Official Solar Spices & Liquors (SSL) Profile

Affiliation #9

Imperial Chartered Affiliation

History

In the year 2023 Universal Transport and Trade's robotic inventions 
sparked massive unemployment on Earth. This opened the door of global 
power to the most aggressive of people, organized crime. Social unrest 
due to this unemployment was stemmed and succeeded in uniting the 
world's blackmarkets under the banner of a legitimate business, Solar 
Spices and Liquors. The United Earth legalized numerous drugs when 
it realized that the results of the SSL's work had led not only to 
a general sedation of the public, but also to an amazing amount of 
global control in that company's hands.

At the time of the great expansion, the SSL decided that they needed 
a new base of power, so they to looked towards the stars. This expansion 
was pioneered by Don Bruno Agnello, one of the first multi-generational 
clones.  He "brewed" a wild card clone, Conrad Zachariah Lamb, and 
sent him to the stars in an attempt to establish in a few decades 
what would normally have taken a millennium to do.  The goal was to 
make the SSL one of the dominant companies in the Empire.

The Family realized the colonists would seek to bring their way of 
life with them during the expansion and that this would not be feasible.
The SSL decided to supply the colonists with the unique drugs and luxury 
goods that abound in the Periphery.  They also realized that a market 
would develop within the Empire for the goods they could acquire from 
the new systems.

As the years went on the SSL began to expand its markets, both materially 
and politically. During this time many new allies were established 
as well as some formidable enemies. The SSL has been involved in a 
total of three major conflicts, all of which have taken place in recent 
history.

The first was in year 184 and it involved the USS and did not last 
long.  Both sides lost and gained little. The second involved the 
QSN when SSL forces were called in to assist IMP forces in settling 
a rebellious stage of the QSN history. This rebellion was quickly 
quelled. The third conflict was against the combined forces of half 
a dozen affiliations, including WCE and TCA forces. The SAM fought 
on the side of SSL, with SSL acting under Imperial sanctions. The 
battles went badly with the SAM losing half their fleet and the SSL 
taking no losses. SSL has worked diligently to reestablish good relations 
with all the affiliations involved in the aforementioned disputes, 
and expect these relationships to only get better. 

There are only three groups that SSL have long standing disputes with.
One is the FET, a competitor, and the other is with certain members of 
the RIP.  Finally, SSL has a long standing dispute over the ownership 
of Farnham's Kind, a Moonship formerly under control of SSL.  SSL 
is working on rectifying relations with the TCA and WCE but is unsure 
of the intentions of these affiliations. 

The SSL has been known to stick by their allies and has won much recognition 
in being involved in the largest space battle ever to be fought in 
the known galaxy while in support of the Samilian Empire. The Samilians 
are but one of the three strong allies that SSL has on its side. The 
other two are the IMP and the GTT, which were also involved in the 
numerous conflicts that the SSL fought.  SSL now works closely with 
the Imperials in fighting against mutual enemies.

What must be remembered is that the members of SSL live under the 
code of Omerta.  Their word means everything to them, whether written 
or verbal.  They cannot break their own promises, and will not look 
kindly upon anyone who breaks their word with SSL.

Special Abilities

1. The SSL has the unique ability to discover sources 
of exotic drugs and luxury goods during surface exploration   of many 
planets that other affiliations have searched and found nothing of 
value.

2. The SSL can produce a number of "common" drugs at all of their
colonies using their special complexes, and certain   "source world"
colonies can produce the rarer drug types.   They can also produce
luxury and consumer goods in mass   quantities using their specia 
complexes.

3. SSL members can setup blackmarkets at any colony that  currently
has none. These markets may be stocked with   whatever the controlling
player wishes to put in them.

4. SSL colonies use drugs three times more efficently than normal 
ffiliations.

5. Agents of SSL positions have a 50% less chance of being captured.

6. The base speed of SSL ships is halved in space battle.

7. In non-battle situations SSL ships are slightly faster than other
ships (0.5 is used in the base speed calculation rather than 0.7).

8. SSL ships have an advantage when landing on high gravity planets.
Instead of dividing 5 by their base speed, they divide 6 by their base
speed in the gravity calculation.

SSL Roadshow

This is a very special ability of SSL ships and demands a rather complex
explanation.

The SSL may produce an item called an ENTERTAINMENT MODULE (item 150).
This 200 MU item is built using 200 METALS/NONMETALS and 30 LUXURY GOODS.
This module contains various means of entertainment and represents shows
such as Circuses, Heavy Metal/nonmetal Bands, Broadway shows on tour,
and even Ice Capades!

By loading a number of ENTERTAINMENT MODULES into a large freighter,
an SSL starcaptain may take his show on the road to colonies throughout
the galaxy. The colonies where he performs receive a morale bonus based
on the size of the colony and the number of ENTERTAINMENT MODULES on
board the ship. An SSL Roadshow operates according to the following rules:

1)  It  has no benefit at an SSL colony nor to colonies 
whose affiliation numbers are greater than 20 (ie - aliens).

2) To use the SSL Roadshow ability the Starcaptain need only issue the
following new standard action: Unleash the Roadies!  Obviously it may
only be used when landed in a colony starport and costs 50 TU's.

3) If a colony has an existing SSL Roadshow bonus in effect it may not
receive another such bonus until the current morale benefits have
completely expired.

4) A maximum of +12 morale bonus can be earned by a colony.

5) To calculate the morale bonus use the following formula:
(# of ENTERTAINMENT MODULES / Colony Class) times 4.

6) Each week following the performance of an SSL Roadshow the morale
benefit will decline until it reaches zero.

7) There is no automatic cost to the colony governor for this service.
The Roadshow manager must negotiate with him for fair compensation.

Long Term Goals

1. To become a power base in the galaxy.

2. To weaken and/or eliminate any effective competition in our many areas
of commerce.

3. Complete exploitation of all known systems and their inhabitants.

4. Keep all non-periphery based affiliations from establishing any
strong presence in the periphery whether it be political, industrial
or military.

5. Regain control of, or destroy Farnham's Kind.

6. To have the Family's word of honor, Omerta, both respected and feared
by other affiliations.

7. Have all SSL colonies completely self-sufficient in all areas of
colony life.

8. Maintain the largest military and shipping fleet in the periphery,
second only to the Imperial Services.

9. Organize a syndicate to encompass the interests of all friendly
and/or allied affiliations.

10. Establish a base of operations in each of the known main areas of
the galaxy (i.e. Periphery, Transhole, etc).

Short Term Goals

1. Monopolize drug and luxury good markets in order to expand our
influence with other affiliations.

2. Weaken what structural organization of the FET through whatever
means are available. 

3. Cripple the RIP's ability to interfere with SSL goals while forcing
them to the bargaining table.

4. Develop written alliances/agreements with the Imperials, GTT, SAM
and Tempodians.

SSL Motto

Commerce: "Stellars come quicker with Solar Spices and Liquors." 

War: "Your blood will flow thicker when you cross Solar Spices and 
Liquors."

Political Organization

SSL Chain of Command is: Godfather, Capo, New Businesses, New Territories, 
Mouth Piece, Union Leader, Enforcer, Safe Cracker, Family Relations.

SSL is made of of a number of "Dons", each of whom are responsible 
for a specific department within the company.  Each Don represents 
the head of a family which is solely responsible for their departments, 
and these families may not violate the trust of other families.  The 
only Dons capable of performing actions in the other departments are 
the Godfather and Capo, both of which need no permission to do so.  The 
chain of command must be strictly followed by all members, as the 
Godfather is a busy person and does not concern himself with the petty 
affairs of others.  Before going to the Godfather with a problem or 
question, each member must first go through the Capo.  All decisions 
of the Godfather are final and can only be contested by other SSL 
members through referendum.  However if the plaintiff loses he/she 
is immediately silenced!

Ship Building

SSL has no desire, as of yet, to actually construct their own ships 
although they are willing to sponsor other ship building races/affiliations 
in doing so.

Membership

Any and all are welcome to join the Family, as long as they are willing 
to accept all the conditions in the By-laws. 

SSL By-Laws

1. All members are considered completely loyal to 
the Family.  Thus, any actions detrimental to SSL could not even be 
considered by the individual members.

2. Any non-approved activity resulting in harm to SSL will result
in extreme disciplinary measures against that individual.

3. The Omerta, Family code of honor, is absolutely binding in either
a written or verbal agreement.  Those who break their word are given
a one way ticket home.

4. Leaving SSL without expressed written permission from the
Godfather, or being ejected by SSL means you have turned 
your back on the Family forever.  No help will ever be rendered to 
said positions, and they are considered as good as dead.  At no time 
may any member leave the company while under probation, this is absolute.

5. In exchange for a member's complete loyalty, the individual
may call upon the entire resources of SSL, without hesitation, 
for Family or personal profit.

6. Agreeing to join SSL means a member will abide by and adhere to
all the decisions that the Family makes, no matter what one's own
personal feelings are concerning the matter.

7. All members of SSL are required to do three services a year, and
these services will be assigned by one of the Dons.  Upon completion
of the third service for that year, the individual will be entitled
to compensation - such as a possible ship upgrade.

8. All members of SSL must petition in writing to a Don for an
increase in rank within the company.  Nothing else may be accepted,
unless the Don in question has made other arrangements.  Only 
the Godfather may increase Family status of an existing SSL member.

9. All property and positions in SSL are at all times the property
of the Family.  At no time will a member ever be allowed to leave
with such property and/or positions unless specific permission 
has been granted by the majority of the Dons.  Members may expect 
reasonable restitution for any and all property and positions that 
remain behind in SSL hands. 

10. All members of SSL recognize that they have what they have
through the kindness and generosity of the Family.  If that 
kindness and generosity is abused then the guilty party understands 
SSL will take back said property.

11. Once a year each position must present a "gift" of respect to the
Godfather.  This can be in any form.

12. Joining SSL constitutes acceptance of all the previous conditions
stated in these By-Laws and profile.  Any changes to the By-Laws can
only be performed through referendum.  Members agree to fully conform
with the persona of SSL and agree to abide by its decisions.
