Condottiere
SOC-14 5K
A collection of private contractors under loose control of some coordinating authority.
Travelling in The Fringe - A Near Space interpretation
- Thread starter Diveguy
- Start date
A collection of private contractors under loose control of some coordinating authority.
A collection of private contractors under loose control of some coordinating authority.
Citizen, the Scouts would NEVER be used for nefarious or illicit or covert purposes! How dare you suggest such! The UEA and ICC only have your best interests at heart...
Oh, by the way, totally unconnected - we'll be establishing a small survey station near your gas giant for the next few months... just so you know.
I went another way with the scouts IMTU re: private vs. public entity.
I made them THE service of the Terran Confederation, and the real firepower rests with national space navies that band together.
This allows the TC to do things like interstellar biome rangers, space coast guard and exploration for eventual colonial assignment, while not being strong enough to override any single nation militarily- just the way the member nations like it.
The too expensive and too dangerous parts of exploratory scouting are shared by all, so no nation gets on the hook for disastrous losses- or tie up an entire exploratory arm by getting all nation-state travel lane uppity.
I made them THE service of the Terran Confederation, and the real firepower rests with national space navies that band together.
This allows the TC to do things like interstellar biome rangers, space coast guard and exploration for eventual colonial assignment, while not being strong enough to override any single nation militarily- just the way the member nations like it.
The too expensive and too dangerous parts of exploratory scouting are shared by all, so no nation gets on the hook for disastrous losses- or tie up an entire exploratory arm by getting all nation-state travel lane uppity.
Different approach, still a good result - thanks for sharing it.
Organized Crime in The Fringe
Like every other aspect of humanity, organized crime groups made the migration through space towards the new colonies.
The first, and most powerful group, is the Trading Syndicate. While nominally a "merchant guild" and organization of free colonies, it is rather open knowledge that the inner circle of the Syndicate is composed of old-Earth Russian Mafiya, Eastern European crime groups, and a smattering of Corsican mobsters. For some reason, the Italian/Sicilian Mafia did *not* choose to align with these others, and has little known presence in The Fringe. The Trading Syndicate primarily focuses on inter-world opportunities, be it smuggling, anti-piracy protection insurance, cargo hijacking in port facilities, and the like. A great weight is placed on respect and power structures, with high-level Syndicate players treated almost like travelling royalty by their subordinates. The Syndicate's main criminal rival is the Tong groups out of the Mandarin Hegemony. Current major crime lords include Sergey "Scar" Manhurin, Yulia Mishkin and Ivano "Ice" ben-Darid.
Second is the above-mentioned Tongs - a loose "affiliation" (in the broadest sense of the word) group of criminal gangs tracing their history back to old-Earth China and Chinatowns. Tong groups have no compunctions about what sort of enterprise they support, be it human trafficking, smuggling, drugs, vice, or organ harvesting. Additionally, they have extensive involvement in corporate espionage and technology theft - which many hint is state-sponsored by Hegemony elements. Tong groups have little on-world presence in The Fringe, but are very active in the stations and refuelling centers, particularly as one travels further from the Procyon system. Tong internal structure is extremely convoluted and treated as a secret society, and very little is even rumored about their leadership.
Finally, the Yakuza, or "Yaks" remain the most significant on-world organized crime element in The Fringe. First arriving on Chara and Circe with early colonists, the Yakuza brought Japanese organized crime traditions into the new worlds. Tradition, respect, and courtesy are *very* important to Yak groups - they may plan to kill you, but they'll hold the door, make sure you're comfortable and do it with every bit of politeness possible. For reasons law enforcement, the press, and the public can only wonder at, the Yakuza in the Fringe scrupulously *avoid* any sort of drug smuggling or sales - although all other sorts of crime are on the table. On the other hand, the further one gets from Earth, the more like it is for Yakuza groups to admit and promote non-Japanese members within the organization. Yakuza groups also have managed to obtain far more political influence within these systems than the other two structures, which has helped maintain their position. A power struggle is taking place between Merodai Wirade on Circe, and Adam Ishikawa on Chara, which may fear will spill onto other worlds. Yakuza groups within The Fringe primarily contest each other for power on-world, and attempt to maintain a delicate truce with both Trading Syndicate and Tong forces in space.
There are of course numerous small or more localized crime groups within The Fringe - these are simply the three largest, and those most likely to have influence and power between systems. For some reason, the various Central and South American cartel structures never effectively transitioned to off-world operations, although they remain an issue on Earth itself. Similarly, so far, no native colonial planet group has managed to transition to a multi-world or multi-system criminal organization.
Like every other aspect of humanity, organized crime groups made the migration through space towards the new colonies.
The first, and most powerful group, is the Trading Syndicate. While nominally a "merchant guild" and organization of free colonies, it is rather open knowledge that the inner circle of the Syndicate is composed of old-Earth Russian Mafiya, Eastern European crime groups, and a smattering of Corsican mobsters. For some reason, the Italian/Sicilian Mafia did *not* choose to align with these others, and has little known presence in The Fringe. The Trading Syndicate primarily focuses on inter-world opportunities, be it smuggling, anti-piracy protection insurance, cargo hijacking in port facilities, and the like. A great weight is placed on respect and power structures, with high-level Syndicate players treated almost like travelling royalty by their subordinates. The Syndicate's main criminal rival is the Tong groups out of the Mandarin Hegemony. Current major crime lords include Sergey "Scar" Manhurin, Yulia Mishkin and Ivano "Ice" ben-Darid.
Second is the above-mentioned Tongs - a loose "affiliation" (in the broadest sense of the word) group of criminal gangs tracing their history back to old-Earth China and Chinatowns. Tong groups have no compunctions about what sort of enterprise they support, be it human trafficking, smuggling, drugs, vice, or organ harvesting. Additionally, they have extensive involvement in corporate espionage and technology theft - which many hint is state-sponsored by Hegemony elements. Tong groups have little on-world presence in The Fringe, but are very active in the stations and refuelling centers, particularly as one travels further from the Procyon system. Tong internal structure is extremely convoluted and treated as a secret society, and very little is even rumored about their leadership.
Finally, the Yakuza, or "Yaks" remain the most significant on-world organized crime element in The Fringe. First arriving on Chara and Circe with early colonists, the Yakuza brought Japanese organized crime traditions into the new worlds. Tradition, respect, and courtesy are *very* important to Yak groups - they may plan to kill you, but they'll hold the door, make sure you're comfortable and do it with every bit of politeness possible. For reasons law enforcement, the press, and the public can only wonder at, the Yakuza in the Fringe scrupulously *avoid* any sort of drug smuggling or sales - although all other sorts of crime are on the table. On the other hand, the further one gets from Earth, the more like it is for Yakuza groups to admit and promote non-Japanese members within the organization. Yakuza groups also have managed to obtain far more political influence within these systems than the other two structures, which has helped maintain their position. A power struggle is taking place between Merodai Wirade on Circe, and Adam Ishikawa on Chara, which may fear will spill onto other worlds. Yakuza groups within The Fringe primarily contest each other for power on-world, and attempt to maintain a delicate truce with both Trading Syndicate and Tong forces in space.
There are of course numerous small or more localized crime groups within The Fringe - these are simply the three largest, and those most likely to have influence and power between systems. For some reason, the various Central and South American cartel structures never effectively transitioned to off-world operations, although they remain an issue on Earth itself. Similarly, so far, no native colonial planet group has managed to transition to a multi-world or multi-system criminal organization.
I apologize for bumping this but considering the Yakuza and sōkaiya, do you think they would also have a presence through some of the Japanese corporations and such?
No need to apologize to me at least - I like knowing someone is reading my ideas.
Much as on Earth, particularly during the post-WW2 period, the Yakuza and Japanese corporations are VERY much intertwined in the Fringe. Whether it's sararimen unwinding at the appropriate hostess bar during a corporate getaway, protection payments to ensure that your cargo gets offloaded first in the port, or a shell business one of the families uses to launder money and move products with less attention, it's all present.
As noted in the initial description though, Yakuza in the Fringe are primarily on-world focused, while the Tongs operate off-world and on stations. This means that certain areas are either going to be potential friction zones, or opportunities for meeting/bargaining between the groups.
Finally - a good sci-fi treatment of some of these elements (and that can port very well into the Fringe or similar settings) can be found in Zaibatsu and Hostile.
Hope this helps with where my mind views it.
What is life like on Earth, compared to the colonies, even those in the core of charted space?
Is it almost boring to someone from the Fringe or other outer colonies? Is there lots of unemployment or what?
Earth in 2276
Earth in the Late 23rd Century
Mankind’s homeworld is a different place 250 years from today, yet many elements would be recognizable to a person of today. While technology, space flight and other advances have brought numerous changes, overpopulation, pollution, social and political strife, and other factors as old as humanity itself remain a concern. Although Earth is not typically the adventure setting, many characters will come from the planet - and, distant or not, it remains an influence on affairs throughout settled space.
If you asked a typical resident of the Fringe to describe Terra in one word, it would be “Crowded!” Even through voluntary (and mandatory) population control efforts, and several generations of off-world colonization, the number of people living on Earth, and the resultant effects, are staggering to consider. In 2276 Earth itself has a population of almost 15 BILLION people, the vast majority living in the megacities which have grown and merged over time. Quite simply, these numbers are unsustainable - in terms of crowding, food, water, and all the related issues. It is only the release valve provided by the other planets, and their return of foodstuffs and other materials, which enables Earth to survive.
Earth’s government is (nominally) a representative democracy under the United Earth Alliance, an evolution of the United Nations of today. However, in an effort to maintain at least a semblance of world peace, as well as to “better manage” issues like the aforementioned population, economy and other factors, the UEA holds far greater control and oversight over the daily life of most Earthers. Member nation representatives may vote in council in regards to issues like wars, overall political directions and the like - but it is the appointed career bureaucrat who really influences and implements policy, relatively unconcerned about who may be in office. Additionally, given their literally world-spanning economic role, the so-called “Megacorporation” has a level of influence and power far beyond what people today would understand, with some of these companies being effectively nations in their own right.
The two major exceptions to this are France and the regions of former-China known as the Mandarin Hegemony. Both have effectively withdrawn from UEA membership and activities, whether in name or simply action. France shows a renewed sense of patriotism and nationalism, and the government appears focused far more on real economic growth while at the same time reining in certain corporate excesses. Militarily they are still a *part* of the United Earth Alliance, although their recent vessel construction and activities show this may be soon to end as well. The Mandarin Hegemony has what can be referred to as an icy relationship with outsiders at best - contact is generally limited to a few designated trade zones, and outside influences are rumored to be highly censored within the country. What is known is that the current government has a very totalitarian outlook, as well as a strong push towards “traditional” values; and that there is no desire to share the profits or technologies of their colonies with any other Earth nation.
As a whole, there have been positive benefits from the past two centuries. Increased automation and high technology have eliminated many otherwise tedious jobs, and things such as Universal Income, Public Health Care, and free online education are available to all. Earth’s role as mankind’s home, as well as the fact it is still the highest technology planet in space, ensures that advances in research and science benefit every person far greater than ever before. Genetic diseases have been effectively wiped out. Social monitoring and surveillance enable law enforcement to better ensure the safety and security of people throughout their daily lives. Fusion power, solar satellites, and other technologies have removed the dependance on fossil fuels. Planetary networks and virtual realities mean that the knowledge of thousands of years is at everyone’s fingertips, as well as entertainment, music, sporting events, or whatever else you desire. And, despite the vast population, the UEA and local governments have made great strides in designating more nature preserves, and working to ensure that some areas of, if not “wilderness,” at least raw nature, remain for people to visit and enjoy. Truly, living on Earth means one has everything.
At least, that’s the surface and the press…
Truth is - you put that many people in one place, things get difficult. For all of 21st century Earth’s economic struggles, 2276 if anything magnifies them. Society as a whole can be divided into the “Have” and the “Have Not,” with an ever-shrinking middle group struggling to move up - or at least maintain their tenuous position.
For the well-off, Earth is that Utopia. Technology indulges their whims. The colonies provide for their needs. Whether in a private, walled commune away from the cities, or some penthouse super-skyscraper, problems of pollution, crime and hunger do not worry them. Rather, they busy themselves with managing the needs of billions of humans throughout the worlds. With ensuring the next stockholder report has just the right dividends. Or simply with making sure that the outfit for the next party is *perfect*. These are the people who take the shuttle to Luna or Mars, or even out-system for vacation.
The poor? They are more abundant than ever. Sure, there is “universal income” - just enough to scrape out a living in a ferrocrete apartment block in another of the city pyramid fringes. Barely enough to ensure that the rationed packs of nutrients are enough to add to a little rice or protein fill, making the semblances of a meal. Doing their best to avoid the rampant street crime as they struggle to find a job to add a little extra to the day - or, to avoid getting caught when they commit that crime. And, what’s the point of health care, if half the diseases it treats are caused by the pollution you can never escape? Better to plug into the network, lose yourself in the endless streams of entertainment and imaginary excitement, and dream of a better world.
Which leaves the (shrinking) middle class - the faceless, nameless functionaries of government and business. Whether an educated worker at the Ministry of Colonial Development, or a junior account executive with Shinoshi Enterprises, Global, the desire is the same. To make enough money to support a family. To avoid doing anything that draws attention and risks getting fired. Or, maybe, to perform so well (or, more likely, make the right connection) to join those well-dressed, successful people on the upper floors. Some succeed. Many fail, and end up moving several floors down. The majority just fight to get by.
Despite all of this, and Earth’s technology, the majority of residents will most likely never travel to the stars. Mostly due to the cost involved. Additionally, all they know of the colonies is what the entertainment feeds share. The Colonies are viewed as rustic, primitive, dangerous, lawless and everything else that improves ratings. For most, this reinforces why they stay on Earth, and never risk anything out of the normal. For some, this is the very thing that tempts them to leave.
What would all this mean to a visitor from the Fringe, someone who’d never seen Earth?
Lots of people and activity - constant, 24 hour activity almost worldwide. Private space is rare and valued. It’s equally near-impossible to escape the constant monitoring of public activity - whether as “crime prevention” in the poorer areas, or the entertainment drones following the every move of the rich and famous, in order to sell it as electronic dreams online.
Equally, technology is ubiquitous. Wild spaces are almost non-existent - even the remaining parks and nature preserves have net access, rapid rescue response, and the rough edges smoothed over. Public transportation is extremely common and rapid, with private ground cars rarer and controlled by central direction. Air and land travel is a complex, computer-controlled dance with millions of pieces in play at a single time. Along with this tech comes the haze of centuries, the smell and flow of pollution, the rare view of a clear sky. For a visitor from a relatively-pure new world, it’s quite overwhelming.
The Law Level is the highest in known space, with most personal weapons tightly controlled (outside of permits and licenses for the well-connected and their protectors). Despite this, street-crime is rampant, and the police are forced by sheer exhaustion of resources to only focus on the most important of crimes.
The people of Earth will strike most off-worlders as overly busy and rushed, as slightly paranoid, yet trusting in an omnipresent oversight by government and corporation. Above all, Earthers will retain their pride and almost-arrogance at still being “normal Earth humans, from the homeworld,” and this will carry over in almost all dealings.
INFLUENCES
A number of books and films with common themes color my view of “this” Earth interpretation. Some game materials did as well, but as we’re drawing from the same well I won’t go into all of those. In no particular order, if I was drawing pictures of 2276 Earth, I would use:
Brazil
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep/Blade Runner
Altered Carbon (book and series both). Also Market Forces and 13.
The Last Dancer
Heavy Metal
William Gibson’s work, both cyberpunk as well as near-future.
Earth in the Late 23rd Century
Mankind’s homeworld is a different place 250 years from today, yet many elements would be recognizable to a person of today. While technology, space flight and other advances have brought numerous changes, overpopulation, pollution, social and political strife, and other factors as old as humanity itself remain a concern. Although Earth is not typically the adventure setting, many characters will come from the planet - and, distant or not, it remains an influence on affairs throughout settled space.
If you asked a typical resident of the Fringe to describe Terra in one word, it would be “Crowded!” Even through voluntary (and mandatory) population control efforts, and several generations of off-world colonization, the number of people living on Earth, and the resultant effects, are staggering to consider. In 2276 Earth itself has a population of almost 15 BILLION people, the vast majority living in the megacities which have grown and merged over time. Quite simply, these numbers are unsustainable - in terms of crowding, food, water, and all the related issues. It is only the release valve provided by the other planets, and their return of foodstuffs and other materials, which enables Earth to survive.
Earth’s government is (nominally) a representative democracy under the United Earth Alliance, an evolution of the United Nations of today. However, in an effort to maintain at least a semblance of world peace, as well as to “better manage” issues like the aforementioned population, economy and other factors, the UEA holds far greater control and oversight over the daily life of most Earthers. Member nation representatives may vote in council in regards to issues like wars, overall political directions and the like - but it is the appointed career bureaucrat who really influences and implements policy, relatively unconcerned about who may be in office. Additionally, given their literally world-spanning economic role, the so-called “Megacorporation” has a level of influence and power far beyond what people today would understand, with some of these companies being effectively nations in their own right.
The two major exceptions to this are France and the regions of former-China known as the Mandarin Hegemony. Both have effectively withdrawn from UEA membership and activities, whether in name or simply action. France shows a renewed sense of patriotism and nationalism, and the government appears focused far more on real economic growth while at the same time reining in certain corporate excesses. Militarily they are still a *part* of the United Earth Alliance, although their recent vessel construction and activities show this may be soon to end as well. The Mandarin Hegemony has what can be referred to as an icy relationship with outsiders at best - contact is generally limited to a few designated trade zones, and outside influences are rumored to be highly censored within the country. What is known is that the current government has a very totalitarian outlook, as well as a strong push towards “traditional” values; and that there is no desire to share the profits or technologies of their colonies with any other Earth nation.
As a whole, there have been positive benefits from the past two centuries. Increased automation and high technology have eliminated many otherwise tedious jobs, and things such as Universal Income, Public Health Care, and free online education are available to all. Earth’s role as mankind’s home, as well as the fact it is still the highest technology planet in space, ensures that advances in research and science benefit every person far greater than ever before. Genetic diseases have been effectively wiped out. Social monitoring and surveillance enable law enforcement to better ensure the safety and security of people throughout their daily lives. Fusion power, solar satellites, and other technologies have removed the dependance on fossil fuels. Planetary networks and virtual realities mean that the knowledge of thousands of years is at everyone’s fingertips, as well as entertainment, music, sporting events, or whatever else you desire. And, despite the vast population, the UEA and local governments have made great strides in designating more nature preserves, and working to ensure that some areas of, if not “wilderness,” at least raw nature, remain for people to visit and enjoy. Truly, living on Earth means one has everything.
At least, that’s the surface and the press…
Truth is - you put that many people in one place, things get difficult. For all of 21st century Earth’s economic struggles, 2276 if anything magnifies them. Society as a whole can be divided into the “Have” and the “Have Not,” with an ever-shrinking middle group struggling to move up - or at least maintain their tenuous position.
For the well-off, Earth is that Utopia. Technology indulges their whims. The colonies provide for their needs. Whether in a private, walled commune away from the cities, or some penthouse super-skyscraper, problems of pollution, crime and hunger do not worry them. Rather, they busy themselves with managing the needs of billions of humans throughout the worlds. With ensuring the next stockholder report has just the right dividends. Or simply with making sure that the outfit for the next party is *perfect*. These are the people who take the shuttle to Luna or Mars, or even out-system for vacation.
The poor? They are more abundant than ever. Sure, there is “universal income” - just enough to scrape out a living in a ferrocrete apartment block in another of the city pyramid fringes. Barely enough to ensure that the rationed packs of nutrients are enough to add to a little rice or protein fill, making the semblances of a meal. Doing their best to avoid the rampant street crime as they struggle to find a job to add a little extra to the day - or, to avoid getting caught when they commit that crime. And, what’s the point of health care, if half the diseases it treats are caused by the pollution you can never escape? Better to plug into the network, lose yourself in the endless streams of entertainment and imaginary excitement, and dream of a better world.
Which leaves the (shrinking) middle class - the faceless, nameless functionaries of government and business. Whether an educated worker at the Ministry of Colonial Development, or a junior account executive with Shinoshi Enterprises, Global, the desire is the same. To make enough money to support a family. To avoid doing anything that draws attention and risks getting fired. Or, maybe, to perform so well (or, more likely, make the right connection) to join those well-dressed, successful people on the upper floors. Some succeed. Many fail, and end up moving several floors down. The majority just fight to get by.
Despite all of this, and Earth’s technology, the majority of residents will most likely never travel to the stars. Mostly due to the cost involved. Additionally, all they know of the colonies is what the entertainment feeds share. The Colonies are viewed as rustic, primitive, dangerous, lawless and everything else that improves ratings. For most, this reinforces why they stay on Earth, and never risk anything out of the normal. For some, this is the very thing that tempts them to leave.
What would all this mean to a visitor from the Fringe, someone who’d never seen Earth?
Lots of people and activity - constant, 24 hour activity almost worldwide. Private space is rare and valued. It’s equally near-impossible to escape the constant monitoring of public activity - whether as “crime prevention” in the poorer areas, or the entertainment drones following the every move of the rich and famous, in order to sell it as electronic dreams online.
Equally, technology is ubiquitous. Wild spaces are almost non-existent - even the remaining parks and nature preserves have net access, rapid rescue response, and the rough edges smoothed over. Public transportation is extremely common and rapid, with private ground cars rarer and controlled by central direction. Air and land travel is a complex, computer-controlled dance with millions of pieces in play at a single time. Along with this tech comes the haze of centuries, the smell and flow of pollution, the rare view of a clear sky. For a visitor from a relatively-pure new world, it’s quite overwhelming.
The Law Level is the highest in known space, with most personal weapons tightly controlled (outside of permits and licenses for the well-connected and their protectors). Despite this, street-crime is rampant, and the police are forced by sheer exhaustion of resources to only focus on the most important of crimes.
The people of Earth will strike most off-worlders as overly busy and rushed, as slightly paranoid, yet trusting in an omnipresent oversight by government and corporation. Above all, Earthers will retain their pride and almost-arrogance at still being “normal Earth humans, from the homeworld,” and this will carry over in almost all dealings.
INFLUENCES
A number of books and films with common themes color my view of “this” Earth interpretation. Some game materials did as well, but as we’re drawing from the same well I won’t go into all of those. In no particular order, if I was drawing pictures of 2276 Earth, I would use:
Brazil
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep/Blade Runner
Altered Carbon (book and series both). Also Market Forces and 13.
The Last Dancer
Heavy Metal
William Gibson’s work, both cyberpunk as well as near-future.
With how bad street crime is, and how overstretched the police are, I'm surprised citizens aren't allowed at least stun guns or something.
Also, considering how overcrowded Earth is, wouldn't the UEA really push to be shipping people offworld or building lots of orbital colonies around Earth's Lagrange points ala Mobile Suit Gundam?
Also, considering how overcrowded Earth is, wouldn't the UEA really push to be shipping people offworld or building lots of orbital colonies around Earth's Lagrange points ala Mobile Suit Gundam?
Would dragooning tens of thousands people into going to off-world colonies do anything substantial relieve the population pressure of billions of humans?
It seems a if a new megacity or an expansion to one would be cheaper than lots of new orbital colonies. But I don't know how much things cost.
It seems more like an economic problem. Big surplus of unskilled labor. There aren't enough living wage jobs to support all these people and they are scraping by on the dole.
Housing in the megacities seems to be subsidized. So poverty is contained there. The people running things don't want a bunch of proles roaming their farms and parkland, stealing machine parts and cooking endangered species on campfires and things like that.
I kind of agree about stun-guns. But the rich may simply live apart from the poor.
And they may even have the police as effective bodyguards.
Gated estates with robot security?
EDIT
It might be worth it to send criminals and political agitators off-world, if that can be done cheaply enough.
Low berth?
Last edited:
Condottiere
SOC-14 5K
That's what we did. either voluntarily or less so.
You have to create incentives to do so, either for entrepreneurs, or the oppressed.
You have to create incentives to do so, either for entrepreneurs, or the oppressed.
Regarding crime - Combat Medic hit on part of the issue/outlook. Money buys protection... much like on modern-day Earth, but taken to a more obvious extreme.
For the wealthy? There are bodyguards. Private police services. Even permits, with the appropriate palms greased.
The poor? Crime and violence are just part of living life - you deal with it same as anything else.
The middle class? Property crime is an automated report, and if you're really lucky insurance might help cover the loss. Many people will carry a throw-away credit chip, or cheap wallet, to toss at a mugger. Smart people avoid the dark alleys and secluded bars, dumb ones learn the hard way.
(And - for those thinking I'm taking this too dystopian. Consider much of New York City in the 1980's, or modern-day London, or Paris and Rome. Street crime is a near-universal human condition.)
As for weapons, the UEA has gone the route that the modern UN and many other organizations postulate as the "solution" - banning weapons in order to protect the populace, and teaching people to rely on the government for their protection. I leave it to the reader to make your own internal political arguments regarding this.
The major issue with encouraging people to move offworld has to do with skills - or the lack of them.
Life as a colonist is *hard*, particularly for the first few generations. You're in a new environment, without many of the technological crutches you take for granted. Sure things are "generally" at a TL 8-9, but stuff breaks, or new needs are identified, or whatever. Plus, life as a colonist tends to be much more that of an effective "generalist" (JOT skill comes to mind) as opposed to a narrow specialist (with exceptions such as doctors and the like.) Quite simply, this means that many of those so-called "proles" quite simply don't have the skills or talents to be useful as a colonist, save on a more estabilshed world.
Add in another factor - for those in the Megacities who have grown used to living on the subsidized system, where is the incentive to leave Earth and all these conveniences? Sure, a percentage will look to the stars and be curious, will want something more. But, a far greater number will accept the comfort of the known day-to-day system than the risk of offworld life, and personal responsibility.
Finally - as to the established colonies - there is a constant battle between the UEA and the local governments over this very issue. The UEA does see this as a great release valve for criminals, malcontents or simply those who won't play by the rules. The Colonies see it as an issue of "we need useful people, not your cast-off problems." This is one of the factors which led to the attempted rebellion several years ago, and influences the Fringe to this day.
Of course, that's not to say there isn't a lucrative market in smuggling people to a new world, or forging documents to reflect skills they don't actually have...
Yeah but considering police forces are so overstretched, that there are barely any patrols for most of these street muggings and crimes, the people cannot rely upon the government. It has failed.
In fact, it has failed bad enough that people can't even trust the police to be there to effectively maintain the streets to deter crime.
I mean I guess most "police" people will see would be automated drones or something? Because if they're having a manpower issue, could they build a large number of semi-AI drones or something to patrol the streets in place of humans?
As for most poor people, are their lives comfortable at least? I mean how subsidized are they, to at least give them a means to get back on their feet?
For the crime, this is the exact point - this is reflecting similar issues in some Earth locations right now, extrapolated to the future. It's amazing what people will get used to as part of the every day...
For most of the poor there is little to no opportunity for advancement. Welfare and support systems will provide just enough calorie intake to meet bare nutrition needs, even if it's not the most palatable. Education meets the standards to ensure literacy is near universal. Housing isn't going to fall apart in the next storm, but concrete and alloy are far from the most comfortable accomodations. What work there is tends to be service industries or mindless drone labor - enough to fill a few hours of the day, but not anything to get rich by. The UEA government relies on the "bread and circuses" model of keeping the populace happy, what with ration packs and digital entertainment. For the past century it has worked...
Yes.
I don't think it will do much to relieve population pressure and overcrowding unless a really huge number of young people are sent away.
Even sending several million out of fifteen billion is nothing much.
That's all I meant: extraterrestrial colonies won't significantly reduce the Earth's population. I agree with you about the likelihood of the government encouraging some people to emigrate.
It could reduce political tensions at home and build up more profitable colonies.
I like it.
mike wightman
SOC-14 10K
Are you going with CT character generation, CE or some houseruled system?
Your setting is ripe for explaining the prior experience of the various CT careers, especially Other
Your setting is ripe for explaining the prior experience of the various CT careers, especially Other
Regarding unemployment and such on Earth among the poor, you might find this article interesting: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/07/world-without-work/395294/
Are drones used extensively to patrol for crime on Earth and offworld colonies?
Hmm for your items, in your setting here, like weapons or armor or tools and such, do you just go with the generic Traveller terms like "crystaliron" or just drop weapons like CR898 ACR into it?
Or do you try to name things slightly differently or tweak weapons, like saying an ACR here fires a different caliber, for your setting to sort of differentiate it a bit?
Similar threads
