The Global Trade Confederation

The Global Trade Confederation, commonly referred to as either the GTC or the Confederation, is an alliance of mega-corporations based in metropolitan centers across the Northern Hemisphere.

Though the alliance exists primarily to facilitate trade and enforce contracts between its member organizations, the GTC is also the de-facto government in the cities those corporations occupy.

Members of the GTC
The following is a list of a number of notable mega-corporations which are members of the GTC. However, this list is neither complete nor indicative of which members have the most revenue or influence. This list is primarily made up of the more "public" corporations, which produce goods which everyday people would be familiar with.

AlphaHelix
Material science technologies. Specializes in carbon-based materials. Based in Central.

Apollon
Manufactures synthetic foodstuffs. Based in Empire.

Ares Aerospace & Defense Systems
Develops advanced weapons systems and aerospace platforms, from civilian aircraft to mass commercial transport to drone fighters, gunships, and bomber aircraft. Primarily sub-orbital craft. Based in Empire.

Clarion
Specializes in producing high-quality air purifiers for the home.

Clear
High-end consumer electronics.

Echelon Holdings
Specializes in the discovery, acquisition, and extraction of mineral deposits across the globe.

ISIS
Research and development company focused primarily on nanotechnology.

Maher Labs
Computer and software development. Based in Montreal.

McCarthy Group
Specializes in artificial intelligence, specifically autonomous software and machines. Based in Central.

Mikoyan Systems Incorporated
Cheap consumer electronics. Based in Moscow.

Minerva Cybernetic Systems
The largest manufacturer of robotic systems in the world, ranging from autonomous machines to cybernetics and artilect systems. Based in Central.

NITECH
"Nihon Technologies" manufactures a wide array of consumer electronics and electronic components, as well as biotech implants for the cybernetics industry. Based in Tokyo.

Nucleon Chemical
Chemical engineering. Emphasis on organic chemistry. Headquarters in Bay City, manufacturing facilities across the Northern Hemisphere, primary manufacturing facility in Central.

Phoenix Life Sciences
Medical, pharmaceutical, biomechanical, and other life-science technologies and services. Based in Bay City.

Rodin
Advanced weapons systems. Ares' primary competitor. Based in Tokyo.

RuneTech
Manufacturer of advanced personal weapons systems.

Ursan Security Corporation
The largest personal firearms manufacturer in the GTC, known for building quality but somewhat old-fashioned weapons modeled after 20th and 21st century classics.

Victory
Manufacturer of common personal weaponry and ammunition.

Zephyr Energy
Develops, installs, and maintains industrial-scale fusion power systems as well as commercial ion reactors.

Cities Under GTC Control
The cities in which the GTC members are based are as follows (in alphabetical order):

Bay City
Formerly San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose.

Central
Formerly Chicago.

Empire
Formerly Dallas and Fort Worth.

Former cities belonging to the GTC:
Dubai Swallowed by the desert.

Hong Kong
Annexed by the Sino-Korean Empire.

Las Vegas
Made redundant.

Manhattan
Flooded.

Pacific City
Formerly Los Angeles. Abandoned due to flooding. Currently part of the massive slum-city referred to as the Sprawl.

Seattle
Taken by its citizens in open revolt. All GTC member corporations safely evacuated, except TriSoft, whose administrators were executed.

Shanghai
Annexed by the Sino-Korean Empire.

Artemis Group (CorpSec)
"Artemis Group" is the official name for what everyone refers to as CorpSec (Corporate Security). It was founded to act as an independent military and police force primarily within the mega-cities, but also to provide corporate security within Confederate territory, where necessary. Though it exists to serve the security interests of all GTC members, Artemis operates independently of the control of any one specific corporation.

Importantly: Artemis has no jurisdiction over the corporations themselves, it exists to ensure security insofar as it benefits the members it serves.

Hawaii (Maximum-Security Research Complex)
The GTC maintains a large research facility on the largest Hawaiian island as well as a maximum-security prison on the island of Maui. Little is known about what goes on here. Multiple corporations have a presence on the island, with multiple transports flying and shipping in-and-out between the Hawaii Complex, Tokyo, and Bay City.

The GTC maintains a 500-mile security perimeter around the islands and the waters are seeded with thousands of anti-ship mines. The skies are constantly patrolled by drone interceptors and the waters are patrolled by destroyers laden with long-range self-guided cruise missiles. Any vessel which ignores the automated security warnings and approaches by sea or air is destroyed.