SOL HORIZONS
Type: Independent Colonial Supply Company
Established: 2384.117, London, England, Earth
Status: Active
Headquarters: London, England, Earth
In 2384 an enigmatic entrepreneur, Mr. Thomas Indigo Mercer, created the company Sol Horizons. Initial funding for the project was staggering, with private donors matching T.I. Mercer credit for credit. As the CEO, T.I. Mercer manages the business with almost every waking moment. The initial intent of generating such a large amount of capital was to purchase a large freighter shipping fleet to supply human colonial developments beyond the sol system. The first purchase of six freighters and one relic star cruiser was made in 2386 and the first sponsored colonies were in the Hydra system.
Sol Horizons colonial endeavors proved profitable from the very start. Their ratio of profitable to unprofitable colonies led to wide spread speculation that insider information was being used in decisions about where to colonize. These speculations were furthered by a number of senior ranking Starfleet officers who have social connections to T.I. Mercer. However, no evidence exists that this was or is the case.
Building on its initial success, T.I. Mercer reinvested its initial profits by increasing its fleet. Through the years it has continued this business model and has grown its fleet to over 30 ships, including eight star cruiser or equivalent large ships that provided security and act as command and control units for various flotillas conducting resupply through the alpha quadrant.
Sol Horizons currently only creates human colonies, however per Federation regulation, it willingly carries supplies for any Federation member colony. Sol Horizon's has made public statements indicating the intent to branch into supporting colonial projects of other Federation species, but little work has been done towards that in so far.
Along with colonial resupply, Sol Horizons success and fleet size offered them a chance to exercise some political influence in systems where their colonies resided. Although their ships cannot match the capabilities or firepower of all but the smallest Starfleet starship, the relative distance of these colonial worlds from any significant Federation presence gives them the latitude to act as they do. This has been met with some resistance as other government or privately funded colonies feel pressured by Sol Horizons encroachment, but for the most part, Sol Horizons has acted in good faith with Federation ideals and with significant forces tied p with Klingon, Romulan and Borg insurrections, Starfleet has been hesitant to press against this influence.
Sol Horizons keeps its relatively small headquarters in London, Earth. However, its CEO, T.I. Mercer, prefers to run operations out of a large converted Star Cruiser, The Sol Sovereignty, which he frequently moves around the Sol system, usually around the moons of the system's gas giants, Jupiter and Saturn.
The current list of Sol Horizon's Independent Trading Vessel freighters are as follows:
ITV Scylla
ITV Kettemoor
ITV Wanderhome
ITV Weatherhall
ITV Ringwald
ITV Vales
ITV Champions
ITV Explora
ITV Bearclaw
ITV Sunrunner
ITV Mattheson
ITV Connory
ITV Lordads
ITV Bria
ITV Chilatra
ITV Flurry
ITV Kauri
ITV Gorath
ITV Valcyn
ITV Ahazi
ITV Naritus
ITV Corbantis
ITV Wiccana
ITV Covey
ITV Merrill
ITV Bennett
Current list of Sol Horizons Independent Trading Vessel Star Cruisers and Refitted Heavy Escorts are as follows:
ITV Yukon
ITV Amazon
ITV Nile
ITV Argendab
ITV Chosin
ITV Rio Grande
ITV Platte
ITV Rhine
See also: Thomas Indigo Mercer; Private Shipping Companies