Earthwerks Incorporated
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Earthwerks Incorporated | |
---|---|
Corporation Profile | |
Founding Year | 2357[1] |
Affiliation | |
Leadership | CEO |
Product(s) | |
Division(s) | |
Manufacturing Plant(s) |
Earthwerks Incorporated was a large transnational arms manufacturer, producing everything from BattleMechs and vehicles to DropShips. The Capellan Confederation branch was known as Earthwerks Limited.
Contents
Overview[edit]
Earthworks Incorporated was originally founded on Terra in 2357 to develop a prototype mining robot. The robot was insanely successful, and over the next centuries the company expanded into manufacturing all sorts of robots and related technologies, including BattleMechs. Over time it expanded into all the realms of the Inner Sphere. During the Succession Wars, the five Successor States took control of the local branches of Earthwerks, essentially converting one large company into five smaller ones. Earthwerks-FWL, Incorporated was the name for the Free Worlds League division.[1]
With their expansion into BattleMech construction, Earthwerks responded to requests by the Terran Hegemony's HAF to counter weaknesses in their new BattleMech forces. This led to the creation of the Archer in 2458 with an initial production site on Terra. After the formation of the SLDF, expanded orders forced the company to subcontract production to other manufacturers.[2]
In 2581, Earthwerks Inc. Free Worlds League branches purchased Toddlette Industries, acquiring the rights to produce the Flea FLE-4, the FWLM's very first BattleMech upgraded with "modern" technology, with factory lines established on five worlds and remained in production throughout the Star League era.[3] During the early Succession Wars, the inexpensive Flea was easy to mass produce, but losses became too high for the Great Houses to tolerate and the line was switched to produce heavier designs. The design virtually vanished outside the FWLM until Wolf's Dragoons ordered many more following the Fourth Succession War. As a result, two new Flea lines were opened on Asuncion and Bernardo to keep up with demand.[4] Later on, the company made an extra profit by selling the 'Mech on the open Periphery market for affordable prices that were much less than other light 'Mechs and by 3067–3068, sales among mercenary units set profit records, with newer "urban warfare" variants flying off the production lines which eventually led to Earthwerks opening an additional assembly line on Victoria.[5]
With many of their production lines in the Free Worlds League, Earthwerks walked a fine line in the Jihad. Some of the branches, like Asuncion, joined the Word of Blake eagerly, but most secretly supplied resistance movements across the Free Worlds League. These secret supply efforts became more important after several protesters were killed outside the corporate headquarters on Keystone.[6] Earthwerks also cobbled together a new facility on Tiber to produce the Merkava Mk. IX, re-equipping the Regulan Hussars.[6]
Earthwerks managed to complete repairs to the air filtration systems at the Keystone plant by 3081, although it was likely to be several more years before production returned to pre-Jihad levels. Earthwerks attempted to make up for huge corporate losses suffered by increasing export sales after the Jihad, as well as keeping the "Royal" variants of the Stinger and BattleMaster introduced during the Jihad in regular production. Due to the restrictions on export put in place by the Marik Commonwealth government, the biggest foreign buyers for Earthwerks products in the early 3080s were actually the armed forces of the Capellan Confederation and the Federated Suns.[7]
Within the Duchy of Oriente the Earthwerks plant on Calloway VI was the only native BattleMech manufacture for the Oriente forces. Earthwerks drew on information from the New Dallas Memory Core to put the "Royal" variant of the Phoenix Hawk into production from 3076, with the 7K variant of the Phoenix Hawk following in later years.[8]
Having purchased an abandoned Brigadier Corporation BattleMech factory on Procyon in 3050, Earthwerks refurbished the factory and converted it to the production of engineering vehicles and IndustrialMechs. Trading as Earthwerks-Procyon Engineering Vehicles, the production from the factory was enough to revitalize the city of Cleveberg on Procyon, and by 3130 the factory was exporting enough vehicles and IndustrialMechs to qualify it as a secondary planetary industry.[9]
In late 3139 Clan Wolf's forces captured the world of Keystone, and that plant's output was used by the new Wolf Empire to rebuild.[10]
Manufacturing Centers[edit]
Earthwerks Incorporated has manufacturing centers on the following planets:
Asuncion[edit]
When Asuncion joined the Word of Blake Protectorate Earthwerks' line was nationalized.[6]
Components produced on Asuncion:[11] | |
---|---|
Component | Type |
Mech | |
FLE-4 Flea[4] | Light BattleMech |
FLE-15 Flea[4] | Light BattleMech |
FLE-16 Flea[12] | Light BattleMech |
FLE-17 Flea[11] | Light BattleMech |
FLE-21 Flea[13] | Light BattleMech |
Chassis | |
Earthwerks Trooper | Flea FLE-4[4] |
Earthwerks Trooper | Flea FLE-15[4] |
Earthwerks Trooper II Endo Steel | Flea FLE-17[11] |
Fusion Engine | |
GM 120 | Flea[11] |
Armor (BattleMechs & Combat Vehicles) | |
Livingston Ceramics | Flea[11] |
Communications System | |
Neil 2000 | Flea[11] |
Targeting-Tracking System | |
Dalban HiRez-B | Flea[11] |
Large Laser | |
Martell | Flea FLE-4[4] |
Small Laser | |
Martell | Flea FLE-4[4] |
Martell | Flea FLE-15[4] |
Martell | Flea FLE-17[11] |
Medium Pulse Laser | |
Martell | Flea FLE-17[11] |
Flamer | |
Olympian | Flea FLE-4[4] |
Olympian | Flea FLE-15[4] |
Olympian | Flea FLE-17[11] |
Bernardo[edit]
The Bernardo plant wasn't affected by the Jihad.[14]
Components produced on Bernardo:[11] | |
---|---|
Component | Type |
Mech | |
FLE-4 Flea[4] | Light BattleMech |
FLE-15 Flea[4] | Light BattleMech |
FLE-16 Flea[12] | Light BattleMech |
FLE-17 Flea[15][16] | Light BattleMech |
FLE-21 Flea[13] | Light BattleMech |
Chassis | |
Earthwerks Trooper | Flea FLE-4[4] |
Earthwerks Trooper | Flea FLE-15[4] |
Earthwerks Trooper II Endo Steel | Flea FLE-17[15] |
Fusion Engine | |
GM 120 | Flea[15] |
Armor (BattleMechs & Combat Vehicles) | |
Livingston Ceramics | Flea[15] |
Communications System | |
Neil 2000 | Flea[15] |
Targeting-Tracking System | |
Dalban HiRez-B | Flea[15] |
Large Laser | |
Martell | Flea FLE-4[4] |
Small Laser | |
Martell | Flea FLE-4[4] |
Martell | Flea FLE-15[4] |
Martell | Flea FLE-17[15] |
Medium Pulse Laser | |
Martell | Flea FLE-17[15] |
Flamer | |
Olympian | Flea FLE-4[15] |
Olympian | Flea FLE-15[15] |
Olympian | Flea FLE-17[15] |
Calloway VI[edit]
During the Jihad, the plant suffered no losses and was operating at full production in 3079.[14]
Keystone[edit]
Keystone was controlled by the Word of Blake during the Jihad. Several protesters were killed by a Blakist Malak in 3073.[6] During the Jihad, the Keystone plant only retained 20% of its workforce, and in 3079 had rebuilt four lines[32] which could only operate at a third of its maximum production.[14] From 3136, Keystone was part of the Wolf Empire[33]
Procyon[edit]
Originally a BattleMech factory, the facility on Procyon was allowed to actively decline by the planetary population and by the end of the Third Succession War had been abandoned for a considerable period of time.[9] A key target of the short-lived Tikonov Free Republic's military offensive against the Free Worlds League in the Fourth Succession War,[51] the plant was purchased by Earthwerks Incorporated in the 3050s. Earthwerks refurbished the plant and reopened it, converting it to the production of engineering vehicles and IndustrialMechs in the process. During the Dark Age the plant operated under the name Earthwerks-Procyon Engineering Vehicles and was a major component of the planetary economy.[9]
Terra[edit]
The Terra production site served as the manufacturer of the original Prototype Archer.[2]
Components produced on Terra:[2] | |
---|---|
Component | Type |
BattleMechs | |
ARC-1A Archer[2] | Heavy BattleMech |
ARC-2R Archer[2] | Heavy BattleMech |
Tiber[edit]
Constructed as a makeshift vehicle production factory during the Jihad reaching full capacity by 3073, the Tiber production lines lost about 20% of their staff in the Jihad, but were operating at maximum output again in 3079.[6][14]
Components produced on Tiber:[52] | |
---|---|
BattleMechs | |
GRF-3N Griffin[47] | Medium BattleMech |
Vehicle | |
Component | Type |
Merkava Mk. IX | Tracked Vehicles[6] (As of the Jihad)[53] |
Thang-Ta APC[52] | Wheeled Vehicles |
Fusion Engine | |
Magna 70 | Thang-Ta[52] |
CoreTek 275 | Griffin[47] |
Ferro-fibrous Armor | |
Valiant Chainmail ferro-fibrous | Thang-Ta[52] |
Valiant Chainmail Ferro-Fibrous with CASE II | Griffin[47] |
Communications System | |
Garret T21-C | Thang-Ta[52] |
Neil 6000 | Griffin[47] |
Targeting-Tracking System | |
Wasat Watchdog W112 | Thang-Ta[52] |
Octagon Tartrac System C with Artemis IV FCS | Griffin[47] |
ER Small Laser | |
Magna Mk IV | Thang-Ta[52] |
ER PPC | |
Fusigon Longtooth | Griffin[47] |
Enhanced LRM 10 Launcher | |
Delta Dart II | Griffin[47] |
Notes[edit]
- The original Trooper TP-1R and Flea FLE-4 were developed on Ariel by Toddlette Industries, before the buyout of the company by Earthwerks Inc. The purchase of the entire company also mentions factory lines established on five worlds, but does not name the worlds specifically. It is speculated that Earthwerks might have acquired the original Toddlette production site, making Ariel a potential candidate as one of the not-named worlds. Later sources mention Asuncion, Bernardo, and Victoria as production sites for various versions of the Flea, which might also be candidates for three of the original production sites leaving only one unknown.
- Non-canonical: Though once a massive manufacturing center, Earthwerks factories on Tikonov had seen better days. Almost the entirety of the huge complex, including lines dedicated to the production of Thunderbolts, Thugs, Griffins, Stingers, and Bombardiers, were destroyed by Capellan troops during the Fourth Succession War to prevent it from falling into enemy hands. The Federated Commonwealth did little to rebuild Earthwerks’ facilities, content with the large number of effective Cataphracts which they supplied, and so it was left to the Corporation to rebuild the factory alone. Earthwerks believed that given time and enough capital, they could resurrect this once powerful production center, but the Confederation's tenuous grasp on the world and Davion blockades of the world have put most of these plans on hold. This didn't stop them from resurrecting their ancient Koschei line for production of the venerable 'Mech for the export market. [54]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 129: "Other Major Industries - [Earthwerks-FWL, Inc.]
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Experimental Technical Readout: Primitives, Volume 5, p. 6: "ARC-1A Archer Mech Profile"
- ↑ Experimental Technical Readout: Primitives, Volume 5, p. 3
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 Technical Readout: 3039, p. 242: "FLE-4 Flea Profile"
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade, p. 8: "FLE-17 Flea 'Mech Profile"
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers, p. 77: "Earthwerks Incorporated Profile"
- ↑ Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 93: "Marik Commonwealth"
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 93: "Duchy of Oriente"
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Dark Age Republic Worlds (3130), p. 248: "Procyon"
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3145 Free Worlds League, p. 18
- ↑ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade, p. 8: "Produced Flea Components"
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Technical Readout: The Succession Wars, p.6
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 26, p. 12: "Flea"
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 Objectives: Free Worlds League, p. 4
- ↑ 15.00 15.01 15.02 15.03 15.04 15.05 15.06 15.07 15.08 15.09 15.10 Technical Readout: 3050, pp. 50–51
- ↑ Objectives: Free Worlds League, p. 28
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 17.6 17.7 17.8 17.9 Objective Raids, p. 121: "Produced Earthwerks Incorporated Components"
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 18.6 Technical Readout: 3085, p. 78: "Produced Ghost Components"
- ↑ 19.00 19.01 19.02 19.03 19.04 19.05 19.06 19.07 19.08 19.09 19.10 19.11 Technical Readout: 3085, p. 256: "Produced Archer 9M 'Mech variant"
- ↑ 20.00 20.01 20.02 20.03 20.04 20.05 20.06 20.07 20.08 20.09 20.10 20.11 Technical Readout: 3145 Free Worlds League, p. 18: "Produced Bardiche Components"
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Experimental Technical Readout: Marik, p. 11: "Produced Phalanx Vehicle"
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 22.5 22.6 Technical Readout: Prototypes, p. 44: "Produced Phalanx Support Tank Components"
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 23.5 Technical Readout: 3075, p. 256: "Produced Mauna Kea Components"
- ↑ 24.00 24.01 24.02 24.03 24.04 24.05 24.06 24.07 24.08 24.09 24.10 Technical Readout: 3145 Free Worlds League, p. 32: "Produced Anzu Components"
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 25.4 Objectives: Free Worlds League Errata v1.0
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 Objectives: Free Worlds League, p. 16
- ↑ Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 13, p. 5
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 11, p. 9
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3039, p. 266
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 30.4 30.5 30.6 Technical Readout: 3039, p. 296: "ARC-2R Archer 'Mech Profile"
- ↑ Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 10, p. 7
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 Objectives: Free Worlds League, p. 9
- ↑ Era Report: 3145, p. 39: "Inner Sphere - 3145"
- ↑ 34.00 34.01 34.02 34.03 34.04 34.05 34.06 34.07 34.08 34.09 34.10 34.11 34.12 34.13 34.14 34.15 34.16 34.17 34.18 Objective Raids, p. 130: "Produced Earthwerks Incorporated Components"
- ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 35.3 35.4 35.5 35.6 Technical Readout: 3055 Upgrade, p. 20: "Produced Jackal Components"
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 36.2 36.3 36.4 36.5 36.6 Technical Readout: 3067, p. 20: "Produced Bloodhound Components"
- ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 37.3 37.4 37.5 37.6 Technical Readout: 3055 Upgrade, p. 42: "Produced APL-1M Apollo Components"
- ↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 38.3 38.4 38.5 38.6 38.7 38.8 Technical Readout: Prototypes, p. 116: "Produced APL-4M Apollo Components"
- ↑ 39.00 39.01 39.02 39.03 39.04 39.05 39.06 39.07 39.08 39.09 39.10 39.11 Technical Readout: 3085, p. 254: "Produced Thunderbolt 10M 'Mech variant"
- ↑ 40.0 40.1 40.2 40.3 40.4 40.5 40.6 Technical Readout: 3055 Upgrade, p. 82: "Produced Grand Titan Components"
- ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 41.3 41.4 41.5 41.6 Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade, p. 216: "Produced Thug Components"
- ↑ 42.0 42.1 42.2 42.3 42.4 42.5 42.6 Technical Readout: 3085, p. 80: "Produced Shockwave Components on Keystone"
- ↑ 43.0 43.1 43.2 43.3 43.4 43.5 43.6 43.7 43.8 43.9 Technical Readout: 3085, p. 106: "Produced Trebaruna Components"
- ↑ 44.0 44.1 Experimental Technical Readout: Succession Wars, Volume 1, p. 14: "Şoarece"
- ↑ 45.0 45.1 45.2 45.3 45.4 45.5 45.6 Technical Readout: 3145 The Clans, p. 52: "Tomahawk II Profile"
- ↑ Experimental Technical Readout: Marik, p. 3: "Jackal Profile"
- ↑ 47.0 47.1 47.2 47.3 47.4 47.5 47.6 47.7 47.8 Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 1, p. 5
- ↑ Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 10, p. 10
- ↑ Technical Readout: Project Phoenix, p. 42: "Produced Thunderbolt Components on Keystone"
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3085, p. 42: "Produced Thunderbolt Components on Keystone"
- ↑ NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2, pp. 82–84: "Procyon"
- ↑ 52.0 52.1 52.2 52.3 52.4 52.5 52.6 Technical Readout: 3145 Free Worlds League, p. 10: "Thang-Ta APC"
- ↑ Objectives: Free Worlds League, p. 14
- ↑ Objective Raids, p.14
Bibliography[edit]
- Experimental Technical Readout: Marik
- Experimental Technical Readout: Primitives, Volume 5
- Experimental Technical Readout: Succession Wars, Volume 1
- Handbook: House Marik
- House Marik (The Free Worlds League)
- NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2
- Objective Raids
- Objectives: Free Worlds League
- Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 26
- Technical Readout: 3039
- Technical Readout: 3050
- Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade
- Technical Readout: 3055 Upgrade
- Technical Readout: 3067
- Technical Readout: 3075
- Technical Readout: 3085
- Technical Readout: 3145 Free Worlds League
- Technical Readout: 3145 The Clans
- Technical Readout: Prototypes