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Created: 1997.06.01 Updated: 2002.12.17 Viewed: 2647

ITTT (Interstellar Trade, Transport and Telecommunications)

Summary Information

• Category: Conventional
• Political Power: 2
• Military Power: 1
• Economic Power: 4
• Size: 1 (Special: Corporation)

Comments

From the corporate brochure:

ITTT is the brainchild of Michael Sharpe. Mr. Sharpe, owner of several large corporations, fled the USA in 2048, just prior to the collapse of the US economy. Having placed most of his holdings overseas, the collapse and following 'pacification' had a major, but not catastrophic impact on his assets. He spent the next 10 years in speculative investment (some paid off, some were written off) including heavy funding of an asteroid mining firm and minor investment in the Gilderstien Foundation. In late 2060 he stumbled across the real reason that the Gilderstein Foundation's L5 lab disappeared. He forms the Union of Trade and Transport (UTT). UTT transport ships are used for transportation of goods between Earth and othe planets of the Solar System.

In 2067, UTT recieves a large influx of funding by a group of private individuals and selected corporations. It renames itself Interstellar Trade, Transport and Telecommunications (ITTT).

The planned colonization of the AF and EC presented a great opportunity. ITTT agreed to sponsor quarterly transits to the new colonies in exchange for a 99 year exclusive contract for transportation of goods (non-government, non-military), people and a courier service. FTL travel, was a hugely expensive (and somewhat dangerous) proposition. The expense of sending goods by FTL seemed to make it a guaranteed financial loss. The deep pockets of ITTT allowed them to take the long view of such a venture. The governments, wanting to invest in expansion rather than on the support of colonies, agreed to the terms. The company was driven to the brink of bankruptcy several times. But as colonies grew in size, the trips began to make a profit and shipments increased in frequency. The vast majority of colonies signed a contract with ITTT. Those that did not initially, saw the wisdom of doing so after a couple of years of infrequent supplies from their governments.

In 2080, ITTT expanded into the expensive, but lucrative field of relay communications, using FTL couriers, manned and unmanned to transmit messages quickly across vast reaches of space. (Using unmanned drones to carry the messages between systems, then powerful communications relays to broadcast messages to the next set of drones, much like the old fashioned 'Pony Express'.)

ITTT's asteroid mining operations provided it with a vast amount of organic knowledge about the operations of bases on asteroids. FLT communication is still only employed by major worlds (and only by the Government and major corporations) due to the cost of operation. By 2100, ITTT was showing a hansom profit. UTT (now ITTT) settled Rhea and Mimas, moons of Saturn, and expanded their mining and ship building operations. In 2108, it faced separate challenges from the NAC, and ESU to its right to the moon of Saturn. However military protection by the UN and a boycott of shipments to the government colonies quickly ended each of the challenges. In 2113, ITTT laid claim to the system of "Front Office" (GI 54.1) and moved their headquarters there. In 2115, ITTT also claimed the systems of LFT 1085 renaming it "Mirkheim" and an unnamed system (NN 1:1:8) and naming it Van Rijn. At the same time, ITTT leased its bases on Rhea and Mimas to the USNC.

Currently (circa 2180's) ITTT has contracts with the majority of colonies and maintains a large market share of the FTL transportation and communications relay industries on the major worlds.

ITTT is based on a 3 line mantra:

• Fair Prices
• Good Service
• Long View

Not in the Brochure:

It is by nature a company that thrives in a monopolistic setting. It is ruthless in defending its contracts. It employees a large (by corporate standards) force of Q-ships and a military force comprised of a fleet of military class ships (escorts, cruisers and troopships) and a fair contingent of marines. And they have a "black ops" section that is thoroughly active.

On the other hand it sets a standard rate for FTL transport. The rate is based on transit time, risk, and who assumes the responsibility for ships lost to hostile action (raiders/pirates/terrorists/military). This policy has allowed ITTT to stave off the "nationalization" of trade routes and relay communication.

The one nation that has not signed an exclusive contract with ITTT is New Israel. NI's policy of self-reliance at all costs prohibited the exclusivity clause that is standard in ITTT contracts. While this has caused tention between ITTT and NI, it has not led to hostilities. ITTT still makes a share of profits when NI trades with colonies that are still under the ITTT exclusivity clause. In these instances, NI ships must hand off thier cargo to ITTT represenitives (who take a percentage of the transport fee). NI tries to deal with worlds not under ITTT's agreemnet, but will do so when there is no better choice.

All initial contracts between ITTT and new colonies contain 4 clauses:

• Exclusive FTL transportation and communication rights for 99 years.
• A permanent land grant to operate an Embassy (treated as foreign soil).
• The permanent right to defend its ships within the system.
• Who assumes responsibility for ships lost to hostile action.

ITTT maintains a very large fleet of cargo, passenger, and courier ships. It also maintains one of the largest private navies, although this fact is hidden from the general public. The navy is used to two purposes:

1. Defend ITTT space and holdings
2. Defend ITTT ships

Corporate Structure/Government

ITTT has controlling boards on a corporate, system, planetary, and smaller scales (right down to village controlling boards). The members of the controlling boards are voted into office by the stockholding residents of the area they control. One share of stock provides one vote. Every citizen of ITTT is provided one share of stock at birth and may earn more through providing good service to ITTT (bonus stock and stock options are common incentives). Stock may be inherited, but becomes non-voting stock (at all but corporate level), when it changes hands. A "Vote of No Confidence" may be called at any time by any group representing a number of shares equal to 20% of the number of shares that appointed a member of the controlling board. A "Call of Repeal" may be called at any time using the same rules to try to remove offending leglislation or corporate policy. A Vote of No Confidence or Call of Repeal force a vote of all shareholders of the region. Success removes the board member, legislation, or offending policy.

Ship Designs

ITTT deploys a wide variety of ship designs. Most designs are for the transport of goods and clients between stellar destinations. Some are designed to protect such transports and other ITTT holdings.

Most ITTT transport ships utilize a modular transport unt (MTU). These units can hold 7 standard mass units. Each MTU is powered and has access ports placed at standard intervals. Each MTU provides for internal environmental control. This helps avoids spoilage during transfer and also provides a means of allowing passengers to adapt to thier destination before arrival. The module system allows for a quicker turn arround time when loading/unloading the transport ship.
The MTU system also allows for ITTT transports to substitute weapons modules for some of the cargo modules. This is done only rarely (as it cuts profits), but is done enough that pirates are somewhat wary about attacking ITTT transports. There are even rummors that ITTT fields Q-Ships that dwarf even superdreadnoughts. Of course, ITTT officially denies such libalous slurs.

ITTT specializes in providing transport to relativly new colonies. These colonies, often, do not possess thier own orbital cargo lift capacity. Thus many ITTT transports carry a smaller non-FTL ship to provide this needed service. Even in systems that have orbital cargo lift capability, ITTT transport shuttles can carry cargo units to other in-system destinations while the main transport is unloaded at an orbital station or by local shuttles.

ITTT trasnports of sometimes accompanied by escort warships to provide protection and diswade attacks and smugglers.

Examples of ITTT ship designs may be found in the Full Thrust Ship Registry.

Author: Brian Bell

The Unofficial GZG Encyclopedia Galactica