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You must unlearn what you have learned. This article contains obsolete data. It reflects a Dark Brotherhood policy, position, or object that has been removed or replaced. It is preserved here for historical purposes only and should not be used/referenced.
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| Sun-Manadyne Advanced Logistics Services
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unknown
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Chandrilia
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Logistics Services
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32 BBY (re-founded in 25 ABY)
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17 ABY
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Sun-Manadyne Advanced Logistics Services is a Chandrila-based company that provides infrastructure, transportation, and personnel services to several minor banking systems, corporations, governments and military forces. Their primary service is in the discreet dispersion of material and funds throughout the less legitimate corridors of the galaxy. While certainly not the largest logistics firm in the galaxy, they are respected and have a reputation for discretion and efficiency.
Corporate History
Official history states that the company was created by a small conglomeration on Chandrilia in 32 BBY shortly after the Trade Federation Blockade of Naboo. Though all official claims deny rumors regarding the company's background, many rumors abound about the true origins of Sun-Manadyne, such as they were secretly backed by a small coalition of Mandalorians who hoped to profit on the war futures. In many corporate documents however it is implicitly stated that the company was indeed founded by a group of wealthy Chandrilian merchants who were looking to expand their business out of the sector. During the waning days of the Old Republic and the Clone Wars, Sun-Manadyne provided several services to the war effort, supplementing Republic supply lines in the outer rim. It was during this time that Sun-Manadyne began building its reputation as one of the foremost suppliers in rougher areas of the galaxy.
Legal Smuggling
The final stages of the Clone Wars were some of the most violent in the long memory of the galaxy and the Republic. Many were fearful of the growing number of Separatist worlds that were reluctant to commit more forces to the outer rim to re-supply the Republic's already sizable commitment. As such they turned to the then nascent firm of Sun-Manadyne, along with others, extending them several contracts to carry supplies to Republic units in the Outer Rim.
As a new company Sun-Manadyne quickly jumped at the contract; perhaps too quickly. With a very small operation, they quickly had to make the decision to hire freelance pilots to carry goods for them. This choice was at once a blessing and a curse for Sun-Manadyne. They had in their employ some of the best talent in the galaxy, but also some of the most unscrupulous individuals as well. This resulted in several shipments going missing or ending up in the hands of the other side. While unsettling at first the heads of the company saw the benefits of being able to play both sides and soon started taking side-contracts with the Confederacy of Independent Systems, a profit-maximizing tradition that would continue at Sun-Manadyne even to the common era.
The Empire
With the war coming to a close and “peace” threatening to break out across the galaxy it seemed that Sun-Manadyne's contractual volume might decrease, that is until they were approached by one Bail Organa. Organa set up a standing account with Sun-Manadyne to transport goods and materials to an emerging but powerfully aligned client with ties to Alderaan. Smuggling was forcefully discouraged during the reign of Emperor Palpatine, but that only increased demand for “discreet logistics” and those who could fulfill challenging contracts even under the watchful eyes of the Empire.
Sun-Manadyne naturally flourished in this period and with the Alliance contract, they did quite well during the Imperial era especially given the institution of the Imperial Credit—a currency accepted virtually everywhere—supplanting traditional smuggler's pay in precious metals and gems making it far easier to secure large payments. Sun-Manadyne was content to continue working relatively small contracts supplying uprisings, warlords, and even legitimate governments as their infrastructure as a company expanded. That is until the Alliance to Restore the Republic called its contract into action.
Open Rebellion
In 2 BBY the Treaty of Corellia was signed officially launching an open campaign against the Empire. Made up of several former politicians of the Delegation of 2,000 they vowed to put an end to the Empire and restore freedom to the people of the Galaxy. For Sun-Manadyne it meant that business really began to take off. It started small, transporting weapons and munitions to back-water worlds in support of the newly outed Rebel Alliance.
With the urgings of Mon Mothma, a Chandrilian and leader of the Alliance, Sun-Manadyne secretly supported the Rebellion, while officially remaining a neutral company, working for the highest bidder—and for the survival of the company that was always the Empire—while retaining its impartiality in the Galaxy. During this time however one out of every three shipments destined for Imperial units was “captured” by the Alliance. Of course Sun-Manadyne still retained plausible deniability when it came to lost shipments because of heavy reliance on freelance contractors. It was a fine line they trod but it proved successful after the fall of the Empire.
The Bursa Market
Ironically, the years were leaner for Sun-Manadyne following the ascension of the New Republic they helped to install. Having been a supporter of the Alliance had been very profitable but several of the heads of the company had retired from their posts looking to enjoy the relative quiet of a new galaxy. Sun-Manadyne tried to diversify its business model by forming a security division hoping to provide protection for new heads of state as they emerged on worlds now free of the Empire's grasp.
The Imperial Remnant was a very real concern to many of the emerging planetary leaders and not all could yet afford the armed forces necessary for even basic security as they sought to build the democracy the Empire had denied them. Unfortunately for Sun-Manadyne, the Remnant had learned of the company's role in aiding the Rebellion and refused to contract with them, even going so far as intercepting Sun-Manadyne shipping that ventured too close to Remnant space. Due to increased losses, despite a spike in work during the Black Fleet Crisis, Sun-Manadyne lost significant market-share in 17 ABY and drastically scaled back operations to compensate.
Yuuzhan Vong Invasion
In the wake of the Yuuzhan Vong invasion into the galaxy, demand soared for the kind of expertise Sun-Manadyne had built its reputation around. In 25 ABY the company re-surfaced and began reaching out to the New Republic seeking contracts to aid besieged worlds during the invasion. Sun-Manadyne began to provide relocation and welfare services for refugees and conducted shipments of medical supplies and goods to enslaved worlds and their resistance movements.
When the Yuuzhan Vong captured Coruscant, Sun-Manadyne undertook the dangerous task of supporting and aiding the occupied world. After the conflict came to its end, Sun-Manadyne was instrumental in the rebuilding efforts, relocating populations and helping to restore infrastructure, trade, and security.
Dark Contracts
Sun-Manadyne had a special, though one-sided, relationship with Independent House Revan. The company first came to the attention of Lord Firefox during his reign as Grand Master of the Dark Jedi Brotherhood. Contracted indirectly, Sun-Manadyne provided logistical support for several minor shipping contracts for the Brotherhood without knowledge of whom the actual client was; such practices were commonplace for the company and desirable for those wishing to remain anonymous.
Many years later, Adept Troutrooper of House Revan surreptitiously negotiated several third-party contracts with Sun-Manadyne to create various in-roads into the company. As the opening move of a gambit designed to provide the House with several necessary functions to its operation, the company would play an unwitting role primarily in the passing of communications between various elements of Revan's infrastructure.
Using Sun-Manadyne's humble but efficient communications networks the House was able to piggy-back portions of its encoded data across the galaxy. Though important to Revan's operations, the company was only one of several such entities unaware of the House's actions and influence within their organization.