[CitizenJoe]

Actually, Renraku has a Biotech compound in Auburn (Algona-Pacific) and took over the Algona Community Hospital. Flavor text in the Seattle Sourcebook stated that Bellevue had a big Renraku facility but the location was never published.

[Mirikon]

Renraku still has facilities in the UCAS, though not in Seattle right now (unless they've put something up in Redmond and didn't tell anyone). But what you're missing, Joe, is that Renraku isn't JUST in the UCAS. They practically own all of Chiba, and everyone there loves them, so they can do what they like. And there are lots of areas all over the world where they can put up a research station or other facility and not have any government oversight, even on what you're dumping out, either because it is in someplace that the government doesn't go (Barrens), or you've bought the government (MCT and Tsmshian, or Aztech and Aztlan), or you're just very far from anywhere (parts of CalFree, pretty much all of Africa, half of Asia, lots of islands in the Pacific, etc.). Renraku might be playing 'good corporate citizen' in the UCAS, but that doesn't mean they're playing nice everywhere else. They have facilities all over the globe, and in orbit. Better believe they're working on something. And the fact that we haven't heard word one about it means they're keeping things real quiet. Which is not a good thing.

Renraku also provides backbone Matrix lines for almost half of the Europe IMO

Especially after people got a little leery of S-K having put a kill-switch in every utility they set up in Europe...

[Nath]

Renraku also provides backbone Matrix lines for almost half of the Europe IMO

That wouldn't be consistent with Corporate Guide:

Corporate Guide, page 143
Instead of battline the industry giant head-on, [Renraku Europa] has downplayed the products and services that overlap with S-K, instead focusing on areas of strength. The corporation has made a name for itself in Renraku's trademark data management sector. RE is also known throughout the region as a major biotechnology provider.

Corporate Guide, page 153
By outmaneuvering NeoNET in the political arena, [S-K subsidiary] Aetherlink has managed to reclaim most of Saeder-Krupp's old digital dominion and now operates the grid infrastructures in most European countries and sprawls (excepting those in the Scandinavian Union), as well as numerous networks in Russia and the Middle East.

And Scandinavian countries' network would more likely be run by Neonet, since there used to be local AA Erika in charge there.

[CitizenJoe]

The Renraku subsidiary Iris Firmware (?) did the wireless Athabascan Grid before wireless was cool.
 

[Sichr]

...The corporation has made a name for itself in Renraku's trademark data management sector...

seems like facts get a biit foggy in my memories. I meant this one and aslo forgit abiut NeoNet...long time since last run in the area...

[Wakshaani]

Renraku *has* been doing stuff, it's just that it's been on the down low since it has TERRIBLE PR right now. Best to stick to the shadows until it blows over (And, in fact, it largely has. AIs are now hip and edgey and cool, like Pulsar, instead of scaaaaaary, like Deus.. Almost as if someone wanted this to happen. Hmmm...)

It's still a mega. It's just one that got a black eye a while back, so isn't getting into boxing matches right now.

[hobgoblin]

My impression about UCAS mobilizing in response to the shutdown was that the ground levels of the archology was a huge mall. As such, it was not just Renraku citizens inside. The reactors did not help much either, given their potential regarding downtown Seattle.

[CanRay]

My impression about UCAS mobilizing in response to the shutdown was that the ground levels of the archology was a huge mall. As such, it was not just Renraku citizens inside. The reactors did not help much either, given their potential regarding downtown Seattle.

The reactors allowed the UCAS to go "Eminent Domain", and take over the operation of getting Dues out of the control of the building.

With a HUGE Drek-Eating grin on their faces! 

[hobgoblin]

Except that Deus pulled out on his own, and left UCAS with a mess and a huge expensive building to deal with.

i wonder how big of a blip that whole write off made on the Renraku spreadsheet.

[Crimsondude]

A pretty big blip, as I recall. It was the ninth-largest building on Earth in 2050, and to finally get it 100% operational and self-sustaining cost quite a bit of resources as I recall.

Plus all the R&D and manufacturing capacity Renraku lost.

Also, Renraku owns what was left of the Morgue data haven in Singapore and restarted it. So a lot of pure information Asia relies on is in the hands of Renraku.

[Simagal]

I don't remember seeing any legal fallout from the UCAS seizing major corporate sovereign asset.   

[Stry]

Another reason for the UCAS seizing eminent domain on the arcology to was there was the governor of Seattle was attending some kind of party at the arcology when it was shut down and was trapped inside.

[hobgoblin]

Reminds me of some squabbles over who gets to intervene in international incidents...

[CanRay]

Because that is exactly what the issue was.  AAA-Corp is their own country.

[Angelone]

And Renraku slunk off with their tail tucked between their legs. Says a lot about how powerful corps are vs. (developed) countries. Granted there realy wasn't any profit involved in Renraku fighting the UCAS for control, but still.