The Commerce Combine

The Commerce Combine is an interstellar shipping and trade conglomerate that was established in the waning days of the Galactic Republic, one so powerful that it had its own representatives in the Galactic Senate. Its ultimate goal was to control all galactic trade routes, ports and freighters, and was willing to do anything to increase profits and avoid Republic taxes. The Commerce Combine is a member in good standing with the Imperial Merchants Guild, and its CEO holds the rank of Merchant Baron in the Empire based on both its wealth and influence.
Since the formation of the Empire, the Commerce Combine has waxed and waned in both wealth and importance and is now on a downward slide towards mediocrity. While the Commerce Combine will likely never completely dissolve, its rigid structure and unwillingness to innovate has diminished its profits in recent years. Its usual tactics in the past have been to bully and strong-arm competition away from their trading posts and routes to maintain a lucrative monopoly. With the advent of the Third Breath and rise in interest in exploration again, these tactics are becoming less and less effective. The Commerce Combine needs to do something bold to stop its downward spiral, and soon.

Structure

The Commerce Combine has a fairly standard corporate organizational structure, with various corporate divisions for the goods and/or services, a elite board of directors that control the direction of the Combine, etc.  The only major difference is the stockholders - every member of the Foga KaLa species starts out life as a stockholder in the Combine, and no other Species is permitted to own stock.  A FOga KaLa can sell their share or lose it through other means, but every member of the Species is entitled to vote on Combine matters.
As such, the Combine has become the de-facto government over Foga KaLa worlds and enclaves throughout the galaxy, as the Species typically settles where the Combine operates.  The Board of Directors, as elected corporate officers, act more like politicians than corporate stewards, running campaigns for the post of Director.

“The wealth of the galaxy brought right to your home, at a trivial cost!”

Founding Date

Republic Era of the Second Breath

Type

Corporation, Conglomerate

Alternative Names

The Combine, CC

Leader

Baron Gilran Chee, Chief Executive of the Commerce Combine

Leader Title

Merchant Baron

Location

Cato Iakota

Notable Members

• Baron Gilran Chee, Chief Executive of the Commerce Combine