Sue was running something about soft companies, [sue Actually it was a penance not a comp and the details are here] I guess I am as usual far to late to enter, but todays discussion on Bikes came together in my mind soemthing like this...
BAe produces out board engines for a soft company specialising in boats and skiffs, a low powered but hardy trail bike suitable for downtown gangs, a quad bike that is popular with both civilians and other soft companies, as well as powered winches and electrical generators. BAe engines and motors can be fitted to run on either Ethanol or Methane. BAe also makes shotguns and ammunition for its own security forces. Hermes can sometimes be convinced to lend BAe equipment to friends.
Hermes, Human Inventor / CEO BAe
Hermes is a true mechanical genius. From lowly downtown origins he has risen to lord of all he surveys creating his own soft company on the way. Brought up by parents who were dedicated members of the Rat Cult legend says that Hermes could scavenge before he could walk and had burned out suit motivators for cradle toys. Hermes seems to enjoy such rumours for he certainly never denies them.
To see Hermes face is to know that each one of his 58 years. With a net work of scarring, grey shaggy hair and untidy beard Hermes appears more of a wild nitro legion veteran than the CEO and Head of research for an unassuming company. At some point in his past Hermes leg was badly broken and set so now he walks with w limp when he chooses to walk at all.
Hermes started out in business in his early twenties, already gifted at that time Hermes had found a working model of a lightweight machine lath in an abandoned factory. Instead of having to recondition parts and hope they worked Hermes found himself in a position of being able to make parts to order. Word of his equipment and skills spread, where equipment previously reconditioned lasted for day’s maybe weeks the parts that Hermes was supplying would last for months or even years of hard wear.
Until his thirties Hermes had been a mere Journey-man, skilled but not exceptional. Now Hermes was being hailed as a master. It was now that Hermes gained his first apprentice. A young boy walked off of the street, straight through Hermes security and asked to learn. Having an attack of whimsy Hermes agreed and so began Silvers 5 year apprenticeship. This pattern continues, each master at BAe, and there are five, may have one apprentice. Although any number of recognised Journey en may be attending a BAe facility. Each apprentice has to recreate the original lath as there master piece.
Ten years later and BAe had become a vibrant company, with employees who bargained, sought out artefacts and its own security personnel armed with shotguns turned out on BAe lathes. One of Hermes’s scouts brought in an unusual engine attached to a chainsaw. Hermes established that this engine relied on internal combustion and during a series of experiments found that medical grade ethanol was explosive enough to provide a fuel source.
For a year and a half no one, except his closest advisors, saw Hermes himself. It is probably a measure of his personal standing that no one attempted a take over during this time.
When Hermes returned he unveiled his development on the internal combustion motor. To provide a practical demonstration Hermes had hooked the super motor up to a bike frame and two wheels, which despite being noisy, dangerous and having a very large Infra Red signature became an instant classic. It s now ten years on, BAe has dispersed slightly and retreated further into downtown following punitive strikes by SLA Industries. These strikes have failed to harm the popularity of BAe which often come with a guarantee. BAe products have become ubiquitous among the soft companies, gangs and civilians of downtowns.
Raiding BAe
BAe personnel could have any relevant equipment, especially medical and environmental, because of the company’s strong bargaining position. BAe security isn’t as tough as it might be. Mostly the BAe Security team are rehabilitated gangers wearing Midnight Blue Body Armour and carrying Pattern copies of Bully Boy 10-10’s. These Security have both shot and solid rounds. In addition there is an extra-ordinary security detail of ten props equipped with FEN AR’s, FIRE armour types and load auto injectors with Kickstart and UV. BAe’s real security is the residents in any area they operate in. Not only does BAe bring money into an area (and carefully re-invests money in to local communities) but everyone can get hold of their products. To the local residents BAe is real and immediate whereas SLA Industries is a remote and forbidding entity.
Should a BAe facility be raided many civilians will attempt to confuse and slow down SLA Operatives while BAe Security will buy as much time as possible so that the plants technicians can get away and the plant be destroyed. It is worth noting that although the average age inside BAe, as well as the older ages and quality of living is significantly better than the downtown norms.