Jan 23, 2020 3:52 pm
In the near future, humanity discovers the secret to faster than light travel. Within a couple of years, large corporations buy and occupy most of the discovered livable or terraformable planets and, outside of the bounds of countries and laws holding them back, they grow quickly and uncontrollably.
Soon, the power of those corporations far exceeds that of countries which are mostly meaningless outside of Earth. Technology improves somewhat, with particular advancements in the fields of artificial intelligence, cybernetic enhancements and genetic manipulation.
However, this came with a cost. Most people who don’t live on a Core World – one of the few planets ruled by governments instead of CEOs – live in poverty or slave away for the corporations. There are no intergalactic laws although most territories outlaw at least the most basic crimes, such as murder. However, what is or is not punished and what these punishments, if they exist, look like can vary wildly depending on where you are.
Most people have the ability to travel between planets but not everyone can afford their own spaceship. On richer core worlds, up to 90% of the population might have their own private ship, anchored in a space station outside the planet’s atmosphere that is accessible by public or private shuttles. On poorer worlds, only the top 1% might have their own ship while others are dependent on scheduled flights to get off world, not unlike airplane travel today. Corporation worlds usually limit the ability of their employees for interplanetary travel so they would not have their own ships and would depend on corporation-organized flights to get off-world.
Travel between systems, depending on the distance, can take between days and weeks. With Earth as the approximate center of the galactic expansion of the human race, most worlds are reachable from Earth within two months. There are worlds outside this radius, some haven’t been visited by people since their original settling, but the vast majority of inhabited worlds are here.
While there is no more real war, there is constant fighting. This mostly takes place between corporations these days, not countries, and it more closely resembles organized battles than a full out war. Both sides send an army to a designated spot and fight it out. Direct attacks on company facilities are frowned upon and, while not technically illegal (as almost nothing is universally illegal), a corporation that gains a reputation for these kinds of tactics, it might seriously damage its chances for future business. Nevertheless, the weapons’ industry booms thanks to these constant pseudo-wars.
Your characters are a group of mercenaries working for these corporations. Your profession has become invaluable to the economy these days. Companies hire mercenaries for espionage, for sabotage, even for terrorism. While it might not be an easy way to earn money, it is a fast one. And one that is always in demand.
Your characters might know each other – maybe you have worked together in the past or are even an established team – or you might be meeting for the first time, gathered by an employer with an important, well-paid mission for you.
Soon, the power of those corporations far exceeds that of countries which are mostly meaningless outside of Earth. Technology improves somewhat, with particular advancements in the fields of artificial intelligence, cybernetic enhancements and genetic manipulation.
However, this came with a cost. Most people who don’t live on a Core World – one of the few planets ruled by governments instead of CEOs – live in poverty or slave away for the corporations. There are no intergalactic laws although most territories outlaw at least the most basic crimes, such as murder. However, what is or is not punished and what these punishments, if they exist, look like can vary wildly depending on where you are.
Most people have the ability to travel between planets but not everyone can afford their own spaceship. On richer core worlds, up to 90% of the population might have their own private ship, anchored in a space station outside the planet’s atmosphere that is accessible by public or private shuttles. On poorer worlds, only the top 1% might have their own ship while others are dependent on scheduled flights to get off world, not unlike airplane travel today. Corporation worlds usually limit the ability of their employees for interplanetary travel so they would not have their own ships and would depend on corporation-organized flights to get off-world.
Travel between systems, depending on the distance, can take between days and weeks. With Earth as the approximate center of the galactic expansion of the human race, most worlds are reachable from Earth within two months. There are worlds outside this radius, some haven’t been visited by people since their original settling, but the vast majority of inhabited worlds are here.
While there is no more real war, there is constant fighting. This mostly takes place between corporations these days, not countries, and it more closely resembles organized battles than a full out war. Both sides send an army to a designated spot and fight it out. Direct attacks on company facilities are frowned upon and, while not technically illegal (as almost nothing is universally illegal), a corporation that gains a reputation for these kinds of tactics, it might seriously damage its chances for future business. Nevertheless, the weapons’ industry booms thanks to these constant pseudo-wars.
Your characters are a group of mercenaries working for these corporations. Your profession has become invaluable to the economy these days. Companies hire mercenaries for espionage, for sabotage, even for terrorism. While it might not be an easy way to earn money, it is a fast one. And one that is always in demand.
Your characters might know each other – maybe you have worked together in the past or are even an established team – or you might be meeting for the first time, gathered by an employer with an important, well-paid mission for you.