Corporations

Though there are a great number of corporations throughout the world, the most influential are the Big 12. These corporations have branches throughout the world and have members at the seat of the corporate court. Any runner looking for to make serious money will eventually become involved with at least one of these corporations. Such runs usually involve hitting a subsidiary or secret black site of one of these corporations, but make no mistake, these boys have big resources and are more than capable of making sure that any mistake you make lands you in a coffin.

Big 12 at a Glance:

Ankev Industries
World headquarters: Moonshade, Tramilaine
President/CEO: Lord Ankev
Areas of Interest: Cloning, Longevity, pharmaceuticals, magic, soul binding

Brightstar Industries
World headquarters: Thespia, Shadow Coast
President/CEO: Antonio Thespis
Areas of Interest: PR, telecommunications, entertainment, social media, real estate, consumer electronics

Cowboy Systems
World headquarters: Galilahi, Ahanu
President/CEO: Nicholas Longfeather
Areas of Interest: Military, weapons, security, private policing, parazoology, cybernetics, drones

Daiaku Motors
World headquarters: Kaede, Desu Islands
President/CEO: Kobito Nagahige
Areas of Interest: Vehicles, drones, cybernetics, AI, matrix security

Denso Electronics
World headquarters: Ryuchi, Desu Islands
President/CEO: Ryu Ningenkue
Areas of Interest: Matrix gambling, banking, matrix security, matrix shopping, security systems

Fossil Petroleum
World headquarters: Fajer, Amsha
President/CEO: Jamila al-Garil
Areas of Interest: Oil, coal and other energy

Linnorm Power
World headquarters: Folkvar, Dagmar
President/CEO: Ormr Anundr XXXII
Areas of Interest: Energy (particularly nuclear, though they research all kinds), private military, weapons, security

Rainbow Visions
World headquarters: Cuauhtémoc, Oceloxichitl
President/CEO: Carlina Vasquez
Areas of Interest: BTLs, recreational drugs, alcohol, SIMs, sex toys and other adult products

SaveMart
World headquarters: Amaroo, Ghan
President/CEO: Marlee Daii
Areas of Interest: Matrix discount shopping

Tomiyama Agricultural
World headquarters: Uyeda, Desu Islands
President/CEO: Matsumoto Tomiyama
Areas of Interest: Farming, bioengineering, herbicides, seed enhancement, farming equipment

Victorian Aeronautics
World headquarters: Pennance, Victoria
President/CEO: Preston Almshire
Areas of Interest: Drones, spacecraft, airships, basically anything that flies

Wishmaker Inc
World headquarters: Sihr, Amsha
President/CEO: Ariana bint Rajah
Areas of Interest: Magic, potions, artifacts, spirits

Ankev Industries
World headquarters: Moonshade, Tramilaine
President/CEO: Lord Ankev
Areas of Interest: Cloning, Longevity, pharmaceuticals, magic, soul binding
Slogan: "We bring good things to life."

Before one can truly understand Ankev Industries, one should take a good long look at the president and CEO, Lord Ankev. It is unknown how old Ankev is, but there are historical records about him dating at least a thousand years, when he first took over the city of Moonshade. The secret to his longevity is an openly known one. He is a lich; a powerful undead magic user. According to historical records, he appeared in Moonshade and completely took over the metropolis in what has been referred to as the Uprising.

At the time, Moonshade was a nexus of magical power and almost completely occupied by magic users. After the Uprising, 80% of the city's population had either been driven out or slaughtered, only to return as undead. Today, the city still operates with a population of undead majority and the city itself is effectively the headquarters of what is now Ankev Industries.

The corporation's goal is the same as it's CEO's: eternal life. Their primary research is magical in nature, but the corp is not picky in how the goal can be achieved. Thus they have been known to experiment with cloning, pharmaceuticals, gene splicing, bioware, cyberware, and any modification that can be done to the body or soul in hopes of extending life indefinitely. Many governments outlaw many of the experiments the corporation deals with, so they do not have branches and subsidiaries in as many areas as some of the others, but there is plenty of money to be made from rich people who don't want to die.

Brightstar Industries
World headquarters: Thespia, Shadow Coast
President/CEO: Antonio Thespis
Areas of Interest: PR, telecommunications, entertainment, social media, real estate, consumer electronics
Slogan: "Imagination at work"

Founded by Antonio Thespis, a famous actor who made millions in real estate, Brightstar Industries covers every kind of media that influences public opinion. They handle public relations management, several social media sites, trideo, simsense, as well as the technology needed to take advantage of any of these things. They make consumer-level decks and comlinks, trid recorders and players, and even matrix infrastructure.

They are best known for their content development subsidiaries. Brightstar Studios develops animated films whose characters, such as Harry and Harriet Hamster are known and beloved around the world. They even have several theme parks based on their films. Nightstar Productions is a subsidiary that focuses on pornographic simsense. Interestingly enough, they too have an adult-themed theme park.

Corporate culture favors polyglots, or those willing to get the implants required to run linquasofts (which Brightstar also develops). Employees are expected to be worldly and understand the cultures of whatever market they may need to work in. The company is known to actively hire people of all metatypes and nationalities so as to be able to make media that is profitable to every audience they can reach.

Cowboy Systems
World headquarters: Galilahi, Ahanu
President/CEO: Nicholas Longfeather
Areas of Interest: Military, weapons, security, private policing, parazoology, cybernetics, drones
Slogan: “Elite training. Trusted protection.”

The CEO of Cowboy Systems is a retired soldier of the company and an adept. With over 200 confirmed kills in his military record, the majority of which were apparently done by knife, there are few in the world who could match his fighting prowess. Once he retired, he was groomed by the previous CEO to take the job. By all accounts, he has done an excellent job in expanding Cowboy Systems globally.

The corporation has four main divisions. Cowboy Development handles the R&D side of the corporation. They develop pretty much anything a military could possibly need: weapons, drones, vehicles, awakened animals, etc. Cowboy Arms handles private mercenary contracts. Cowboy Security is their private security division, which is contracted to protect VIPs as well as handle high risk extractions for people whose insurance covers such services. Finally, Cowboy Sheriff handles private police services for cities all over the world.

Daiaku Motors
World headquarters: Kaede, Desu Islands
President/CEO: Kobito Nagahige
Areas of Interest: Vehicles, drones, cybernetics, AI, matrix security
Slogan: "Let's go places!"

Though primarily an automotive company, Daiaku has expanded into a variety of related fields over the years. They seem to have the Midas touch because whatever they expand into turns to gold. Drones were their first attempt to expand their market. Their models were extremely popular, particularly in the drone sports market. As that became successful, they started developing AI to control their products. Far from the cutting edge, their AI systems are mostly glorified assistants who can drive your car or drone for you as opposed to a true intelligence. Still, rather than going for hyper intelligence, Daiaku strove to build the perfect assistant and succeeded by most accounts.

From there, they found many of their innovations could be translated into cybernetics, particularly prosthetics and physical enhancements. Primarily marketed to athletes, their cybernetics branch initially failed in the Desu Islands due to cultural taboos against body modification. However, that changed once they started marketing internationally. Outside of the Desu Islands, their products were extremely popular. As they grew in popularity internationally, nationally they started seeing use among Yakuza as well as for medical necessity among those with lost limbs.

Then, with wireless interactivity becoming ever more important to all of their products, it became ever more important to keep them secure against hostile intrusion. Thus they started throwing their vast resources towards matrix security. Today, their security suites are one of the most popular around, second only to the highest end security systems of Denso Electronics.

The CEO is a korobokuru (a sort of Desian offshoot of dwarves) named Kobito Nagahige. His corporation is actually primarily filled with korobokuru (at least for any important position) and thus their products all have smaller models designed for smaller people. He inherited the corporation from his family which has controlled it for generations. He is known to have extensive cybernetic modifications, with a focus on rigging in particular. A champion in the drone sports, Nagahige is well known in the international racing circuit and often tours the world to race in between stock meetings.

Denso Electronics
World headquarters: Ryuchi, Desu Islands
President/CEO: Ryu Ningenkue
Areas of Interest: Matrix gambling, banking, matrix security, matrix shopping, security systems
Slogan: "Take a chance on life!"

While they were a consumer electronics company once upon a time, they have long ago left that behind with the rise of the matrix and wireless connectivity. Today they are known for their matrix casinos, shopping sites like Buyitall.com, online banking systems and matrix security. They also produce an extensive line of security products, all with secure matrix controls for the convenience of being able to check in on your home or business while away.

The CEO is a Desian dragon by the name of Ryu Ningenkue. Little is known about his private life, though there are certainly a great number of unconfirmed (and likely false) rumors. Some of the more prevalent ones include:
- he sleeps on a pile of platinum credsticks
- he bathes in the blood of virgins
- his diet consists entire of impoverished children
- he is secretly a powerful illusionist who pretends to be a dragon
- his whiskers grant eternal life to whoever can steal them
- anyone who can drink a cup of his blood will have good luck for the rest of their life

It is extremely unlikely that most, or any, of these rumors are true, but they keep coming up. Likely the result of jealousy at the success of such a powerful creature and a way of making excuses for the rumormongers' own failures.

Fossil Petroleum
World headquarters: Fajer, Amsha
President/CEO: Jamila al-Garil
Areas of Interest: Oil, coal and other energy
Slogan: "Taking on the world's toughest energy challenges."

Based in Amsha, Fossil Petroleum makes most of their money off of Amshan oil. However, since oil is not an infinite resource, they have started to branch out into other forms of energy as well. Coal is their second biggest money maker, though they have been developing other forms of sustainable energy. There are many rumors about R&D currently working on a magical turbine, which apparently taps into astral currents to provide an endless source of safe energy. Officially, the company is completely silent about this project so it is unlikely they have a working prototype yet.

The CEO is a janni by the name of Jamila al-Garil. Like all jann, her appearance is no different that a typical Amshan human, but her blood is that of a djinni through and through. It is said that the secret to her success is her dealings with the djinni world as she is openly known to have a close relationship with them. The djinni supposedly direct her were to drill so every drilling project always strikes oil.

Privately, Jamila is a known foodie. She is a trained chef, with seven stars awarded to her by the World Food Association. Her recipe books are extremely popular nationally and her restaurants are often fully booked for months in advance and can be found all around the world. Though she is usually too busy to cook at these restaurants personally, she is known to unexpectedly show up and work at them on occasion. The off chance that she may make a personal appearance is part of the reason that the restaurants are so popular. Each restaurant even has a special booth or two built into the kitchen where they can watch the master in action, should they be so fortunate as to be there when she is working. That particular table is reserved for VIPs and even they often have to wait weeks for a seating.

Linnorm Power
World headquarters: Folkvar, Dagmar
President/CEO: Ormr Anundr XXXII
Areas of Interest: Energy (particularly nuclear, though they research all kinds), private military, weapons, security
Slogan: "The Power of being Global"

Another big energy corporation, Linnorm Power is based in Dagmar. The company is split into two major divisions. Their primary focus is Linnorm Energy, which mostly develops nuclear energy, and their plants can be found everywhere. They are supposedly just on the edge of developing the first viable fusion plant within the year. They also have been dipping their toes into other forms of energy as well.

The second branch is Linnorm Security, which provides private security to whoever is willing to pay for it. This branch was initially created to serve as private security for their power plants and research facilities, but they eventually expanded into mercenary work. It actually has a very high percentage of trolls (70%, last told) as the population of trolls in Dagmar is far higher than the rest of the world. Their weapons and equipment are renown for quality and reliability as well as plenty of options in troll sizes.

The CEO is actually a troll as well, descended from a long line of warriors and vikings. Ormr Anundr XXXII is known for his luxurious long, blonde hair and dashing good looks (for a troll). He is currently a bachelor, though he is known to be quite the pansexual playboy. His old partners include many famous faces of all nationalities, metatypes and genders. In his down time, he runs a night club where every night seems to end in an orgy in his private quarters. They say he has had surgical enhancements that allow him to easily adjust to partners of any size or sexual preference with a simple adjustment in his commlink.

Rainbow Visions
World headquarters: Cuauhtémoc, Oceloxichitl
President/CEO: Carlina Vasquez
Areas of Interest: BTLs, recreational drugs, alcohol, SIMs, sex toys and other adult products
Slogan: "Adults deserve play time too!"

Catering to a variety of adult markets, Rainbow Visions sells everything that can make you feel good. This includes a variety of drugs (both recreational and sexual in nature), alcohol, sex toys, BTLs and pornography. In areas where it is legal, they are known to run brothels. Some of the brothels are the more traditional type filled with a variety of call girls. Others are more modern with either full sim matrix simulations or realistic sex drones. Supposedly if one has enough money, they can even arrange sex with your own, fully obedient spirit.

By the other Big 12, Rainbow Visions is seen as kind of the black sheep of the family. They see the corporation's money as earned tastelessly, which is somewhat ironic given that there isn't a corporation among them that doesn't make money through morally dubious means.

The CEO is a human woman named Carlina Vasquez. The most remarkable thing about her is that there does not appear to be much remarkable about her. She is a quiet woman who deeply respects her corporation's brand, but privately not much is known about her. Despite what the other corporation heads think of her corporation, she is actually quite at home among them and is known to be a fair mediator and is often relied upon when there is a major disagreement between Big 12 members. They always trust her judgement because she does not seem to make friends or enemies with anyone, a very rare trait among people with her level of success.

SaveMart
World headquarters: Amaroo, Ghan
President/CEO: Marlee Daii
Areas of Interest: Matrix discount shopping
Slogan: “Save Money. Live Better.”

SaveMart originally started as a series of popular discount megastores until their online store eventually put their physical ones out of business (along with the physical businesses of many other companies). Their goal has always been to be able to sell everything a family could need at lower prices than their competitors and they have certainly been successful at that. Of the Big 12, SaveMart has the least nefarious business practices, depending on how you look at things. They do not have any black sites or secret labs. They have just about no need for shadowrunners as they have no need to steal corporate secrets or sabotage rival operations. Their business is just so huge that there really are no significant rivals in their umbrella of business. There are certainly other businesses selling similar products, but not on a level that would provide any kind of challenge to their success.

That is not to say the corporation is all sunshine and rainbows though. They are notorious for underpaying their employees and their presence has made many physical businesses nonviable. Where their warehouses are built, their employees become dependent on the company for survival since the company's presence quickly destroys many jobs in the area, forcing everyone to work at the warehouse or move away. The longer a warehouse operates in a particular area, the poorer the people there become until everything is one sprawling slum with no possible way of improving it.

The CEO is a rotund woman named Marlee Daii. She is known to be a single mother with two teen daughters, having recently gone through a very public divorce. The two girls (Ana and Sarah) have made the news amid scandals involving underage DUI for one and the other allegedly having a relationship with her teacher in exchange for good grades. The ex husband was a longtime employee for the company but has since been terminated.

Tomiyama Agricultural
World headquarters: Uyeda, Desu Islands
President/CEO: Matsumoto Tomiyama
Areas of Interest: Farming, bioengineering, herbicides, seed enhancement, farming equipment
Slogan: "Growth for a Better World."

For a corporation whose livelihood is so dependent on the environment, Tomiyama Agricultural is incredibility often at odds with environmental groups. There is not a large scale commercial farm in the world that does not use Tomiyama seeds. They are far more reliable than any seed on the market and the crops that grow are extremely resistant to a wide range of poor weather, thanks to a patented bio-engineering technique used to manufacture the seeds. Farmers who purchase these seeds are forced to sign a contract forbidding them from saving seeds for more than one crop, or growing new crops with seeds from the old. Tomiyama claims that this is to ensure the quality of their product, but environmental groups say it is ludicrous to patent a seed and that the practice is destroying the farming industry. Tomiyama is also the leading producer of commercial pesticide which environmental groups have been claiming are linked to bee colony collapse which, if true, is devastating to all plant life on the planet.

The CEO is Matsumoto Tomiyama, a Desian human who used to be a lawyer for the corporation before eventually ascending the corporate ladder to power. By all accounts he is extremely intelligent and well educated. In addition to his law degree, he holds a bachelor's degree in agricultural zoology and molecular biology as well as a master's degree in agriculture, and an MBA. He was also named CEO of the Year three years in a row by CEO World magazine. He does not appear to have much of a private life. Despite being 60 years old, he has never been married, nor does he have any children.

Victorian Aeronautics
World headquarters: Pennance, Victoria
President/CEO: Preston Almshire
Areas of Interest: Drones, spacecraft, airships, basically anything that flies
Slogan: "Forever New Frontiers"

Victorian Aeronautics is a Victorian multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells airplanes, rotorcraft, rockets, and drones worldwide. The company also provides leasing and product support services. Boeing is among the largest global aircraft manufacturers; it is the third-largest defense contractor in the world based on last year's revenue (just barely beat out in that category by Cowboy Systems and Linnorm Power). They are scheduled to launch their first spacecraft this coming year, the first spacecraft to ever be launched. If successful, this is set to send their stock prices soaring.

Preston Almshire, the corporation's CEO is a Victorian, and known member of the Anti-Magic League. This hate group works against the Awakened, seeing them as abominations who foolishly warp and distort reality for their own benefit. He wears a blackrock bracelet at all times to protect himself from magical threats and influences, much like many members of this group. Rumors abound of shadowrunners being hired through his corporation to assassinate leaders in the magical community. He is also rumored to be developing a missile warhead that can create a magical deadzone, destroying all awakened life within some large area while being relatively harmless to mundanes. If the stories are true, this warhead would be the anti-magical equivalent of a nuclear warhead.

Wishmaker Inc
World headquarters: Sihr, Amsha
President/CEO: Ariana bint Rajah
Areas of Interest: Magic, potions, artifacts, spirits
Slogan: "Making dreams reality."

Originally created as a charity for ill children by Sultana Ariana bint Rajah, the organization quickly amassed a large number of capable Awakened experts who are able to arrange just about anything that a client could wish for. Though they maintain this public facade of charity work to the public, their real profit comes through granting wishes to the wealthy. Either through ritual magic or the creation and use of magical artifacts, they are able to cure diseases and genetic maladies; transform clients into their perfect image of themselves; grant magical abilities such as flight, speed or water breathing; and even restore youth. These wishes always come with an exorbitant cost which has allowed them to quietly take over several other companies over the years, which only further increases the corporation's wealth.

The corporation is run by the Sultana of Sihr, Ariana bint Rajah. She has shared rulership over Sihr for as far back as historical records go with the djinn Sultan Akbar al-Ladin. The sultana herself is a marid, which is a type of genie who is native to the elemental plane of water. Together, he rules the parts of Sihr that are built above the water and she rules the parts below. Though she has never officially come out and said it, people believe that she started Wishmaker because she grew bored after a couple thousand years of ruling Sihr and wanted a new challenge. In truth, she is rarely present in the city for day to day operations, having left those details up to her vizier, a triton named Jibril bin Ma'an.

Privately she has never married, though she does keep a fairly extensive selama (the male equivalent to a harem) full of males from many races. Most of them are sea-based such as sea elves, mermen, locathah, marids, and tritons, but she does also have a wide variety of land based men such as trolls, orcs, humans, dwarves, elves and others. Occasionally she takes to the ocean currents, secretly leaving Sihr behind for months or even years at a time as she seeks some adventure in a far off land. It is not unheard of for sailors in distress to find themselves personally rescued by the sultana even when nowhere near Amshan waters.