Official Stellar Mining and Smelting (SMS) Profile

Affiliation #8

Imperial Chartered Affiliation

The SMS originally began as a  subsidiary of the EEM.  It was created 
in the year 19 to explore the Lunar surface and to mine any significant 
mineral deposits discovered there.  SMS ground parties discovered 
the first fissionable deposits on Earth's moon in the year 21. Soon 
after, the SMS colony Pittsburg was built on the Lunar Surface.

Using a GPI, somehow appropriated from the GTT, SMS Barnstormer checked 
out the mineral deposits on Mars.  With the EEM busy developing their 
own colony on Luna, there were no funds available to build a Martian 
colony for the SMS.  As a result, British entrepeneur Winston Harrell 
purchased the SMS and founded SMS Jackpon on Mars.  

Soon after the SMS went to court to prevent the EEM from building 
another colony on Mars. The court  decided that the SMS controls all 
area within 20 miles of SMS Jackpot, not the entire planet.  

In the year 60 the ship IND Anouilh attacked SMS Jackpot, killing 
327 colonists. It was discovered this ship was built by the EEM.  It 
was the first Corvette. The EEM Periphery Director was convicted of 
murder. Eight years later an armed surveyor, SMS Shieldwall, targeted 
the IND Anouilh and engaged in the first ship-to-ship space battle 
in recorded history.  IND Anouilh was brought to justice.

In the next hundred years the SMS built itself into a powerful affiliation.
During the First Rebellion they sided against the rebels.  When the First
Rebellion  was over the Empire granted the SMS a charter in the periphery 
as part of the Great Expansion.

In 181, SMS colony Driscol entered into conflict with GTT Gaspree 
on the planet Petroom.  Both colonies claimed ownership of Petroom's 
mineral deposits. Unfortunately the SMS took the worst of it from 
Gaspree's governor Nasty Bugger. One SMS ship was lost before the 
ISP entered Petroom's orbit to stop hostilities.  Ground battle continued 
with SMS Driscol being pounded by GTT Gaspree's air power.  SMS Driscol 
surrendered to Gaspree and removed all military power from Petroom 
as well as forfeiting all mineral rights. A year later the GTT obliterated 
SMS Driscol after claiming they detected a military buildup there.

In 182 the SMS Helma discovered the two alien built moonships R-Snit 
& Q-Snit. While exploring these artifacts the Helma was attacked by 
a Flagritz base ship and captured.

In 185, SMS Avex on the planet Addler was attacked by the USS.  The 
USS claimed they did not sanction this event. The IAN took on the 
USS Second Fleet and lost three consecutive battles. The USS had the 
alien Delta Empire on their side. Eventually Avex was returned to 
the SMS.

In 186 a new company was formed, the PDC, which had several special 
abilities similar to the SMS in mineral exploration.  This angered 
the SMS leadership.  Before action could be taken against them the 
PDC was rocked with internal problems and was disbanded in 188.

In 187 an alien robotic race, the DTN, landed at 3 SMS colonies containing 
an artifact called a LANDING BEACON.  They killed coloniest, took 
the LANDING BEACONS, stripped the colonies of their mineral stockpiles, 
and left.  

Recent SMS history includes an unprecedented colony growth period 
and exploration into the furthest reaches of the newly opened star 
systems.  New enterprises include Terraforming planets, capital outlays 
for Stargates, and investigations of "other ores."  The SMS continues 
to search for new ores and non-belligerent alien races.  It is proud 
of its Alien Relations history and its long standing policy of non-exploitave 
trade and Alien Aid programs.

Affiliation Description

The SMS is one of the oldest and proudest affiliations.  It excels 
in finding mineral deposits and exploiting them. 

The SMS affiliation is the one true melting pot in the periphery.  Members 
are allowed to go their own way and frequently do so.  Unlike certain 
other affiliations, all members may trade with whomever they like, 
go wherever they feel like going, and even think what they like.  The 
only restrictions being that they must follow Imperial Law where it 
applies and always remember they are SMS.

The SMS, chartered by the Stellar Empire, has, and always will, back 
the Empire in time of need.  But the SMS views the day to day business 
of periphery defense as the duty of the Imperial Services.  This in 
no way restricts any SMS starcaptains who wish to offer their services 
in support of Imperial missions.  The SMS maintains a standing and 
reserve Warfleet for times of need.

The SMS seeks peaceful dealings with all other affiliations.  It takes 
a strong dislike to the bullying, mischief, and deceit displayed by 
too many so-called sentient beings.  When push comes to shove, the 
SMS is amazingly cohesive and will not tolerate the forces of anarchy.

Goals

The main SMS goal is to continue the ERD (Exploration, Research,and 
Development) Program- including exploration for new ores, technology, 
and alien races; research in our field of expertise, i.e. metallurgy, 
chemistry, and alchemy; and developoment of new  and existing technology.

Other goals include improved terraforming, placing hiports at all 
major SMS colonies, expanding and upgrading the SMS freighter/warship 
fleet with newer ship designs, and improving colony defenses.

Special Abilities

1. May prospect for ore in 25 TU's rather than 50.

2. SMS mines produce 20% more ore than mines of other affiliations.

3. Mines placed on a THORLIUM deposit will produce PROCESSED THORLIUM,
not THORLIUM ORE, at 20% of the expected production.

4. Thorlium coating protects SMS ships at the rate of 18% per coat
rather than 15% per coat.

5. May GPI a sector in 10 TU's rather than 14 TU's and may GPI a world
in 1 TU rather than 5 TU's.

6.  May produce LIGHT BASIC MODULES (89), a 10 MU item.  To build one
requires 10 MU's of METALS/NONMETALS and .5 MU's of JACIUM. To construct
a complex using these modules, use the following numbers rather than
the numbers listed in the rulebook: 16, 17, 18, 19 for GAMBLING,
RESTAURANT, RECREATION, and SPECIAL COMPLEXES respectively.  Only 
these complexes may be build using LIGHT BASIC MODULES. (It is unusual 
to list specific item tech in a profile under Special Abilities.  It 
is being done here because this unusual item requires further explanation.)

@BODY-NOINDENT = 7. SMS colonies may convert FOSSIL FUELS into
METALS/NONMETALS at the rate of 4 FOSSIL FULES to 3 METALS/NONMETALS.
The order to do this is the GENERATE METALS order:  GM 46 (quantity of
FOSSIL FUELS)

Political Structure

The SMS is headed by a Company Coordinator (CC), a position held by 
a senior member and electyed by the other coordinators.  The CC assigns 
the tax rate for the company and, in time of need, has final say in 
appropriating company assets.  All treaties with other affiliations 
must be ratified by 2/3 vote of all SMS members and approved by the 
CC.

The following coordinators hold office in the SMS:

DEFENSE - Trains and maintains the defenseive fleet and insures proper 
SMS colony ground defenses.  Coordinates annual company "wargames" 
for military ships.  Makes recommendations on what military ships 
receive company sponsored upgrades.

TRANSHOLE - Coordinates all aspects of company defense, exploration, 
and colonization outside the Periphery.,

COLONIZATION - Responsible for the efficient running of SMS colonies.
Assist new colony governors in obtaining/developing SMS assets.

EXPLORATION - Maintains the SMS database for exploration and mineral 
deposits.  Assigns specific areas for exploration and/or monitors 
all ships on exploration missions.

RESEARCH - Responsible for designing and submitting new items for 
research consideration.  Collects and maintains information on all 
new technology introduced into known space.
