 April 12, 2013 - 7:08am | So I'm wondering what you all think about something. In my setting, Streel has been mixed up in some really bad crap: 1. Funding the pirates on Volturnus 2. A Fiasco on Clarion that got them banned from the planet. 3. Alcazaar. In addition, in my campaign setting, I had the Malthar operating as a hench-thug type of operation which did some of Streel's dirty-dirty work for them, which included capturing and enslaving sentient species, and using a dangerous organism in experiments as a bio-weapon. So in my campaign, my kids tracked down and killed the Malthar, and in doing so uncovered all kinds of evidence linking Malthar to Streel. Some of this stuff is war crimes level stuff. I'm considering having the UPF pull their charter instead of some corporate exec getting the scapegoat but then business as usual. Streel has been a bad guy in my campaign since the very beginning, and it would be cool to wrap it up and move to other things... So here's my question: What would it look like if Streel had its' charter pulled. They have a planet (CorpCo), a base of operations in Truane's Star, and operatives all over the place, including remnants of the Malthar Syndicate. They're probably too small to attack the UPF, especially lacking support from MerCo, which would try to stay in the game. Maybe they circle the wagons at their planet in New Streel and declare independence? |
 April 12, 2013 - 8:22am | That would be my guess, but first they'd try to head off such prosecution by calling in favors or passing out bribes among lawmakers, friendly media types, and so on. That could keep things boiling for years. If that fails, yes, hole up on their planet after selling off lots of assets (to holding companies and false fronts) and making a big show about "government run amok" and so on. |
 April 12, 2013 - 12:16pm | I would go for Hilo Headrow being prosecuted and imprisonned, the board of directors taking over and bringing in a shiny new CEO that proclaims an New Alpha Dawn in Streel's history. a new policy of openness and honesty which may be true or may not be true though that's not the ending you wanted because we all know that it will be too tempting to just use Streel as the bad guy again even after this. Another thing to consider is that Streel going out of business should put a lot of people out of work. This would happen on multiple planets and negatively impact multiple economies. No its more likely the governments of the various colonies will settle for sharpening the ax for the people at the top's head plus fines and other penalties. I would settle for a new squeeky clean appearing CEO and Hilo Headrow in prison. Make Hilo the Bernie Madeoff of the Frontier. EDIT: I noticed that you neglected to mention Laco's War that they were involved in. Back fill that its been going on for 3 years and make the conclusion of the war and the settlement the thing that brings Hilo Headrow and STreel down. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
April 12, 2013 - 7:49pm | The Bernie Madoff comment made me chuckle. Yeah, it seems a little too simplistic to believe that such a large corp would actually go out of business... It's more realistic to think some heads would roll, followed by a BP - like public relations campaign... |
 April 12, 2013 - 8:31pm | Technically Streel has no implication in print for being behind the Volturnus pirates...the modules were penned prior to KH rules using very broad terms such as "Truane's Star battle fleet" and such. Some interpretations have Streel as funders for the expedition and PGC contracted the pirates to foil their attempts, and from a tactical stand point this is very plausible. After all, there is no boundary as to what Streel and PGC would do to thwart each other. Despite Streel being penned as the official "evil corporation" when it comes to big business there really is nothing a company wouldn't stoop to in the name of profit if they knew they could get away with it. With Streel having a bad reputation, I can see PGC trying something dastardly to sabotage any Streel operation as well, more so if they think they can get away with it with minimal exposure. Anyhow I have Streel as a major funder of the upstart dictator that takes over the Frontier in my campaign. I also have a pre-UPF setting in the works that has Streel as an innocent upstart corporation (prior to becoming a megacorp) where they are essentially bullied by a shadow company working under PGC charter in Truane's Star...which offers some background to their future direction that gives them the reputation they have under KH rules setting. |
 April 12, 2013 - 9:23pm | And I'll have to admit, I never really had Streel as a bad guy in my mind. At least not any more than PanGal or CDC was. They are just a big business willing to do anything (like the others) to make a profit, get the upper hand, and stifle or muscle out the competition. Sure they are the agressor in Mission to Alcazzar and the littel blurb on them in KH says they sometimes use brutal methods, but it doesn't say the others don't. I suspect that given the potential wealth of Alcazzar, PanGal would have done the same to the CDC compound had they discovered it before Streel did. As Shadow Shack mentioned, there is not really much in the original rules to paint Streel as "evil", that is more extrapolation by those of us developing content after the fact. They way I see it, the UPF is really a confederation with very limited enforcing power. The big mega corps can basically do what they please as long as the planetary governments let them get away with it and they don't cross a few lines into areas that the UPF can enforce. Ad Astra Per Ardua! My blog - Expanding Frontier Webmaster - The Star Frontiers Network & this site Founding Editor - The Frontier Explorer Magazine Managing Editor - The Star Frontiersman Magazine |
April 13, 2013 - 5:50am | Good points. I guess I went with it in my setting because it gives my kids something else to hate on besides Sathar. That said, my kids have not played Alcazaar yet and I'm thinking about having it be PGC instead of Streel being the bad guys. Just to mix it up. |
 April 13, 2013 - 7:12am | Streel in banned from Gollywog and they funded the pirates there in an attempt to force the government's hand. Possible they are supporting the opposition party there too. Of course this isn't much different then what the US did by supporting Iraq vs Iran and cleaning out Afganistan. The megacorps consider themselves powers unto themselves and do what they do for their own reasons. Sounds like a great job but where did you say we had to go? |
April 13, 2013 - 12:11pm | Lately I've modeled Streel after post WW2 Japanese industry and PGC as post WW2 American industry. Streel takes something successful, tears it apart to see how it works, and finds a cheaper, more efficient, and reliable way to offer the same thing. That and they are willing to go to greater lengths to obtain said offerings, crossing lines as needed. |
April 13, 2013 - 1:36pm | So CDC is post WWII German industry, have a beer while everyone else rebuilds you factories? Sounds like a great job but where did you say we had to go? |
April 13, 2013 - 5:52pm | No, CDC is China where they try to be like Streel but nix the reliable and efficient portions.  |
