Galaxian Imperial / GXI

Galaxian Imperial is established in 2955 on Cestulus / Davien, began its journey as a local trading company, hiring freelance transport craft to carry bulk loads in the system. After several years with good profits, company ordered its first batch of Caterpillar transporters and started expanding operations to outer reaches of their local system, eventually reaching out to the markets of Ferron system. But as the Ferron system was only a husk of its former prosperous days, operations there quickly faltered and to prevent further losses, GXI witheld all operations in a few months. Later that year, trying to gain a foothold in heavily contested Imperial market, company applied for a trading permit in the Sol system. But giant corporations already dominating the largest market of humanity were reluctant to share their wealth with ‘outsiders’ and lobbied against many corporations trying to apply for a permit in Sol space, GXI being one of them. All the while profitable trading runs in Davien system allowed GXI to expand its fleet further with additional Caterpillars.

That year marked the great expansion of Galaxian Imperial, as the corporation tried to expand further into Imperial space, waiting for a chance to get their trading permit in Sol system. Traders visiting Croshaw’s lovely city Quinton, made good profits in their runs and GXI immediately seized the opportunity, adding several more Caterpillars to the fleet. Later on, GXI vessels started their sorties to nearby Rhetor system, but profits were luckluster and GXI lost its interest quickly. However many corporate ships continue to visit planet Reisse to this day, even going in and out with empty holds. No one knows the reason and corporate employees refuse to talk about it. Captains mainly avoided Idris system, because of its dark history and small population.

But that rapid expansion came with a heavy price. Disaster hit when GXI accepted a two-step contract from Ferron and Rhetor to Elysium system. Contract was to ferry 6000Scu of sealed bulk containers which barely fit into the compartments of Caterpillars. All 18 of them were redirected to Ferron and Rhetor system for the job. Loading the cargo took four days and Ferron fleet joined the Rhetor fleet two days after. Captain Pitchard Gloss of the renowned vessel ‘Voidlance’ took command of the fleet, he was the oldest and the highest ranking captain of GXI at the time. The flight was a smooth one but when the fleet entered Elysium space, ‘Voidlance’ crew reported a fire in the cargo hold. Crew tried to solve the problem, however the cargo was a highly flammable material and quickly fed the raging flames. Captain Pitchard ordered cargo doors of 3rd and 4th sections to be opened to suffocate the flames but unexpectedly, this caused a massive decompression blast, completely destroying the vessel in a matter of seconds, killing all on board and launching cargo containers, each weighting around 6 tons, towards nearby vessels. Fleet vessels in close formation tried to avoid the container bombardment but Caterpillars were easy targets for such large projectiles… 3 vessels directly got hit, and while performing evasive maneuvers they collided with other vessels. 4 more ships are damaged heavily because of the collisions. 3 vessels later abandoned by their crew. 8 Caterpillars and 12 crew members including captain Pitchard were lost in the end.

Losing 8 Caterpillars were nothing for GXI, but losing their oldest captain and 11 crew members to an otherwise avoidable accident were devastating. After this event GXI never accepted cargo contracts without proper documentation, captains and crew members are better trained to handle on board hazards, and Caterpillars became a sign of ‘bad luck’ for GXI employees. Eventually causing company to change all their Caterpillars with more robust and spacious alternatives.

Next year, UEE scouts relayed a warning about several wrecks close by the Rhetor Gateway in Elysium system. GXI sent an expedition to reclaim the wrecks, hoping to find something about their lost brothers and sisters. It was indeed the area where their wrecks finally came to rest. 2 bodies were recovered and 3 Caterpillar wrecks are salvaged, status or the whereabouts of the remaining vessels or crew members are still unknown to this day.

Today, GXI became the fading shadow of its past days… Most of its employees leaving the company over time and doing jobs for it remotely, flying their own colors instead of GXI’s. However company is still registered and keeps several heavy-duty vessels among its inventory. Working silently among the masses…