The FFTC, as it is known, isn't really one trading company but a guild-like group of lots of small merchant houses and indepentent traders. It works the local trade routes that the big merchant houses don't find profitable, and opens up new trade routes where possible - its co-operative nature means it is flexible, and can manage the shorter, less profitable, sections of a trade route effectively.

The FFTC was founded when LAS (A family run fleet from Port Elizabeth and Sakhar) and newly established Occidental Trading (PC adventurers who managed to 'acquire' a couple of ships) groups decided to work together and open up a trade route between Hann and Sakar, along the east coast of the Hann Sea. It grew as other small merchant houses and independent traders join the group, and now its vessels trade all around the Hann Sea.

More broadly, the FFTC offers low-cost transport all around the coast of the Hann Sea. Long journeys are often slow, and may involve a number of vessel changes - but that works for some people and cargoes, and it is cheaper than taking the faster ships that belong to the large merchant houses. Moreover, they trade, legitimately, with some of the cities on the north coast of Sakhar, and independent holdings down as far as Finaroka. This makes it one of very few truly international organisations, with members from all around the Hann Sea.

Members give each other discounts at their port facilities, and cooperate to arrange longer multi-vessel journeys for their passengers and cargo, making longer passages easier, when time isn't important. The FFTC also acts as a pension fund, and ships brokerage for its members, if vessels and port facilities are given to the FFTC (Either left in a will or as a gift) the group will ensure that the owner's dependents are cared for and receive a small pension. Ships are generally sold on (often to experienced officers on other FFTC ships, via a loan) although they tend to keep, and manage, the port facilities themselves.

While several independent traders are members of the FFTC, the largest groups are:

• The LAS Company - Based in Port Elizabeth - Trade between East Sakhar, Porters Bar and The Farran Isles
• Occidental Trading - Based in the Farran Isles, works mainly between Porters Bar and Stilan (in the strongholds)
• Kassen Kompany - based in Bime, and works between Angasa and The Razardi Islands.
• House Marisi - Based in Angasa, and works between Stilan and Bime, in The Far Coast states.
• Al’Nisr Shipping - based in the Razardi Isles, and trades between Bime, West Sakhara and Finaroka.
• House A’Dair of Porters Bar - Works East Telida, Port Elizabeth and up as far as the Farran Isles.
• The Free Captains of Stilmouth - A local guild of independent merchants, who work between The Farran Isles and Angasa.

• The FFTC owns several small vessels that are generally used to supplement existing trade routes, or work newer routes. They also own port facilities in Urgon and Finaroka.

For more detail, see this page - While it is fairly accurate concerning administration, note that it was written for a colonization game that never happened, and the assets list is certainly wrong!.