The legends Miowara Tomocato (FROM Mark E. Rogers' Samurai Cat series) are typical Fu Yuan folk hero-myths. The great diversity of folk he encountered in his adventures suggests that he prowled in some very far away places.

The virtually synonymous Miowara Multiversal Megacorp and Clan Miowara are revered ancestor Tomocato's powerful legacy. Miowara is small as megacorps go, owning very few planets outright, but it is a locally quite powerful in several parts of the Tsvayg Tsurik region.

The great majority of Miowara MM employees are just that, drones of a vast, impersonal profit-hungry corporation. The upper echelons are staffed by Clansfolk, Families of mixed K'zin, Human, and Gowachin ancestry. Clanfolk are more likely to trust their personal slaves than their fellow Clansfolk, but all unite against outsiders. "Outsiders" includes non-Clan employees, but Miowara understands that abused employees are a vulnerability not to be tolerated. Miowara MM takes good care of its own.

Miowara Multiversal Megacorps has interests in gaming establishments, mercenary units, and colonial ventures. Miowara has fulfilled all Harmonic documentation requirements for sub-licensing Privateers for defensive and acquisitioning purposes.

Miowara's great success is credited to a policy of placing Clan members directly in charge of various ventures. Those who fail to produce are culled. Some such are pensioned off and live as interstellar playboys and dilatants. It might be more economical to have such parasites eliminated, preferably in an honorably and profit-engendering manner, but even "mere" playboys can be valuable tools - especially when they are Fu Yuan Clansfolk.

Miowara is small enough that Our Heroes can get a feel for it. But any megacorps is large enough that they can never really know it thoroughly; it will continuously produce surprises, whether they approach it as patron or as opponent - or both.

Miowara can make a great patron. It is large and powerful, but not wasteful of resources. This means it can supply great assistance, but is not compelled to do so. Working for Miowara is likely to bring Our Heroes to the attention of some powerful long-term opponents, whether they are opponents of Miowara or opponents from other factions within the megacorps. In any case, they are likely to operate subtly, using multiple layers of proxies.

As the Miowara MM is owned and managed personaly by members of Clan Miowara, Our Heroes may initially consider Miowara as a whole to be their patron only to discover that they can only count on their own employing department. If they prove themselves, they may get a Clan member as their personal patron. This provides greater protection and resources, but also brings on more danger as they become pawns in internal intrigue.

In Miowara, corporate intrigue and Clan intrigue are indistinguishable.

A Clan member Patron may personally head field ventures. Equally likely, he or she may need to stay at branch headquarters to deal with internal intrigue. As Our Heroes prove themselves, they will be entrusted with ever-greater responsibilities. It is very likely that a lesser Clan member will be put in theoretical authority of a venture with Our Heroes charged to make sure all goes well. "Babysitting" a Fu Yuan Clan member is like babysitting a tiger - and with a K'zin Clansman, that becomes close to literally true.

The ultimate reward would be honorary Clan membership, given by being adopted as a bloodbrother by a Clan member. Such honor also brings challenges, such as an inherent subscription to the Fu Yuan justice system and instant allies and opponents within and between Families and Clans. Operating on the fringes can minimize this impact.

Miowara MM Portfolio

Borzoi Biological Bureau, Purvayer to the Crown

BBB, also known as Big Bad Beasties, supplies unusual animals to laboratories, arenas, safari worlds, and any else who wants them.

BBB's finest hour occured when, having provoked the ire of certain sentient rights activists, BBB was able to use Fu Yuan judicial proceedings and use the activists as quarry.

The honorific Purveyor to the Crown is actually based on rescuing a lost lap dog for Padma Shah Benezrai IV.

Gatling-Uzi-Nagasaki-Smithwesson

Also known as GUNS-R-Us.

During the period between The Harmony's contacting Fu Yuan Clan space and that space being Recovered into The Harmony, GUNS used the motto "Purveyor of armaments AT the Crown."

GUNS remains one of the premire weapons manufacturers in the region. GUNS is not, however, known for its armour. Fu Yuan prefer attack to defense.

GUNS is currently courting Ruby, premier detective of Summa Nulla, to switch from her Smith-Hitachi Godzilla Blaster to GUNS armamants and to do a commercial blitz. Ruby's reply was, "Well, I liked the blitz part."

Edwards-Holdstock Cluster Investments

SEE Tour of the Universe, Malcolm Edwards, Robert Holdstock, et all, 1980

Hyperiona: Black Hole 7 Casino and Bordello

Pyrrus: Hotal Miramar (Quoted from Tour of the Universe, Malcolm Edwards, Robert Holdstock, et all, 1980)

"See Pyrrus and die!"

Looking for a holiday that's really different? Try mysterious, exiting Pyrrus. With its fascinatingly varies animal and plant life it's an ideal place for the zoologist and the adventurous in spirit, young and old. The oceans, with their thirty-meter waves, provide exiting opportunities for surfing, while the many volcanoes provide a constant display of fireworks. You can go on safari in complete safety in one of our armour-plated hovercars, or relax back at the hotel and let the sun and bracing wind complete your tan. Local delicacies are always available in the restaurant (take no notice of their appearance - they're delicious!) And remember, the price of your Cosmic Holiday on Pyrrus includes a gun with powered holster and full medical and survival kits. "See Pyrrus and die!" says the old proverb. And when you visit this wonderful planet you'll understand why!

Location: Quietly situated in a secluded private clearing only three hundred miles from the planet's finest sandy beaches.

Amenities: This is a small hotel which despite frequent changes in management maintains high standards of service and protection. A triple force field augmented by automatic lasers keeps all but the largest predators at bay, and over the last two seasons the Miramar boasts the lowest mortality rate among its guests of any Pyrran hotel.

Entertainment: The hotel has two laser rifle ranges, and is famed for the boisterous revelry of its wakes.

Bedrooms: The luxurious bedrooms, each with double-filtered hot and cold running water, are protected by 10 cm armour plate. Each is equipped with full life-support equipment for seven days.

Note: It is not possible to issue medical or life insurance for holidays on Pyrrus.