Here is some general info on some of the corporations active in the area, and who is expected to be major players at the Mercantile Council.
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The Mercantile Council is a meeting of the major corporations of Gateway Domain which occurs every four years. The excutives meet and plan the next four years' strategy together, while the middle management runs a massive combination job fair and trade expo. Interstellar trade is a dangerous business here in the Gateway, and the corporations developed the Council as a way of encouraging the best and brightest to come work for them rather than stay on their homeworlds. Salaries available are lucrative, as is the venture capital available. The armed forces used to recruit there, but have been shut out since a promise given by the participating companies to only recuit those who had already served in the military. Enforcement of that concession, however, is relatively non-existent.
Companies
Delgado-Nells: The Gateway division of the huge Delgado corporation was spun off into its own company and later acquired by Nells Industries. It deals with a range of products, including general trade, mining, military equipment (though, by agreement with Makhidkarun, not products that would overlap their product lines.),
Gateway Arms: Gateway Arms is the only licenced provider of mercenaries in the Imperial areas of Gateway.
Gateway Shipping: The largest shipper and commercial ship builder in the domain.
HiranuCorp: "The Entertainment People" - Hiranu Corp runs Holovid stations, theme parks, cruise lines, newspapers, and just about anything else entertainment-oriented you can think of in the Gateway. Owners of the Keruuchan
Hortalez, Cie, et Nells: A financial group which provides capital and investment services to other businesses.
JohnHenry, ltd.: Originally founded by a group Solomani Belters who struck it rich, JohnHenry eventually grew into the larges mining corporation in the domain. Then it's claims started being denied, one after another, until it's stock plummented and the company was acquired by Sora Nells, Duchess of Gateway.
Makhidkarun: A defense contractor, specializing in small strike craft, personal weapons and armor, and long range ballistic weaponry. Run by founder and CEO Najaf Ijaz. A rather new addition to the Nellsian group - the alliance will only be cemented after the wedding of Ijaz to the Duke's daughter.
Naasirka: A growing mining corporation active in Ley Sector.
Pharmacorp: The major pharmaceutical, cybernetics (civilian), and surgical equipment suppliers in the domain. Run by CEO Meguli Nells and a board of directors. Recent products include an medibot that assists surgical procedures performed in the field, a fast-acting cure for the common cold, and anti-radiation skin cream.
10,000 Harvests: A major supplier of food to harsh environment words that don't grow enough to feed thair people.
Tukera: Tukera is a large Imperium-wide shipper, with a reputaion for treating its people well.
Zirunkariish: An investment firm who makes its money by financing small businesses, free traders, and mid-tech worlds throughout the domain. Bitter competitors with the Hortalez,Cie, et Nells.