Serenity: A Brief Guide to the 'Verse!

[iskander]

If you're going to make your way in the 'Verse, best to understand a bit about its planets and moons. Don't expect to learn everything here—just enough to keep flyin'. For now. The black holds its secrets close. 'Fore you go out, take a little knowledge with you.

The Year 2518

Life in the 'Verse depends a lot on where you live and into what circumstances you were born. The central planets, those as formed the Alliance, are flush with the newest technologies. Folk live in large cities and travel in style on highways of air. Advanced medical care is free to all. There are no slums in those huge cities, but there are many who don't live quite as comfortable as other folk. There are some dark parts to those cities of light, too.

On the Core, those born suckin' on the proverbial silver sthingy lead lives of comparative luxury. They are well educated in good schools. They live in a world full of technological marvels. Their lives are safe and secure. Least for the most part. The biggest threats folk face in the Core cities is that business and dealings are more socially oriented than physical, though there is the occasional duel (despite the laws against dueling). Men and women and children are expected to behave with dignity and grace at all times. Honor and position are just as important as the credits in the family account. Losing face can be as hurtful as a bullet to the belly.

There are some wealthy folk who dwell on the outer planets—often called "the Rim." These folk do their best to copy the lives of the rich on the Core, though truth be told, their Core cousins look down their noses at them. The ordinary folk on the Rim don't much worry about social sparring or high-and-mighty matters of honor. They tend to concern themselves with basic notions, such as where they're going to find their next meal. Survival is at the forefront of their lives. The newly terraformed planets don't have the infrastructure to support many of the luxuries that Core folk take for granted—supermarkets, telephonic communications, and advanced medical care are just a few of the many things in short supply outside the Core. Hard work and the kind of smarts that don't come from books make life work on the Rim.

Some folk tend to lump the worlds in the 'Verse into two categories: civilized and primitive. You've either got the diamond sky elevators of Londinum or the sod huts of Whitefall. Truth is, things just ain't that simple. Most worlds fall somewhere in between. On certain planets and moons, you may fly over miles and miles of desolate landscape, then suddenly see the glittering lights of an enormous city rise up before you.

'Course, life in the 'Verse extends far beyond the planets and moons. Space stations, such as skyplexes and refueling stations, are strung about the system. Such stations offer a wide variety of goods and services and play host to a wide variety of folk, from honest business people to wanted criminals.

When you're flyin' the black, just keep this in mind: not all Core people are good-for-nothing snobs and not all those who dwell on the Rim are good-old-boys. Don't matter where you travel. Folks is folk. Might be a good idea to watch your back no matter where you are.

History is Programmed by the Victors

The history of the 'Verse, as far as most folk are concerned, begins with the terraforming of the central planets. People don't have a real sense of the history of Earth-That-Was, nor do they much care. Not with the pressing concerns of the present weighing them down.

Some cynical folk don't believe much of what is written about the past, thinking it to be the propaganda of an oppressive government. Others are moon-brained enough to swallow every campfire tale. The wise know that if you don't learn from history, you're doomed to repeat it, which it seems we keep doin' again and again and again…

The following text comes courtesy of Andrew Falcon, Professor of History and Planetary Studies, now living on Persephone, retired.

Exodus

The original cradle of humanity, Earth, has long since faded into legend. Dreamers and tale spinners glamorize Earth-That-Was. It's become a sort of Garden of Eden, where mankind was always happy. Its relics are now priceless. Truth is, mankind sucked Earth dry.

The story goes that depleted resources, overpopulation, and a compromised ecosystem forced mankind to abandon Earth-That-Was. Some do speculate, however, that the planet wasn't completely abandoned, that folk still survive on mankind's original home, though there is no proof to back the notion and no easy way to conjure the truth. It is possible that Earth is not quite as drained as the old legends suggest and has been quietly regenerating ever since man left. One day, mankind may find the lost keys to Eden and return to their old home once again. That day is a long way off, though. If it even comes at all.

The wise searched the heavens and found a star system with planets and moons that could, with a little help, support human life. Mankind began the great exodus. They set out in enormous ships they called "arks," after the tale of Noah and his crew. Lacking "faster-than-light" drives, folk found the journey to their new home long and taxing. At least one full generation was born, lived, and died without ever leaving the huge, contained ships that crawled through the black. The initial excitement of the voyage quickly faded into the monotony of keeping the ships moving, keeping the life-support systems intact, and perfecting the technologies that would give future generations good lives on new worlds. Naturally, some folk expected to encounter alien life, but the only signals on the scanner were the natural static of the stars. So far as we know, mankind is alone in the 'Verse.

With so many different folk of all nationalities and races packed inside small ships, the old ethnic and political barriers began to blur. People learned the native tongues of their fellow ship dwellers. Subsequent generations would come to speak fluently the two dominant languages, English and Chinese, and phrases from other cultures.

Not surprising, some folk lost hope along the way. There were accidents, malfunctions. If an ark lost life support, thousands died. The arks became their coffins, forever drifting in the cold. But for every person that lost hope, hundreds were there to keep it alive. Each day brought mankind closer to home.

And then, one day, there it was.

The Age of the Terraformers

Even after continued refinement, the process of terraforming a moon or a planet takes decades. Terraforming requires atmospheric processing plants, the regulation of gravity, environmental adaptation and the introduction of creatures great and small brought from Earth-That-Was—everything from algae and bacteria to insects, birds, and mammals. The power to make such jing chai [brilliant] changes is astonishing, but is not without its limits. While most all terraformed worlds are suitable for human life, each has its own quirks.

The first two planets terraformed and settled were Londinum and Sihnon, and they became the center of culture and business throughout the system. The governments of these two planets took an enlightened view of civilization. They worked to maintain order, but also encouraged diversity of language, ethnicity, religion, and expression of thought.

Despite all the best efforts and intentions of the original founders, the problems of the common folk did not go away with the formation of new worlds. Mankind is restless, always looking to find greener pastures somewhere else. Pioneers left the crowded cities and traveled out to the most newly terraformed worlds, hoping to build a better life for themselves.

As mankind spread out, he brought with him his usual miseries: greed, corruption, crime. Disagreement over resources, trade, and political influence led to general unrest among the planets. A movement began in the oldest, most stable planets to form a unified parliamentary system of government that would work to regulate such matters and keep the peace. The popular idea was quickly ratified and the Alliance was formed.

The Alliance was started out of an idealistic belief that a strong central government that controlled every aspect of a person's life, from cradle to grave, could provide that person a better, safer, and more secure life. Some folk in the Alliance truly believed this and they dedicated their lives to bringing this about. Other folk saw this as a chance to grab power for themselves.

The Parliament formed a military council that acted quickly to quell any unrest among the Core planets and their neighbors. Maintaining order meant keeping tight control over the populace, and that led to the creation of many secret programs. Their hope was to make people obedient, complacent, compliant—"better" by the government's definition.

The Alliance was the protective parent. The Core worlds were model children. But the Alliance had another problem. They feared their "good children" were going to be corrupted by the bad seeds who lived on the wrong side of the 'Verse. The worlds on the Border and the Rim were self-governing, outside the limits of Alliance control. Each world had its own set of laws and rules that suited its own particular needs. Folk living on these frontier planets had been forced to be self-reliant in order to survive, and they had come to be free-thinkers who saw no need for a lot of government meddling. The Alliance considered such independence a threat to civilization. (They also considered that a lot of valuable resources and real estate were outside their control!) For the benefit of all people in the 'Verse, the Alliance decided that every planet in the system should come under Alliance rule, whether its people wanted it or not.

Idealistic folk of the Core planets thought this was a great idea. Doesn't everyone would want to live on a safe, civilized world where folk are cared for by their betters? The movement for Unification spread like wildfire through dry brush. The leaders on the Core thought they had only to open their arms in a wide embrace and those poor benighted souls on the Rim would come running home to their mothers.

Those on the Border did come running. Only problem—they carried guns.

Unification War

The War for Unification was the most devastating war in human history. All those who lived through it are marked, like a scar left behind by an old wound. (Just that some happen to have big scars traced all 'cross their faces while others have tiny ones hidden away.) Outer planets, including Shadow, Persephone, and Hera, mustered forces and formed an alliance of their own—the Independent Faction (known as "Browncoats," thanks to the brown dusters their soldiers took to wearing). The Parliament of the Alliance instituted a draft to build its forces. They were considerably astonished to learn that more than half of the Independent forces were composed of volunteers. The Alliance (known as the "Purple Bellies" for their style of dress) had the manpower, the ships, and technology to make the result of the war a forgone conclusion—but no one anticipated that freedom would be something so many folk would be willing to die to protect.

The war raged for just over five years, taking place on land, sea, and in the dark of space. The largest space battle in terms of scale and human cost was the Battle of Sturges, one in which countless ships were destroyed, creating a massive graveyard preserved in the vacuum of the black. The largest land battle, the one that brought about the end of the war, was fought on the planet Hera in Serenity Valley. This battle raged on for seven weeks before the Independent High Command surrendered. Even then, some of the Browncoats continued to fight on for two weeks after that. Those soldiers who continued to fight even after being ordered to lay down arms were captured and tried for war crimes. Ultimately, the Alliance released the soldiers and officers as a peaceful gesture to those outer planets now under its rule. Some look upon those who fought in the Battle of Serenity as criminals. Others see them as big, d**n heroes.

Since the battles were mostly fought on the Border and the Rim, the Core planets escaped unscathed. To this day, many outer planets still bear terrible scars. Shadow was effectively destroyed, and it remains uninhabitable seven years later. Major cities on Athens were bombed. Several key land battles were fought on Persephone. Moons that had no strategic value, such as Whitefall and Jiangyin, were untouched, but they still suffered as a result of the disruption of trade. Supplies had been hard to get as it was, and the war made it harder. Almost every person living on those planets saw their homes leveled, their businesses fall into ruin, their loved ones killed or maimed—all in the name of making their lives better.

Small wonder folk are still bitter.

The here and now

Life in the 'Verse has returned to normal—leastways on the surface. In truth, no one has forgotten and few have forgiven. The Alliance now has jurisdiction over every inhabited planet in the system. The Alliances does not fully control everything within its farflung territory. In reality, the Alliance only has full control over the Core planets. On these worlds, the eyes of the Alliance are everywhere. Federal police can be called at a moment's notice, and cameras record every citizen's every move. The Core worlds have the best comforts that money can buy. 'Course, every citizen pays for such security and comfort with more than a bit of his freedom.

The outer planets were meant to be kept under the same level of strict control, but the Alliance is short on manpower and ships. They just don't have enough folk to keep a proper eye on things. Yes, it's true that they hire security firms to help enforce their laws and maintain order. And they send their hulking patrol ships out into the black to remind everyone who is in charge. Still, the cracks in the system are large enough for folk to fly a Firefly through.

Take slavery, for example. Slavery is outlawed by the Alliance government, but it's an open secret that terraforming companies, mine owners and the wealthy on the Rim regularly use slave labor in their operations, and pay big sums for human cargo. Every so often, the Alliance will bust one of these owners and free the slaves—always looks good on the nightly news. But then it's back to business as usual. Same with indentured servants. That's not legal, either, but most folk on the Border planets accept indentured servitude as a way of life. If you're desperate for the credits and you got nothing to offer up as collateral except yourself, then that's what you do. Dohn ma? [understand?]

Goverments

These days, there is only one central government in the 'Verse. Leastways, that's what the Alliance wants you to believe. It's hard work to rule over a whole star system of bazillions of people and hundreds of worlds, especially when so many of those worlds are so very far away from the Core. Some in the Alliance might be starting to wonder if maybe they bit off more protein than they can chew by trying to extend their control over the outer planets. Some might be thinking they made a mistake. If they do, they're keeping mighty quiet about it. These days, the Alliance is all about keeping things quiet.

There are local governments on the Border and Rim planets. Cities have mayors. Planets have governors. Moons have magistrates. All these answer to the Alliance. At least, that's the way it's supposed to work. Local officials on the outer worlds tend to wield heaps more power then their counterparts on the Core, just because no one’s close enough by to tell them they can’t.

The Independent Faction is gone, but that isn't to say there are no more Independents. Some are still fighting the war, though now they do it more by being an annoyance than a major threat. But over the last few years, some of these folk have left off fighting guerrilla actions and are now fighting on the political front. Be right interesting to see what happens when someone from the inside starts prying open secret doors.

Then of course, there are the corporations. Large corporations control powerful lobbies that have considerable influence inside the government. Favors are traded and eyes stay blind and the wheels of commerce and politics keep turning. We're going take a brief look at all this, just so you know where you stand.

The Anglo-Sino Alliance

The Anglo-Sino Alliance is the governing body for the entire system. Originally formed between the two first-settled planets, Londinum and Sihnon (where the "Anglo" and "Sino" come from), the Alliance is rich and powerful, with resources that most folk can't begin to imagine—manpower, intelligence-gathering, military might, and technological innovation. And, like an overprotective parent, it thinks it knows what's best for its "children"—all those who live and work under its rule. The Alliance government believes that by controlling information, technologies and even people's lives, they can forge a better 'Verse, one where people live in peace and no one ever goes hungry. Some call this Utopia. Others call it hell.

Londinum is the formal seat of government, home to Parliament and the Prime Minister. While every planet (at least within the Core) is allowed to organize its own affairs on a planetary level, system-wide policy is set by legislation. The planet of Sihnon is home to the headquarters of the trade associations and guilds in the system. The most powerful of these have their academies here. Trade tariffs for all manner of goods are established in Sihnon's bureaucratic halls.

Most people of the Alliance are allowed a say in their government. Anyone can stand for a seat in the Parliament and be voted in by the home folk. But the money required to run a campaign generally prevents the common man from ever winning a governmental position. To raise the necessary funds, one must make deals with businesses, guilds, and private interest groups. As to voting, only those who are "full citizens of the Alliance" actually get a vote. Folk who fought in or supported the Independents are not considered "full citizens." (After all, if they couldn't be trusted to fight for the right side, how could they be trusted to vote for the right candidate?) Thus only candidates who support the Alliance are ever elected. That law is due to expire after ten years, though there are some on the Core worlds who are pushing for it to be extended.

Since the Alliance can't be everywhere at once (not for lack of trying!), it has to trust the local governors to do the right thing. Each Core world under Alliance control has a governor who holds a vast amount of power. The Alliance has given guidelines on how such a person is elected, but out of respect for the sovereignty of each world policies vary from place to place. Some Core worlds are fairly ruled by honest folk. On others, local political machines or long-standing family dynasties rule.

The Independent Planets

The confederacy of planets and moons that formed the Independent Faction was doomed from the start. Each of the outer worlds had its own form of government. They'd never really worked together except to do one thing—deliver the mail. Out on the frontier, folk liked to keep themselves to themselves, dealing with their own trouble in their own way. On the Border planets, it could be dangerous to stick a gun in someone’s face because often as not three more could be pointing back at you.

While leaders among the scattered outer worlds expressed concern over the formation of the Sino-Anglo Alliance, most folk didn't much care, figuring it wouldn't affect them. They were concerned with far more mundane troubles: food shortages, low medical supplies, and the "quirks" of recently terraformed planets. It wasn't until the Alliance's proclamation that it intended to extend control over the entire system that the folk on the outer worlds woke up and smelled the tea leaves. They came together to present a unified front of resistance. And resist they did—far more than the Alliance had anticipated. Folk fightin' for their homes, freedom, and way of life fight a hell of a lot harder than those drafted into the army or who carry arms in exchange for credits. What the Independents lacked in training and equipment, they made up for in spirit.

Sad to say, spirit wasn't enough. The Independents couldn't combat the massive Alliance forces. Outgunned, outmanned, and outmaneuvered, they were forced to surrender. The Independent governments of every planet that had resisted Alliance control were removed and replaced with an Alliance Governor. Very little actually changed for the people who lived on these planets, as the new Governors usually kept much of the political infrastructure intact. The people still paid their taxes to the local tax collector. Except now the money went to the Alliance, not to those who needed it at home.

The Alliance promised they would send the manpower, money, and supplies needed to rebuild the bombed and burned-out cities. To give them credit, they did send some. Just not near enough. You see, some folk on the Core think the former Independent supporters should be punished for their rebellion. So when government folk start bringing up measures to help those on the outer worlds, such measures usually find themselves voted down.

Each planet outside the Core is ruled by an Alliance-appointed Governor (or Magistrate, in the case of a moon). These individuals wield tremendous power, and though some wield it with an iron fist, others take a more hands-off approach and allow the smaller communities to deal with their own problems.

When a Border planet or moon requires the assistance of the Alliance government, the governor has to wade through an immense amount of bureaucratic red tape. Instead of going through the hassle, they'll hand over problems to Alliancecontracted private security firms. While these firms are tightly regulated in theory, in practice they are generally poorly managed, if not downright corrupt. The cure is worse than the ailment.

Tough times for some mean good times for others. The unrest has been a boon to the mercenary trade. Former soldiers from both sides now hire out their guns to communities, security firms and businesses who pay them to clean up their towns, fight range wars, or put down slave revolts.

The Military

The strength of the Alliance military ensures that the Alliance stays in control. Though currently stretched quite thin, the military is still impressive. Massive cruisers the size of small cities patrol space, keeping a watch for smugglers, illegal salvage operations and pirates. No one in the system is willing to take on an Alliance cruiser, which has enough firepower to atomize most other spacecraft.

The men and women who serve in the military are well-trained, disciplined, and carry state-ofthe-art firearms and body armor. On the upside, like any other immense organization, the military has its share of blackguards, idiots, and scoundrels who can be bribed, bluffed, or fooled. And, yes, the occasional soldier might fall asleep on guard duty. But don't count on it. Most troopers in the Alliance military are dedicated, smart, and know every trick in the book.

The Law

The Alliance military tends to ride to the rescue only when the big guns are needed. For the more mundane crimes, the local sheriffs, Interpol, and the Feds are the folk to call.

Just about every town on every planet and moon has some form of local law. In many cases, the law is a man with a tin star looking to keep everyone in town honest. In others, the law is a bunch of brigands who go around breaking kneecaps on orders from the local governor or magistrate. Whatever form the local law takes, they tend to deal with petty theft and hooligans. When something major comes along—such as the assassination of a governor or the kidnapping of a powerful Guild leader—the locals call in either Interpol or the Federal Marshals.

Interpol (Interplanetary Police) deals with criminals who have fled the jurisdiction of local law enforcement, as well as crimes committed in areas that are outside local control, though still under Alliance control. (In other words, just about everywhere.) Interpol generally deals more with tracking suspects and investigating interplanetary crime than direct enforcement. The enforcement of federal law and the pursuit of criminals across interplanetary borders falls under the jurisdiction of Federal Marshals.

Federal Marshals (or simply, "Feds") track down wanted criminals and/or bring to trial those who fail to answer a summons. Some Feds are righteous enforcers of the peace, but there are a few who are more bounty hunter than law enforcer and will go after anyone if the money's good enough. Since they have to travel a far piece to do their jobs, the Feds have a great deal of autonomy. Feds work alone or in teams. They are provided with excellent ships and equipment, though some choose to work undercover if they are on the trail of particularly dangerous (or lucrative) fugitives.

[iskander]

Corporations

Some wit said: "The Alliance runs the system; the corporations own the system." The wheels of government turn smooth due to the liberal amount of corporate grease spread on them. Some folk have a tough time trying to figure where business ends and politics begins. The war was bad for business on the whole (though arms dealers and manufacturers did right well for themselves). Stability and predictability make the surest money, and the largest companies are the least likely to take major gambles.

Blue Sun Corporation

Without doubt, the ubiquitous Blue Sun is the richest and most politically connected corporation in the system. Blue Sun is on every planet, in every home—rich and not so rich alike. For all its fame, it is one of the most shadowy institutions in the 'Verse.

The Blue Sun logo is everywhere: on T-shirts, billboards, posters, food cans, etc. The logo has become so much a part of daily life that people don't even notice it anymore. Blue Sun products are considered essential to a person—like water and breathing. Just look for the Blue Sun label. It's never difficult to find. The company doesn't operate retail outlets, but every shop stocks its products. While not the best on the market, Blue Sun products are the most reliable. If you buy Blue Sun, you always know what you're going to get. There are never any surprises—good, bad, or otherwise.

Blue Sun produces a lot of different things, but the company concentrates mainly on the basics of life. Folk will always need food and drink, and Blue Sun is there to sell it. They hold the monopoly on packaged foodstuffs, and their products have become essential to people on the newly terraformed worlds. Many new settlers wouldn't have made it through their first year without Blue Sun packaged food.

Like all corporations, Blue Sun didn't get into business out of love for their fellow man. They started the company to make a profit. No one begrudged them that. Profit pays the bills and folk's salaries. But then, as the company grew bigger and bigger, and became more and more powerful, greed and corruption took over. Profit was the only thing those running Blue Sun could think about. They set out to make more and more money by extending their power as far as they could mange.

It's an open secret that Blue Sun engages in deadly corporate espionage and then calls in favors from powerful government officials to cover their tracks. Its subsidiaries and shell corporations have branched out far from food and service industries, going into computer systems, communication technology, and even spaceship design, along with the biotech industry—even going so far (some whisper) as to conduct experiments involving living humans. Only top executives have a good grasp on what the "big picture" is when it comes to this mega-corporation. Its research and development division is a mysterious place guarded by security equal to top secret Alliance military projects.

The Corone Mining Consortium

The Corone Mining Consortium, formed just before the war, is made up of several of the most powerful mining corporations in the system. Those corporations were having a problem with prospectors mining claims of their own. Individually, the corporations couldn't muster the resources to put the small fry out of business. By combining, they could afford the best lawyers, pay off the right politicians, and acquire the technology needed to buy up claims, drive people off their land or simply make it unprofitable for the lone miner to keep operating.

Corone will first try to buy any claim that appears to be worth a full mining operation. If that fails, they buy a piece of land nearby, and then encroach on other folk's claims by digging tunnels underneath them. When the locals complain, they are told it was an unfortunate accident that caused the company to strip their assets. Few locals can afford to take the company to court to get back what was stolen.

Corone keeps costs down by making use of indentured workers. Some even claim they use slaves, going so far as to pay well for human cargo and never mind where it came from. On the flip side, they've been known to employ the locals they put out of business, promoting them to positions of authority and paying good salaries. They recognize the skills these people have, and hope that loyalty can be purchased with platinum or credits.

Corone does not operate every mine in the 'Verse. Not every claim is worth bringing in the expensive technology. Most locals have learned to keep real quiet about any major finds on their land, though Corone agents always seem to be in every two-bit mining town, poking around in the hope that they can loosen a few tongues with bribes, trickery, or threats.

In some areas, the Miners' Guild has taken on the Corone Consortium and won, bringing about improved condition for workers and justice for those who lost property.

Iskellian Technology Solutions

There are many tech companies throughout the system, producing everything from computers to lasers, and Iskellian is the largest. Iskellian holds the Alliance contracts to produce arms, spacecraft, and weapons for their troops. The products it sells are the best money can buy, and what Iskellian charges for its wares more than makes that point. Given that the Alliance buys arms from Iskellian, the Alliance has laid down the law that none of these weapons can be sold to anyone else.

However, Iskellian does manufacture weapons for civilian use. These are not the same weapons that the military buys, of course, but they are of the same high quality and have the price tags to prove it. Such weapons are rarely seen on the outer worlds and few are on the black market. If you can get hold of an Iskellian weapon, you count yourself lucky.

Unified Reclamation

There is a lot of trash in the 'Verse, and Unified Reclamation owns it.

The company began small with a few garbagescows, but its founders were wise enough to see the potential of trash hauling and, by taking out huge and risky loans, they were able to secure an exclusive contract with the Alliance government to haul off folk's refuse.

At Unified Reclamation, they consider garbage a growth industry. Picking up dirty diapers isn't a very glamorous job, but someone has to do it and it makes for a very good living. Where Unified Reclamation struck gold wasn't in diaper pails, however. Real money comes from issuing licenses for legal salvage. Currently Unified is the only system-wide operator allowed to claim salvage rights. Due to the sheer magnitude of a system-wide salvage collection operation, Unified Reclamation also issues licenses for small operators to collect salvage on their behalf. The small operator can go through the local government to obtain a salvage license, but that involves mounds of paperwork and fees. Such licenses are more quickly obtained by going through United Reclamation, though they see to it that you pay for the convenience.

Small operators make more money if they run unlicensed, illegal salvage operations. Best to be careful, though, as things can get right ugly if Unified catches you poaching on their territory. You'd better hope the Alliance catches you doing illegal salvage before Unified Reclamation gets its hands on you.

Guilds

Guilds have been around for centuries, starting way back in history on Earth-That-Was. Then came the union movement and guilds died out. Now, in the face of ever-expanding corporate wealth and power, the guilds are back, stronger than ever. These days, guilds wield great power and influence. In an area the guild controls, you cannot find work unless you are a member of the guild. This can often impose real hardships on people, yet the guild is also in place to protect its members. Guilds negotiate with employers and fight for the rights of workers. Many guilds, such as the Companion's Guild, provide a member with a recognized qualification that is respected and honored throughout the 'Verse.

Companion's Guild

The oldest profession in the 'Verse has one of the oldest and most respected guilds in the Core. Prostitution as it had existed on Earth-That-Was was abolished long ago, replaced by a government approved profession officially titled "Companion." The Companion's Guild established Guild Houses throughout the system to train its members, though, due to the war, there are few Houses currently on the outer worlds. The Guild establishes its own laws and rules. For example, Guild law states that no House may ever be run by a man. The law also states that a Companion is free to choose her clients. Originally a female organization, the Guild has since allowed males to enter. The men undergo the same training as the women and, like the women, they service both sexes. The Houses exist to provide training to the Companions. No work is ever done inside a House.

Girls and boys as young as twelve may begin training, which includes a well-rounded education and years of physical discipline, religious study, and the arts. Girls and boys are taught dance, martial arts, calligraphy, how to play musical instruments, and singing. The children undergo rigorous testing on all subjects, and those who fail are sent back to their homes. They are taught the art of love play only upon successful completion of their schooling.

Companions must pass a test in order to gain their registration. To maintain that registration, they must also pass a yearly physical examination conducted at a licensed hospital.

Clients must pay a subscription fee to earn a place in the client registry. The Guild and the Companion must approve of the client. If a client ever mistreats a Companion, that client will earn a black mark in the client registry, preventing him or her from ever securing such services again.

A Companion House is run much like a monastery, protecting its inhabitants and sheltering them from the outside as they undergo their training. The services a Companion performs for the client are steeped in tradition and ritual. A Companion greets a client and bids that client farewell with ceremony, and the act of lovemaking is designed to make each client feel that he or she is special and valued—only one of the reasons an evening with a Companion is so highly sought after.

Contracting with a Companion earns the client "an evening of pleasure" that goes far beyond the sexual encounter. A Companion is trained to listen, to entertain, to soothe, and even to offer advice, for they are well-versed on any variety of subjects from politics to the economy. A Companion knows traditional and contemporary dance. They are skilled musicians, schooled in literature and stay current with all significant newsworthy events. They have a high degree of empathy and are trained in psychology, so they can understand their client's needs.

The beauty, elegance, and skills of the Companions have earned them the highest respect in social circles. There is no stigma to bringing a Companion to a party, as doing so proves you have both money and the ability to impress the Guild, whose members set very high standards. However, few Companion marry the wealthy prince and go off to live in the glittering castle. While of the social elite, Companions still exist outside society. Though a Companion is welcomed as an escort at party, a Companion would not be so well-received as husband or wife. A Companion might commit to an exclusive, long-term contract, but that would still be a business arrangement. A Companion is encouraged to enjoy the work, but is taught to stay emotionally detached from the clientele.

Most Companions work on the Core planets, entertaining clients in their own suites or meeting them elsewhere. Some choose to travel and may contract with a luxury liner—servicing clients on a cruise or flying the ship's shuttles to visit clients on nearby worlds. Few Companions choose to travel on their own or ally themselves with a small ship, and even fewer visit the outer worlds. Those who travel off the beaten path can pick and choose their clients, though they may not make as much money as working on the wealthy Core worlds. One has to wonder, though, what secrets would cause a beautiful Companion to leave a life of privilege and security for the dangers and uncertainties of the black?

Syndicate

While not a guild in the official sense, the Syndicate styles itself as such and has many of the same trappings. The Syndicate controls most of the organized crime in the system. Only a few people are aware the Syndicate even exists, and they know better than to start mouthing off.

If a crime boss manages to claim a territory for himself, or comes to monopolize a certain area of illegal trade, he may be offered membership in the Syndicate. Those who receive such an offer are fools to refuse. While the position brings responsibility, it also brings benefits. (Plus those who say "no" have a tendency to become very dead very quick.)

When a Ser Toh [leader of a criminal operation, literally "snakehead," derogatory] joins the Syndicate, he is in hog heaven. The Syndicate makes it clear to the rest of the underworld that their boy is now in charge and no one better try to muscle in. It is the crime boss's responsibility to maintain his position, since his assets are effectively considered Syndicate property. Members of the Syndicate help each other expand their businesses into other areas not currently controlled by Syndicate members. The Syndicate can also provide muscle and loans to help keep business running smooth.

The Syndicate does not demand money from its members, but they do expect to paid in other ways: receiving preferential treatment, getting cut-in on sweet deals, warned of any potential problems with the law, doing favors for the board or other members.

When the boss joins the Syndicate, he is presented via wave to the entire Syndicate board (the current board numbers fifteen people). They see him, but he does not see them. He communicates with them through go-betweens, never meeting them in person. Who they are or where they reside, no one knows, though there is speculation that they all live on the Core worlds under the guise of honest business men and women.

The Tongs

The Tongs come from ancient China on Earth-That-Was. The word "tong" is innocent enough, meaning "hall," or a place to meet and talk. The original tongs began as business or social organizations for Chinese men. When the Chinese immigrated into the West, the tongs provided an extra measure of security for the immigrant, giving him a "family" that would protect his interests in a strange land and unfamiliar culture.

Problem is, this meant that rival tongs would often clash—a business deal gone sour, a dispute between families—and they would settle the matter with bloodshed. Traditional rivalries also caused wars to break out between the tongs, some of whom have been enemies for centuries. Many tongs got wrapped up in lawless activities—running illegal gambling concerns, brothels, and opium dens—gaining for themselves a criminal-minded reputation.

The tongs continue to operate in a not-sodifferent way to this day. To their credit, tongs help their own members, whether they are rich or poor; speaking up for them when they are in trouble with the community or helping out if they get into disputes with rival tongs. Still, human nature being what it is, the traditional hatreds and feuds carry on, and have even grown stronger. Some of the tongs are mightily involved in various illegal dealings throughout the system. Tongs have a strong presence on the outer worlds, where they can operate openly, as opposed to the Core worlds, where they tend to keep a low profile. It is said, though (however quietly), that their influence can be felt even in the Halls of Parliament.

Traders' Guild

One of the newest guilds, the Traders' Guild, came about to help small and independent traders compete against the mighty corporations. This Guild offers legal advice to its members, allows them to work together to gain large contracts, and provides contacts. Anyone who lives by trade can join the Guild, be he store-owner, cargo ship captain or supplier.

Despite the small size of the organization, the Alliance has taken a keen interest in it. Businesses and officials on Sihnon are alarmed at the rise of the Guild, fearing that it may cut in on their profits. If the Traders' Guild becomes a power in the system, it could seriously damage the economic power of Sihnon. Sihnon does everything it can to discourage membership and works against the organization. The Guild has support from important members of Parliament, though that has raised suspicion as to the motives of those involved.

Miners' Guild

The Miners' Guild is one of the largest guilds in the system, and probably the most controversial. Though it has successfully fought for the rights of exploited miners and gained a great many concessions from the large corporations, some human rights groups have accused it of turning a blind eye to slavery.

When it comes to the rights of the individual prospector on the frontier, the guild has been of great help. It provides lawyers and money for individuals to take on corporations such as the Corone Mining Consortium. It was the Miners Guild that forced the Alliance to send much needed medical supplies to the Georgia system to help the miners who had contracted a rare disease in the mines.

The Miners' Guild is very large. It is slow moving and like any other organization has its share of heroes and goats. The guild claims that it is trying to fight the practice of using indentured servants and slaves to work in the mines and, to give credit where it so happens to be due, the Miner's Guild has done some good in some places. In others, however, guild members have taken bribes from the corporations to look the other way. The guild is under immense pressure to clean up its act, and corrupt members are finding that things are getting a little too hot for comfort.

Faith in the 'Verse

Despite (or maybe because of) man's technological achievements, a majority of folk in the 'Verse still follow the tenets of one religion or another to some degree.

Buddhism—usually of the Mahayana tradition—is the dominant religion throughout the system, particularly on the Core planets. Christianity ranks second, with larger concentrations on the outer worlds, as Christians migrated away from the centers of Buddhism. Most Christians in the 'Verse follow a Protestant tradition hailing back to Earth-That-Was. Catholicism still exists, though the exodus of long ago ended its original structure.

One group of Christian missionaries, the Order of Shepherds, still follows the monastic tradition. These men and woman take vows of poverty and chastity similar to those of a priest or monk of old. They may live and work in an abbey or travel the Black to find a flock in need of a Shepherd. Their peaceful order is generally respected throughout the system. Shepherds look to Christian scripture as their faith's grounding. They do not claim to have all the answers, but are here to help spread the word to those that need it told to.

There are many other religious groups in the 'Verse, including Muslims, Jews, and Hindus, who tend to form their own communities where they can worship in a body, follow their own traditions, and bring up their children in their own culture.

Out on the Rim, one can find any number of faith healers and wandering preachers who have founded their own churches or, in some instances, established entire communities. Some of these people are well-meaning and do lots of good, but others are swindlers, who use what they call religion to bilk the innocent out of their hard earned.

Reavers

Some folk scoff at the campfire stories about men gone mad on the edge of space, saying they are too fanciful to be true. Unfortunately, the stories are generally a tame version of a truth so horrible that it has been kept from the knowledge of even the most powerful.

How Reavers came to be, no one really knows, and no one is about to ask them. Leastways anyone looking to not have their insides yanked out and gnawed on. It is said that they are the travelers who went too far from humanity. Out there on the edge of space, cut off from their own kind, they looked into the great void beyond and went mad. Another theory about the Reavers' descent into madness says it wasn't random, but deliberate. That some shady dealer tried experimenting with folk's brains and dumped their failures on a far away planet. Or that the experiments found a way to escape their tormentors and ran as far as they could.

All that's truly known is that the Reavers have carved out a territory on the outer reaches of the Burnham quadrant (and no one has a guess of just how many are out there). They keep their ships going by cannibalizing other ships and machinery. Reaver ships run "hot," operating without engine core containment, leaking enough radiation to kill normal folk twice over. Their ships are often cobbled together from other craft and look like nothing ever seen in the 'Verse. The ships are crudely painted in garish colors, and often sport gruesome totems, such as the skeletal remains of victims strapped onto the bow. Reavers themselves suffer from horrible radiation burns and practice self-mutilation, marking their skin with primitive tattoos, body piercings, and by cutting on their own flesh.

Reavers send raiding parties out to steal ships, technology, and supplies. Unfortunate folk who get in the Reavers' way are captured, raped to death, eaten and skinned—in no particular order. The savages seem to feel no pain themselves. They derive pleasure only in inflicting pain on others. Sometimes they force one victim to watch their reavings, then they leave him behind to go mad. Ships that venture into Reaver territory are never seen again.

Those folk living their safe comfortable lives on the Core planets don't believe in Reavers, thinking them tales dreamed up by illiterate hicks. Those on the outer worlds know better. Ships, farms, and entire communities have been lost to the Reavers' savage appetites. Reavers do not discriminate in their choice of victims and will attack, torture, and kill men, women, and even little children without so much as a glimmer of mercy.

Reaver space should be avoided at all costs. If by some mischance you bump into them flying the black (and every year they seem to be venturing farther and farther out), don't try to run from them. Reavers have a wolf's instinct to chase their prey. If you are lucky and stay put, they may not notice you, or they could decide you're not worth the trouble. If you come across a ship that has been attacked by Reavers, be mindful that they often leave booby traps for the unsuspecting.

Only a fool thinks of Reavers as mindless savages. They're insane, not stupid. They are cunning and capable of using modern technology. They're not monsters. They're humans. And that's what makes them terrifying.

[iskander]

The 'Verse

Now, if you've turned to this section to find out all there is to know about the planets and moons that make up the 'Verse—how much each planet weighs, what the percentage of oxygen is compared to hydrogen, how many continents each planet has, that's bai lih mohn [daydream or wishful thinking]. Truth is, we just plain don't have room for all that in this book. Someday we might come out with a book that does have room. But this ain't that day. We're going to give you the information on each world you might need to land, do the job, then pack up and leave.

After all, no one gets paid for sight-seeing.

Central Planets

The central planets are a wonderland of peace and technology. All citizens have enough to eat. They work in glistening skyscrapers and live in highrise apartment buildings. The grass is green and the skies are clear and no one wants for anything. That's if you believe the Alliance propaganda.

To be fair, the propaganda is mostly true. Even the poor who live on the Core worlds rarely want for shelter or food. Still, contrary to what the Alliance might want everyone to think, not everyone on the Core worlds is well-to-do. Those who aren't wealthy don't find life much better than those living out on the Rim. They may be better schooled, and their work might not involve dirt collecting beneath their fingernails, but there are plenty of folk who don't much like their lot in life.

Trapped in repetitive, unimaginative jobs, viewing nothing but the four low walls of a cube all day, they have the watchful eye of the Alliance on them at every turn. There is so much surveillance on a Core world "to prevent crime and ensure the safety of citizens" that almost everything a person does is recorded on a monitor somewhere.

The authorities will tell you that crime is almost non-existent on the Central Planets, since their scanners are almost everywhere. Still, folk being folk, there are some who manage to find a way to poke the Alliance in its electronic eye now and then.

Most folk on the Core worlds are content. They lead comfortable lives, with time and leisure to spend with their families. Their children all have access to the best quality education and health care. They have found the peaceful, prosperous existence that mankind has been seeking since he left the Garden of Eden. If they have to trade away some of their freedom to get this, they would tell you it was worth it.

These are the same folk who can't understand why other folk on the outer worlds fought so hard against it.

Ariel

Like the rest of the Core worlds, Ariel is a paradise of technology. Tall buildings constructed of gleaming glass and steel reach into the sky. Holographic billboards advertise all manner of wonders. The night is filled with light. The day with the hustle and bustle of business.

Ariel is known among the central planets for its excellent medical facilities. The technology in Ariel's hospitals is the very latest, featuring such fancifications as holographic scanners and lots of machines that you gotta shout "clear!" to use.

The restaurants on Ariel are so good that folk travel here from other worlds just to have dinner. All the famous chefs come from Ariel or go to Ariel to open their own restaurants. It is said that even the hot dog vendors on Ariel are gourmet.

As with most planets in the Core, Ariel is a restricted landing zone. Only those with legitimate business (such as bringing in a Companion for a yearly check-up) are allowed to land. (Though, in most cases, if you look like you belong on a Core world, no one asks many questions.)

Bernadette

After the initial colonization of Londinum and Sihnon, Bernadette was the first planet to be terraformed and settled by humanity. The only remaining ship that brought the folk who made the Exodus stands in the capital city of New Paris as a monument to their courage. The ark is a monstrous starship, at least five times the size of an Alliance cruise. The sheer sight of the ark inspires all manner of awe and jaw-dropping. The inside of the ark is a museum containing information about the journey, and also information on the cultures and history of Earth-That-Was. The great ark is named Prometheus, after the legendary god who gave man fire.

Bernadette is a traditional launching point for those leaving to settle on other worlds. Settlers arrive here from other planets on the Core and make preparations to set off for a new life on the Rim. Many businesses cater to these settlers, selling tools and supplies.

Best watch your step here. There is an underground slave-trade on Bernadette. Settlers are captured and hauled off to work on terraforming stations. The slavers are smart enough to leave locals alone. They figure outsiders won't be missed.

Bernadette is also home to many churches and religious groups. Buddhists and Christians rub shoulders with Islamic clerics and Hindu fakirs. In addition, the planet is home to a number of fringe cults and fanatical devotees.

Bernadette is a restricted landing zone. However, if you claim to be a settler or you have a group of kiddies on board for a field trip to see the ark, you're usually welcome.

Londinum

Of all the planets, Londinum is the most like Earth-That-Was and was therefore one of the first two planets to be settled, since it needed little work to make it ready for human habitation. Most of the original colonists from the European and American continents came to Londinum, where they honored their roots by combining old tradition with new technology. All the buildings are constructed of the most modern material, but they look as if they were built of stone and are of archaic design. The general look of the cities is what book-smart folk call the "imperial gothic" style of London from Earth-That-Was. May not look so shiny to those from the Rim, but it still makes the place popular with looky-loos and picture-snappers.

The Parliament building and government complex that surrounds it are the most impressive sights on the planet. As big as a small city, the Parliament building contains the great debating chamber ("The House"), while the surrounding building complex provides offices for all the ministers and civil servants. It also features a huge clock tower that has become the planet's symbol. Seems like almost everyone on Londinum works for the government or for businesses who deal with the government.

Government is not the only business of Londinum, however. The planet is also home to some of the greatest collections of western art in the system. The Londinum Museum, which contains the Museum of History and the Museum of Art, is a splendid building that holds all manner of treasures. Most come from the early days of colonization, but the most valuable pieces are the ancient artifacts from Earth-That-Was.

As the center of Alliance control, Londinum has a strong military presence. The Alliance flagship, Victoria, patrols its space. The planet is home to the elite SAS (Special Alliance Support) troops. The Ministry of Intelligence also has its headquarters here.

Londinum is heavily restricted with "no fly" zones above and around government buildings. Any ship venturing near these areas is shot down, no warning given. Tourists arrive on Londinum via authorized shuttles that travel to and from the other Core worlds. Tourists may visit only those areas that are approved. Anyone caught venturing outside the approved areas without proper ID is immediately arrested.

Osiris

Osiris is the heart of the Alliance's judicial branch. Here the High Court hears important cases. Their decisions affect the interpretation of parliamentary law with repercussions throughout the system. The Court is housed in a large pyramidshaped building (honoring the Egyptian god of the dead for whom the world was named) in Capital City. The most important law firms are also based here, linked to their branch offices on other worlds by the Cortex. The University of Osiris boasts the most prestigious law school in the Core, as well as a fine medical school.

The corporate offices of the Blue Sun Corporation are also on Osiris. Originally on Sihnon, they were recently moved into a massive structure that is attached to a combined manufacturing plant, distribution center, and spacedock. The Corporation complex is off-limits to everyone except employees. No one enters, even on business, without first undergoing a thorough background check. The very latest in security systems makes this complex nigh impossible to break into.

Landing on Osiris is restricted, though not as heavily as some planets (just so long as you don't go near Blue Sun). If you claim you need to see your lawyer, you'll usually be permitted to set down. University students and their parents are always welcome.

Sihnon

The world of Sihnon is known for its beauty. Words alone won't do the great city itself justice. At night, it is said to be an ocean of light.

Sihnon is the heart of the Buddhist religion, a fact made obvious by the many monasteries and temples located here. Those seeking to learn more about Buddhism travel here to study.

Sihnon is also the central hub for the guild system. The Companion's Guild is based here, with multiple houses in the large cities, and a massive temple dedicated to the schooling of young girls and boys.

All other guilds have headquarters on Sihnon or maintain a large presence here. Guild business takes place behind closed doors. Disputes are handled by registered arbitration houses. The city of Chang'Pei is given over completely to trade administration, making it the largest civil bureaucracy in the 'Verse.

The penalties for bribes, taking or giving, are harsh, but that doesn't stop some folk. Officers of the Sihnon Trade Commission work undercover to root out the worst offenders. The officers know that they cannot stop the corruption completely, but they work tirelessly to see that it doesn't get out of hand. These folk take their jobs seriously. They are well trained in combat and interrogation procedures, as well as espionage and accounting.

The capital of Sihnon is Lu'Weng. Local legend maintains that Lu’Weng was once a fire-breathing dragon that fell from the sky and was bound to the planet with silken ribbons. The numbers of hot springs here seem to bear this theory out, and every home traditionally has a silken awning or a curtain across the door to keep the dragon bound. Lu'Weng (the city) is one of the largest producers of silk in the system. Raw silk is farmed all over the planet and then sent to Lu'Weng, where it is refined and bolted or made into beautiful clothing that never falls out of favor with the rich throughout the system.

Landing on Sihnon is restricted, though there is so much traffic coming and going on this busy world that the government issues passes to those who come here on a frequent basis. Such passes aren't hard to get, nor are they hard to forge.

[iskander]

Border Planets

The Border planets are near enough to the central planets that they have business dealings with those on the Core. However, the Border planets are far enough away from the Core that the eyes of the Alliance can't always make out what's going on.

Thus, these planets are excellent locales for certain unscrupulous folk from the Core to conduct business dealings "in private." They don't have to move to these planets, thank God! (Though there are those eccentrics who travel here from the Core to "get away from it all"—the kind of people who build strong fortresses to keep out the riffraff and would never dream of socializing with the local yokels.) The irony is that these same folk are all in favor of the rules and regulations that govern business dealings throughout the system—just as long as those rules and regulations don't affect them.

To give the folk on these planets credit where credits are due, there are plenty on the Border worlds who are eager to do business with those on the Core. And there are always countless numbers without a silver in their pocket here looking for work.

Landing on Beaumonde and Persephone is supposedly regulated, but the traffic is so heavy that the harried Alliance officials who try to police it have mostly thrown up their hands in frustration and sometimes don't even bother to ask what your business is. (Perhaps they figure it's best they don't know!) Landing on Bellerophon is more difficult, since the world is basically off limits to all who don't own one of its elegant estates. Still, there are ways…

The Border planets are the best and worst of all possible worlds. Tall, elegant skyscrapers and magnificent mansions stare down their steel noses at cardboard hovels and crowded slums. You can buy anything on the Border planets, from someone to pick off your worst enemy to a pink ruffled dress that looks like a layer cake. (Just don't buy the "Good Dogs" from the vendor in the Eavesdown Docks. Not if you care that the sausage inside the bun was once actually a good little dog.)

Beaumonde

New Dunsmuir is the capital of Beaumonde. The city is the only one on the planet that has no factories. Located on an ocean, New Dunsmuir is a popular tourist destination. Many wealthy factory owners make their homes here, as do those who work in the tourist industry. New Dunsmuir is a beautiful city with avenues of trees and carefully maintained flower gardens.

The heavily industrialized planet of Beaumonde is the manufacturing hub of the system. Its cities are surrounded by factories that produce everything from computer parts to ceramic coffee mugs. Some of the factories are owned by Blue Sun, though there are rumors that a few of these are not really factories at all or, if they are, that they're turning out something other than canned beans. Security is tight at all Blue Sun plants, so no one has ever been able to get inside one of these buildings to find out. Or least if they did, they never got back out to tell the tale.

Due to the high industrial output, pollution is a problem. Beaumonde's cities are covered in a perpetual haze. Weather control systems process the worst of the pollution, but the science-minded reckon the long-term effects may not be quite so simple to take care of. Every year more pollutants find their way into the water and the soil, causing all manner of difficulty for those who live off the land. Some people have moved their homes and businesses underground to escape the air pollution.

Once you get away from the cities and out into the countryside, the air quality improves a mite. Farmers and ranchers manage to make a good living. There is also a thriving spaceport on Beaumonde, much like the more famous port on Persephone.

Bellerophon

Bellerophon is a world home to the private estates of the system's wealthiest folk. Anything they want is shipped in from off-world, so they have no need for shops or local color.

The estates themselves are each the size of a small town and float gracefully a mile above the clear waters of Bellerophon's oceans. Each estate is a selfcontained world of its own. They all share a similar basic design and standardized amenities—such as a rubbish collection system.

The wealthy pay well for their privacy and the skies above Bellerophon are patrolled by both the Feds and private security companies. Visiting the estates is by invitation only. Those who come to work on the estates have to provide a damn good reason why they're here. (Fresh flowers anyone?) However, there is a lot of empty desert on this planet—a nice, quiet place to meet someone if you can sneak past the Feds.

Boros

Ares, one of Boros' moons, is home to Iskellkian's primary military shipyards. It's no wonder then, that the planet is crawling with all manner of government agents and bureaucrats and military folk. Ares is restricted to Alliance personnel and Iskellian technicians. However, anyone who travels near to Boros can lay eyes on the Alliance cruisers being built in orbit around Ares. There are usually five cruisers in production at any one time, since it takes roughly six years to complete one. A full battalion of Alliance troops is barracked here, as the moon is a target for terrorist attacks and corporate raiders seeking the newest technology. Few ever manage to penetrate this perimeter, as the Alliance is more vigilant here than anywhere outside the Core.

The planet Boros is not as industrialized as Beaumonde. It has a lot of prairie land where you find sprawling ranches and farms. Boros' cities have some factories that manufacture goods, though the products are meant mostly to be used on the planet. The major industry of Boros is scrap metal. Parts that didn't meet the Alliance's rigorous standards, castoffs, damaged parts, and plain old junk find their way from Ares to Boros. Smaller and less reputable tech-companies hoping to pick up the scraps of Alliance contracts keep outlets on Boros. Small wonder that folk see Boros as a good place to find parts for almost anything, often at a good price.

Better still, the planet has few landing restrictions. Ares is, of course, off-limits unless you can prove that you have a damn good reason to be there. Assuming the patrolling Alliance doesn't just shoot you first to be on the safe side.

Hera

Hera is a largely agricultural world, considered the breadbasket for the entire system. Food is grown, processed and packaged on Hera.

The planet is also the home of the infamous Serenity Valley, where the bloodiest battle of the war was fought. Lying midway between the Core and the outer planets on a major shipping lane, Hera was of great strategic importance during the war, making it an important staging ground for both sides. Taking Hera was a key to winning the war, and Serenity Valley became the turning point for the conflict.

The war devastated Serenity Valley. Seven years past, the valley is still blackened and charred by the fire storm that swept through it. The only landmark is a graveyard on the hills next to the valley. Over half a million men and women—Alliance and Independent alike—are buried here, each with his or her own small identical headstone. Some have names. Most don't.

The graveyard is located on the opposite side of the valley from the town of Serenity View. Families and friends of the fallen come to Hera to visit the graves, which bloom with flowers, photos and mementos. Even the unmarked graves have their share. Plenty of families never saw their children return, and many have picked an unnamed grave and honor it, hoping someone else is doing the same for their son or daughter.

Serenity graveyard is one of the most hallowed and sacred pieces of ground in all the 'Verse.

Newhall

Newhall is a newly-terraformed planet with large oceans. Stands to reason that water is the planet's primary commodity. Newhall's people live on small island chains or on floating stations on the oceans.

Newhall's water plants are always in need of workers, hence the Alliance's generous incentives for settlers who move here. Terraforming new worlds requires a lot of fresh water, and Newhall has water to spare. Processing the water and preparing it for shipping isn't an unproblematic job, though. The water needs to be collected, desalinated, purified, packaged, then loaded for transport.

Those of Newhall don't want to work the water plants can make a good living fishing. And there's always the tourist centers, for those who like to swim and cavort—or who want to tend to those who do.

Paquin

Known far and wide as the "gypsy planet," Paquin is home to more carnivals and sideshows, galleries and theatres than you could shake a cruisersized stick at. It also seems to be home to every conartist and swindler in the system.

When it was being terraformed, Paquin was chosen to host a grand opera house. Paquin's unique atmosphere produces sunrises and sunsets the likes of which would lift even the burden of death, with colors ranging from purple to blue to red to orange. This stunning display provides a wonderful natural backdrop for the opera house, which is located on the shore overlooking a vast ocean.

As the new opera house brought theater lovers to the planet, more theatres were built to take advantage of the new trade. Paquin is the place to see all manner of entertainment from Noh theatre to experimental dance. Many new plays debut here, and those that become popular travel to the Core where they play for the elite. Artists and writers make Paquin their home to be "closer to the muse." Paquin is the artistic center of the Border worlds and rivals Sihnon in terms of culture (though the people of Sihnon will get all manner of indignant denying this!).

Like other worlds, Paquin has a dark side. Countless carnivals and sideshows dot the world, providing good honest entertainment for the prairie folk, featuring circus acts and magic shows, freaks and jugglers. But there are those carnies who exist purely to fleece their patrons of all their cash or use their bright lights as cover for even darker activities.

Persephone

Persephone is an interesting mix of people and cultures. The world's environment is much like Earth-That-Was: desert, rainforest, plains, tundra, and such. While not as heavily populated as the worlds of the Core, Persephone still seems a very big place to those from the Rim. Persephone has a tradition-oriented aristocracy, a small but thriving middle class, a fair share of the poor and desperate, and a shadowy underworld.

The Eavesdown Docks is the largest spaceport on Persephone. Even folk who think themselves hotshot pilots are confused now and again by its chaotic layout. (And woe to the new pilot trying to make his way to a dock for the first time!) Ships often touch down only a few yards from street vendors selling cheap goods to the crews and potential passengers. The docks are situated in the poor section of town (the nobles and other rich folk have their own private airfields), but it's just a short drive or a long walk to the business district—in which just about anything in the 'Verse can be bought for the right price.

The docks are home to several criminal "lords," who collect illegal salvage, move contraband offworld and have hundreds of other ways to make quick, if not Alliance-approved, easy cash. A good crew with a flyable ship could make good coin here, so long as their morals aren't overly high and they don't mind avoiding the Feds. Not far away is a famous racetrack that is home to a famous derby that brings in folk from throughout the system (not to mention the throngs of Cortex-viewers), offering a huge cash prizes to the winning horse.

Like the horses, the aristocracy of Persephone all lay claim to a pedigree. Then again, anyone with the right stack of coin can purchase his own lordship, what with its fancy sash and all. Noble families live on large estates, attending to business, dancing at opulent balls, playing golf or tennis, and settling matters of honor in formal duels.

Persephone is an impressive cross-section of humanity, which is just another way to say that it's a world with an over abundance of opportunity and danger.

Santo

One of the great triumphs of terraforming is the planet Santo. The planet is picture-perfect, with clear blue seas, azure skies and ideal weather. Though it has a thriving agricultural base, Santo was once known for the tourists who thought it a paradise. The rich flocked to the planet as an exclusive vacation spot, and resort communities commanded every good view to be had.

The war ended Santo's glorious days as a destination for the rich and beautiful. Though the planet escaped destruction, no one from the Core worlds dared travel here while the fighting was about. Hotels and casinos were abandoned. Those that stayed open did so by finding other ways to attract customers. Brothels, strip clubs, and other ventures catering to less savory appetites opened up. Santos has become known as a "fun" place, no matter what pleasures you're into. After the war, casino owners found that they could avoid Alliance restrictions by operating in this out of the way place. The world became a Mecca for high rollers (and those who were not so high).

Santo's resorts are now beginning to recover. No longer a playground exclusively for the rich, Santos attracts a more middle-class crowd. Its resorts are still beautiful, its small towns picturesque, its casinos open twenty-four seven.

You'll have a good time here, but you might not want to bring the kiddies.

Verbena

Verbana is a lush world of thick forests., making the land difficult to clear and farm, though several fruit-producers have done well with large orchards. The world was largely underdeveloped until the Alliance made it a centerpiece of its "rejuvenation after Unification" campaign. Government incentives funded new construction, including a factory to supply parts for military vehicles.

The factory seemed a promising start for Verbena, but that ended when a former Independent soldier-turned-terrorist bombed the factory, killing hundreds of people and destroying the structure. The bombing sent the world into an economic depression and—far worse—created an atmosphere of paranoia, fear, and hatred for Browncoats and the Independence movement. There were riots, lootings, burnings, as both sides lost their heads.

The Alliance has pledged to help the people of Verbena, but the appropriate legislation and resolutions are trapped in parliamentary committees. The world is low on the government's list of priorities. Some folk have fled, hoping to find a better life elsewhere. Many more would like to leave, but don't have the means, and so remain trapped.

A small security force is more or less permanently stationed on Verbena. While ostensibly there to guard against more terrorist action, it is really there to watch a restless population.

[iskander]

Rim Planets

Out on the farthest edges of the system, life can be quite challenging. The Rim worlds are the latest results of terraforming technology, only recently settled, and raw and untamed. The comforts of civilization common to the Core Worlds just aren't so here. Technology and power are far more expensive out on the outer worlds and moons, so folk have to make due without. People ride horseback, farm with archaic tools, and resort to entertainment that doesn't require electricity or batteries to operate. While some folk dream of the luxuries available on the central planets, others enjoy the freedom of open air and hard toil. In their own way, they're as stuck-up as the Core-Worlders, looking down their noses at soft folk who've never dug a ditch or mucked a horse stall.

While the Alliance government has a presence on the Rim, its grip is more than a mite looser here than elsewhere. Folk can't count on help coming right away (or at all), so they are accustomed to taking care of themselves and their own. Frontier-folk are usually armed, ready to draw at a moment's notice. Children learn to aim by shooting cans off a fence post. The lack of government interference and monitoring has made the Rim a haven for outlaws, outcasts and shady business folk, as well as a middle class who started to feel like their own planets were getting too crowded for comfort. There is money to be made on the outer worlds, something plenty are just now figuring out.

Each world has a Governor, each moon a magistrate. As long as the general peace is kept and the proper reports are filed, such powerful figures may pretty much do as they please, least as far as the Alliance is concerned. Some government officials are good. Some not. Same here as most everywhere else in the 'Verse.

A citizen of the central planets who wakes up on a Rim world might think he's traveled backwards in time: people riding horses and shooting six guns. Yet, here and there, you can still find the technology of the 26th century, from Cortex access terminals to high-security bank vaults.

Athens

Located in the Burnham quadrant, Athens is a world known for rapidly changing weather and winds that blow constantly. Aside from that, the climate is relatively mild. Certain crops thrive here, and there's plenty of beautiful marble to be quarried and shipped off-world.

One of the few outer planets to fully support Unification, Athens was captured by the Independents. "Ownership" of the world changed hands several times during the course of the war. Finally, running low on manpower and weary of ground battles on this otherwise minor rock, the Alliance took to bombing the world's major cities to drive out the Browncoats. 'Cept for the piles of dead civilians and heaps more hurt and homeless that lost everything, the strategy worked.

Recently, the Alliance opened up the bombedout cities for legal salvage operations. Licenses for these operations can be obtained from United Reclamation or (more slowly) from the Alliance. Then again, these cities are so chaotic that it's not so hard for the unlicensed to sneak in and out.

The world's farmers were more fortunate than the city dwellers. Those dwelling in rural areas found it easier to scratch by during the war. It's taken time, but they're slowly reconnecting their ties to the rest of the 'Verse.

Athens has four moons, all terraformed and a lot nicer to live on than the planet they circle. Folk on the moons live by farming and ranching. Everyone keeps an eye out for Reavers, since undefended moons are easy prey for the nearby marauders. On Whitefall, the fourth moon, the threat of Reaver raiding parties has made the settlers over-protective and perhaps a bit paranoid.

There is also a rumor currently circulating that the Blue Sun corporation has a hidden factory or complex located in the mountains on one of the moons, though what they manufacture or why they would come here is anyone's guess.

Beylix

While the planet has many large farming communities, Beylix has the distinction of being the system's garbage dump (make that "reclamation and recycling center").

The scrap yards and refuse centers are managed by United Reclamation, which owns property all over Beylix. Soon after the company began to dump trash here, its agents reported that scavengers were coming to pick over the remains, since there was little to no security. It turned out that what was trash to people on the Core was treasure to the folk out on the Rim.

United responded by licensing junk dealers. Some entrepreneurs began selling rebuilt ships—everything from old Starfinders to out-of-service Fireflies. Others devised creative uses for scrap, either jury-rigging old technology into something useful or turning it into art and selling it back to the Core where it decorates office lobbies.

Beylix is a place to start a new life, as you can often find some old ship and the parts to get her flyin'. Beylix is also a good place to drop off smuggled goods. It's not as if the Alliance or the corporations want to pay any attention to this gorram heap of feh wu [junk].

Ezra

A planet in the Georgia system, Ezra is currently in transition. Once Ezra was a relatively peaceful world known for farmers and ranchers. Then, near the end of the war, its governor died unexpectedly, throwing the planet in chaos. (Conspiracy theorists alternately blame either Alliance or Independent assassins, but in truth the man choked on a piece of chicken.) The lieutenant governor was ill-equipped for the job. To make matters worse, thousands of war refugees and former soldiers from both sides were pouring into Ezra. Jobs got real scarce, the ranks of unemployed swelled, and the economy went belly up. Criminals flocked to Ezra as word spread of overwhelmed law enforcement and the potential to hide under the larger problems.

It was during this chaotic time that a crime lord, one Adelei Niska, moved his skyplex into Ezra's orbit and set himself up as the local power. Using some legitimate businesses as a front, he manages to avoid prosecution through the use of bribes, assassination, and the threat of his torture chambers.

The Alliance Parliament is currently considering what to do about the "Ezra situation." A new governor is needed, but he or she would have to confront Niska, and thus far there have been no candidates willing to take on that task.

Farming and ranching are still common pursuits. Ezra's business enterprises have at least provided jobs for some folk. The law of the gun is absolute on Ezra: if you can't defend yourself or what you've got, someone will take it from you. That rule applies to people as well as property, since many slavers come here to pick up a little extra cargo. Despite the risks, there is now work to be found on Ezra, though it may not be to everyone's liking.

Greenleaf

The world has a large tropical belt, creating massive jungles and rainforests. Tropical plants provide a variety of life-saving drugs that cannot easily be synthesized in a laboratory. Major drug companies set up shop on Greenleaf, providing the bulk of work for the locals.

Some of Greenleaf's residents, seeing the enormous profits that were being made, began to make "clippings" of pharmaceutical plants and grow them privately to sell on black market. The problem became so great that the drug companies began engineering new plant strains with traceable genetic tags, so that confiscated merchandise could be traced back to the origin point. The technique has not yet led to any major arrests, mostly because there are dozens of small cartels, and they are difficult to track down in the jungle.

The Alliance is aware of the drug-smuggling problem out of Greenleaf, and they are clamping down on enforcement. Landing is more restricted on Greenleaf than on other Rim worlds, though smugglers who know the jungle can always find ways to sneak through.

Haven

A small mining moon, Haven is home to an independent group of miners who laid claim to this rock and are not about to be shoved off it. The miners of Haven have not yet struck it rich, but they have seen enough signs to believe that they are close to a major haul (just what, they're not saying!).

Others in the 'Verse apparently think that Haven has something worthwhile beneath the surface. The Corone Consortium recently sent in spies to try to dig up information. The spies were caught and, after revealing the name of their employer, they were sent back—a little the worse for wear—carrying a message for the Consortium to stay the hell out of Haven.

Since then, the mining communities of Haven have pooled their resources to buy a large surface-to-air cannon which they have mounted near the edge of the largest mining town to discourage visitors.

Higgins' Moon

A man named Higgins was appointed magistrate of a small, unnamed moon. (There were rumors that he won his appointment in a card game.) At the time the moon was founded, it did not appear to have useful resources or much potential for agriculture. A few years later, it was discovered that some areas have a mineral-rich clay that can be harvested, chemically treated and kiln-fired into a ceramic that is ten times stronger than steel at half the weight. It formed a new industry: mud.

The company town of Canton was founded near the largest mud pits. Over two thousand workers, known as "Mudders," live in Canton and work for Magistrate Higgins. Many of these are slaves and indentured laborers (who probably will never be able to purchase their way out of debt). Higgins rules through intimidation and the use of force, and is hated by virtually everyone. The foreman and his prods enforce the company rules, either with longterm hard-labor, imprisonment, or hacking folk up and rolling them into the bog.

The Mudders of Canton sing songs of a hero who has twice defied the magistrate and sailed away: Jayne Cobb. The Hero of Canton, they say, will one day return to Higgins Moon and free them from oppression. The more likely way for conditions to improve will be the magistrate's son, Fess, who is quietly working to reverse some of his father's harshest policies.

Jiangyin

Jiangyin is a small planet suitable for cattle ranching and foresting and little else. Jiangyin is dotted with small towns, where folk generally go about their business without much interference from the outside. Those who do come here from off-world usually have goods to sell to the ranchers and foresters.

Since the planet really has nothing of value, it is ignored by the Alliance, which doesn't even bother to patrol it. Jiangyin has no central government. Each town or village is left to govern itself. It is one of the most primitive and backward planets, its people in such desperate need that they are forced to steal what they can’t acquire by lawful means—such as doctors to treat their sick.

The people of Jiangyin are a simple lot, especially those who live apart from what little civilization there is. These "hill folk" are superstitious and mostly uneducated, easy prey for unscrupulous leaders. A strong show of force is usually enough to intimidate them.

Lilac

Lilac was named by someone gullible enough to believe what the terraformers promised—a planet of perpetual springtime. As it turned out, Lilac is more like a planet of ri shao gou shi bing [pile of sun-baked dog poo]. A small crop moon, Lilac is plagued with heat and a serious lack of water. Most of the farmers wage a continual battle against the elements, and what crops they do bring in are generally self-sustaining. There are some locations on Lilac where the rain falls on a regular basis and the sun nurtures the crops, not fries them. Farmers lucky enough to have land here do very well for themselves.

To add insult to injury, Lilac is located on the edge of what has now become Reaver territory. The people of Lilac fear that it's just a matter of time before they're attacked. Several of the major land-holders have joined together to contract with a private security firm to protect their property and lives in case of Reaver attack. That private security firm has its payroll delivered to one of the local banks. Just in case you're interested in making a withdrawal.

Miranda

The planet Miranda is not listed in the Cortex nor is it found any history database. Miranda is rumored to be a Blackrock, a planet where a terraforming "event" killed the settlers and left the planet forever uninhabitable. Some folk might still be curious enough to pay Miranda a visit, maybe see if there might something left to salvage, were it not for the fact that it lies in the heart of Reaver territory.

Regina

The mineral-rich planet of Regina is known for its massive mining operations. Over three-quarters of the population work in one part of mining industry or another. Most of the mines are run by the Corone Mining Consortium, although there are still a few local owners hanging on. Corone's workers are underpaid and their working conditions can be extremely dangerous. The miners of Regina take a stoic pride in their work and the suffering they endure. As if things were not hard enough, the ore-processors and atmospheric conditions of Regina have created conditions for a disease called Bowden's Malady, a degenerative affliction of the bone and muscles that leaves victims weak and in constant pain. While there is no cure, regular treatment with Pasceline-D halts the progression of the disease and makes life tolerable.

The Alliance sponsors regular shipments of the expensive drug to Regina. The drug is drop-shipped to central location and delivered by train to the individual mining towns. The people of the world are dependent on this government handout, though shipments are not as frequent as they should be.

Shadow

Once it was said that the prairies of Shadow stretched out so far under such a clear sky that a man could see from here to God's plan. These days, all that is left is charred and blackened rock.

Shadow was known for its grain farms and cattle ranches. The planet was almost entirely rural, with small towns dotting the countryside. While it had a few impressive towns, there were no actual cities. Its people were hard workers and independent-minded. Shadow was one of the first worlds to stand against the aggression of the Alliance. Most of its young people volunteered to fight for Independence.

The aggressive bombing of Shadow during the war was meant to teach the Browncoats a lesson about the might of the Alliance. Instead, the bombing only hardened the resolve of those who fought and increased the Browncoats' hatred of their enemy. Those few from Shadow who survived this difficult time lost loved ones, their lives forever changed.

Shadow today is a ghost planet. No one lives there. No one can.

Triumph

Triumph is a tiny moon in orbit around the Heinlein gas giant near edges of the system. With little to offer other than small areas suitable for farming, the moon became a refuge for folk who wanted nothing to do with modern life. The Triumph settlers live like the Amish of Earth-That-Was, using little in the way of advanced technology (though they do have the ability to contact the outside world if they are in need of aid).

The people follow their own customs. For example, in one town, the young girls are raised in a convent called the Maiden House. Trained to be subservient and to respond to a man's needs, girls are married off in trade—a form of currency for settlers who have little else to offer.

Thugs and bandits find the settlements easy pickings, since the people are pacifists. The thieves steal goods and rough up the locals. The people of Triumph sometimes arrange with bands of mercenaries to protect them.

St. Albans

One of the coldest planets in the 'Verse, St Albans' terrain is almost entirely mountainous. What really makes St Albans a whole lot of unpleasant is the gorram weather, for it snows almost continually. The entire planet is covered in drifts, even during what some laughingly call summer.

The people here are a hardy folk. The principal work is mining the world's rich mineral deposits. The Consortium's not interested due to the harsh climate. The planet is divided into claims that the inhabitants prospect for whatever they can find. Theirs is a tough and lonely life, so the folk have developed a very strong community. If you offend one of them, you have offended all of them. The reverse is true, however: if you make one friend on St. Albans, the entire community will look out for you.