POSTED BY: HARD EXIT

In terms of corpsec, Horizon has always been difficult to pin down. Compared to other members of the Big Ten, up until recently they’ve had relatively little classic industry in their portfolio and as such had little need for traditional security at their facilities. But with recent acquisitions, that’s changed a bit. At those subsidiaries where such security is warranted, such as Horizon Transglobal that deals with space tech, or Singularity that handles Matrix tech, the typical security is no better or worse than anywhere else. Officers and supervisors are competent and tend to be loyal to the company because of the nice benefits packages they receive. Combined with Horizon’s extremely popular reputation for being an extremely progressive corporation, this makes it a bit more difficult (but not impossible) to turn an officer against the company. Physical security in these locations tends to be modern but unremarkable. You should always, though, count on security officers at any Horizon facility or subsidiary to greet people and tend to their duties with a smile.

Don’t let it fool you—it’s not the rank-and-file sec-guards manning the guard stations or walking patrols that one needs to worry about. The Dawkins Group always seems to have personnel of some kind around watching over things. They usually have buzz-word-laden job titles like “project efficiency advisor” or “intra-divisional coordinating representative” that grant them all sorts of authority and access to just about anywhere on a Horizon site. Their job of late seems to be to make sure that no bad elements contaminate the Consensus. Funny thing is, the Consensus determines what or who is a bad element.

Oh, that’s lovely. Nothing could go wrong there!

I’ve also been hearing chatter about the Dawkins Group headhunting various interrogation specialists from security and intelligence agencies worldwide. Take that for what you will, but I find the prospect of such individuals working on directives from the Consensus quite disturbing.

Interesting, because I’ve also heard the same but instead of spooks, they’re recruiting a great many psychologists and sociologists from various universities.

While their classic, CSSI-type security is unremarkable, the one area where Horizon security operatives excel is with their executive protection and security details. With most of Horizon’s holdings being media-based in some form, it’s unsurprising that ensuring the protection of their stable of sim and trid stars, producers, and directors is high on the corps’ list of priorities for protection.

When it comes to protecting these assets, Horizon protection details (unofficially called “Protectors” in company parlance) tend to take a layered approach by employing both obvious and undercover agents. At official sites, such as studios, production companies, or location shoots, uniformed studio security is common (especially at the former), but most of the time they’re there just for show (no pun intended). Horizon’s true security is provided by the people you don’t see. Horizon Protectors are chosen not only for their martial skills and ability to protect their principal but also for their ability to blend in into the background. Those who are actual corporate employees or have long-term contracts tend to take on roles such as members of the principal’s staff or entourage. In cases where their primary function is to protect a location and not an individual, they sometimes take on the guise of receptionists, office staff, or maintenance. In short, at a Horizon facility, never assume who is and who isn’t corpsec.

Speaking of short, before he retired last year, a halfer slag named Connors worked at Truman Distribution’s main office as head of their on-site Protectors. Thing was, everyone thought he was just the scruffy janitor. Little did they know that his waddling, rotund frame packed deltagrade ‘ware, and he was known for taking trolls apart with clubs or bare hands. There’s even footage floating around of him taking out a fan/stalker with a fragging mop in less than three seconds. Rumor has it he personally handpicked and trained his successors (yes, plural), but no one except top execs knows who they are.

Horizon Protectors aren’t exactly a corporate unit per se; rather, they’re individual or multiple specialists hired to provide security either for a specific amount of time or on long-term assignments. And yes, it’s not uncommon for Horizon Johnsons to hire trusted ‘runners for some of the temp jobs, especially when the job is short notice.

More often than not, Horizon (and other corps, for that matter) will hire runners to act as advance scouts of an area rather than the actual protection detail. Those who are tapped for protection details tend to be company people in all but name.

Protectors also have access to a variety of exotic and regular weapon types. While they tend to use less-than lethal approaches as much as possible, Protectors have zero issue with making problems simply disappear. Corpsec is one of the areas where Horizon can be just as ruthless as the rest.