Post by Pawel on May 3, 2021 9:35:31 GMT
GAFF (Global Association of Ferries and Frontierspeople)
This private company was founded in 2189 by two native families, operating out of Nomad. Originally registered at the Office of Colonial Affairs as Ferries and Frontierspeople For Hire, the small firm owned a handful of solar-powered cargo sailboats and one utility submersible, acquired at a GEO-sanctioned salvage auction. It provided on-demand transportation services in the Northwest Territories and southern New Hawaii, and hired out support personnel for small scale construction projects. Later it also pursued freelance emergency rescue call-outs, relying on its cetacean cadre’s knowledge of the navigational anomalies of the Styx.
Benefitting from numerous barter relationships established by their foreparents, the nomadic collective nurtured their network of connections with meticulous care. Word of mouth was their primary business magnet, spreading particularly fast in GEO HIST circles, following a series of well-received supply runs for several research sites in the Squall Alley. Another noteworthy assignment they were involved in was tracking the so-called Floating Island Stinking Horribly - an ancient, uniquely docile greater white, occasionally encountered east of the Yellow Reef. The expedition attracted attention from a number of local native communities and had high viewership ratings on the LavOrg-run scientific media feeds.
Driven away by the rapid transformation of Nomad, the company moved its headquarters, mostly mobile anyway, to Atlantis. Its area of operations grew, as it acquired additional vehicles and recruited new pilots, guides and cargo runners, both native and newcomer. The founding families remained firmly at the helm of the growing enterprise, but fresh blood and new commercial initiatives helped them navigate the increasingly volatile socioeconomic scene south of the equator.
In 2195, the newly rebranded Global Association of Ferries and Frontierspeople upgraded its online software suite and began tightening bonds with its contractors, creating a wider organisation of independent operatives. Simultaneously, it ran a marketing campaign focused on its new, sophisticated booking templates, transparent customer satisfaction rating system and an availability tracker for the company’s entire core and freelance fleet. In response to the growing demand, it also expanded its service portfolio to include short-term armed protection of persons and property.
In 2199, the “Global” part of GAFF’s name is still just a boast, but its pilots and mercenaries operate in every corner of the Pacifica Archipelago, from Skyscraper Reefs to Shangri-La. They favour smaller settlements with minimal Incorporate presence, but they don’t shy away from Haven either. All prospective members are vetted and examined by the collective’s elders, who also coordinate survival, navigation and self-defence training programs for the recruits and anyone who needs a refresher. All members visiting Atlantis are welcome - and pretty much expected - to stay the night at the company bunkhouse, participate in the preparation of communal dinner and share their recent stories. Those operating too far from Maui for such camaraderie can still enjoy a variety of discounts at fuel stations and repair shops across the entire Dolphin Sea.
- Owner: founding families
- Headquarters: Atlantis
- Industry type: air and marine transport, personnel for hire
- Area of operations: Pacifica Archipelago
- Size: 42 directly employed, 130 freelance affiliates (early 2199 stats, membership growing)
- Fees: 290cs annual membership subscription, 3% of contract revenue
- Company motto: “Sharing Horizons”