Background Information

SPACEMASTER

'The Expanse' Campaign Setting

'The Expanse' campaign is a near future, human centric, solar system wide, space faring Sci-Fi setting. (v0.2)

There is no racism based on the colour of skin. There is no sexism based on gender. There is no prejudice based on sexuality. These, are no longer issues.

The 'Inners'

Earth

The cradle of human civilisation and still irreplaceable in the Expanse campaign. Current human population is 30 Billion. There are no separate countries. There is a single unified government run by the UN. Earth has the largest Space Navy in the Expanse setting. Earth ships have the prefixed 'UNN' for 'United Nations Navy'.

'Earthers' get free schooling up to the age of 16 but must prove their willingness to work to gain access to higher or specialist education. This entails a 4 year indentured work period.

A large majority of Earthers live on 'Basic', a rudimentary support system to meet basic human needs.

Luna

The Moon has a population of about 400 million people and is considered part of Earth's domain. Mostly industrial, the Moon also houses most of the off-world prisons for detaining the solar systems criminal element.

Luna is also the half way spot for meetings for families than span multiple planets. 'Outers' have problems with Earth gravity and Earthers don't do so well in Zero G. The Moon is thus a convenient compromise for family reunions.

Mars

Recently gained independence from Earth, Mars has a human population of 4 Billion run by the Mars Congressional Government. Martians live in underground or dome based cities (Arcologies) and are all working towards a 'Grand Plan' of terra-forming Mars into a new Eden.

Martians from the 'Mariner Valley' settlements have an 'old west' affectation known as the 'Mariner Valley Drawl'. Mariner Valley was settled by Indians, Chinese and a small contingent of Texans but apparently the 'drawl' went viral and all Mariners have it now.

Having a small, skilled and well educated population with massive mineral resources provided by the planet, Mars is rich and has the best equipped and most advanced Space Navy. Numerically smaller than Earth's Navy but much more advanced allows the Martian military to punch above their weight. Martian spaceships are prefixed with 'MCRN' for 'Mars Congressional Navy' The Earth and Mars Navies under recent agreements have formed into a coalition that patrol and maintain order and security in the outer territories. Coalition ships are prefixed 'EMCN'.

Mercury and Venus are too inhospitable for human habitation. Science or research station / ships are the only things your likely to encountered near here (bar the deadly, nefarious, space tentacle monsters!! 8-))

The 'Outers'

The Asteroid Belt

There are currently 100 Million denizens of the Asteroid Belt, collectively referred to as 'Belters'. After 6 or 7 generations of zero-g evolution Belters stand about 1 to 2 foot taller than most Earthers and have elongated heads & extremities. A common language has developed over time ( a Belter Cant or Patois) using a mishmash of Earth languages difficult to follow by non-Belters. Belters are also highly adapted to Zero-G environments.

Ceres, the largest asteroid, is the shipping hub of the Asteroid Belt. It is governed by Earth with policing contracted out to Star Helix Security. Food, air and advanced manufactured goods from the Inner worlds, Helium-3 & Water from Saturn and the mineral wealth of the asteroid belt and Jupiter all pass through Ceres. Ceres has a population of 6 million with another million souls in transit (space ship crews on shore-leave, passengers in transit, etc). Ceres has been 'spun' up to allow a centrifugal gravity of 0.3g for the inhabitants within.

Eros is the Las Vegas of the Outer Solar System. A vast entertainment hub catering to all ships passing through. Gambling, Licensed Prostitution and all other manner of entertainments. Spun to 0.3g centrifugal gravity.

Jupiter

Human colonisation is restricted to the Jovian moons. Total population around 45 million.

Ganymede, grows food (hydroponics and vat grown beef) for the Outer settlements. Vast domed complexes which have light concentrated onto them by large orbital mirrors.

Pregnant women also travel to and stay on Ganymede during their pregnancies as the moon is the only other object in the solar system (other than Earth) that has a magnetosphere, thus shielding it's inhabitants from harmful radiation.

Europa, Grows food

Callisto is the communications & HQ for EMCN Jovian fleet.

Saturn

Human colonisation is restricted to moons & orbiting spacestations. Total population is around 20 million.

Saturn Rings (Water for the Outer settlements)

Rhea (Helium-3)

Iapetus (Helium-3)

Saturn Station (Command and Admin facilities for military and corporations)

Uranus

Has a Research station with a population of around 5 000. Farthest human outpost in the Expanse Campaign.

All the Outers settlements, in the Asteroid Belt, Jupiter & Saturn's Moons and the one lonely outpost around Uranus are all governed and administered by Earth Mars Coalition. This causes much resentment with Belters because life in the Outer Solar system is tough and the Belters feel they do a lot of graft for very little gain.

A 'resistance' movement called the OPA (Outer Planets Alliance) is slowing gaining in popularity in the Outer Worlds with the goal of gaining independence. The sign of the OPA is the 'Split Circle'.

The majority of Belters have sympathy with the aims of the OPA and will lend support even if they not actively affiliated.

Notable Expanse Corporations

• Star Helix (Security)
• Protogen (Security)
• Pinkwater (Security) (I'm pretty sure the authors taking the piss outta Blackwater 8-))
• Al Abbiq (Security)
• Pure 'n' Kleen (Water Haulers)
• Tycho Manufacturing and Engineering Concern (High Tech Engineering)
• Mao-Kwikowski Mercantile (Massive Conglomerate - In the Top 10 corps)
• Royal Charter Energy (Science & Mining)