Scyldaria, most of the galaxy agreed that forming a unified Galactic Market was of the utmost priority. In a rare show of unity, the ambassadors from both MSI and OCS made a joint statement (along with the Chinorr ambassador) on the importance of unified standards and commercial institutions. Following several dozen rounds of negotiations and voting, the Galactic Market Act was passed in early 2252 CE as the first piece of legislation ever passed by the Galactic Senate.

Several months after the creation of the Galactic Community Board of Commerce, the Board recommended the establishment of a centralised hub for the Galactic Market. Although the market itself was relatively decentralised, the Board required a physical location for the servers and personnel to track and facilitate transactions. When the Board then announced it was looking for a suitable system to house the station, a galaxy-wide competition to be selected began. Dozens of star nations renovated their economic capitals and lessened regulations in the hopes that they would be chosen. Ultimately, after a five-year period of competition, the Paraga System - the home system of MSI - was chosen as the location for the "Galactic Market Station".

While most of the economic powers of the galaxy had accepted for some time that the megacorporations were the favourites for the nomination, the OCS Board of Directors condemned the decision to locate the station in MSI territory. However, without sufficient support in the Galactic Senate for legislation to relocate the station, the Board of Commerce stood by their decision. This effectively ended the short detente with MSI, and OCS began covert operations against their rival once more. Both MSI and OCS are alleged to have engaged in multiple acts of assassination, corporate espionage, cyber attacks, and bombings during the 2250s CE alone.

Although OCS corporate space had nearly doubled in size since first contact with MSI, it was still a much smaller economic entity. Despite this, the megacorporation began challenging MSI in markets previously off limits. A trade agreement was signed with the Tzynn Empire in 2262 CE, and another with the Oviron Lodge in 2265 CE. However, the most visible sign of the conflict between the two corporations could be seen within the Voor Technocracy.

The "Credit War" on Hiverion

Even before the establishment of the Galactic Community, both OCS and MSI had substantial branch offices on Hiverion. Although the Voor Technocracy was a command economy, it permitted foreign commercial interests to operate in specific "foreign trading zones" for the purpose of evaluating their economic effectiveness. The rewards for successfully opening the Voor market were self-evident to both corporations: they believed that Voor goods and services, as they were produced under a command economy, were vastly inferior to their free market-produced equivalents. However, constant surveillance by Voor authorities after the crisis in 2244 CE meant that espionage carried far greater risks than potential rewards.

Unable to engage in direct conflict, OCS and MSi instead engaged in financial warfare. Both corporations spent vast sums of energy credits lobbying Voor politicians, conducting peer-reviewed studies, renovating their embassies and branch offices, and subsidising imports to Hiverion, all in order to look better than the other in front of the Voor Economic Directorate. Despite the Voor surveillance, however, cyber attacks on corporate infrastructure was common. It is now believed that Voor authorities knew of the cyber war, but beyond protecting their own citizens and assets, did little to stop the corporations from attacking each other.

The sheer amount of money expended on Hiverion over the second half of the 23rd century CE gave rise to the term "Credit War". Although it initially applied solely to the financial one-upping on the Voor homeworld, it soon became the term to refer to the galactic conflict between the two megacorporations. The financial conflict on Hiverion was not solely limited to that planet; rather, it would be repeated on planets across the galaxy. Due to the financial benefits brought by foreign investment, most star nations invited the megacorporations to their worlds. The Chinorr Combine would be involved as well, but took care to avoid too much confrontation with either OCS or MSI.

There were, however, two blocs in the galaxy where the Corporate Credit War did not expand. One of the victims of MSI's 'enlightenment model', the Roccan Resistance, had fought and expelled MSI from its homeworld. They and the freed slaves that formed the Free Peoples of the Fall led outspoken campaigns against the corporation and its slavery practices. They were joined by the United Nations of Earth and a number of other democratic powers that would form the Interstellar Concord in 2264 CE, which directly opposed MSI and tepidly supported OCS. The galaxy's main religious bloc, led by the Kingdom of Yondarim, condemned the rampant consumerism and atheism practiced by both MSI and OCS, refusing to even entertain the idea of branch offices on their worlds.

Qwe'Pulcian Incident

As the 23rd century drew to a close, the Credit War escalated. OCS entered the resource market, a traditional MSI stronghold, using newly-developed droids to compete with MSI's substantial forced labour pool. One of the largest economic coups for OCS was in 2295 CE, during a particularly turbulent period in galactic history. The Qwe'Pulcian Assembly, a relatively small and pacifist star nation, had its trade routes disrupted by the various wars in its region. In order to restore supply lines with the minor state, OCS negotiated a comprehensive minerals deal that would see the megacorporation sell refined lithium, titanium, and hydrocarbons at a premium.

Naturally, MSI had also been vying for this deal. Although MSI's business practices greatly differed with the Qwe'Pulcian ideals of democracy and pacifism, the Board believed their cheaper prices would be sufficient to sway the star nation. Ultimately, it was not, and the more morally acceptable OCS had received it instead. Outraged, the MSI Board looked for solutions to the issue. In order to discourage any involvement by MSI, the ships transporting the refined minerals from OCS to Qwe'Pulcian space were owned and operated by the latter state. Any attack by MSI would be a direct attack on a neutral third party, and one that was famously neutral at that.

Instead of giving up, MSI came up with a daring plan. The Board hired the Yl'Khanan Raiders - a nomadic group of spaceborne marauders - to raid the Qwe'Pulcian convoys. After MSI paid exorbitant sums of energy credits, the Yl'Khanan Raiders agreed to the terms and began their raids. This lead to many early successes, as the raider ships were faster and more well-armed than the Qwe'Pulcian transport ships or their escorts. Buoyed by many cargo ships worth of refined materials, the Yl'Khanans expanded their operations for an increased fee from MSI.

In early 2297 CE, a massive Yl'Khanan raiding fleet breached the OCS frontier through an uncharted hyperlane. Quickly sweeping aside local defences, the fleet was able to reach a major Orbisur colony: the main refinery for the Qwe'Pulcian mineral deal. The raiders were able to seize massive amounts of raw and processed materials, filling their own cargo ships to the brim, and even abducted tens of thousands of Orbisur colonists. Before OCS corporate security forces could respond, the raiders made their escape to the safety of their orbital holdings.

This daring raid severely embarrassed the OCS Board of Directors, leading to the firing of the Chief Incentivizor at the time. The new Chief Incentivizor, along with the Board and public, demanded immediate retribution for the brazen attack. Like MSI, OCS proceeded to hire marauders; this time, it was the Tuxkan Wildlings. Unlike the Yl'Khanan Raiders, the Tuxkans were known to be crass, crude, and above all, utterly fearless. The Board's demands for the Wildlings were steep, but the megacorporation was willing to bear any cost to get back at their rivals.

Like the previous year, in early 2297 CE, a massive Tuxkan fleet breached the MSI frontier. However, unlike the Yl'Khanans, the Tuxkans were not interested in raiding. Instead, they swept through system after system, destroying and pillaging every starbase and station they came across. Even an emergency response fleet, Classis VIII, was forced to retreat after a pitched battle in the Marineb System. Ultimately, the Wildlings were only stopped by the final defensive bastion before Minamar itself: a powerful citadel located in the Stimsis System, supported by Classis I and Classis II, which had multiple battleships and an Enlightenment Vessel present. Although many MSI ships were lost, including a battleship, and the Stimsis Citadel was heavily damaged, the Tuxkans were forced to retreat from MSI space.

Following the raids on both OCS and MSI, marauders would continue to play an important role in the Corporate Credit War. Deniable and effective, both corporations would funnel vast sums of energy credits, starship components, civilian goods, and materials into their proxies as payment for these raids. Although they died down after the two most infamous raids, as both corporations greatly expanded their frontier security, raids would never entirely cease.

Ikarzurian-Xabir War

In 2298 CE, war broke out between the Ikarzurian Union and the League of Xabir Prime. Considered insignificant by the galactic powers, these two star nations fought viciously over a trio of border colonies and nearby systems that represented a massive boon to their small economies. Both star nations were authoritarian states that wanted little to do with what they considered to be 'xeno interference', and the conflict was initially ignored by much of the galaxy.

However, MSI saw an opportunity in the conflict. The League of Xabir Prime had developed a reputation as "The Little Tzynn", owing to their effective development of the slaving industry, and this was something MSI was eager to exploit. In exchange for slaves (both Xabir and captured Ikarzurians) and resources, MSI would provide the Xabirs with technology transfers, ship components, and even a number of decommissioned warships. Although of minimal expense to the megacorporation, this proved to be a massive boon for the Xabirs, as they took the upper hand, capturing all of the border colonies by 2305 CE.

In response to MSI's funding of the Xabir war effort, OCS decided to back their opponents. While OCS could not provide the same level of material support to the Ikarzurians, they could instead mobilise their media machine to draw galactic attention to the otherwise backwater conflict. A simultaneous, concerted effort was made across OCS media affiliates galaxy-wide to portray the Ikarzurian cause in a positive light, while painting the Xabirs as wanton aggressors. This strategy was effective, as it quickly drew the attention of the galactic powers to the conflict. The Galactic Community imposed sanctions on the League of Xabir Prime in 2307 CE, and successfully imposed a ceasefire after the Ikarzurian Union captured one of the border worlds the following year.

However, public attention across the galaxy was not infinite. After the ceasefire was declared, media networks across the galaxy were far more interested in more recent and relevant stories. When the war resumed in earnest in 2310 CE, OCS media campaigns were far less effective. Although the Ikarzurian Union made several initial gains, they were slowly ground down and reversed by the end of the 2310s CE.

Ultimately, the League of Xabir Prime claimed victory, ending up with two of the three border colonies. It was a pyrrhic victory, however, as both sides in the conflict suffered extreme losses, both economic and in terms of population loss. MSI came out as the clear victor, having acquired tens of millions of indentured labourers and a constant stream of raw resources through the duration of the conflict, at a minimal cost. Although the Ikarzuran-Xabir War was the most notable of conflicts during this time, it was not the only proxy war between MSI and OCS, but it was by far the most visible and notable.

"Demonopolisation"

By the turn of the 24th century CE, MSI was clearly still on top. Even though OCS had made great strides in becoming a galaxy-spanning corporation, it was still outmatched in most fields by the Olinbar juggernaut. For every marauder fleet OCS hired, MSI could hire two. MSI was able to more effectively expand into new markets and shut out their competition. MSI counterintelligence teams were more effective than ever, drastically reducing the ability for OCS to conduct espionage. Long-term projections by OCS analysts very grimly stated that within a century, assuming trends continued, MSI would effectively control all commerce in the galaxy.

However, with the ascension of a new Chief Incentivizor in 2308 CE, OCS undertook a radical shift in its strategy, even if it came at the cost of its own bottom line. OCS would look to other megacorporations, which had so far stayed out of the Credit War, to become its allies against MSI. This strategy, called "demonopolisation", would be first put to the test on Hiverion. For over six decades, the Voor government had permitted the two corporations to battle each other for influence on their capital world, reaping the benefits with few costs. However, in 2309 CE, OCS unexpectedly sold all of its assets in Voor space to the Chinorr Combine for a considerable sum of energy credits. This move puzzled investors, causing a short but severe decline in OCS stock prices.

MSI press releases welcomed the move, viewing the Chinorr as a minor annoyance that would pose even less threat than the Orbisur. However, the Combine was far more aggressive than OCS, going so far as to openly and brazenly conduct assassinations of MSI officials within Voor space and fund pirate raids on MSI-flagged ships. More importantly, the Combine's skill in mineral extraction and colonial settlement far outstripped that of MSI's. Between MSI's apparently inability to defend itself and the Chinorr Combine's superior industrial expertise, the Voor Science Council considered a request by the Chinorr CEO to allow for a hostile takeover of several key MSI mining installations in the Voor colonies. The Science Council's decision was sealed when anonymous sources leaked several confidential MSI documents detailing their exploitation and undercutting of local Voor industries, and by 2320 CE, MSI's economic activity had been reduced to pre-FTL policy advisement.

At a great loss to itself, OCS had inflicated a devastating economic blow upon their rival. However, long-term projections had shifted: OCS believed itself to be a more agile and adaptive corporation, and it could find new markets and opportunities faster than MSI could adapt. In the years following the Chinorr takeover on Hiverion, OCS worked with the Kilik Cooperative to set new standards for workers' rights within the Interstellar Concord and its aligned powers. While costly to OCS, it could continue to abide by these new standards across its entire corporate workforce - something that MSI could not do. This effectively shut out MSI from any Concord-aligned states entirely.

On the other side of the galactic power struggle, OCS began lobbying Tzynn slaving guilds in favour of more protectionist laws regarding the slave trade. These guilds had long been wary of the Emperor's growing political power, as he was able to sidestep them by importing slaves from outside their influence. Although this had little immediate effect, it would add to the growing dissatisfaction present within the Empire. OCS undertook other, smaller methods to protect itself from marauders, such as charting the Caravansary Caravan Coalition to transport its goods through dangerous regions, effectively sidestepping marauder raids.

Escalation

During these final years of the Corporate Credit War, tensions between the two corporations drastically increased. OCS' demonopolisation strategy was effective, but both sides had also increased their attacks on the other. OCS in particular gave generous funding to the Numinous Equilibrium, a group of cybernetic freedom fighters who sparked numerous slave revolts across MSI's worlds.

One of the largest breakthroughs made by OCS during their "demonopolisation" strategy was in 2327 CE, when they secured a landmark commercial deal with the Glebsig Foundation - a core member of the Divine Compact. With this agreement, OCS had finally breached the barrier to working with the previously-aloof religious states of the galaxy, a market that MSI was ultimately unable to reach.

Facing setbacks on fronts across the galaxy, the MSI Board of Directors resolved to cut OCS down to size through any means necessary. Beginning in mid 2322 CE, MSI corporate security forces would breach the OCS border, directly striking Orbisur assets within Orbisur space. Along with special forces raids, over two dozen outlying OCS facilities were damaged or destroyed within three months.

This brazen and direct attack sparked immediate retaliation from OCS, who deployed cloaked warships to hunt merchant traffic inside MSI space, cyber attacks to cripple MSI's corporate servers, and a number of bombings targeting MSI branch offices across the galaxy. With the threat of full-scale war between two of the galaxy's largest economies, the Galactic Community once again stepped in to mediate.

By this point, the non-corporate powers of the galaxy had become fed up with the spillover from the Corporate Credit War, and demanded both sides sit down to negotiate. A ceasefire was declared in early 2323 CE, striking a more comprehensive peace arrangement later that year. This deal, brokered by the Galactic Council, removed a number of institutional advantages benefitting MSI in the Galactic Market and set a number of restrictions on the conduct of the megacorporations outside of their space. However, MSI was able to maintain a number of exemptions and loopholes in existing galactic law, which OCS continued to maintain were unfair.

The 2323 CE agreement is considered by many to mark the beginning of the end of the Corporate Credit War. Espionage between the two corporate powers quickly resumed, though at a lower and quieter level than before. In 2327 CE, OCS concluded an arrangement with the Roccan Resistance and Free Peoples of the Fall, providing them with detailed evidence of a vast number of MSI atrocities conducted over the years. This evidence was collated into the now-infamous Minamar Report and presented at a full-attendance session of the Galactic Community.

Concord-Minamar War

The evidence provided in the Minamar Report was difficult to refute. Centuries of detailed evidence kept in secure MSI servers had been downloaded by OCS spies, defectors and escaped slaves provided extensive testimony, and cloaked OCS recon ships had directly acquired orbital scans themselves. The Minamar Report caused outrage among large parts of the Galactic Community, but none moreso than the members of the Interstellar Concord - especially the population of the Roccan Resistance and Free Peoples of the Fall.

MSI had spent decades carefully crafting a friendly facade to present to the galaxy, and it had come crashing down in a single session of the Galactic Community. Tensions between the Concord and MSI exploded into full-scale war in 2328 CE, as the Roccan Resistance announced its intention to annex an entire sector of MSI space in order to free the slaves and pre-FTL civilisations present within.

Although the OCS board did not expect the Minamar Report to lead to one of the largest conflicts in modern history, they immediately began making use of it to its maximum potential. Aside from directly supporting the Concord with financial aid, OCS deployed a galaxy-wide media blitz in support of their war of liberation.

Additionally, OCS efforts within the Tzynn Empire finally bore fruit. The slaver guilds presented a petition to the Emperor in 2330 CE, claiming (with OCS-provided evidence) that the alien Olinbar had been undercutting patriotic Tzynn slave masters and stealing their wealth. In response, the Emperor instituted significant restrictions on foreign merchants the following year. In the years that followed, many MSI assets within Tzynn space simply disappeared. It is believed that the Emperor sanctioned a covert takeover of MSI assets by the Hazbuzan Syndicate, which had increasingly warmed to the Tzynn Empire.

Despite a modicum of support from the Tzynn and Xanis, MSI was unable to stand against the might of the Interstellar Concord. After eight years of war, in 2336 CE Minamar Specialized Industries offered a conditional surrender, permiting the annexation of over fifty corporate star systems and their colonies by various Interstellar Concord members. Although it was primarily a victory for the Roccan Resistance and Free Peoples of the Fall, Orbis Customer Synergies had also emerged victorious over its long-time rival.

Aftermath

The Concord-Minamar War had been devastating for MSI. A third of its space had been taken, including billions of indentured servants and some of its most productive colonies. Many of its inner colonies had been bombarded by Roccan Forces as retaliation for the bombardment of their own homeworld by MSI over a century prior. Although MSI would recover, it was considered by most to no longer be counted amongst the galactic superpowers - merely a great power.

Although their rival had suffered severe devastation during the war, the OCS Board did not rest on their laurels. Immediately following the conclusion of combat operations in MSI space, OCS announced the opening of the first corporate branch office in Roccan space since the Roccan War of Independence. In a grand ceremony on Nogg, the Chief Incentivizor of OCS and the Chief of the Roccan Resistance publicly shook hands in front of the galaxy's media. As part of the commercial agreement, OCS gave a number of concessions, such as the "respect clause" that mandated OCS managers treat their subordinates as equals within Roccan space. Despite these concessions, the public relations victory of opening offices in Roccan space was considered well worth the price.

One of the most famous images of the Corporate Credit War is a portrait of the OCS Chief Incentivizor on Nogg, looking up in respect at the cracked hull of the Enlightenment Vessel that the Roccans destroyed during their War of Independence. While it is an anachronistic piece of art, as the ship was towed out of orbit over a century before OCS arrived on Nogg, it is considered to truly mark the end of the Credit War. The original copy of the portrait is on display in the reception hall of the executive headquarters of OCS on Slephus Prime.

MSI managed to stabilise itself in the years after the Concord-Minamar War, despite a number of major slave revolts supported by the Numinous Equilibrium, Interstellar Concord, and several other anti-MSI groups. Although OCS rose to prominence during the Credit War, its strategy of "demonopolisation" also allowed for the rise of competing megacorporations on the galactic stage to fill MSI's void. The two largest of these are the Chinorr Combine and Hazbuzan Syndicate, which maintain an uneasy peace with MSI and OCS.

While many details of the Corporate Credit War were made public by OCS or captured by Concord forces from secure MSI databanks, much of it remains shrouded in mystery. In recent years, many historians have critically re-examined events believed to be disconnected from the war as new information has come to light. It may be decades before the full extent of the war is known, especially in light of both sides' heavy use of propaganda and media manipulation.

Conflict Type

Espionage

Start Date

2244 CE

Ending Date

2336 CE

Conflict Result

OCS replaces MSI as the centre for galactic commerce; MSI no longer considered a superpower