Ile-de-France Shipping

Ile-de-France Shipping S.A. (IDF Shipping) is the primary space shipping company in Gallia space.

Overview
Ile-de-France Shipping S.A. (IDF Shipping) was founded in 501 AGS (585 A.S.) and is currently the leading shipping company in the Gallic space, occupying over 55 percent of the civilian space transportation market. The Crown has a significant stake in IDF operations with a stock share of over 40 percent. The government prefers not to interfere in IDF operations unless it's necessary, but the situation has been changing since the start of the Second Gallic War when government representatives on the board of IDF started to lobby for increased participation of IDF with supplying the Navy. Today, the company's ships are frequently seen providing supplies for the rear outposts of the Sirius invasion fleet.

Ile-de-France Shipping was founded less than two years after Solar, but the companies are in no way related to each other. The only similarity is that both companies started operating in a complicated period of the First Gallic War, when the old shipping companies withdrew from the war zone and the government desperately needed new shippers to take their place. Unlike Solar, IDF chose the path of close cooperation with the Crown, which gave the company a huge head start. After the war, IDF started purchasing assets of competing companies and was able to organize several aggressive takeovers. However, IDF never achieved a near-monopolistic status within the space transportation market, unlike GMS who were able to almost completely monopolize space mining.

IDF Shipping is known to be one of the closest partners of EFL Oil and Machinery. IDF extensively participated in building the system of Gallic jump gates and trade lanes. Constructing the rapid space transportation systems was undertaken by EFL using technology borrowed from Sirius nations by the Junkers. IDF participated in the construction works and provided transport for huge lane and gate parts that EFL developed and built in its shipyards.

The land headquarters of IDF are located at New Paris, and Sarcelles Shipping Facility is considered the space headquarters of the company.

Founding
Île-de-France Shipping S.A. (IDF Shipping) was founded in 501 AGS (585 A.S.) by Francois Pomeroy, who thought Gallia needed a shipping company that was absolutely loyal to the Crown, instead of just another money hungry company like many others at that time. It started as a one man business, Francois, and his Aurochs freighter, the “Île-de-France”. He had some small private contracts within the Core Worlds, enough to feed his family. The company really started after Francois received an urgent charter into the active war zone of the First Gallic War. Most of the companies active at that time did not want to risk operating in such an environment. Being one of the few people available to operate there, Francois took his chance and accepted the assignment. The Crown was very pleased with his performance, so he got a permanent contract, in exchange for a significant stock share. This allowed him to expand his business giving him a huge head start with support from the Crown. Only several months after his first assignment, he raised enough funds for the first large transport, the ME-UH “Vache” Gallic Train named “Parisienne”. After the war, IDF started purchasing assets of competing companies and was able to organize several aggressive takeovers. Starting with the smaller companies, slowly gaining market share, but quickly expanding the fleet.

Second Gallic War
The government prefers not to interfere in IDF operations unless it's absolutely necessary, but the situation has been changing since the start of the Second Gallic War when government representatives on the board of IDF started to lobby for increased participation of IDF with supplying the Navy. The Board quickly decided that if the Crown needed their help, IDF would be more then willing to provide it. That lead to a big increase in Border World activity, providing supplies for the rear outposts of the Sirius invasion fleet. IDF was able to stay out of the conflict between the Council and the Royal Navy. Because employees of IDF are civilians, they are not targeted by Council attacks. Both sides are far from friendly, but encounters seldom lead to an engagement. After the King opened the borders for trade, IDF immediately organized small scale scouting missions for potential new markets. Richard Pinault was made Director of External Commerce, managing everything that had to do with Sirius. He established trade relations with Kusari, the first House they visited.

Present
IDF Shipping is currently the leading shipping company in the Gallic space, occupying over 55 percent of the civilian space transportation market. The Crown has a significant stake in IDF operations with a stock share of over 40 percent. IDF Shipping is known to be one of the closest partners of EFL Oil and Machinery. IDF extensively participated in building the system of Gallic jump gates and trade lanes and continues to do so to ensure a good infrastructure. Constructing the rapid space transportation systems was undertaken by EFL using technology “borrowed” from Sirius nations by the Junkers. IDF participated in the construction works and provided transport for huge lane and gate parts that EFL developed and built in its shipyards. IDF doesn’t own any bases in the Border Worlds, which is why they have a number of offices on almost all EFL stations. The land headquarters of IDF are located at New Paris, and Sarcelles Shipping Facility is considered the space headquarters of the company. Because communication with the Core Worlds isn’t always possible, and because it is impossible to travel between the core and border, IDF purchased a big office on Planet Nevers, functioning as a Border Worlds Headquarters. Ile-de-France Shipping's loyalty will never be questioned. Because of this, IDF is working on systematic development and increasing the company's market value to ensure the financial security of its shareholders and employees, instead of blindly hunting for the best profit. "Loyalty over Profit" as Joseph Pomeroy said in his speech when he took over IDF Shipping from his father.

=Company Bases=

Sarcelles Shipping Facility
Ile-de-France Shipping was founded in 501 AGS. As a shipping company that specializes in space cargo transportation, the company considered establishing headquarters in space rather than planetside to be a major benefit. IDF's Board of Directors chose the location one trade lane run away from the Burgundy jump gate. Construction of the station that was named Sarcelles took five years to complete, and in 506 AGS it was officially opened. In years to come, it was rebuilt and expanded several times to match an increasing amount of IDF shipments heading through Sarcelles to and from the Gallic Border Worlds.

The First Gallic War was a disaster for many small shipping companies, especially those heavily involved with Normandy region trade. IDF focused on the Core Worlds and Border Worlds instead. Backed by the government and supported by EFL Oil & Machinery, IDF currently controls a vast market of civilian shipments across the House of Gallia. Sarcelles is still considered the headquarters of the company, but not many board members and chief officers choose to live and work there. Despite the best efforts of IDF designers, living on Planet New Paris is much more comfortable. IDF Shipping owns a small island near Ile du Palais where a large "office city" was constructed to serve as the company's actual headquarters and most of its top employees live and work there.

Etampes Shipping Platform
Etampes was built by IDF Shipping in 612 AGS, being one of the multiple shipping platforms operated by the shipping corporation throughout Gallia. Housing a relatively small number of dock workers, the platform is an important overlay point for cargo going between Orleanais and New Paris, stationed on one of the busiest shipping routes in Gallic space.

Indochine Outpost
Bretonian station captured by Gallia.

A system as rich in resources as Tau-23 was ripe for exploitation, and once surveyed by Bretonia Mining and Manufacturing (BMM) in 730 AS, the construction of a Jump Gate network linking the system with Bretonia became a high priority. While work on the Tau-31 Jump Gate has proceeded apace, the project has recently come under intense attack by the criminal organization known as the Outcasts, though the reasons behind the hostilities remain unclear.

With the revelation and subsequent threats of confict by Gallia, BMM and DSE were forced to abandon the project. The jump gate was nearly completed, and functional, yet the lane to the Beryllium mining area was far from complete. As Gallia struck at Lewis, BMM realised their position became unmanagable, and evacuated most of the station. The Gallic Royal Navy seized the station and jump gate without doing much damage to either, allowing them to push their forces into Tau 31 at will. The station was converted into a forward supply depot, supplying the Gallic forces in Tau 31.

Montbrison Storage Facility
Montbrison is a relatively large shipping platform built by IDF Shipping in 486 AGS. Montbrison's location was previously occupied by a smaller station, serving as a transit point for shipments to Lyon colonists and Saint-Etienne Space Colony. In about 480 AGS, trade lanes were built around Lyonnais, and a new type of shipping station was necessary. IDF got the contract and built the station in less than eight months.

Montbrison was refurbished several times, the last time in 677 AGS. Unlike some of the other shipping platforms, the amount of cargo handled by this facility did not decline due to the increased fuel capacity of modern transport vessels that usually do not need any refueling points between their port of origin and destination. In the safe environment of Lyonnais, a large share of the local shipments are processed by local companies and independent traders who often use Montbrison to exchange goods and store large amounts of cargo delivered by larger companies. IDF also organized commodity trade on the station, and distributes Mining Machinery to GMS mining facilities around Gallia.

Peronne Shipping Platform
Peronne is a shipping platform operated by Ile-de-France shipping. It was built circa 360 AGS to serve the needs of the nearby Saint-Quentin Space Colony, and transfer goods to and from Guise Mining Facility. In 470-480 AGS, a system of trade lanes from Amiens to Saint-Quentin was built, and later it was prolonged to Guise. Peronne was no longer used actively, serving mostly as a storage for aluminium shipments and defunct mining machinery from Guise. Since about 600 AGS, the station only housed several dozens of IDF employees. There were no security systems or personnel, and in 692 AGS, a group of Maquis penetrated the station, took several IDF managers hostage and planted explosive charges that detonated after Maquis ships left the area. The explosion crippled some of the docking facilities and severely damaged the habitat areas, killing eight. IDF chose not to repair the platform's habitats, and Peronne no longer houses any inhabitants. Basic trade functions and ship repairs are performed by AI-controlled robots. Peronne is scheduled to be decommissioned and sold for scrap metal in 737 AGS.

Saint Etienne Space-Colony
Saint-Etienne was built in 429 AGS by Tannier Industries as one of the more remote space colonies in Gallic space. Circa 610 AGS, when Tannier was restructured, the site was purchased by Ile-de-France Shipping. Before the IDF transfer, the facility was not prospering. With a capacity of 8,000, it housed less than 3,000 people, and the station was notorious for a high unemployment and poor accomodation standards.

IDF dismissed most of the crew and moved out the inhabitants. The station's structure was renewed and expanded with new habitats. In 619 AGS, Saint-Etienne was re-opened for settlers, becoming one of the more convenient and affordable space settlements in Gallic space. Saint-Etienne lies away from major trade routes and areas of pirate activity, making the colony very safe and calm to live in. The facility does not have notable industrial capacity, but it is almost fully self-sufficient, with hydroponic farms and food production available to serve the colonists' needs. The station also produces a wide array of Luxury Consumer Goods, most of which are exported to other stations and planets by IDF and their partners, allowing the station's residents to enjoy a comfortable middle class income.