Editing PBP Traveller TradeAndShenanigans (section)

==Background==

The setting is the '''Spinward Marches circa Imperial Year 1111'''. The Fifth Frontier War recently ended and there is still considerable turmoil. To Spinward, the defeated alliance of Zhodani and Sword Worlds. Coreward are chaotic Vargar Extent states. Rimward, Aslan unlanded males seek lands.

The Sector '''Dutchess Daphene''', Matriarch of Mora is upstaged by the brilliant upstart '''Duke Norris of Regina'''. It is a time for new ventures and for new social structures to replace the old.

Several of the '''Sword Worlds''' are occupied by Imperial Forces. 

==='''Glisten subsector'''=== 
A quiet backwater, heavily industrialized and dominated by mining worlds and asteroid belters. 

*  '''Aki''' is a poor world with a population of over two billion. It has well-developed manufacturing and processing industries. Manufactured goods are a major export item. Its economy is barely growing and living conditions are not expected to improve in the near future. Food and water are rationed. This world designated as an ''Amber Zone''. Caution is advised. Aki was settled from Deneb around 300, and converted to [[Aborism]], a pervasive religion around 450. Religion and government remain separate. Offworlders find the planet uncomfortable due to the large population, mostly crowded into large cities, and because of the hostile attitude of Aborites to non-members. This changes rapidly if one converts. Most cities have large slum areas, and much of the population subsists on church or government doles. Most imports, with the exception of foodstuffs, are subject to a 10% import duty. All normal starship servicing fees are doubled, due to a government effort to collect Imperial currency to facilitate off-world activities.

* '''Crout''' is a lower-tech world with three billion population. The hinterlands are designated as an ''Amber Zone'' due to an active rebellion against the paternalistic government. However, the starport and port town are considered one of the safest and friendliest to traders, tourists and other travelers.  A significant alien population of [[Llellewyloly]] exists on Crout.

* '''Egypt''' is a Ministry of Colonization training base. Several worlds in the Spinward Marches and adjacent sectors are under active colonization projects. Survival outside Egypt's domed facilities is a tremendous challenge for colonist trainees. 

* '''Glisten''' is the subsector capital. The system has a population of eight billion. This population is scattered across one hundred-seventy-four (or more) dwarf planet in two co-orbital positions; a main-belt and an outer asteroid belt. The different belts have different lifestyles and rivalries. Glisten City on Gliss Ten is the system capital and largest city. Glisten is effectively a single high technology world; available technology is over the usual standards for Charted Space. It has well-developed manufacturing and processing industries. Glisten has colonies on Melior, Weiss, and New Rome. Glisten has the largest Port Authority staff in the Spinward march, as each inhabited world has space docks and other port facilities.

* '''Grote''' A low population medium high-tech vacuum world with a starship manufacturing yard. Most inhabitants either work in the yard or engage in trade and support for passing ships. The shipyard is affiliated with Blistein yard at Glisten but is a bit of a rival. Ling Standard Products offered a buy out before the Fifth Frontier War, but negotiations stalled. Popular imports include luxury food and drink, other luxury goods, and entertainment. There are long term metal contracts in place with neighboring systems. 

* '''Lydia''' is a former silver mine colony abandoned over a hundred years ago. It's a single sealed dome city. The low tech level is a function of the low population, they barely keep enough specialized knowledge to keep the life support systems going. Nothing left for any industry. What they do have is abandoned mining and ore processing machinery and a bunch of other old junk. It's now a junkyard, operated by scavengers. 

* '''Mithras''' is an imperial exile prison. Convicted individuals are deported here where they begin life anew. Environmental conditions are harsh, but Imperial authorities point to Mithras as a showcase. Exiles banded together to form their own government. There is limited trade, but only through authorized traders. Many ex-prisoners are released as rehabilitated.

* '''New Rome''' an Imperial world in the Glisten subsector. Ruled out of Glisten system. Icy New Rome was a secondary world in what was called the Bellion System. In 86 a vindictive Imperial admiral dumped political exiles there. New Rome prospered and became the site of most of the system's heavy industry. Eventually, the majority of the system's population lived on New Rome and the system was accordingly renamed to reflect that.

* '''Bellion''' was settled by refugees from the fall of the Sindalian Empire. It had its own independent mini-empire, but in 165 the Third Imperium sent the Navy in. By 392 it and its economic dependents joined the Imperium en bloc. Like New Rome, it is administered as a dependency of the Glisten belts.





* '''Tirem''' is just one of the larger asteroids in the Incalescens Belt: there are another 247 "asteroids" with a size between 1 and 8, orbiting as a belt around the primary, Kinkos. Total population is over six billion, comparable to Glisten. According to the most common theory, the Belt is the result of the destruction of a small (size 22?) planet - perhaps during the Final War - with the resulting fragments forming a mass of small planets in orbit around Kinkos. Tirem is an elongated, misshapen brick of a world, with its diameter varying from 3000 km to 22,000 km. There is a thin atmosphere tainted with sulfur compounds. Riddled with tunnels, it remains one of the greatest sources of nickel, copper, and iron in the sector.The convoluted shape of the world - along with relentless "hollowing" by kilometer-wide mobile excavation complexes - contribute to the variable gravity on Tirem. Tirem minor planet belt is the center of [[Belter Freedom Allience]] activities. 

* '''Tsarina''' has a tainted, very thin atmosphere and no surface water. It has a population of three million. Much of its terrain is dusty desert plains, swept by the thin winds driven by a short rotational period.

* '''Weiss''' is a moderate population, moderate-high tech icy vacuum world. There is a Ling Standard Product shipyard there, and LSP subsidiaries own the local economy. The population is descended from Sword World refugees and dissidents. The planet was annexed by Glisten in 1104 to suppress pro-sword world sympathies. '''Rated AMBER ZONE'''. Popular imports are Fancy food, medical supplies, and luxury goods. There is a demand for (illegal).  weapons. Exports include ships and high tech machinery. There is [[Belter Freedom Allience]] activity in the system, with a heavy patrol of LSP affiliated mercenaries and company militia. 

* '''Windsor'''

===Lunion Subsector===
Even more than Glisten sector, Lunion is highly industrialized. There are several Imperial bases and shipyards, producing a large number of warships. Lunion subsector saw heavy fighting during the recent war. 

* '''Smoug''' is a small world with a thin atmosphere, tainted by sulfur compounds and rust particles. Mining is the main economic activity. Taxes are high and laws stringent. Entertainment is at a premium.

* '''Wardn'''  is a lightly populated world on the frontier of the Imperium. There is some agriculture but most economic activity is centered around the Imperial Scout base. The 60,000 inhabitants are too few to maintain high tech manufacturing. Desert Petroglyph attracted tourists before the war. However, everything has been tightly locked down for the past few years.

===Sword Worlds Subsector===
Defeated during the war, the Sword Worlds independence is questionable. Many worlds are occupied or otherwise dominated by the Imperium. Many Sword Worlders are happy with the Imperium, but many more resist. Popular opinion is the Zhodani threw the Sword Worlds under the feet of the Imperium to secure its own borders.

* '''Biter''' is a Sword World, currently under stringent Imperial occupation. Former Sword World bases are now occupied by the Imperial Scout service and Lunion subsector navy and army units. The population is 3 million rowdy Sword Worlders. Their cities were damaged during the fighting but citizens fled to the countryside to avoid casualties. It's famed for its forests and the rich ecology therein.

* '''Sting''' is a Sword World, currently under Imperial control. Law enforcement is tight and tough. The populace seems friendly to Imperial forces; it was the capital of the Sword Worlds before that moved first to its rival world Beater and, since the war, Gram. Sting is an important agricultural world, with extensive farming infrastructure. The population is just over 75 million grumpy farmers and bureaucrats.

===District 268=== 
A sparsely settled region between Glisten subsector and Five Sisters subsector. Most worlds are independent of the Imperium.  By Imperial decree, District 268 is open for Trade and Shenanigans.

* '''Mertactor''' is a lovely garden world with a short-sleeve breathable atmosphere. Technically in District 268, but currently associated with the more developed Imperial Glisten sector. About 10% of the population is Aslan, descended from a group of mercenaries employed by the Imperium around 950. They are pretty thoroughly assimilated. Mertactor has historical animosity toward its homeworld Mora. But its own governmental institutions are heavily influenced by Mora. While Mertactor is not a matriarchy, women traditionally get preference.

* '''Elixibeth''' A mid-tech world with a small population. Investment has been modest but Elixabeth is growing in prosperity. There is a move towards Imperial membership. The only real industry on Elixabeth is the extensive Class B starport. This derives much of its revenue from a subsidy paid by the Imperial Navy. Elixabeth was a notorious haven for spies before and during the Fifth Frontier War. The current situation is unsettled.