Free Worlds Defense Industries
Sarna News
Free Worlds Defense Industries | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Corporation Profile | |
| Founding Year | October 2562[1] |
| Affiliation | |
| Headquarters | Andurien[1] |
| Leadership | CEO |
| Division(s) | Gibson Federated BattleMechs |
| Manufacturing Plant(s) | |
Free Worlds Defense Industries was one of the leading military equipment manufacturers in the Free Worlds League.
Contents
Overview
FWDI was formed in October 2562 by the merger of Andurien AeroTech and Gibson Federated BattleMechs, with the Westover-based aerospace company seeking new investment opportunities and the Gibson-based BattleMech manufacturer needing to resolve cash flow problems from overextension.[1]
FWDI looked to expand in the decades following the merger, opening a new BattleMech facility on Westover in 2607 and a product development installation on Lopez in 2611. Competition from the Magistracy of Canopus forced the company to cut production, which led to labor unrest and strikes at all of their facilities. The new Westover factory was sabotaged and damaged in the 2620s and then shuttered when FWDI nearly went bankrupt in 2628,[1][See Notes] remaining closed until it was refurbished by Andurien AeroTech and reopened in the thirty-second century under their subsidiary Westover BattleMechs.[2] The Lopez installation would be leveled by the Capellan Confederation in 2796 during the First Succession War.[1][3]
With the government's involvement in resolving the labor disputes and the repeal of the Council Edict of 2650, revenues would soar as the Great Houses started rearming themselves.[1][3] Like many manufacturers, they had both suffered and benefited from the near constant warfare of the Succession Wars.[1] Later, FWDI found itself in a difficult spot during the Andurien Secession when Andurien AeroTech was forcibly incorporated into the Duchy of Andurien's war efforts while Gibson Federated BattleMechs remained under Free Worlds League control. It wasn't until 3041 that the company was back together under the same leadership, and the cost of reconstruction almost bankrupted them again. Fortunately for FWDI, they received massive orders from the Federated Commonwealth and Draconis Combine militaries during Clan Invasion.[3]
FWDI's R&D facilities and coffers received a large boost when the ComStar splinter group the Word of Blake sought sanctuary on Gibson, with their factories on that planet befitting from large production orders and Blakist funded upgrades to produce designs using lostech and eventually OmniMechs.[4] However the arrangement backfired once the Blakists launched their Jihad and claimed Gibson, drawing increasing raids aimed at knocking the factories out.[citation needed]
At the beginning of 3078, Andurien AeroTech announced that it was separating from their parent company. They cited the atrocities caused by the Word of Blake as well as an uneven partnership where they felt ignored by Gibson Federated BattleMechs.[5]
Notes
^ Handbook: House Marik and subsequent publications changed FWDI's bankruptcy in 2628 to "near-bankruptcy" or "brush with bankruptcy."[2][3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 126: "Corporate Profiles - [Free Worlds Defensive Industries]"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 28, p. 13: "Cicada"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Handbook: House Marik, p. 129: "Free Worlds Defense Industries (FWDI)"
- ↑ Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers, p. 77: "Corporations of the Free Worlds League - [Free Worlds Defense Industries]"
- ↑ Objectives: Free Worlds League, p. 37: "Non-Aligned Systems and Corporations - Conscientious Objector"