Interstellar Expeditions

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This article is about the corporation. For the game sourcebook, see Interstellar Players 3: Interstellar Expeditions.

Interstellar Expeditions was once a disorganised collective of hobbyists and academics backed by the idle wealthy investigating mysteries such as the fate of the Minnesota Tribe. However Interstellar Expeditions has emerged from the Jihad to take up the mission once claimed by ComStar's Explorer Corps: to search for the elusive hiding places where humanity's enemies might have gone. From the dead worlds on the borders of the Inner Sphere itself, to the distant, uncharted reaches of the Deep Periphery.

Company Profile

Terran Stock Exchange Ticker: INEX

Corporate HQ: Aur

President/CEO: Dr. Naomi Wilson (Circa 3130), Reiner Wooden (????-????)

Director of Publications: Dr. Saga Brest (Circa 3074)

Overview

Early History

The origins of Interstellar Expeditions lie in the merger of two wildly different groups of archaeologists, historians and anthropologists from across the Inner Sphere; the Star Group and Mutual Exploration Network (MEN).

The Star Group, itself formed from the merger of the Millennium Foundation and the Federation of Star Lookers in 2889, specialized in mounting archaeological expeditions for universities and museums. While initially widely respected, as the Third Succession War dragged on and research funding dried up, the Star Group was increasingly forced to turn to fortune hunting to remain viable, darkening its reputation as "mercenary archeologists" whose ethics could be bought, with a number of its members engaged in blatant treasure hunting. When the bulk of its more respectable academics chose to leave in 2968 in response to this direction, the Star Group considered disbanding entirely until they were approached by the Mutual Exploration Network.

Founded in 2894, unlike the academically respected Star Group, the MEN was an entirely amateur organization of wealthy spendthrifts, conspiracy theorists and archaeological hobbyists whose only stated goal was to discover the truth behind the great mysteries of the universe, ranging from the fate of the Minnesota Tribe to seeking out the Greys, alien abductors who supposedly plagued twentieth century Terra. Much of the remaining members of the Star Group expressed concern that the goals of both groups were too divergent, but in truth both sides complemented the other, the Star Group offering the organizational leadership and academic credentials that the more amateur MEN lacked, while MEN provided the funding the Star Group desperately needed, with Interstellar Expeditions born in 2974. The new entity proved far stronger than its component parts and quickly mounted a number of highly successful expeditions.

Operations

IE performs both mundane tasks such as genealogical research and more esoteric pursuits like stellar cartography, archaeological digs, anthropological investigations, and researching into lost colonies and Star League-era storage depots.

IE operates according to the local laws of the operation and the guidelines of the Interstellar Archaeological and Anthropological Society (IAAS).

IE hires mercenary command to carry out a nebulous range of services, that go from escort duties, security operations, investigations (criminal or otherwise), and other ad hoc tasks that might be required depending on the location and the situation. A generous allowance of the contract is the provision that the mercenary command retains the right to hire themselves out on parallel short-term contracts to concerns whose needs do not directly conflict with those of IE or the employer of IE. The company expects that the unit does not engage in criminal behavior. If the company learns of any illicit activity on the part of the mercenaries (regardless of the type), the mercenaries can expect immediate termination of their contract and loss of all supplied transportation and financial assistance. If the mercenaries violate the bylaws and strictures of the IAAS (for example despoiling a dig site by plunder or destruction), IE might go one further step and will blacklist the mercenary force as rogues or criminals and issue rewards for their apprehension.

Ships

Interstellar Expeditions operates both JumpShips and DropShips, at least one small WarShip, and various named Small Craft. Some listed here have been lost to military, criminal, or even employee action.

WarShips

• Bug-Eye-class Surveillance Vessel - at least one.

JumpShips

• Unknown class - Mariana, Montpelier, Hatshepsut, Hawass, Marco Polo, Vespucci
• Explorer-class - Sacajawea
• Scout-class - Hiram Bingham III,Kitty Hawk (Individual Scout-class JumpShip)

DropShips

• Unknown class - Clarke, Cousteau, Howard Carter
• Union-class - Grave Robber

Named Small Craft

• Astrolux - McKenna (Individual Astrolux-class Small Craft)
• K-1:Magellan (Individual K-1-class DropShuttle), Columbus (Individual K-1-class DropShuttle)

Bibliography

• Historical: Operation Klondike
• Interstellar Players
• Interstellar Players 3: Interstellar Expeditions
• Total Chaos