Independence Weaponry

Independence Weaponry is a BattleMech manufacturer on the Draconis Combine world of Quentin.

Overview
Located in the heavily industrialized Steel Valley on Quentin, Independence Weaponry was a BattleMech factory for the Star League Defense Force's Regular Army and after the League's collapse the plant fell prey to bitter fighting between the Draconis Combine, Capellan Confederation and Federated Suns for control of it. House Davion established what appeared to be permanent control over the planet and its now the partially destroyed assembly lines towards the end of the Second Succession War.

Becoming the FedSun's premier Heavy and Assault Class manufacturer, the plant came under continuous raids from Kurita and Liao forces, slowly reducing production to half their pre-war levels, producing around twenty Marauders and Victors and a mere five Atlass per year. The alliance with the Lyran Commonwealth resulted in assistance from Defiance Industries to help bolster production of factory and the 100-ton monster 'Mech specifically.

In 3023, Wolf's Dragoons and elements of the 1st Sword of Light (serving as an honor-guard to Coordinator Takashi Kurita) attacked Quentin in an objective raid with the goal of looting the IW facilities. The Kuritan troops spear-headed the final push to secure the Independence Weaponry factory, though they lost some warriors during their charge.

Benefiting from the respite after the Fourth Succession War, Independence was finally able to repair and reopen its battered assembly lines and House Davion made plans for advanced lostech upgrades. This hard work became bittersweet when Quentin fell to the DCMS's Operation Orochi in the War of 3039, the capture of the plant greatly benefiting the Combine's efforts to rebuild and modernize its military. The 40th Dieron Regulars seized the plant, despite the defending garrison forces and the presence of five companies of Independence employees who piloted JagerMechs, Atlases, Marauders, and Victors. Reportedly, top Independence executives and technicians evacuated Quentin once it was clear the planet would fall, but this did not hamper the Combine. Located far from the fighting of the Clan Invasion and with increasingly good relations between the Combine and the Federated Commonwealth, Independence became a production powerhouse, increasing to levels not seen since the original Star League.

As of 3068, the company was headquartered on New Samarkand, and possessed manufacturing centers on Luthien, Donegal, Markab, Victoria, and Stewart in addition to their flagship factory on Quentin. The company operates more like a conglomerate of separate weapons manufacturers rather than one single corporate entity. It has two major brands under its control: Blankenburg Technologies and Telfar BattleMechs. This allows it to maintain a neutral stance regarding potential clients, but does lead to some unique manufacturing issues. Plants located in the Combine cannot ship weaponry, parts, or manufacturing equipment to their sister facilities in the Federated Suns, for example.

Their policy of neutrality has made them the target for several industrial espionage projects, as their competitors try to steal their trade secrets. A case involving Diverse Optics was the most noticeable, but there have been several other attempts to disrupt their operations. This neutral stance and the diversified nature of the companies that made up Independence Weaponry protected the firm from the early effects of the Jihad and even allowed Independence Weaponry to post record profits at one point, with major defense companies across the Inner Sphere placing orders to support their war efforts.

In the wake of the caputre of Quentin a new Independence plant began construction on New Samarkand; an effort by Independence to relocate their manufacturing en masse, only a refit facility was in place on the Combine capital by 3079. The multinational nature of Independence worked against the company in the eyes of the Combine government, and it was considered likely that any government reconstruction following the Jihad would focus on entirely domestic companies. Given the designs that the newly formed Republic of the Sphere had on Quentin, it was likely that the role of the company there would be the subject of some debate between the two governments.

While the items to be produced on New Samarkand hadn't been confirmed as late as mid-3081, it was seen as very likely that the plant would be producing lines lost to the DCMS when the Combine lost control of Quentin.

Leadership
In 3025 the companies CEO is Duke Oscar Ivanick.

Independence Weaponry's current CEO in 3076, Judith Hotchkiss, controls most of the public stock. She announced plans to move the corporate headquarters from New Samarkand to New Ivaarsen.

Manufacturing
Independence Weaponry has manufacturing centers on the following planets:

New Samarkand
The New Samarkand factory hadn't begun production as of mid-3081.