Corporate Raiders

SolarNet News: Gun Battle Erupts Between Corporate Contractors Over Lucrative Jupiter Contract
Jupiter – 256-484

A fierce gun battle broke out in orbit around Jupiter’s moon Harpalyke between military contractors employed by two gigacorporations, Luminar Biotech (LBT) and Eclipse Entertainment (EE), over a lucrative contract auctioned by the Technocrat of Jupiter. The contract, which attracted five bidders, saw LBT and EE undercutting their competition to a point where profitability seemed uncertain.

Tensions escalated when the Eclipse Entertainment vessel CRS Sally Wilkey, stationed in orbit around Harpalyke, was boarded by Luminar Biotech military contractors. What ensued was a brutal corridor-to-corridor battle between the opposing forces. Eclipse Entertainment's valiant defense, which resulted in twelve losses on their side, inflicted heavy casualties on Luminar Biotech, which lost forty-one troops.

The attack was eventually repelled, but the CRS Sally Wilkey was forced to withdraw due to significant damage from bombs planted by the corporate raiders. In the aftermath, Luminar Biotech was awarded the coveted contract, causing a 0.002% rise in their share price.

"This bold move by Luminar Biotech demonstrates a new era under CEO Aebnir Cranston, whose youthful vigor and cunning are clearly shaking things up," commented economic pundit Martell Pierce. "Now is a prime time to invest in Luminar Biotech ventures, as this action shows a promising and aggressive approach to securing valuable opportunities."
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Composition

Manpower

Depending on the Corporation, they may employ 5-15% of their workforce as military contractors.
Vanguard Dynamics and Celestial Securities employ the largest corporate forces by far with 33% and 55% of their workforce serving in a military capacity, respectively.

Equipment

Corporations use their military contractors as a display of their defense infrastructure and innovation, so all of their gear is produced in-house.
That being said, the standard contractor has at least combat armor, a personal defense shield, a battle rifle or carbine, a sidearm pistol, and combat drones.
They use corporate Starships, but dropships specialized for the work deliver them to planets in squads.

Weaponry

Corporate raiders typically use Laser Weapons on long, isiolated missions or on boarding actions, due to their relative ammunition longevity, adequate damage output, and low risk of collateral for the starship bulkheads separating them from a grisly death in space. Otherwise, Gravitic Slingers and Particle Weapons are preferred for regular combat while Electron Stream Weapons are favorites for interdictions, hostage rescue, and exfiltrations when the target has to come back relatively intact.
To get around enemy Personal Shields and Personal Point Defense Systems specialized frontline members employ Molecular-Ceramic Blades, Momentum-Amplifying Weaponry and Particle Ripper Technology.

Vehicles

Miltary contractors use dropships to ferry them from corporate Starships to the surface, and for missions that require them to make long overland movements they employ Hovercraft technicals and high-end Stompers.

Structure

Corporate raiders operate on the CM Payscale.

Tactics

Corporations use Shackled AI and Clones as line infantry to tie enemy forces down while squads of contractors conduct sabotage, reconnaisance, HVT elimination, and flanking operations.

Training

While the exact quality of the training varies, the corporations all use MMI Educational Pods to train their troops.

Logistics

Logistical Support

Of all militaries and paramilitaries in human space, Corporate military contractors are the best supplied. Their supply lines are deep and relatively efficient.

Auxilia

Corporates have the full technological might of humanity to choose from, sparing no expense, when it comes to what kind of mission-specific assets they can bring to bear.

Upkeep

Corporations typically spend 10-20% of their budgets on their military contracting divisions, with the exception of Vanguard Dynamics and Celestial Securities which spend 40% and 80% respectively.

Recruitment

Most Corporate Military Contractors sign on to the job like any other corporate position. Some, however, are backdoored into the work through overly broad contracts. Eclipse Entertainment in particular is notorious for using their military wing as a way to sideline artists who become unprofitable.

Type

Paramilitary

Overall training Level

Trained

Assumed Veterancy

Trained

Ranks & Titles

• CM Payscale