As the populace grew along with the Mishima dynasty, the rulers' control over the vassals decreased at the same pace as the disappointment among the people increased. Demands for the abdication of the Overlord were loud, mayhem and revolt ruled and held Mishima at bay.
And so, it happened at Cardinal Randolph's elevation that the Overlord proclaimed that the mishima dynasty and all its work and all its land and all its assets would for eternal time no longer be administered by the Overlord, but by his three Lord Heirs and the Lord Heirs of the future Overlords.
Great rejoicing followed and the corporation was prosperous and happy under the new rule of the Lord Heirs. But soon, our glorious Inquisitors in their infinite wisdom saw the Darkness fall over the Mishima corporation. Feuds among the Lord Heirs could no longer be solved in the gathering halls, but resulted in hostilities leading to grief among the stock holders and the mothers of many young men.
The Overlord warned against the Evil in order to end the conflict, but the Lord Heirs no longer respected their Master and put him in exile on Luna, while they themselves continued their petty wars and hostilities on the sacred planet in Cardinal Randolph's visions - the blessed planet of Mercury.
And this blood-feud became the most obvious sign that the Darkness from within was a greater threat than the threat from its Legions - when the son raised hand against his father and rejected him.
- The First Chronicle, the Arrival of the Darkness and the Calling of the Cardinal / Alexander Horatio
And so, it happened at Cardinal Randolph's elevation that the Overlord proclaimed that the mishima dynasty and all its work and all its land and all its assets would for eternal time no longer be administered by the Overlord, but by his three Lord Heirs and the Lord Heirs of the future Overlords.
Great rejoicing followed and the corporation was prosperous and happy under the new rule of the Lord Heirs. But soon, our glorious Inquisitors in their infinite wisdom saw the Darkness fall over the Mishima corporation. Feuds among the Lord Heirs could no longer be solved in the gathering halls, but resulted in hostilities leading to grief among the stock holders and the mothers of many young men.
The Overlord warned against the Evil in order to end the conflict, but the Lord Heirs no longer respected their Master and put him in exile on Luna, while they themselves continued their petty wars and hostilities on the sacred planet in Cardinal Randolph's visions - the blessed planet of Mercury.
And this blood-feud became the most obvious sign that the Darkness from within was a greater threat than the threat from its Legions - when the son raised hand against his father and rejected him.
- The First Chronicle, the Arrival of the Darkness and the Calling of the Cardinal / Alexander Horatio
THE LORD HEIRS
The Mishima corporation has since their founding been a family company, administered and ruled by the Mishima dynasty. At the top as chairman and president had been the Overlord, usually the family head.
But eventually, the corporation expanded far beyond what one person could effectively control, which forced the Overlord to split the empire into three separate divisions, each headed by one prominent family member, the Lord Heirs.
Today the Lord Heirs, the two sons and daughter of the Overlord, govern all Mishima business on Mercury, Venus and Mars respectively. Lord Moya, Prince of Soil and Governor of Mercury, is held highest of the three and unofficially functions as the family head.
There is open rivalry going on between the three Lord Heirs, manifesting itself in hostile take-overs, assassinations, broken promises; everything short of open war. Since their respective divisions are nearly self-sufficient and geographically separated, the conflict isn't very obvious to the outside world, and of course, the worst debate is over who will be the next Overlord. The sibling chosen will hold the true sword of power over his family and be in total control of Mishima.
The Mishima corporation has since their founding been a family company, administered and ruled by the Mishima dynasty. At the top as chairman and president had been the Overlord, usually the family head.
But eventually, the corporation expanded far beyond what one person could effectively control, which forced the Overlord to split the empire into three separate divisions, each headed by one prominent family member, the Lord Heirs.
Today the Lord Heirs, the two sons and daughter of the Overlord, govern all Mishima business on Mercury, Venus and Mars respectively. Lord Moya, Prince of Soil and Governor of Mercury, is held highest of the three and unofficially functions as the family head.
There is open rivalry going on between the three Lord Heirs, manifesting itself in hostile take-overs, assassinations, broken promises; everything short of open war. Since their respective divisions are nearly self-sufficient and geographically separated, the conflict isn't very obvious to the outside world, and of course, the worst debate is over who will be the next Overlord. The sibling chosen will hold the true sword of power over his family and be in total control of Mishima.
THE OVERLORD
The Overlord Mishima himself is but a crippled shadow of his ancestors, put in exile in the Luna palace, without any real power, but still in position as the corporation's figurehead. Formally, he is the ONE AND ONLY Mishima ambassador, it is he who negotiates in the Cartel and it is he who dictates the corporate guidelines, but is it the Lord Heirs and their vassals who make all the decisions.
Even though he is treated with due respect by ambassadors of other corporations, the dealings with him are only ceremonial, and simultaneous with the real dealings with the Lord Heirs.
And so it is that Overlord Mishima, Emperor of Thousand Suns, the Prince of Fire, the Father Above All has become a bitter relic, unwanted by the populace, secretly mocked by his peers, and vainly struggling to mediate in the conflict between the Lord Heirs. His only vassals are a court of ten thousand and a bodyguard of one thousand, the Hatamoto. These servants hold the highest honored positions within the entire corporation and they are always hand-picked by the Overlord himself.
The Overlord Mishima himself is but a crippled shadow of his ancestors, put in exile in the Luna palace, without any real power, but still in position as the corporation's figurehead. Formally, he is the ONE AND ONLY Mishima ambassador, it is he who negotiates in the Cartel and it is he who dictates the corporate guidelines, but is it the Lord Heirs and their vassals who make all the decisions.
Even though he is treated with due respect by ambassadors of other corporations, the dealings with him are only ceremonial, and simultaneous with the real dealings with the Lord Heirs.
And so it is that Overlord Mishima, Emperor of Thousand Suns, the Prince of Fire, the Father Above All has become a bitter relic, unwanted by the populace, secretly mocked by his peers, and vainly struggling to mediate in the conflict between the Lord Heirs. His only vassals are a court of ten thousand and a bodyguard of one thousand, the Hatamoto. These servants hold the highest honored positions within the entire corporation and they are always hand-picked by the Overlord himself.
BUSINESS STRATEGY
Some say the moral decline of the once proud Mishima organization has showed in its business policies. Others call the Mishima management economical geniuses, smart and ruthless, well adapted to the current circumstances.
In any case, the rise of the Mishima business empire has been astonishing. In a short time, they had managed to become the second largest corporation after Capitol, producing absolutely EVERYTHING, and often at lower cost and with a more appealing design.
The recipe - ruthless business methods, low development costs, the largest industrial espionage budget of all the corporations, and of course, the inherent craftsmanship, and the will that is absolutely essential when you have an ambition to be the very best.
This strategy results in the fact that their own product developers can concentrate on finishing up and improving existing models and products, and thereby gain an advantage over their competitors.
Also, by literally stuffing the store-shelves with their own goods - maybe even with the same product packaged in many different ways - they make sure that they secure the most exposure.
Mishima are renowned for always sticking to a deal, but they are even more renowned for their shrewdness in deal-making. Their business lawyers are only matched by Cybertronic's in this area - and it is difficult to make really good deals with Mishima partners (unless they want you to, for strategic reasons).
Some say the moral decline of the once proud Mishima organization has showed in its business policies. Others call the Mishima management economical geniuses, smart and ruthless, well adapted to the current circumstances.
In any case, the rise of the Mishima business empire has been astonishing. In a short time, they had managed to become the second largest corporation after Capitol, producing absolutely EVERYTHING, and often at lower cost and with a more appealing design.
The recipe - ruthless business methods, low development costs, the largest industrial espionage budget of all the corporations, and of course, the inherent craftsmanship, and the will that is absolutely essential when you have an ambition to be the very best.
This strategy results in the fact that their own product developers can concentrate on finishing up and improving existing models and products, and thereby gain an advantage over their competitors.
Also, by literally stuffing the store-shelves with their own goods - maybe even with the same product packaged in many different ways - they make sure that they secure the most exposure.
Mishima are renowned for always sticking to a deal, but they are even more renowned for their shrewdness in deal-making. Their business lawyers are only matched by Cybertronic's in this area - and it is difficult to make really good deals with Mishima partners (unless they want you to, for strategic reasons).
CRAFTSMANSHIP & COMPETITION
The weapon that has made Mishima a force to be reckoned with is the ability to produce large quantities of high-tech equipment at low costs. This gives the buyer cheaper alternatives to Capitol or Bauhaus' equipment, but they have one drawback. The design and technology involved have resulted in Mishima producing equipment that is more expensive to repair than to manufacture. This has a wide appeal to the mass markets but has given Mishima a somewhat bad reputation within the military industry, especially with mercenaries who need to be able to fix equipment themselves in battle.
The weapon that has made Mishima a force to be reckoned with is the ability to produce large quantities of high-tech equipment at low costs. This gives the buyer cheaper alternatives to Capitol or Bauhaus' equipment, but they have one drawback. The design and technology involved have resulted in Mishima producing equipment that is more expensive to repair than to manufacture. This has a wide appeal to the mass markets but has given Mishima a somewhat bad reputation within the military industry, especially with mercenaries who need to be able to fix equipment themselves in battle.
THE MISHIMAN
A Mishima employee will in every situation do his utmost for his employer, not necessarily Mishima, but his Lord Heir and his vassals. Most would even sacrifice their lives, if necessary. There are many explanations:
Family: To a great extent, the family is what keeps the Mishima society together. You must never give your family a bad name, and you are supposed to follow in your family's footsteps and preferably also improve your name's reputation.
Tradition: It has always been like this, and it always will be. It has always worked, and those in opposition have quickly come to regret it.
Loyalty: Mishima employees are born into the organization, and from their first day, they are taken care of. For free. From the first day of his life, the Mishima subordinate is taught that he has the organization to thank for everything. Everything is only borrowed, and the organization has the right to collect on the loan - at any time.
Glory: The Corporation remembers sacrifices. For example, soldier's salaries are low, but survivor's pensions are generous. Every day, memorials are held for those who dies in service of the corporation, and they are honored above all others.
A Mishima employee will in every situation do his utmost for his employer, not necessarily Mishima, but his Lord Heir and his vassals. Most would even sacrifice their lives, if necessary. There are many explanations:
Family: To a great extent, the family is what keeps the Mishima society together. You must never give your family a bad name, and you are supposed to follow in your family's footsteps and preferably also improve your name's reputation.
Tradition: It has always been like this, and it always will be. It has always worked, and those in opposition have quickly come to regret it.
Loyalty: Mishima employees are born into the organization, and from their first day, they are taken care of. For free. From the first day of his life, the Mishima subordinate is taught that he has the organization to thank for everything. Everything is only borrowed, and the organization has the right to collect on the loan - at any time.
Glory: The Corporation remembers sacrifices. For example, soldier's salaries are low, but survivor's pensions are generous. Every day, memorials are held for those who dies in service of the corporation, and they are honored above all others.
THE MILITARY
As in all megacorporations, the Mishima military corps is an elite group very much living under their own laws and ethics. It doesn't hold the same prominent position as in Bauhaus or Imperial. "Friendly methods", non-violent means, are preferred when having to defeat someone. Warfare is too costly and unpredictable.
The military commanders and the corporation managers are formally synonymous, even if the military advisors, the Administrators, hold the real military power.
As in all megacorporations, the Mishima military corps is an elite group very much living under their own laws and ethics. It doesn't hold the same prominent position as in Bauhaus or Imperial. "Friendly methods", non-violent means, are preferred when having to defeat someone. Warfare is too costly and unpredictable.
The military commanders and the corporation managers are formally synonymous, even if the military advisors, the Administrators, hold the real military power.
MILITARY ORGANIZATION
The military organization of Mishima is composed of three divisions, and the separate armies have altogether different purposes and organization. It is only on Mercury that the military has a prominent and highly preferred position; on Venus and Mars they are used for defense purposes. This is a great relief on Lord Maru and Lady Mariko's finances - warfare is extremely expensive - and this makes them economically competitive with Lord Heir Moya, considering their limited budgets.
The military forces of Mercury mostly consist of lightly armed and armored infantry units. The light equipment is a consequence of the rough Mercurian underground terrain, where the soldiers might be forced to crawl through narrow cracks or flooded tunnels.
The military organization of Mishima is composed of three divisions, and the separate armies have altogether different purposes and organization. It is only on Mercury that the military has a prominent and highly preferred position; on Venus and Mars they are used for defense purposes. This is a great relief on Lord Maru and Lady Mariko's finances - warfare is extremely expensive - and this makes them economically competitive with Lord Heir Moya, considering their limited budgets.
The military forces of Mercury mostly consist of lightly armed and armored infantry units. The light equipment is a consequence of the rough Mercurian underground terrain, where the soldiers might be forced to crawl through narrow cracks or flooded tunnels.
MILITARY TACTICS
Mishima's motto "destroy or defend", described the core in the strategy very well - if they can't destroy an enemy right away, they hold fast on the spot until reinforced, alternatively until they die. No glory is greater than dying in service of the Corporation. Another internal motto is "never give an inch" - no one wants to be remembered as the one who surrendered to the enemy.
This makes Mishima units dreaded enemies - you can never attack them without being certain of success, and since they can rely on quick and large reinforcements, you'd better wipe them out quickly, which is easier said than done, when they always fight to the last man.
Mishima's motto "destroy or defend", described the core in the strategy very well - if they can't destroy an enemy right away, they hold fast on the spot until reinforced, alternatively until they die. No glory is greater than dying in service of the Corporation. Another internal motto is "never give an inch" - no one wants to be remembered as the one who surrendered to the enemy.
This makes Mishima units dreaded enemies - you can never attack them without being certain of success, and since they can rely on quick and large reinforcements, you'd better wipe them out quickly, which is easier said than done, when they always fight to the last man.
LONGSHORE & MERCURY
Closest to the dun, a small and extremely hot red-orange planet, Mercury is still somewhat of a gold-mine to the megacorporations. It is also the most exciting and challenging of the new worlds.
The planet has been a Mishima claim ever since the conquest of space began, and even while the planet itself is extremely hostile to mankind, the Mishima engineers have managed to create fairly acceptable conditions, especially in the extensive system of underground caverns and craters.
The surface of the planet is hot, humid and sterile. Only a handful of mining complexes, guardposts and automated observation decks are situated there. It is the bright and inviting underworld, the huge network of tunnels, crevices and gigantic halls and caverns, that make Mercury a very prosperous and profitable affair.
Longshore, [the Mishima capital] and residence of Lord Heir Moya and his administration and most of the central bureaucracy, is situated in such a crater, its highest towers and buildings barely reaching up above ground level.
The city is a bustling splash of cultures and buildings. The never-sleeping city serves as a port for almost all trade and contains all important official buildings of the Mishima empire, trading centers, military academies, stock markets, universities and so on. Imperial also has much of its important administration in Longshore and its nearby twin city, Fukido, which is entirely in Imperial's control.
Closest to the dun, a small and extremely hot red-orange planet, Mercury is still somewhat of a gold-mine to the megacorporations. It is also the most exciting and challenging of the new worlds.
The planet has been a Mishima claim ever since the conquest of space began, and even while the planet itself is extremely hostile to mankind, the Mishima engineers have managed to create fairly acceptable conditions, especially in the extensive system of underground caverns and craters.
The surface of the planet is hot, humid and sterile. Only a handful of mining complexes, guardposts and automated observation decks are situated there. It is the bright and inviting underworld, the huge network of tunnels, crevices and gigantic halls and caverns, that make Mercury a very prosperous and profitable affair.
Longshore, [the Mishima capital] and residence of Lord Heir Moya and his administration and most of the central bureaucracy, is situated in such a crater, its highest towers and buildings barely reaching up above ground level.
The city is a bustling splash of cultures and buildings. The never-sleeping city serves as a port for almost all trade and contains all important official buildings of the Mishima empire, trading centers, military academies, stock markets, universities and so on. Imperial also has much of its important administration in Longshore and its nearby twin city, Fukido, which is entirely in Imperial's control.
THE WARZONES
Mercury is to a great extent virgin ground to both the Dark Legion and the other Corporations, the latter most obviously reflected in the frequent clashes of arms between Imperial settlers and Mishima troops. Lord Heir Moya clearly regards the planet as his territory and does his utmost to destroy all intruders, with the brilliant exception of the city of Fukido, where a fragile peace is upheld thanks to the Brotherhood.
There are no definite front-lines on Mercury, but Lord Moya's forces are spread out all over the underworld, in outposts holding bwteeen one and five squadrons of thirty warriors each. They are never more than fifty kilometers apart, to ensure that the "destroy or defend" strategy works. Also, strategic reserves of two to five regiments (five squadrons) are kept at regular intervals.
Most armed conflicts consist of skirmishes between these Mishima defense troops and settlers from the other corporations. These rarely last more than a couple of months, almost always resulting in either a face saving solution (the settlers may stay but pay tribute to Lord Heir Moya), or total extinction of the colony.
There are currently some fifty such conflicts going on, with only a few involving more than two hundred soldiers.
Mercury is to a great extent virgin ground to both the Dark Legion and the other Corporations, the latter most obviously reflected in the frequent clashes of arms between Imperial settlers and Mishima troops. Lord Heir Moya clearly regards the planet as his territory and does his utmost to destroy all intruders, with the brilliant exception of the city of Fukido, where a fragile peace is upheld thanks to the Brotherhood.
There are no definite front-lines on Mercury, but Lord Moya's forces are spread out all over the underworld, in outposts holding bwteeen one and five squadrons of thirty warriors each. They are never more than fifty kilometers apart, to ensure that the "destroy or defend" strategy works. Also, strategic reserves of two to five regiments (five squadrons) are kept at regular intervals.
Most armed conflicts consist of skirmishes between these Mishima defense troops and settlers from the other corporations. These rarely last more than a couple of months, almost always resulting in either a face saving solution (the settlers may stay but pay tribute to Lord Heir Moya), or total extinction of the colony.
There are currently some fifty such conflicts going on, with only a few involving more than two hundred soldiers.
THE CARTEL
Mishima's representative in the Cartel High Council is no one less than the Overlord himself, which should, on paper, guarantee a strong position, however not even the representatives of the other corporations respect the Overlord. The Overlord is a marionette without real power, and if a corporation wants to bargain with Mishima or put in a formal protest, they present it to Lord Moya.
Mishima's representative in the Cartel High Council is no one less than the Overlord himself, which should, on paper, guarantee a strong position, however not even the representatives of the other corporations respect the Overlord. The Overlord is a marionette without real power, and if a corporation wants to bargain with Mishima or put in a formal protest, they present it to Lord Moya.
THE BROTHERHOOD
Mishima's relationship to the Brotherhood can be described as tense, to say the least. Mishima has allowed the brotherhood full access to their organization and Observers from the Brotherhood can be found at all levels of management.
This is not to say they have insight into Mishima. The proud officials at Mishima can at any time throw Observers out, keep them imprisoned or even execute them. Due apologies will be offered to the Brotherhood, but Mishima's secrets will be safe. This is extremely frustrating for the Cardinal and the Brotherhood, who have no idea how to approach this problem. For now, an uneasy peace rests between the Brotherhood and Mishima.
Normally, the Mishima man feels a stronger allegiance to the corporation and his liege, his closest boss, than to the Brotherhood. But winds are changing and the Inquisitors are gaining more and more influence over the common man, mainly due to the growing threat from the Darkness.
All this is not seen wit much approval by the aristocracy, but as long as the other corporations are strong supporters of the Brotherhood, Mishima will keep the proper face forward. But Longshore is still one of the few places where an Inquisitor can fear to be defied, and the higher lords of Mishima are the only ones who can openly defy them without fear of retaliation.
Mishima's relationship to the Brotherhood can be described as tense, to say the least. Mishima has allowed the brotherhood full access to their organization and Observers from the Brotherhood can be found at all levels of management.
This is not to say they have insight into Mishima. The proud officials at Mishima can at any time throw Observers out, keep them imprisoned or even execute them. Due apologies will be offered to the Brotherhood, but Mishima's secrets will be safe. This is extremely frustrating for the Cardinal and the Brotherhood, who have no idea how to approach this problem. For now, an uneasy peace rests between the Brotherhood and Mishima.
Normally, the Mishima man feels a stronger allegiance to the corporation and his liege, his closest boss, than to the Brotherhood. But winds are changing and the Inquisitors are gaining more and more influence over the common man, mainly due to the growing threat from the Darkness.
All this is not seen wit much approval by the aristocracy, but as long as the other corporations are strong supporters of the Brotherhood, Mishima will keep the proper face forward. But Longshore is still one of the few places where an Inquisitor can fear to be defied, and the higher lords of Mishima are the only ones who can openly defy them without fear of retaliation.
THE DARK LEGION
Mishima has so far been spared the massive armed onslaughts of the Dark Legion, for better and for worse. The greatest threat has come from within, from Heretics and Messengers, and the workings of the Dark Symmetry has time and again sowed spite and malice among the populace.
On the few occasions that Mishima forces have crossed swords with legionnaires, necromutants or even nepharites, they have been beadly beaten and sometimes even forced to request assistance from Capitol.
Mishima has so far been spared the massive armed onslaughts of the Dark Legion, for better and for worse. The greatest threat has come from within, from Heretics and Messengers, and the workings of the Dark Symmetry has time and again sowed spite and malice among the populace.
On the few occasions that Mishima forces have crossed swords with legionnaires, necromutants or even nepharites, they have been beadly beaten and sometimes even forced to request assistance from Capitol.