Cartographers' Guild [CARTO] - Organizations

History

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.:==Open DB Entry: “Cartographer’s Guild”==:.

.:==Open Subentry: “History”==:.

Administrative Remark: Please note that primary sources are missing on this organisation, information that is subject to inconclusive or unproven data is marked as such

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The Cartographer’s Guild claims to have been founded as early as the interest in finding new jump points and the financial power to allow for private space exploration spilled over from military exclusivity. Rumor has it that even the legendary Vernon Tar in his days was a member of this guild.

However, official sources only record activities of this organisation as early as 2524 in the Terra region. It is therefore more plausible to assume this organisation to have sprung from that system, probably due to the necessity of having reliable map databases for the ever increasing number of jump point connections and according spatial coordinates of interest.

Information about the beginnings of the Guild are rare, though, as in 2604 the Guild members were force-drafted into the UEE’s military reconnaissance department and the organisation itself was assimilated by the UEE military because of their excellent map databases, which was judged as being of great strategical use in the second Tevarin war. Due to its integration in the military, its Messer-era history is not on public record and even some older documents (especially their map databases) became subject of confidential or higher military classification.

Only in the early 2800s did a UEE recon officer, Lt. Commander Lia Stevens, stumble over the origins of her unit and decided to re-found the Guild as an independent organisation after resigning from her military carreer. Ensuing legal issues (due to the military confidentiality of a lot of data) and other preparations led to further delays, but finally the Cartographer’s Guild was re-registered on Terra in 2822.

Since then, Stevens and the guild members have not only helped build up a new commonly available maps database almost from scratch, but even managed to expand the services offered by the guild: As many of the initial guild members were former comrades of Stevens, a lot of reconnaissance competence was available in the organisation, soon becoming a branch of large importance and, due to some profitable public contracts, also its main source of income.

As of today, the guild’s focus hasn’t changed much — they still host a public database of confirmed starmaps and do some exploration and cartographing on their own account, while publicly offering scouting services to private and public contractors (usually also with the intent of keeping their map databases up to date this way).

Manifesto

The Cartographer’s Guild is an independent interstellar organisation focussing on enhancing all spacefaring species’ knowledge of stellar routes and phenomena.

Its primary mission is acquisition and validation of stellar cartographical data and hosting of said data in an exhaustive database.

Connected to that are related services like exploration-on-demand, trade route consulting and also planetary geographical surveys. The guild also conducts its own explorative operations.

The cartographer’s guild is an independent, neutral, non-governmental organisation, insofar that it is not bound to any local or imperial government, just as it is no part or bound contractor of any private corporation¹. Furthermore, the guild offers its service to every person, living or juristical, which is permitted contracts with UEE-based organisations.

The guild is permitted to also offer part of their services to non-human contractors, however exploration-on-demand is only a contract option viable in cases that do not involve operations inside UEE represented systems².

Guild members usually work on their own or in small squads, if armed conflicts are anticipated. Most guild ships are only armed defensively, though, as members tend to focus on better sensory equipment and cloaking technology in order not to provoke unwanted attention or agression. There are, however, also pilots who keep their ships more combat-able to protect the scouts, just as well as some specialists focussing on jump point exploration.

Note: The Cartographer’s Guild is currently hiring. Experienced reconnaissance pilots (especially with military background) are welcome. Please make sure to read the guild charter before applying.

¹ The Cartographer’s Guild is, however, a Terra-based organisation and therefore falls under the jurisdiction of the UEE.

² See UEE inter-species information disclosure act, §4-6

Charter

.::Cartographers’ Guild Charter V 1.0::.

This charter constitutes the rules of operation of the Cartographers’ Guild. All members are required to act accordingly. Disciplinary proceedings will be conducted by guild overseers in case of a violation of these principles by any guild member.

1. Independence:

The Cartographers’ Guild is an independent organisation. Changes in the status of dependency (e.g. mergers/fusions or permanent contracts with/obligations to any governmental organisation or private company) are only to be initiated by the guild leader and require a 2/3 majority vote of all apprentice or higher-ranked guild members to be executed.

2. Lawfulness:

The Cartographers’ Guild is a legal and official organisation and therefore requires its members not to violate UEE laws, even when not executing guild missions. The guild cooperates with legal authorities to the full permissible extent in case of severe evidence of a member partaking in criminal activities.

3. Professionality:

The Cartographers’ Guild offers explorational and consultational services to public organisations and individuals. Guild members are required to maintain professionality when interacting with contractors or fulfilling contracts for them.

4. Unity and Discipline:

Every guild member is integral part of this guild and therefore required to be aware that their actions contribute to success or failure of the organisation. The guild is represented by its members and can only function as an organisation of professionals if every member supports others in need.

Founder’s Note

Dear guild members (and potential applicants),

this guild’s fundamental principles are not many in number, but required to be taken most serious. We’re not here to fuel narcisstic attitudes – our mission is exploration and reconnaissance, which is best conducted when you’re not drawing too much attention to yourself. I know we all want to be famous for charting a new jump point or preventing a fatal Vanduul attack, but personal exposition and boldness is exactly what is not helpful to achieve this. If you understand and remeber this, you’re welcome to stay with our guild.
— Lia Stevens

Cartographers' Guild / CARTO