Alterra Corporation
| This article is about Alterra Corporation in Subnautica. For the related article on the Below Zero Wiki, see Alterra Corporation. |
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The Alterra Corporation, or simply Alterra, is a Trans-Gov that funded the Aurora's mission to construct a phasegate in the Ariadne Arm. It also appears to be the manufacturer of many machines and tools in-game, as its logo is on many of them.
Alterra is heavily involved in the arms trade and made substantial amounts of money supplying weaponry to all warring factions during the period known as the Expansion. Their threats to cut off these supplies are said to have been a turning point in the conflict. Today, they are the top supplier to the Trans-System Federation.
As a Trans-Gov, Alterra appears to be a functional oligarchy with its government chosen by the Board of Directors based on business success, with businessmen ascending to the Board after a compulsory buy-out. They do not maintain a standing military, though they do have a police force. Civilian ownership of weapons within Alterra space is strictly controlled, with only the police able to bear arms.
Alterra is rather strict with policies related to resources, even keeping employees "on the clock" after catastrophic accidents. All resources gathered by such employees are company property and Alterra expects to be reimbursed for their full market value after the fact: in the case of Ryley Robinson, this led to a trillion-credit bill.
According to a Data Download, Alterra alone owns 9% of Phasegates within the galaxy, as shown here.
Trans-Gov Profile: Alterra Corp.
| Trans-Gov Profile: Alterra Corp. |
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- One of largest suppliers of spacefaring technologies and consumer electronics in the federation Although most trans-govs can trace their roots back to earth, Alterra - literally meaning 'by earth' - is the only one brazen enough to take its name. During the Expansion, Alterra supplied arms to all sides, acquiring and housing a vast colonist workforce, and making the transition from manufacturer to corporate state. Alterra's threat to cease trade was one of the turning points in the conflict, bringing about the end of hostilities and the signing of the Charter. Today Alterra has a ban on all weapons within its borders, although loopholes exist for law enforcement officers and manufacturers / exporters. The corporation has learnt that violence is most profitable when conducted between customers rather than employees. Free enterprise within Alterra space is encouraged, but competition is tight, and all goods exported offworld must be Alterra branded. Profitable businesses are bought out by the state, owners ascending to the Alterra Board of Directors. Well-known Alterra technologies such as the Cyclops submersible originated with such private enterprises. Despite superficial similarities to national governments, the corporation's lawyers have always maintained that it has no legal obligation to its 'employees', but voluntarily elects to take on the roles usually served by a democratically elected government. This claim has not yet been tested in Federation courts. |
Appearances
The Alterra logo can be seen on objects such as:
- All-Environment Protection Suit
- Aurora
- Computer Chip
- Cyclops
- Fire Extinguisher
- Flashlight
- Lifepod 5
- Power Cell Charger
- PDA Databank Tab
- Picture Frame
- Radiation Suit
- Scanner (On the rear side of the flip-out side panel, only really visible during the initial "draw" animation and in the top right corner)
- Survival Knife
- Thermoblade
- Ultra High Capacity Tank
- Water Filtration Machine
Gallery
Various Alterra logos
The Alterra Arms logo on the Survival Knife
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Trivia
- In the game Natural Selection II, also made by Unknown Worlds Entertainment, the Alterra Corporation logo can be seen in multiple places, including on some maps, weapons, tools, and equipment.
- This is one of several connections from Subnautica to Natural Selection II found within Subnautica.
- A real-life company called Alterra (fully Alterra Mountain Company) was established in 2018. It is a conglomerate of a number of ski resorts owned by two parent investment companies.