The Origin of the Corporate [Lore Update]

One of the things I've been working on as I've been developing MetalMercs is not just the game but the universe it takes place in. This means crafting houses, histories, characters, politics, and more. The Orion Corporate was a faction I developed a long time ago for the game (obviously), but its precise origins were always a bit hazy in my mind. Truthfully I never conceived of it as a corporation, hence why I called it the corporate instead. And while I liked the sound of the name I never fully fleshed out why it was different.

When people started asking and assuming it must've had a commercial origin I relented at the time and said "sure". I even say in the original Orion reveal video that they came from commercial origins. But the more I thought about it that never quite sat right with me, and I realized that I just accepted that as their origin because it had been suggested, but that was never what I really wanted them to be.

So, I did some reading and thinking over the past few days and have crafted their true origin, or at least one that feels to me like what I always wanted their origin to be. Of course, this doesn't really change any gameplay mechanics or much about the overall state of the Core, but I just find lore fun for lore's own sake sometimes :) So forgive me while we briefly indulge in the updated history and origin of the Orion Corporate (see the link for the wiki entry if you prefer)...

HISTORY AND ORIGINS OF THE ORION CORPORATE

Originally, the Orion Corporate was not a single entity but a treaty alliance between several independent planets within the Orion sector. This nascent alliance formed during the Ophidian occupation, a tumultuous period after the fall of the Golden Empire, when the Core was occupied by the Ophidians and many worlds were left to fend for themselves. In response to these challenges, a group of planets within the Orion sector banded together for mutual support. Each planet had its own government and culture, but they shared common interests in security and rebuilding.

When the Great Purge commenced, led by the returning Star Regent and his exiled forces, the Orion planets played a pivotal role. They led an uprising and supported the expulsion of the Ophidians from the Core. In recognition of their efforts and the stability they had achieved during the occupation, the returning Star Regent formalized their alliance into a nation-state. This marked the official birth of the Orion Corporate.

The name "Corporate" was derived from the original cooperative nature of their alliance, signifying a unified body with collective goals. In this context, the term could be interpreted as a derivative of "cooperation" rather than "corporation," emphasizing their foundational principle of collective governance and mutual benefit.

The Orion Corporate has always been structured around a council where each member planet has representation. This council functions similarly to a parliamentary body, making decisions that affect the entire Corporate. Over time, to manage increasing complexity, the role of a centralized executive office of Prodirector was established, led by House Noddack.

Militarily, the Corporate functions both independently and as a whole. Local governors and magistrates maintain a wide degree of autonomy with planetary military forces. Though all planetary forces are formally part of the larger Orion military command, these local leaders retain a significant amount of control. Consequently, mustering large forces within the Corporate usually requires more political cooperation among local leaders compared the other great houses, which usually exercise more totalitarian control over their militaries.