IE11 is no longer supported
We do not support Internet Explorer 11 and below. Please use a different web browser.
Roberts Space Industries ®

Sons of Magnus / SOMAG

  • Syndicate
  • Casual
  • Role play
  • Trading
    Trading
  • Smuggling
    Smuggling

“If you want to ship in the Magnus system, trust its sons.”



History

Some of you may be new to the system, or perhaps have never heard of our cause. Maybe you’ve barely heard of Borea, or don’t understand why its important. For those of you who have never seen our ships or heard our message, we are the Sons of Magnus. We want one thing: To see the Magnus system and the planet of Borea to flourish. We want to see our home of Borea to rise from its own ashes and continue to grow into a powerhouse of production.

We do not care what brought you to Magnus, nor do we care how long you’ve been here. Whether your family has been here since the beginning or this is your first day on the planet does not matter to us. We do not dislike those new to our system. Rather, Magnus needs new residents and connections if it is to grow. We welcome the new. All we ask is that you hold the well being of the Magnus system above all else and work together with our organization

However, some may not know the story of Magnus. Some may not know why this system needs or deserves help at all. So to know us, one must know the history of this system.

Magnus was discovered in 2499. It was a system consisting of three planets: a rich mineral world, a gas giant and a desert planet in the middle which was suitable for human life. At this time, Magnus was an out of the way system with no major trade routes that would benefit from it. Its remote location and the availability of ores, gasses and a habitable world made it a perfect military production system.

The middle planet was named ‘Borea’ and terraforming began in 2533. In the second half of that century, Borea flourished. The bulk of all military ships were produced on Borea, the planet filling with shipyards and ports. The system was technically closed to civilians for security reasons, but many were allowed in to work in the shipyards or provide services. Many historians call these the ‘golden years’. Magnus was secure and thriving, pumping out vast amounts of military ships and with ample work for all who wished to call it home.

The freefall began in 2631. Turmoil and shifting regions of power had changed the layout of the galaxy. While the politics might be debatable, the end result was not. The UEE decided that the Magnus system was no longer an ideal location for their shipyards. Many people have argued over this decision. Was it the right move? Did they understand what would happen? Perhaps they thought that everyone would leave and that would be that. The Magnus workers just move to the new shipyards Kilian. Unfortunately, that was not the reality.

It had been nearly a century since the terraforming. Many of the civilians who were employed by the shipyards had either been born on Borea or had worked there all their life. Unlike the military, they couldn’t just hop on the transport ship and move to their new outpost. These were their homes. These were all they had in the world, all of their assets left on that planet. With the system’s lifeblood moving away, most were left unemployed and with no way to gain wealth to start again.

Borea was left in squalor. It was still technically military owned, so no new settlers or industries were coming into the system. Most of its population was left with nothing and it became a planet full of squatters and shady industry. The only real manufacturing left on the planet was Kruger Intergalactic. Kruger was a local munitions company that had sprung up to help make parts for the military ships and was able to expand outward with the military gone. They became the sole business left on Borea, selling weapons and military-grade arms on a dead world.

For more than a hundred years, this was life on Borea. For longer than it was a shipyard, it was left to rust. It was in 2751 that the UEE finally opened the Magnus system to civilians. Unsurprisingly, the state they had left it in did not attract the most benevolent crowd. There were honest settlers hoping to take advantage of Kruger’s employment or the abandoned factories to re-purpose, but many saw other things. So many abandoned facilities meant plenty of places to hide or set up less savory operations. The Magnus system became a haven for pirates.

These pirates struck yet another crippling blow to the system. In 2785, a vital shipment of components from Kruger Intergalactic was hijacked. It disrupted their business and caused them to lose contracts to a major customer. It forced Kruger to look at what the Magnus system had become. When the world was still private, the squalor allowed for a cheap work force with privacy and security. Now that the public was allowed in, crime was booming. The decision was made to relocate from the Magnus system, taking away Borea’s last remaining large industry.

The next sixty years were the darkest time in Magnus’ history. No major corporations were headquartered in Borea, leaving crime, narcotics and piracy the only local businesses with any prosperity. And then Drake Interplanetary came.

Drake Interplanetary was a new, thriving company which had designed a ship known as the Cutlass. The Cutlass was a fighter, but a larger one with cargo room and living quarters. It may not have been as fast as dedicated fighters with no living space, but it was cheap, reliable and could be modified easily. It wasn’t pretty and all luxuries were cut to save costs, but it had everything one needed to make a living among the stars and the firepower and reliability to do it safely.

The Cutlass became a massive success. Many who wanted a quality, larger personal craft could now get one without breaking the bank. However, it also found a home among pirates. Its cheap price made it perfect for their often limited budgets compared to militias and militaries. Its ability to be modified let them attach tractor beams to catch their prey. Its living space and cargo hold let them live in the fringes with the supplies they needed, as well as giving them a place to store any stolen prizes.

It was a ship both hugely popular and seeped in controversy, making Drake Interplanetary both wealthy and well known. They grew quickly and their current factories couldn’t keep up with demand. They needed a headquarters. Their decision to come to Borea shocked everyone. But at the same time, it made sense. Drake had always been about quality for a lower price. Borea was near abandoned and was practically giving away real estate. It had massive expanses of abandoned shipyards which could be converted to manufacturing plants with ease. What’s more, it had a population desperate for work, people who’d felt abandoned for generations.

In 2845, Drake Interplanetary came to Borea. Things finally began to change for the better. The long-abandoned shipyards began to rattle to life. Rusting structures were demolished and new factories and warehouses were built. These provided honest production jobs and clean money in Borea’s economy. With this boost in legal commerce, commercial companies began to come to Borea with services for the honest workers to spend their pay on. Drake brought Borea back to life.

With this new life came new security. Drake’s presence made the system a safer place. They hired mercenaries and spearheaded anti-piracy initiatives, though some think it’s also that pirates don’t want to disrupt the production of their favorite line of ships. Regardless, while the Magnus system may not be as safe as a major UEE system, it is undoubtedly getting safer.

It’s 2947 and the Magnus system is in a period of revitalization. Drake has continued to expand and has introduced new ships into its production line, including the Caterpillar, Buccaneer and Dragonfly. A jump point has also been discovered to the Stanton system, putting Magnus right next to one of the most populated UEE systems and giving easy access to trade routes. And to top it off? Borea’s ‘frontier’ atmosphere is beginning to attract tourists. Its old desert outlaw culture has become commercialized with many coming to see this now-safer world and tour the old ghost towns. The future of the Magnus system finally looks bright.

We intend to help that bright future. The Sons of Magnus were formed recently and to humble beginnings. At first we were little more than a group of Borean natives who wanted to start a shipping company. As we succeeded, we began to look beyond personal success. We began to devote time and assets to our world and system, becoming proponents of its politics both in and outside of its bounds. We seek to expand its wealth and reach, to continue Borea’s second industrial growth and let it surpass what many believe to be its glory days. The Sons of Magnus all believe one thing about Magnus’ future. Its best days are still ahead.

Manifesto

We’re The Sons of Magnus, a shipping company founded and headquartered in Borea. Most of our work is located shipping to and from the Magnus system, though we’ve taken jobs elsewhere if the money’s right. Above all else, we give our guarantee that our hauls will be safe. Any shipment will be well guarded with courses plotted for efficiency and security. No unnecessary risks and more guns than needed. If you want to ship in the Magnus system, trust its sons.

But we’re more than a shipping company. The Magnus system is our home. As such, we’re often using our profits and our time to push its various political causes. Borea has many. It’s been lawless for so long that there are plenty of cutthroats and terrorists who would prey upon its people. We are very anti-pirate in this system. Any pirates who would attack the residence of their primary ship manufacturer are biting the hand that feeds. We don’t like piracy in general, but our active stance on it is simple. Not in our home.

That being said, we’re not as harsh on things like narcotics or black market goods. While we aren’t going to publicly support it, without these black market goods there would have been no business at all during Borea’s darkest days. Unlike piracy, these industries are for willing customers and don’t actively stab their community in the back. As such, deals involving less upstanding cargo are not off the table.

However, we are the Sons of Magnus, not the Sons of Borea. We want to see the entire system flourish and there is one off world issue that’s been holding Magnus back for centuries. When the UEE allowed civilians in, they did not allow civilians to mine the mineral rich planet of Magnus I. Despite leaving the system and allowing it to fall into near-lawlessness for hundreds of years, they refuse to give up the system’s valuables. We are patriots who believe in the UEE, but this is wrong. The UEE should not be allowed to control the minerals of a space that they left to rot.

Do not by off-put by our patriotism. To join us, you don’t have to have been born on Borea or fly only Drake ships. You could have become a resident today and have nothing but an RSI Aurora. We welcome newcomers to our world. If Borea is going to thrive, it needs new residents. To join us, we only ask that you love Magnus and follow our rules. Where you’ve come from, what you fly, none of this matters. All that matters is that you’re willing to put your new home above all else.

Charter

The Sons of Magnus strive for healthy relationships with our employees, our customers and our community. As such, we’d like to make it clear what we stand for and what we believe. These aren’t just rules, but an explanation of why we feel each is important.

Employees
- We expect our employees to be cooperative. We’re not expecting them to put on a fake smile and shake hands like a mega-store greeter. We’re not that kind of business. Still, we expect people who can work with potential clients and employees without difficulty. It’s unfortunate this needs to be a rule at all.
- Our employees are encouraged to bring ideas forward to their superiors. We welcome new viewpoints or business possibilities. That being said, management has final say on all things.
- We don’t have a dress code or ship colors aside from our red insignia. It seems fittingly Borean for our crew to be a mix of styles and ships. That being said, dress and fly for the job you have. If you want to be a guard, dress for combat and fly a ship with proper guns. But if you’re a hauler, make sure your ship can haul. If you’re interacting with customers, try not to look or dress like a maniac.
- If you want to have side business, that’s fine. We’re not going to stop our pilots from taking some personal jobs. However, when the company needs you, we take priority. The group’s business has to be more important than the individual’s.
- No piracy, no slavery. This includes any ‘off the clock’ activities. Even if this is done far from the Magnus system, we want no part in it. If this rule is broken, there will be no second chances or talks.
-If you ever have a problem with a job, let management know. We’d rather work around problems than not know about them until something goes wrong.

Customers
- Be honest about what we’re hauling. One of the most important parts of hauling is preparation, knowing what kind of ships to bring and route to take. If we think we’re hauling nothing special, but that’s not the case, we can’t be certain it’ll be handled properly or arrive as it should. And be certain, if you do not forewarn us that we have illicit cargo and are caught, the finger will come back to you. We’re not opposed to some shadier cargo, but if we don’t know about it, we can’t protect it or ourselves.
- Payments are usually due upon departure. If we’re meeting you at the delivery, payment might be acceptable then. Ask in advance.
- Feedback is encouraged and appreciated. Any company grows by learning from its successes and mistakes.
- Do not try and screw us over. We can turn into the bad kind of Boreans very quickly.

Community
- We’ll treat you like you treat us. Be nice to us, we’re more than happy to do the same to you. We’re just a shipping company trying to make our home a better place.
- We understand that Drake is associated with piracy for good reason. We’re not stupid. We’re well aware that many of its customers use it for less than honest means. While we do not support piracy, we are not pirate hunters. Our only real line? We do not tolerate piracy in Borea. The more Borea grows, the better Drake will get, so pirates looking to prey upon the planet supplying them have no honor. We’re not pirate hunters by nature, but expect any jobs by Borean pirates to be turned down.