Leech Outpost

History

Competition

The Inex System was a challenge, a race to economic gain for two companies which battled in a dead-heat in several fields of high-technology. Leech Outpost is a testament to the audacity of the Inex corporation, a reminder to the risks they took on and successfully capitalized. At a time when the Ucual Corporation was at its peak the companies embarked on a race into un-colonized space, each one moving quickly to establish a viable base of operations for their research and development. Inex moved into a system where few felt colonization was sustainable, however with time the company proved the doubters wrong and Leech Outpost has since grown from a simple R&D facility into a seat for the entire company.

Slow-Growth

The company managed to establish the base and develop its hostile system, yet only at great cost. Suffering a huge hit to its stock in the years it took to finalize the first-round construction of the Leech Outpost, Inex was forced to grow in stages in the years that followed initial colonization. While Ucual's mission by this point had been classified as a failure, Inex's struggles had just begun.

The Leech was a crucible for the energies of the system's paired stars, and demanded the most of the engineering minds behind the company. Fortunes spent ensured little more than survivability, but in time the foundations had grown to such an extent that the base was no longer recognizable. The small base ballooned with time, receiving upgrades, decks, and whole over-hauls on what seemed to most a continual basis.

Recently these expansion projects have stalled, with the last large expansion having ended over two years ago. Now however the maintenance of the Outpost is a key concern for many within the company, as they worry about cut corners and cost-saving decisions made in the years past that might effect the safety of the corporate headquarters.

Government

The Outpost is run based on order of the company's hierarchy. There are tiers of benefits package that accompany sections of the Oupost, those with the proper employment permissions are free to use the additional facilities at no extra cost. Outsiders and under-privileged employees will be turned away by the private security contractors unless able to pony up a service fee to utilize the facilities, be they spas, private pavilions, private shuttle service, or more.

For the most part the headquarters runs smoothly, with open access to outsiders the company welcomes visitors who have credit accounts enough to cover the services they render during the visit. Inex hasn't allowed much open trade on the Outpost except on regularly scheduled holidays and festivals set out by the operations scheduling. Instead those on-board the ship are free to peruse the numerous retail and service outlets leasing storefront.

Culture

As necessary by business and science of the facility the Outpost is a highly ordered place, but that's only in the sections that drive the business forward. While a breakfast might be spent with co-worker husband and wife pairs chatting over the latest field test, once work is done for the day these same groups are found in mass relaxing and enjoying the frivolity of the day-to-day activities of the recreation circuits.

While many discussions on and off the clock will revolve around work, this is not an accidental happening. Thanks to the closeness of the Outpost, the nature of the work, and the carefully crafted warm culture Inex Corp. ranks as one of the best places to work in the entire universe. The culture embodies entrepreneurial spirit, carefully molds talent, and works to retain employees as best able. This togetherness puts off many outsiders when visiting the Leech Outpost. Many get uneasy when they visit a place where most of the parts, even the people, fit into the underlying system well. It happens so infrequently that an environment is so well-made, and that fact makes being a full-time resident of Inex great.

Notable Figures

Sebastian Cole

Recognized by a wide array of people on the Outpost as the "smartest man in the system" Dr. Cole at only thirty-six years old has earned some small bit of fame for this claim. After news agencies outside of the system picked up on Mr. Cloe's brilliance, some proposed that he is the "smartest human being alive". Many other refute this claim by stating it cannot be true considering there are countless people with over one-hundred years of experience behind them. Yet, what is experience compared with sheer intellect? The verdict is still out.

Dr. Cole has taken to his semi-famousness with a small bit of trepidation, preferring instead to focus on the things that interest him. Still, he has stepped in to comment on many current event issues and issued numerous challenges to outside research institutes on claims, theorems, and reports. The Inex Corporation is grooming Dr. Cole for something big, some say he'll be the CEO in only a few short years, while others think they'll keep him tied directly to R&D. Whatever the case, the young genius has a promising future and a very active path on the Leech Outpost.

Celebrity Scientists

Ever see a group of popular eggheads? Well, if not - go to visit the Inex Corporation's headquarters. On the station knowledge, skill, and personal development is the most valued aspect of a person. The company has somehow managed to capture a community of people with mutual interest in uplifting these shared interests. Children on the station look up to noteworthy scientists on the station with some level of awe at times on par with famous athletes.

Points of Interest

Overdeck

The Overdeck is one of the multiple-tier rims of the outpost, best known as the hub of all things fun and non-work related. Inex has created a diverse and constantly shifting marketplace here with spas, shops, entertainment, and dining much like notable resorts in old-Earth years. By rotating establishments on a regular basis the company has created a dynamic on-hand experience for an otherwise land-locked population.

With space being an issue the Overdeck was unable to remain the single avenue for spending the paychecks of Inex employees and once able outside groups moved into the Stonehenge formations to build a market of highly unique experiences to rival the dynamic fare offered on the Outpost.

Protect the Base

Inex is involved in dozens, if not more, projects at a time. The money and resources that go into these efforts are beyond the scope of many people's imaginations, yet one project stands out in terms of total cost and time devoted.

The full-time field-tests of the Multi-directional shielding system, codename Avalon, requires round the clock oversight by many of the top minds in the Outpost, ballooning costs for the project. Yet this time and money outlay is well worth the effort as not only does it stand to be one of the most profitable products in the history of the company, but for Inex's headquarters the field-tests act as a first-line defense against the awesomely destructive power of the Solar Leech.

The shield is the current evolution of efforts to create full-fledged shielding technologies. Presently the shield is sufficient for controlled exposure, but the corporation's engineers have a long way to go before the technology will go to market which sits waiting, drooling for the first hint of a final build on which to pounce. Great things come from the Inex System.