UPS

The economy is controlled by one force, the UPS. Universal Package Service: “providing everything under the suns, your one-stop galactic shop™”. UPS factory and distribution planets dot the stars staffed by nameless, faceless, under paid, over worked sentients and their inept A.I. management. From building intergalactic space oil tankers to the latest in digital footwear UPS is a constant in this wild galaxy. All delivered to your door step by courteous faster than light sub contractor like Finite Extra Dimensional Express: It’ll arrive before you order it ™ (know as FedEx).

Thousands of years ago, UPS started as a small bleeding edge research company focused on developing A.I. to improve the lives of every citizen of the galaxy. Their first fully A.I. product to hit the market, Raymond: “Your friendly A.I. coat rack™”, was a complete financial failure. However the R&D from this project presented unlimited possibilities for what could be the future of advanced consumer goods. UPS blitzkrieged its competitors by offering identical “smart” products at a much lower costs due to its ability to heavily automate its own operations. UPS’s first real market success was Hyper-Aid: “It’s the bots in your blood!™” a delightful fizzy beverage with a hint of persimmon (the only flavour shown to mask titanium trioxide), containing millions of microscopic A.I. nano-machines. Hyper-Aid was marketed as a silver bullet for alertness, endurance, and productivity; with the nano-machines (“nanos”) grafting themselves to the nervous system of the drinker providing increased performance, until the renal system exfiltrates the nanos as hazardous waste. Over the years, Hyper-Aid: “It’s the bots in your blood!™” was banned on many planets, and by many organizations for both it’s unfair performance advantages and the subsequent problem of hazardous waste disposal.

With this success and cash flow, UPS strayed from its founding tenants, now focusing on maximizing profit and expansion while disregarding quality or progress. Over the centuries, few new technologies were developed by the increasingly neglected R&D departments. The standard operating procedure was now: buy out competition, increasing territory by purchasing planets and replacing the government or forceful annexation, and putting their proprietary A.I. systems in anything they could.

Now UPS claims its corner of the galaxy, having destroyed near all its competition, any businesses left contract for UPS or are on the brink of failure. Legitimate space travel has been priced out of reach of anyone but UPS and its contractors, leaving billions of beings with no options but to find work where they can. Each staffing agency bids on open contracts, using their back channels and political clout with various CEOs, Boards members and shady types to pull in the most profit. Sending slaves employees to any job that needs doing, but the big score is to land a UPS job. Guaranteed contract, slightly lower risk of permanent disability and at least you’ll know you can breathe the air when you get there. Plus, UPS has generous employee incentives such as; generous discounts at UPS owned stores, recreation areas, shared accommodation cubes, and a highly efficient terrestrial transit centers (The TTC), Blammo™ carbon based food supplement.

Everyone wants the UPS gig, but really... good fucking luck.