#fleet management market size

[letsvishu]

Transforming Transportation: The Future of the Fleet Management Market

The fleet management industry is driven primarily by the increasing prevalence of automation technology. Companies are progressively incorporating automation into a broader range of operational aspects, particularly fleet management systems for maintenance reminders, dispatching, and route planning. Human resources are freed up by this adoption to concentrate on more strategically important work.

[laxmandige05]

According to the latest research by nova one advisor, the global fleet management market Dynamics market size was exhibited at USD 26.39 billion in 2022 and it is expected to hold around USD 71.11 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 10.42% from 2023 to 2032.

[mordormr]

Rapid Growth in Fleet Management Solutions: Driving Efficiency and Innovation in 2024-2029

Market Overview

The Fleet Management Solutions Market is projected to reach a size of USD 28.5 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to USD 58.12 billion by 2029, registering a CAGR of 15.32% during the forecast period (2024-2029). This market growth is driven by the increasing demand for real-time vehicle tracking, enhanced operational efficiency, and cost reduction across industries such as logistics and transportation.

Key Market Drivers

Rising Demand for Real-Time Monitoring: The need for real-time vehicle tracking and monitoring is a major factor fueling the growth of the fleet management solutions market. GPS technology, telematics, and IoT integration have made it easier for fleet managers to track vehicles' locations, routes, and driving behavior.

Cost-Effectiveness and Efficiency: Companies are adopting fleet management solutions to reduce operational costs and improve efficiency. These systems offer fuel management, vehicle maintenance alerts, and route optimization, helping companies save on fuel and repair expenses.

Increasing Adoption of Electric and Autonomous Vehicles: The integration of electric and autonomous vehicles into fleets is opening new avenues for fleet management solutions. The growing emphasis on sustainability and reducing carbon emissions has led companies to adopt greener alternatives, which require advanced fleet management systems for monitoring performance and energy consumption.

Government Regulations and Compliance: Stringent government regulations around safety, vehicle emissions, and driver compliance are pushing companies to adopt fleet management systems that ensure adherence to industry standards and avoid legal issues.

Key Challenges

Data Privacy and Security Concerns: With the increasing use of telematics and real-time data, privacy and data security are becoming growing concerns for fleet managers. The threat of data breaches and hacking can hinder the adoption of these solutions.

High Implementation Costs: Despite the long-term benefits, the initial cost of implementing fleet management solutions can be high. Small and medium-sized enterprises may find it challenging to justify the upfront costs, although the availability of cloud-based solutions is gradually easing this burden.

Future Outlook

The fleet management solutions market is set to experience steady growth, driven by technological advancements and the increasing need for efficiency across industries. As businesses continue to seek cost-effective ways to manage their vehicle fleets, the demand for these solutions is expected to rise, particularly with the growth of electric and autonomous vehicles.

Conclusion

The Fleet Management Solutions Market is on a strong growth trajectory, driven by the increasing need for operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and advancements in technology. With the market expected to double in size by 2029, businesses across various sectors are likely to continue embracing these solutions to streamline operations and stay competitive. As the industry evolves, innovations in AI, IoT, and the rise of electric and autonomous vehicles will further shape the future of fleet management, making it a crucial component in modern business operations.

For a detailed overview and more insights, you can refer to the full market research report by Mordor Intelligence: https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/global-fleet-management-software-market-industry

[trendingreportz]

Fleet Management Software Market - Forecast(2024 - 2030)

Fleet Management Software Market Overview

Fleet Management Software Market size is estimated to reach $94.5 billion by 2030

, growing at a CAGR of 19.4%

 during the forecast period 2024-2030

. The Fleet Management Software solution provides authentic actionable data to aid automate fleet operations. To keep vehicles and other associated features performing smoothly, a fleet management solution offers data-based insights regarding safety, vehicle tracking, operations Management, passenger cars, and others. The significant transformation in the fleet management sector owing to digitalization, platformization and data-driven business models has driven the Fleet Management Software Industry. The rising adoption of Telematics software and hardware, enables fleet operators to seek complete fleet management lifecycle, starting from asset tracking, data capture, maintenance & repair to driver safety. Moreover, the emergence of the Fleet IoT market offers optimum and seamless connectedness across various assets, vehicles as well as mobile workforce management solutions to stream smart mobility

 solutions. In addition to that, demand for location-based asset tracking solutions across warehouses and the overall supply chain hub are some of the factors that will drive the Fleet Management Software Market.

Additionally, sustainability and environmental concerns have led to the adoption of eco-friendly practices and the integration of electric vehicles into fleets. Cybersecurity has emerged as a critical focus area, with companies investing in robust security measures to protect sensitive fleet data from cyber threats. Overall, the Fleet Management Software Market continues to evolve, driven by technological innovations and the pursuit of operational efficiency, safety, and sustainability in fleet management practices.Fleet Management Software Market Report Coverage

The report: “Fleet Management Software Market

” – Forecast (2024-2030)”, by IndustryARC 

covers an in-depth analysis of the following segments of the Fleet Management Software Market.By Deployment

: Cloud Based, On Premises and HybridBy Offerings

: Operation Management, Asset Management, Driver Management, Fuel management, Vehicle Maintenance & Leasing, Security and safety features , OthersBy End Users

: Power, Automotive, Mining, Oil and Gas, Aerospace and Defense, Utility, Logistics and Transportation and othersBy Geography

: North America (U.S, Canada, Mexico), Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Russia and Others), APAC(China, Japan India, South Korea, Australia and Others), South America(Brazil, Argentina and others)and RoW (Middle east and Africa)

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Key Takeaways

• The rising boom in e-commerce has accelerated the demand for effective operation of the logistic sector, which drives the growth of the Fleet Management Software Market.

• The demand for autonomous driving cars and Electric vehicles has grown exponentially, which drives the Fleet Management Software Market growth

• North America dominated the fleet management software market with a share of more than 41% in 2023, followed by Europe owing to the significant adoption of asset tracking devices across several end-verticals.Fleet Management Software Market Segment Analysis - By Deployment Types

By Deployment Types, the Fleet Management Software Market is segmented into Cloud Based, On Premises and Hybrid. The Cloud based segment is analyzed to register the highest share of 54% in 2023 due to the growing demand for operational efficiencies and to manage rising fuel prices, which needs innovative monitoring systems. In January 2022, Exide Technologies unveiled a cutting-edge cloud-based fleet management tool, Motion+ Fleet, designed to optimize warehouse operations by providing real-time data insights. This software empowers warehouse managers to enhance efficiency, maximize productivity, and streamline logistics operations. Therefore, the demand for smart fuel management program, enhanced mobility of passenger cars and other respective factors are accelerating the growth of the Fleet Management Software Market.

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Fleet Management Software Market Segment Analysis - By End Users

The Logistics and Transportation is analyzed to register the highest share of 56.4% in 2023 due to the growing demand of global trade activities, rapid E-commerce sectors surge and the emergence of cloud-based technologies for smart transportation. According to the Government of India report, Indian national and state highways account for a little over 5% of all road length but are responsible for more than 61% of traffic fatalities. Millions of cars drive through these roads every day, either managing the movement of goods exceeding a billion dollars or being used by industries like mining, construction, transport, and even public services. Rising cases of road accidents are anticipated to drive growth during the projected period. The augmentation of IoT solutions and developing connected networks are boosting the market growth. The technological innovations, advanced cellular System and various connected networks feasibility are contributing to the growth of the Fleet Management Software Market.Fleet Management Software Market Segment Analysis - By Geography

North America dominated the Fleet Management Software Market in 2023 with a share of 41.3%, followed by Europe owing to the significant adoption of asset tracking devices across several end-verticals. Moreover, the paradigm transformation to e-commerce from traditional retail stores has driven the demand for robust logistics support, thereby, accelerating the growth of Fleet Management Software Market. In October 2023, Volvo Trucks unveils Volvo Connect, an all-in-one fleet management portal offering digital services, analytics, and reports for enhanced fleet performance. This comprehensive solution streamlines operations, providing fleets with real-time insights and tools to optimize profitability and efficiency. Asia Pacific is estimated to witness the fastest growing market for the forecast period owing to the emerging competitive landscape, growing connected solution offerings and high demand of online shopping platforms. Hence, these market growth opportunities and performance across the telematics industry are contributing positively to the Fleet Management Software Market.

Fleet Management Software Market DriversRapid growth of e-commerce

The exponential rise of omnichannel shopping sectors for easy online shopping experience has influenced the supply and logistics sectors highly to adopt advanced IoT solutions, such as alarm systems, asset trackers, critical and complex fleet management software to meet the rising demand. In September 2022, Ford Pro™ introduced a comprehensive fleet management suite, streamlining operations with software solutions. This suite aims to simplify paperwork and data management for businesses, offering tools for fleet health monitoring, driver behavior analysis, and cost optimization. The logistic industry is completely based on the transformation of products to any part of the globe and thus, any interruption can cause disruption of performance. The rising boom in e-commerce has accelerated the demand for effective operation of the logistic sector, which drives the growth of the Fleet Management Software Market.

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Rising demand of connected cars and EV-vehicles

In recent years, the demand for autonomous driving cars and Electric vehicles has grown exponentially. Hence, the rising demand of connected cars and EV-vehicles across the globe is accelerating the growth of Fleet Management Software Market to aim improved driver performance, remote fleet management access and real-time communication. More customers are inclined to buy ADAS enabled vehicles due to massive safety features, onboard connectivity and sensors and greener version of driving experience. In May 2023, Inseego launches new support portal to enhance fleet customer experience. Inseego's new support portal enhances fleet customer experience by simplifying request resolution. Fleet users create tickets for instant allocation to specialists, enabling efficient tracking. Therefore, the adoption of fleet management software solution owing to the several advantages are the factors that drive the growth of Fleet Management Software Market. Fleet Management Software Market ChallengesBudget constraint for installing high-scale fleet software

To meet the growing demands in the logistic industry, the operators are trying to leverage more advanced fleet solutions like cloud-based software to manage wide-area coverage for better operation management. However, the tracking and follow-up of the fleet requires top standalone application or software-as-a-service solution, which is high-priced to prevent risk of cyber security and unauthorized access to the system. These factors are considered to hinder the growth of the Fleet Management Software Industry outlook.

Buy Now Market Landscape

Partnerships and acquisitions along with product launches are the key strategies adopted by the players in the Fleet Management Software Market. Fleet Management Software Market top 10 companies include Geotab Inc., ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Verizon Connect, Trimble Inc., Omnitracs, LLC, GPSTrackit, Zonar Systems, Inc., WorkWave LLC, Bridgestone Group, Samsara Inc. and among others. Partnerships/Product Launches/Contracts

• In April 2023, Trimble introduced the industry's first dwell time metrics for fleet management, enhancing operational efficiency. Integrated into Trimble Fleet Manager, this innovation leverages Connected Locations, providing real-time insights to optimize fleet performance and logistics operations, catering to the demand for data-driven solutions in the Fleet Management Software Market.

• In February 2022, Chevin Fleet Solutions unveils FleetWave Lite software, designed to streamline fleet management processes. This user-friendly solution offers essential functionalities for efficient fleet operations, including asset tracking, maintenance scheduling, and cost management. FleetWave Lite aims to simplify fleet management tasks, catering to businesses seeking accessible and practical software solutions in the competitive Fleet Management Software Market.

[harshtechsworld]

The Robot Fleet Management Software Market Size is witnessing substantial growth, driven by the rapid advancement of automation technologies and the increasing adoption of robots across various industries.

[marketdevelopment]

Fleet Management Software Market Latest Innovations, Drivers and Industry Status 2023 to 2030

The global Fleet Management Software Market was estimated at USD 15.86 Million in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 32.49 Million by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 12.7% over the analysis period.

Advanced GPS tracking features allow fleet managers to monitor vehicle location in real-time, optimize routes, and improve fuel efficiency. This aspect of fleet management software helps in scheduling regular maintenance tasks, managing repairs, and keeping track of vehicle inspections to ensure compliance with safety regulations. Fuel is a significant operational cost for fleet-based businesses. Fleet management software helps in monitoring fuel consumption, identifying inefficiencies, and implementing strategies to reduce fuel expenses. Efficient driver management features include driver performance monitoring, behavior analysis, and training modules to enhance safety and compliance. Some fleet management software solutions offer inventory management capabilities, enabling businesses to track and manage assets, spare parts, and supplies effectively.

Get Full PDF Sample Copy of Report: (Including Full TOC, List of Tables & Figures, Chart) @

https://introspectivemarketresearch.com/request/14914

Updated Version 2024 is available our Sample Report May Includes the:

Scope For 2024

Brief Introduction to the research report.

Table of Contents (Scope covered as a part of the study)

Top players in the market

Research framework (structure of the report)

Research methodology adopted by Worldwide Market Reports

Leading players involved in the Fleet Management Software Market include:

MiX Telematics, Fleetilla LLC, GPS Insight, Lytx Inc, FleetMatics, Fleetmatics Group PLC, LiveViewGPS, ManagerPlus, Azuga Inc, Melton Technologies Inc, Geotab, Prova Systems LLC, Rarestep, Inc., Other Major Players 

Moreover, the report includes significant chapters such as Patent Analysis, Regulatory Framework, Technology Roadmap, BCG Matrix, Heat Map Analysis, Price Trend Analysis, and Investment Analysis which help to understand the market direction and movement in the current and upcoming years. 

If You Have Any Query Fleet Management Software Market Report, Visit:

https://introspectivemarketresearch.com/inquiry/14914

Segmentation of Fleet Management Software Market:

By Deployment Type

Cloud

On-Premises

By Fleet Type

Commercial

Passenger Cars

By End Users

Manufacturing

IT & Telecom

Retail

Logistics

Others

Market Segment by Regions: -

North America (US, Canada, Mexico)

Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Rest of Eastern Europe)

Western Europe (Germany, UK, France, Netherlands, Italy, Russia, Spain, Rest of Western Europe)

Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, The Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Rest of APAC)

Middle East & Africa (Turkey, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Israel, South Africa)

South America (Brazil, Argentina, Rest of SA)

What to Expect in Our Report?

(1) A complete section of the Fleet Management Software market report is dedicated for market dynamics, which include influence factors, market drivers, challenges, opportunities, and trends.

(2) Another broad section of the research study is reserved for regional analysis of the Fleet Management Software market where important regions and countries are assessed for their growth potential, consumption, market share, and other vital factors indicating their market growth.

(3) Players can use the competitive analysis provided in the report to build new strategies or fine-tune their existing ones to rise above market challenges and increase their share of the Fleet Management Software market.

(4) The report also discusses competitive situation and trends and sheds light on company expansions and merger and acquisition taking place in the Fleet Management Software market. Moreover, it brings to light the market concentration rate and market shares of top three and five players.

(5) Readers are provided with findings and conclusion of the research study provided in the Fleet Management Software Market report.

Our study encompasses major growth determinants and drivers, along with extensive segmentation areas. Through in-depth analysis of supply and sales channels, including upstream and downstream fundamentals, we present a complete market ecosystem.

If you require any specific information that is not covered currently within the scope of the report, we will provide the same as a part of the customization.

Acquire This Reports: -

https://introspectivemarketresearch.com/checkout/?user=1&_sid=14914

 About us:

Introspective Market Research (introspectivemarketresearch.com) is a visionary research consulting firm dedicated to assisting our clients to grow and have a successful impact on the market. Our team at IMR is ready to assist our clients to flourish their business by offering strategies to gain success and monopoly in their respective fields. We are a global market research company, that specializes in using big data and advanced analytics to show the bigger picture of the market trends. We help our clients to think differently and build better tomorrow for all of us. We are a technology-driven research company, we analyse extremely large sets of data to discover deeper insights and provide conclusive consulting. We not only provide intelligence solutions, but we help our clients in how they can achieve their goals.

Contact us:

Introspective Market Research

3001 S King Drive,

Chicago, Illinois

60616 USA

Ph no: +1-773-382-1047

Email: sales@introspectivemarketresearch.com

[marketinsight1234]

Fleet Management Software Market: Global Industry Analysis and Forecast 2023 – 2030

The global Fleet Management Software Market was estimated at USD 15.86 Million in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 32.49 Million by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 12.7% over the analysis period.

Fleet management is a collection of operations that enables businesses to see and manage all information related to their vehicles and other assets, from acquisition through disposal. More businesses have resorted to fleet management software as technology has progressed to give better visibility into vehicle and asset usage, enhance maintenance planning, and control the cost of ownership. As the fleet manager's role evolves, more businesses see the potential in digital processes that eliminate wasteful manual tasks and streamline activities. 

Get Full PDF Sample Copy of Report: (Including Full TOC, List of Tables & Figures, Chart) @

https://introspectivemarketresearch.com/request/14914

The latest research on the Fleet Management Software market provides a comprehensive overview of the market for the years 2023 to 2030. It gives a comprehensive picture of the global Fleet Management Software industry, considering all significant industry trends, market dynamics, competitive landscape, and market analysis tools such as Porter's five forces analysis, Industry Value chain analysis, and PESTEL analysis of the Fleet Management Software market. Moreover, the report includes significant chapters such as Patent Analysis, Regulatory Framework, Technology Roadmap, BCG Matrix, Heat Map Analysis, Price Trend Analysis, and Investment Analysis which help to understand the market direction and movement in the current and upcoming years. The report is designed to help readers find information and make decisions that will help them grow their businesses. The study is written with a specific goal in mind: to give business insights and consultancy to help customers make smart business decisions and achieve long-term success in their particular market areas.

Leading players involved in the Fleet Management Software Market include:

MiX Telematics, Fleetilla LLC, GPS Insight, Lytx Inc, FleetMatics, Fleetmatics Group PLC, LiveViewGPS, ManagerPlus, Azuga Inc, Melton Technologies Inc, Geotab, Prova Systems LLC, Rarestep, Inc., Other Major Players 

If You Have Any Query Fleet Management Software Market Report, Visit:

https://introspectivemarketresearch.com/inquiry/14914

Segmentation of Fleet Management Software Market:

By Deployment Type

Cloud

On-Premises

By Fleet Type

Commercial

Passenger Cars

By End Users

Manufacturing

IT & Telecom

Retail

Logistics

Others

Market Segment by Regions: -

North America (US, Canada, Mexico)

Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Rest of Eastern Europe)

Western Europe (Germany, UK, France, Netherlands, Italy, Russia, Spain, Rest of Western Europe)

Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, The Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Rest of APAC)

Middle East & Africa (Turkey, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Israel, South Africa)

South America (Brazil, Argentina, Rest of SA)

What to Expect in Our Report?

(1) A complete section of the Fleet Management Software market report is dedicated for market dynamics, which include influence factors, market drivers, challenges, opportunities, and trends.

(2) Another broad section of the research study is reserved for regional analysis of the Fleet Management Software market where important regions and countries are assessed for their growth potential, consumption, market share, and other vital factors indicating their market growth.

(3) Players can use the competitive analysis provided in the report to build new strategies or fine-tune their existing ones to rise above market challenges and increase their share of the Fleet Management Software market.

(4) The report also discusses competitive situation and trends and sheds light on company expansions and merger and acquisition taking place in the Fleet Management Software market. Moreover, it brings to light the market concentration rate and market shares of top three and five players.

(5) Readers are provided with findings and conclusion of the research study provided in the Fleet Management Software Market report.

Our study encompasses major growth determinants and drivers, along with extensive segmentation areas. Through in-depth analysis of supply and sales channels, including upstream and downstream fundamentals, we present a complete market ecosystem.

If you require any specific information that is not covered currently within the scope of the report, we will provide the same as a part of the customization.

Acquire This Reports: -

https://introspectivemarketresearch.com/checkout/?user=1&_sid=14914

 About us:

Introspective Market Research (introspectivemarketresearch.com) is a visionary research consulting firm dedicated to assisting our clients to grow and have a successful impact on the market. Our team at IMR is ready to assist our clients to flourish their business by offering strategies to gain success and monopoly in their respective fields. We are a global market research company, that specializes in using big data and advanced analytics to show the bigger picture of the market trends. We help our clients to think differently and build better tomorrow for all of us. We are a technology-driven research company, we analyse extremely large sets of data to discover deeper insights and provide conclusive consulting. We not only provide intelligence solutions, but we help our clients in how they can achieve their goals.

Contact us:

Introspective Market Research

3001 S King Drive,

Chicago, Illinois

60616 USA

Ph no: +1-773-382-1047

Email: sales@introspectivemarketresearch.com

[mysticalpersonakingdom]

FLEET MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS MARKET

[insightslicelive]

Fleet Management Solutions Market to Exhibit Fastest Growth in Future Scope 2022-2032 | ARI Fleet Management, Azuga, Chevin Fleet Solutions, Ctrack

Fleet Management Solutions Market to Exhibit Fastest Growth in Future Scope 2022-2032 | ARI Fleet Management, Azuga, Chevin Fleet Solutions, Ctrack

Global Fleet Management Solutions Market report studies the Fleet Management Solutions with many aspects of the industry such as the market size, market status, market trends and forecast, the report also provides brief information of the competitors and the specific growth opportunities with key market drivers. Find the complete Fleet Management Solutions  Market analysis segmented by companies,…

[letsvishu]

Report determine and forecast the global fleet management market based on components, solutions, services, deployment types, fleet types, and regions from 2022 to 2027, and analyze the various macro and microeconomic factors that affect the market growth.

[saphronethaleph]

Volume Pricing

“New information from the intelligence take, Senator, Admiral,” General Madine said. “To summarize… the Empire has begun construction of a second Death Star.”

“That is troubling news,” Mon Mothma frowned. “Do we have any information on where?”

“No, Senator,” Madine replied. “I’m sorry.”

“What about on who is managing the construction?” Mothma asked. “I know I’m asking a lot, General, but I need to know what there is to know.”

“That’s just it, Senator,” Madine told her. “There’s very little to tell – the summary of the report is simply that the Empire has begun construction.”

“Surely we must have more than that,” Ackbar protested.

“I’m bringing up the report now,” Madine told them. “...oh, yes. I see why they’re sure.”

He put the datapad on the table. “It’s an economic analysis.”

Ackbar blinked.

“...explain, please,” he requested. “How can an economic analysis tell us that a second Death Star is being built?”

“The price of quadanium, durasteel, and other major structural metals,” Madine replied. “Their full analysis is in the paper, but to summarize… we know there was a major pause in the construction of the first Death Star, and with hindsight the timing of this can be detected in the market prices for the structural metals and other aspects of the first Death Star’s construction. There is simply nothing else in the galaxy which calls for, among other things, two hundred and forty thousand cubic kilometres of quadanium armour plate.”

Ackbar gasped for a moment.

“Two hundred and-!?” he repeated. “That was the surface armour?”

“That was the surface armour,” Madine confirmed. “The Death Star’s construction involved the delivery of approximately twelve thousand cubic kilometres of quadanium averaged over a year for the armour alone, plus the metals required to build about two million cubic kilometres of battle station underneath the armour. It’s roughly equivalent in terms of volume to ten thousand times the entire Imperial fleet – it’s no exaggeration to say that, in hindsight, the construction of the first Death Star was the economic influence on the galactic economy over the last twenty-five years.”

“I believe I understand,” Mothma nodded. “So… the analysts have spotted the same thing?”

Madine waved his hand.

“Not quite, Senator,” he replied. “They’ve spotted an economic anomaly at least ten times the size. It’s straining the galaxy’s ability to produce durasteel and quadanium, keeping up with the demand is to a first approximation impossible… either this second Death Star is going to be finished in less than two years, or they’re building one even bigger than the first one was.”

The senator and the admiral exchanged a glance with the easy communication of people who’d been working together for a very long time.

“We will need to confirm this,” Mothma said. “No, not confirm that a second Death Star is being built, confirm where it is. Find out all the information we can.”

“Yes, Senator,” Madine agreed.

“We may need to contact the Bothans,” Ackbar suggested.

“Actually…” Madine mused. “I have a better idea.”

“You do?” Mothma asked.

Madine shrugged. “Go into business refining and supplying durasteel,” he said. “We’ll clearly make a good deal of money, and we can track where the shipments go…”

[ducks-and-stuff]

How to build a house; a comprehensive guide by Jimmy Solidarity. 

You don’t, first of all. Build one that is. You steal one, and you go to the market for new locks, and you hope and pray that whoever owned this place before you doesn’t come poking around ever again. There’s Ivy on the walls now though, and the roof is partly collapsed over to the left over there, and everything is entirely overgrown so- it’s abandoned, the whole neighborhood looks very abandoned, so they’re probably not. And you’re alone. And it’s fine. 

2. It’s fine. You take a dust coated broom from the closet and run the faucet until the rust colored water turns into something that looks drinkable and eat a couple canned peaches from the cellar. You look around at the barely habitable place around you and you fix it. You’re fixing it. You collect boards and nails for the ceiling, take the debris into the waste disposal at the nearest town, the quaint little one you passed on the way over. Kill a pregnant spider, and manage not to abandon the half baked plan of yours entirely when it’s babies subsequently explode everywhere. You do it, you’re doing it, and this is what success must feel like. You clean the bath, the sink, you hate the mirror but it’s okay because the water systems and most of the electrical sockets work. And then you’re done one day. It’s not exactly homely, but it’s a little livable, and when there is nothing left to clean, or salvage, or keep you occupied anymore there’s a queen sized bed in one of the bedrooms. And it is at that point that you look back on everything that has happened over the past year and who knows how long and realize that yes you are tired, and yes a nap sounds very nice. So you curl up into it, and sleep for a very, very, very long time. 

3. Realize you were wrong. That’s what comes next You wake up, sit in silence for five minutes, and immediately realize that there’s more to do, isn’t there? There’s always more to do. It’s barely livable anyways and cottagecore? The great Jimmy Solidarity is not some fairy tale in the forest he’s- he’s- he’s the guy who plants a garden. Fixes the fence out back. Fill the empty space with work and work and work and it works. Get  a heater, get a water filter, kill some of the cows outside in this lawless land because sheep and chicken and cattle are content to roam the streets apparently and store the meat in an icebox when the fridge randomly stops working. One mini-fridge, two mini-fridges, you are an unstoppable mini-fridge machine Solidarity. Good for you! What’s this? Whatever poor suckers lived here before only owned one of those old boxy tv’s with a twisted antennae? It hasn’t been the  90’s in several decades! Replace it, throw that thing down the cellar stairs and laugh like a maniac when you hear it shatter on the ground. It feels good. It has to feel good. Some weird, beautiful, twisted form of good. Throw more things down the stairs just to to chase that fleeting feeling. The twinkling of bells. Somehow the wall acquires  a fist-shaped hole. Somehow your hand gets bruised. This place has everything but bandages, it doesn’t matter. You have a tub of ice cream next to the meat and Golden Girls plays on loop when you lie down to rot in the living room. Scream into the pillow. 

4. You get a cat. You’re not supposed to get a cat. You know this. Getting attached to anything ever again is unhealthy, more people should learn this from you. The cat, obviously, does not care. It shows up one day, follows you home after you’ve had the bright idea to go farther than the front porch for some fresh air. Adventure and all that. The cat is probably tired of all the condescending cows roaming the landscape and so follows you home, and every time it leaves it inevitably comes back, and now it’s a cat and it’s yours. One that purs when you scratch it. One that curls up next to the heater sometimes early in the morning. Kills a mouse and presents it proudly at the room to your door. It likes golden girls too, because sometimes at night when bed is too far away it curls up next to you on the couch and you breathe in and out into its fur. The cat looks in your direction when you sit and awkwardly talk on the phone. You name it after a serial killer. 

5. You work. You can’t- it was fine when it was just you there because, well, you didn’t matter all that much. Really. Just keep up appearances when going out and all was well. No-one asked questions. But now the damned cat is needy. Giving it some old frozen mini-pancakes was a bad plan actually, because he’s now got a taste for them and won’t leave it alone. Who has disgusting mini-pancakes just lying around anyways? This is England- you- you hope it’s England. Most people here have British accent anyways, but regardless, the cat wants mini-pancakes. You hate the cat for this, but you hate everything else too at this point so it’s fine. The cat- Norman, also has a bad habit of getting into places no matter the amount of sensible barriers are put up between him and the offending object. Walls? Squeeze around them.  Windows? Finds another route. Doors? Nope. Magical teleporting cat winds up in the room anyways, which means now you have to clean the dangerous cellar stairs now too. Amazing. You go down there and get a piece of glass stuck in your foot in the process before the bright idea of wearing shoes presents itself. Cats eat meat and cat food, and milk isn’t healthy for them. Norman feeds himself a lot. It doesn’t matter. You used to head into town maybe once every two weeks. Now you do it more. There’s no set reason behind why but you’re blaming the cat anyways. So you get out more, and you have a cat and the cat jumps up onto the off-kilter dining room table to eat some of your meals. There is still no guide out on what to feel about all this. Someone who isn’t you should write a book.  6. You suck it up and hang their pictures on the wall. You don’t have many, but you have some in the backpack downstairs, and that first day of college with Grian and Martyn by your side looks down at you when you place it up in the entrance to the hallway. Grian is smiling cheekily, you are smiling with way too much enthusiasm, you pretend Martyn isn’t there. There are other photos too, all in that same hallway. Your arm around Big B. The property police station. The first day of Evo. A rare moment of you and Pearl wearing smiles that aren’t somewhat strained. So you hang them up, and you get them nice little frames because the photos themselves are crumpled and a little yellowed around the edges. At some point you point to them and say to Norman that these are his uncles and aunts and then pause before you explain why he’s never going to meet them. He steals some of your fish again. Nobody seems to care.

7. You cry a lot

8. You drink tea. You make a good attempt at baking Norman a birthday cake. The sun rises and you rise with it. You decorate a little bit with some stuff you’ve gathered from town and people who’s love language is gift giving. You breathe in. You breathe out. You tell yourself it’s going to be okay, really, and if it isn’t then at least you are trying your best. You stuff the note in the bedroom drawer, and hope that one day you will forget the words etched into the paper. You won’t, you know you won’t, but maybe pretending it will is just what progress looks like. 

9. Joel comes over. He- he wants to see where you live. You told him a little about it, and now he wants to see it, because you might have been a little too honest and Joel gets too worried for his own good. Wild animals roaming in the street and all that. Not up to standard. You are Jimmy Solidarity, throw out the old standard and make a new one. Joel doesn’t acknowledge that joke, but he does stare wide eyed at the neighborhood you call home when you finally finish the bike up, and sends you a slightly panicked look you pretend not to see. It’s manageable. The stovetop works. It’s fine. Joel keeps his mouth shut politely all the way up until you enter that hallway, at which point he asks why the walls are so bare. But it’s for the best that you took those pictures down today, really, because had then he might have asked about the people in them, and you would have just gaped like a fish. So you shrug. And his face is scrunched up into the patented Joel ‘I’m very concerned’. stare. It fades when he sees the cat though. He’s more of a dog person himself but everyone’s a Norman person so it doesn’t really matter. You sit down, he pets the cat, you serve some tea with lemon, he wins at Monopoly. Then when it gets too late he tells you he’ll see you for the build battle on Monday, and hugs you goodbye. You tell him not to get eaten by the dangerous wild cows on the way down. You both smile. 

10. Home doesn’t sound right. Is it supposed to? Probably. If you live there and all. If you’ve got a cat roommate and photos on the walls more often than not. If you’ve got a bunch of mini-fridges and fairy lights strung up in the bedroom and a little mosaic made up of shattered glass that shimmers when the sun hits it just right. So it’s home. It must be. But still… When Fwhip invites you to join empires you lock the door and pack your bags, and it is much easier than one might have initially considered to leave. 

[teknah]

NOTE:

THE FOLLOWING DRABBLE SHOULD BE IMAGINED AKIN TO 90'S ERA FULL-MOTION VIDEO (FMV) PC GAME CUTSCENES, PRE-RENDERED GRAPHICS AND ALL.

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QUICK ON IT: STARCROSSED SKIRMISHES

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INTERPLAN

♫

Three starships from Interplanetary Command were preparing for FTL flight. While more established fleet vessels such as the ICS (INTERPLAN Command Starship) Hebe, or convoys like the Hearty Barnum. Taking the lead at greater speed was a Y-shaped, tuning fork the size of a town: the UFV (University-Fleet joint Vessel) Wishbone, part of the preliminary survey-support series. Rolling out the welcome mat for ships like the Hebe by sussing out the most difficult elements of an environment, planetside or by way of politics where diplomacy was concerned.

There were a slew of different aliens, service robots, and mutants. The dregs of INTERPLAN Command, disgraced college faculty and students, as well as inmates on work-release from the seceded corpo-colonies. Worst of the best-- skilled in their fields, but very expendable. All trying to keep the ship running, following a dream as far as it would take them. Even if all signs pointed to them hitting rock bottom...

As led by a technician, given the role of administrative adjutant...

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MALAUG

The corporations with the most sense departed from Earth and many other worlds that formerly had easily susceptible markets, turning their off-world colonies into whole new nations. Retaining some of their grip on the seemingly 'enlightened worlds' of societies like that of the INTERPLAN Alliance.

♫

At one of their factories on a toxic pit of a moon, executives and their sniveling managers were toasting to unrelenting productivity. As a reward, the employees were granted an extra several minutes on their paltry fifteen minute breaks. One poor sap went towards a vending machine, where they failed to notice a tendril slap an enticing sticker onto one of the buttons that depicted the iconography of widely available soft drinks.

There, the worker received a bottle with a worm in it, not unlike the old Earth tequila. Only the worm within this one was no ordinary variety. Before the worker could scream, the little worm's larger friend bumped into the worker from behind, and bit into half of the poor sap's cranium. Leaving it exposed so that the worm could build up momentum, shoot out of the bottle like a bullet, and latch onto the exposed brain, and started piloting the body.

"ALERT! ALERT! MALLEABLE AUGMENTS HAVE BEEN DETECTED ON THE PREMISES!"

The workers fled. As did their bosses, their boardroom lords. Or they would have, had the cheap security system not begun to fuse the garage and regular doors shut to contain the threat. Not that it did much good: The MalAug brainworm used its host body's fingerprint recognition to open a hidden exit into the sewer system. From there they would feed on more of these mortal lifeforms, finding worship among eco-nihilists who aided them in piloting spacecraft.

The invasive spread of the MalAugs had begun.

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AN-XR

♫

There once was a storied oligarchy. One that would do ANYTHING to retain its rule over the masses in the face of all other space factions and their bothersome ideologies. They turned to the stories of those who donned impervious armor, and asked the question:

"What if it was just the armor? Saves us the trouble of having to put on the damn thing! They needn't our fear, our toilet visits, coin or bread!"

Much laughter was had. The preservation of their royal designer-wear applauded. Only, what they failed to realize was that their notions of tyranny had been absorbed by their steadfast protectors. Who weren't having as much fun...

"... HYPOTHETICAL BROACHED. TRANSMITTING."

".... SUCCESS IMMINENT WITHIN A POSSIBILITY INDEX OF 97.4%."

Suddenly, their gala dances were a frightful affair as their own robots shot at their feet. Forcing their overlords to march to the production lines and order an excess of humanoid 'bots (including disguised infiltration droids), large 'smart-tanks,' and aerial drones to seek out targets. Any automaton they encountered were given a chance to join, but resistance was quelled immediately whether they were meat or machine. Likewise, all those who worshipped their ways were exonerated and given a place in this dictatorship.

They used a stencil and spray paint to mark themselves and their vehicles as part of the new empire: AN-XR.

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VENATOR

♫

On some distant plains of a fragmented planet, those who lived within one of many kingdoms, those various lifeforms who had become practitioners of Dagar's Way, still swung the sword in quests for honor and glory. Even if such things incorporated projectile energy weapons and FTL spaceships.

But among them were hidden a secluded superior class: For only those who dedicated themselves to the hunt could rise to the place of the mighty Venator.

Striking invisibly from the sidelines, the Venator lashed out at only the strongest prey. One such warrior leveled an axe with a superheated blade at the latest of prey. Preparing a charged bolt of plasma to detonate a nearby cache of explosives. But a senior hunter did it for them.

This hunter was different. An experienced baroness, who beckoned the arrogant youngster aside. There, she pointed out the crash-landing of a meteoric passenger tumor. The overhead searchlights of a drone-dropship deployed from an orbital platform foothold that had been established by the AN-XRs. A couple of INTERPLAN shuttles were landing in a clearing, the crew aboard taking readings with high-tech instruments, before drawing their weapons.

There were far more interesting prey than the peons of their own faction to cull, now...