Mag-Torc
 | |
| Private | |
| Industry | |
| Fate | Still in Operation |
| Founded | 48.01.08E ACC |
| Founder | Kidra Mag |
| Headquarters | Torc Sodiir , |
Area served | International |
| Products | Endixar Class mining ship |
Number of employees | 10.3 million (14.06.12E ACC) |
Mag-Torc is an Andrastan conglomerate company which started as a mineral extraction company, but has since expanded its interests to become one of the largest companies in the Combine. Mag-Torc was founded during the 'Unification Era' in the city of Torc Sodiir, which at the time was the capital city of the Tarbikurn Congress. As of 14.06.12E ACC the company is worth approximately 48.2 billion Trell, making it one of the most valuable companies in the Combine.
Mag-Torc uses its own brand for marketing and does not trade under any other trademarks or brands, making it a rarity among Andrastan conglomerates. The company was owned Mag family until the end of the 10th Era when it was sold to investment bankers Uleth Ost and Hanra Vir, who began expanding the companies interests beyond mineral extraction and refining. Despite often being referred to as a corporation Mag-Torc remains a company under Andrastan law.
In 94.04.12E ACC Mag-Torc acquired Zeta Fabrikan, and incorporated its assets into the company structure, enabling Mag-Torc to begin developing and manufacturing its own star ship systems. Prior to this Mag-Torc had only ever designed and constructed reactors and power converters for space craft. Upon assimilating the Zeta Fabrikan manufacturing facilities and development departments Mag-Torc produced its first commercially available sublight drive, the MDD AX-3, in 04.05.12E ACC, and its first FTL drive, the SMC(12) AX-1, in 09.05.12E ACC.
Company Name
Mag-Torc took its name from the family name of its founder, Kidra Mag, and the city in which it was based, Torc Sodiir. This method of naming was fairly common for companies within the Tarbikurn Congress at the time, largely due to tax criteria which favoured family owned local businesses. When the company was sold to the ancestors of its present owners, Uleth Ost and Hanra Vir, in 73.16.10E ACC during the tumult of unification under the Authority the name was retained in large part due to the fact that Mag-Torc had become a well regarded and trusted brand. Such was Mag-Torc's reputation for the reliability of its goods that the soldiers who had fought against the Tarbikurn Congressional Army during the War of Unification had regularly tried to capture Mag-Torc manufactured cargo crawlers and logistical vehicles intact for their own use. According to the official history of Mag-Torc provided on the multi-net page Marshal Judir Lum of the Authority's First Junta, was particularly crucial in the decision to keep the Mag-Torc name, after he referred to the Mag-Torc HDCC BM-5 cargo crawler as "The only reason the TCA (Tarbikurn Congressional Army) managed to hold off the Authority as long as they did."
History
Mag-Torc was founded in Torc Sodiir by Kidra Mag in 48.01.08E ACC. Mag had made the money he invested in establishing the business by selling war bonds for the Tarbikurn Ministry for War, something for which he had received a 5% commission per bond sold, provided he sold more than fifty per month. Kidra Mag was well known in Torc Sodiir for the highly successful and notably garish Bond Rallies he had organised throughout his adult life, and had formed an agreement with a number of local mine owners to purchase their mines once he had the funds. Prior to the formation of Mag-Torc Kidra Mag had worked for his father-in-law's company which maintained industrial and cargo vehicles in marketing, though he was himself descended from a long line of iron miners. While he raised the funds necessary to buy out the mine owners he had also negotiated a deal to work as a mine supervisor for Thiba Ush of the Ush-Pen Mining Company - a company that would later be absorbed by Mag-Torc in 72.01.08E ACC.
During Kidra Mag's tenure as the director of the company Mag-Torc grew to become the third largest mining company in the Tarbikurn Congress and had begun the process of establishing itself as a steel and brass manufacturer. The company was inherited by Mag's eldest daughter Ydira Mag up his retirement in 89.01.08E ACC, and Ydira would continue to expand Mag-Torc's industrial assets essentially building its fledgling mineral refinement assets from the ground up. The next three generations of the Mag family (Idril, Namur, and Ostla) were all highly ambitious and driven individuals who had been brought up working in low-end management positions within the company, and under their directorship Mag-Torc continued to grow in size and value well into the 2nd century of the 8th Era.
However the 86.02.08E ACC appointment of Lqaal Mag resulted in the company's first major controversy. Lqaal held the directorship of the company for four years before being ousted by his cousin Yanuu Mag in 90.02.08E ACC. During Lqaal's tenure a number of poorly judged investments and overly ambitious programmes saw Mag-Torc's profits dip sharply, additionally his response to the 87.02 crash in the value of refined hydrocarbons proved disastrous and wiped out an estimated 87% of the companies cash reserves, as he tried to maintain the value of hydrocarbons by buying up stock for above market value. The ousting of Lqaal Mag was subject to a great deal of media attention at the time and was seen as controversial due to claims by Lqaal that he had been forced to sign over the company under physical duress.
Notable Products
Sublight Drives
Sublight Drives are used for traversing interplanetary and atmospheric distances, rather than interstellar space. Mag-Torc drives are generally larger and heavier than those of their competitors, being intended for industrial and commercial use. This is typified by the slow acceleration, high thrust output, and high power ratios; all standard features in Mag-Torc designs. In addition they have a reputation for reliability, low maintenance, and ease of repair - in fact Mag-Torc are famous for their 'Patch Repair' guides.
Early sublight drives produced by Mag-Torc followed the design principles inherited from Zeta Fabrikan when it was acquired. ZF drives used Material Displacement to provide propulsion; however over time the company came to rely upon Energised Particle Projection systems instead. Mag-Torc sublight drives tended to lag behind the more advanced models in terms of technological advancement and experimentation; that was until the development of the Contained Spatial Distortion drive by Arven Jun. The CSD drive was a major advance in sublight propulsion and led to the development of the Spatial Ripple drive in use today.
MDD AX-3 Sublight Drive
The MDD AX-3 or Material Displacement Drive, Andra Xir, Proposal 3 was the very first sublight drive to be designed and manufactured by Mag-Torc. It was introduced to the commercial market in 04.05.12E ACC. Although its performance and efficiency were generally regarded as being mediocre, it drew praise for its reliability and safety. Constructed with numerous redundancies and designed to be integrated with other systems built by Mag-Torc in the decades since its first introduction the AX-3 has gained increased popularity, due to the system's longevity. AX-3 Drives are still in use today, mostly in second hand and legacy cargo haulers, or as a backup drive in more modern craft. Despite its enduring popularity on the second hand, salvage, and legacy market Mag-Torc no longer produces or supports the use of the AX-3. Already far from cutting edge when it first entered the market the company now considers it obsolete and warns against the drive's continued use.
In the last decade salvaged AX-3s have increased in value due to a surge in use on custom sublight racer craft. The AX-3 is now sought after for multiple reasons; its numerous redundant adaptors make it compatible with almost any system, the fact that it was intended to propel large and heavy cargo haulers give it a very high output when used on a light racer, and it can easily be tuned to 'run hot'. Newer drives may provide more power and efficiency than the AX-3 but few are as cheap and easy to repair with basic tools.
Most AX-3s are now legally regarded as 'Frankenstein' drives; meaning a drive that has been maintained using parts from numerous other drives, rather than through repair or replacement with new spares. Recent investigations suggest that as many as 43% are now maintained using non-standard parts or parts salvaged from drives of other models. Mag-Torc has consistently advised against this practice.
SR AJ-8x Sublight Drive
The SR AJ-8x or Spatial Ripple, Arven Jun, Proposal 8 ver. x is a large scale sublight drive intended for use as part of a larger drive array. Typically four to six AJ-8xs are 'strung' together to provide sublight propulsion to large vessels. As an Arven Jun design the entire development of the design was carried out in house at the Perspicacity Shipyard in Friha, and manufacturing of the drive is now undertaken primarily at the new Mag-Torc Orbital Manufacturing Facility over Andraste.
The AJ-8x is a greatly condensed version of the original AJ-8 drive which proved ill suited for use in larger vessels. Individual AJ-8s were found to lack the strength and consistency of output required to propel the increasingly large cargo and colonisation ships being developed in Friha at the time. Attempts to chain multiple AJ-8s together proved unfeasible due to the size and power requirements of each individual unit, so the design was returned to Arven Jun for redevelopment.
By comparison to the AJ-8 the ver. x is two thirds the size and mass, but retains 75% of the output. It also features adaptable couplings for more efficient energy transfer and unit control, ensuring that arrays of up to twelve AJ-8xs can be chained together with no loss of consistency or responsiveness. Power supply remains an issue for which special considerations need to be made.
Overall the ver. x has been positively received. Its improved size: output ratio and ability to be easily 'chained' have made it a popular choice for large vessels of all kinds, where the increased power demand can be accounted for. However it has failed to cut into the market for smaller craft and sublight only lighters, in part due to the power supply issues and in part due to its cost when compared to more conventional drives of similar size.
FTL Drivers
Advanced by the work of former Zeta Fabrikan employee, Andra Xir, Mag-Torc was at the forefront of technological development in the field of spatial manipulation FTL drivers. Since Xir's retirement the company has continued to invest in projects intended to push spatial manipulation technology forward; even now Mag-Torc FTL drivers use design principles that are directly descended from the first concepts of Xir.
SMD(12) AX-1
The SMD(12) AX-1 or Spatial Manipulation Driver (12ly/j) Andra Xir, Proposal 1 was the first FTL drive to be designed and manufactured by Mag-Torc. It was introduced to the commercial market in 09.05.12E ACC. Designed by project lead, Andra Xir, who had previously worked on the MDD AX-3 sublight drive, it was revolutionary at the time as it manipulated the fabric of space in order to move the craft 12 light years per jump. While conventional FTL engines could reach further with a single jump they had long spool times, the use of spatial manipulation meanwhile allowed jumps to be made as quickly as the computer could calculate its jumps. Because it relied on sublight drives to propel the craft through the spatial manipulation the SMD(12) AX-1 was referred to as a System Driver rather than a jump drive.
Though revolutionary the AX-1 was quickly superceded by improved and more stable designs. It was clear early on that Spatial Manipulation was not the way forward technologically, as wear and rapid systems degradation were major issues that could not be overcome. Within eight years Mag-Torc ceased production and switched over to the more stable Spatial Fold and Spatial Shunt Drivers. The AX-1 was quickly retired in use and now only a handful remain in working order.
SFD(18) AX-5
The SFD(18) AX-5 or Spatial Fold Driver, (18ly/j), Andra Xir, Proposal 5 was the first ever Spatial Fold Driver to enter mass production, and the last project to be led by Andra Xir. It was introduced in 18.05.12E ACC. Utilising the vastly more efficient and reliable Spatial Fold technology, the AX-5 was purpose built to replace the SMD(12) AX-1, down to the adaptor couplings. Even the physical dimensions of the driver assembly were built to be compatible, and Mag-Torc rolled out installation to replace the AX-1 across the board.
The operating principle of the AX-5 was much the same as the AX-1, with separate sublight engines required to propel a craft through the 'fold' created by the driver. However instead of creating a generalised disruption in the fabric of space the AX-1 created a 'fold', overlapping two spaces, allowing a craft to jump from one to the other. This method of spatial disruption proved to be far more accurate than the SMD system and was far more energy efficient. Maintenance was also less of an issue as spatial folding generates a great deal less spalling.
Although the AX-5 was Andra Xir's last project for Mag-Torc prior to their retirement, it formed the basis for Mag-Torc SFDs up to the present. The AX-5 is no longer produced in commercial quantities by Mag-Torc, but replicas are produced by KamuKant who bought the rights to the design in 76.05.12E ACC. These replica AX-5s are made to order for collectors and as example pieces for use in education.
SFD(48) SSI TR-7
The SFD(48) SSI TR-7 or Spatial Fold Driver, (48ly/j), Spatial Shunt Integrated, Tyara Rem Proposal 7, is Mag-Torc's latest FTL Drive for Capital Ships. The TR-7 was designed by Tyara Rem as part of a major systems upgrade development program which was intended to culminate in an entirely new class of Modular Core vessels. Notably the TR-7 incorporates an integrated Spatial Shunt generator, allowing a craft equipped with it to make spatial fold jumps without the need for a separate sublight drive. The SSI does not replace a sublight drive altogether, as it only produces shorts bursts of propulsion intended to efficiently trigger in line with a spatial fold transition, and not the continuous propulsion provided by standard sublight drives.
The TR-7 is rated for high efficiency, although the SSI leads to a degree of heat buildup and spalling during prolonged use. Nevertheless, since its introduction the driver has performed well. Maintenance reviews show that overall the TR-7 is reliable and easy to repair, and as with most Mag-Torc FTL drivers includes a number of failsafes and redundancies. Currently a modified 'Type 3' version of the TR-7 is undergoing trials with the Andrastan Military and Interstellar Expansion Ministry for use in their craft.
Space Craft
IC MC(C) ST-15 "Reciprocity Class"
The IC MC(C) ST-15 or Interstellar Craft, Modular Core (Capital), Sirda Tor, Proposal 15, also known by its commercial designation as the Reciprocity Class ship, is a class of star ship designed by Sirda Tor and produced by Mag-Torc. Reciprocity was the first modular core vessel of its size to be produced and paved the way for future development of the concept. The popularity and economic success of the design proved that modular core craft were commercially viable.
A modular core vessel features only a basic core framework, this allows the core to be mass produced and then individually fitted. In this was a single core can be used as the basis for a versatile array of craft, based on the modules which are attached to it. In the case of Reciprocity a rack and slot system was employed in which the core consists of all the essential systems for operation, plus exterior racks which served as anchor points into which modules could be slotted. Initially this idea was intended to facilitate the creation of purpose built cargo vessels with modules designed to house different kinds of cargo; however requests were soon made for craft featuring passenger and colonisation modules; this resulted in a redesign and the the introduction of the Type 2 Reciprocity which includes internal access anchors so that passengers and crew could move freely between modules and the core.
Ultimately the Reciprocity would see a further eight redesigns before being superceded by craft with more modern equipment and hardware. In the end it was the limitations of the power couplings and reactor infrastructure which drove the design into obsolescence as it eventually became more problematic to upgrade the design than beneficial. The first Reciprocity left the shipyard in orbit over Andraste in 53.05.12E ACC and the last was completed in 92.07.12E ACC.