InfoComp

InfoComp was an American corporate company provides scientific, technical and personal data pertaining to any subject to anyone.

Overview
lnfocomp's corporate mission remained the same as when it was first written: to provide reliable, timely, accurate information to its clients, including intelligence data, research portfolios, and carefully theorized projections. Their range of information is wide, including, but not limited to, technological, economic and personal material. The corporation was rumored to have the most complete compilation of information in existence, including the most complete copy of the Library of Congress currently existing (purchased during the Collapse). Video footage, sound recordings, hardcopy texts, CD-ROMs, datachips, magnetic media, photographs; stereos of paintings, sculpture, and other artwork- all are stored in lnfocomp's vaults, and have been digitized into what is probably the largest single information database in existence.

It has been said that lnfocomp's staff members were the most advanced detectives in the world. They prided themselves on their ability to research and compile requested data in one business day: "In by nine, out by five:" The other megacorps, despite having their own investigative services, regularly rely on lnfocomp for vital research and intelligence. By 2020, the lifespan of a corporate spy is measured in months, but many of lnfocomp's operatives had been in the field for almost ten years.

In addition to compiling new data to order, lnfocomp also allowed clients to access their existing databanks. They had a massive library of information, backed up many times in many locations, but stored mainly in the cold-storage computer core at the main office. Other organizations are constantly using this system, and therefore no one would dare touch it. In fact, the system was used so often that rather than paying per use, most major corporations simply pay a huge monthly subscription fee in exchange for 24-hour, seven day-a-week library access. Dozens of redundant systems existed to keep this library functional no matter what, and Alvarez had been known to joke that global nuclear war would not shut down the system.

lnfoComp was also involved in the publishing business, in a peripheral way: The Info at Hand™ almanac, Fax on File™ DataTerm info-retrieval system, and Whole World Encyclopedia (in hardcopy, data, or virtual versions) are extremely popular, and lnfoComp also publishes a small number of other reference manuals and guides (the lnfoHere™ regional guidebooks are more popular than Frommers, and more concise and complete than the CIA worldbooks).

Few firms existed that could even hope to compete with lnfoComp; none match its size and sophistication. Several firms came to exist which occasionally challenge lnfoComp for clients; however, their real rivals had been the street level information brokers, who can get hands-on, high-grade information through sheer luck or craft, undercutting the firm. In a fit of good PR, lnfoComp had chosen a positive marketing strategy, working with freelance infobros whenever possible, sharing information at will, always keeping an eye out for data which might otherwise escape their notice. They had taken offensive action when required, but lnfocomp considered blood to be a big and unnecessary expense.

After the Fourth Corporate War and the DataKrash, InfoComp ceased to exist, having their information brokering permanently ruined by Rache Bartmoss's virus.

History
When the Gang of Four was swept away, the United States was forced to meld the remainder of its intelligence services with the resources of the notorious "beltway bandits", the infamous think-tank services who for years had competed with the CIA, DIA, and FBI in data compilation charging fees considered exorbitant even by most congressmen. At the turn of the century, the CIA was reorganized into a lean, mean intelligence force, while the DIA was replaced by a new breed of military think-tank who specifically catered to the armed forces (they, too, were later replaced).

Radical changes in the world's economic, political, and military structures made data previously compiled by the bandits and taken for granted by the government obsolete. Most of the beltway bandits were forced to liquidate. Robert D. Alvarez was one of hundreds of analysts who were suddenly out of a job. Around this time, Los Angeles was recovering form the massive quake of '98. The new arcology domes were being built, and the city was soliciting everyone and anyone who might be interested in investing. Alvarez took the remainder of his severance pay in advance, forgoing the interest, plus his amassed savings and moved out west.

He reserved a spot in one of the planned mall arcologies, laying down the ground work to begin his own think-tank for the new corporate world. The company started small, with only a handful of dedicated (and extremely talented) employees, but their services were new and vital. Infocomp became one of the first companies to provide quality intelligence and research data to the megacorps as they took place in the world. Before long, Alvarez hand several regular clients who would assure the firm's success. In 2006, with the absorption of Eagle Investigations, a first-rate investigations firm, and EbonTech Research, a corporate think-tank, Infocomp has grown into the premier investigations service; not just detective work, but raw data searches, compilation, and theoretical databasing services are available, making Infocomp the best source when information of any kind is needed.

Infocomp 's ability not only to find obscure pieces of data and the best purchaser for it, but also to predict upcoming events based on current trends, has given them a prominent position in the global market as the premier information traders of the twenty-first century.

Equipment
Each lnfocomp office is a sealed city unto itself, containing a surgery-capable infirmary, several plush wet bars for the staff and clientele, one sauna, one gymnasium, and one mini-mall. Vehicles at each office include one Bell-Boeing "Falcon" Osprey, one to four helicopters of varying types, and two AV-4s and one AV-7 aerodyne, as well as a number of ground cars and several vans equipped with extensive surveillance suites. In the sub-basement of each building is an EMP-shielded, heavily defended Microtech mainframe system, linked to the home office through a series of tough security points. The head office has three to four times the amount of equipment listed above.

Each office has a contingent of 1 00 troops assigned as security guards. These are not rent-a-cops, but rather professional troops equipped and trained by Lazarus. They do not leave the company grounds unless an employee calls for help. Each office may also call upon an additional rapid response service, also contracted from Lazarus. All lnfocomp armed forces carry Arasaka and Sternmeyer equipment.

lnfocomp's covert cadre does not refer to their deep cover researchers, spies, and intelligence gatherers, which may number over 1 000. The covert agents listed are part of Kathryn Hatch's personal Special Projects Division. They are allegedly part of the reason for the firm's continuing success, answering only to Robert Alvarez and Ms. Hatch.

lnfocomp's space resources are largely unknown; it is widely suspected that the corp maintains a number of intelligence-gathering satellites possibly Argus spysats purchased from the United States in 20101. Rumors abound of a secret OTV stationed at Crystal Palace that is used to place data shunts on other corporation's Spysats and internal Commsats, but this cannot be confirmed.

Management

 * Chair: Robert D. Alvarez
 * Trustees: 17
 * CEO: Dr. Steven Verizio

Board of Directors

 * Director. World Ops: Ms. Kathryn Hatch
 * VP Europe: Dr. Renee Culvere
 * VP North America: Ms. Rosemary Drake
 * VP Pacific Rim: Mr. Joseph Curente
 * VP Antarctica/LEO: Ms. Jennifer Blaake
 * VP Defense: Maj. Thomas Lochiccero