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The 'Verse of 2525 is a politically fragmented, economically chaotic place compared to the previous decade. The uniform control of the Alliance was shattered in 2520, first by the destruction of the Parliament on Londinium, and then by the assassination of Admiral Sutton, which brought his forces into the simmering conflict between Ariel and Sihnon. The White Sun Civil War (2520-2522) raged for almost two years, resulting in the destruction of major government and military facilities throughout White Sun, with collateral damage to the economy and civilian infrastructure. Major fleet battles led to the self-destruction of the once enormous Alliance military, and the end of Alliance rule. The White Sun Civil War ended when most factional leaders and their fleets had been killed or disrupted to the extent that naval actions became impossible. In early 2522 the three primary combatant worlds (Sihnon, Ariel, and Jiangyin) signed the Athens Treaty, formally ending hostilities with subtle encouragement from the "New Cardiff Consortium", a temporary alliance of most of the megacorporations.
While not as physically destructive as the Unification War (2505-2511), some 680,000,000 people, roughly 7% of the population of the 'Verse died in the fighting and chaos which followed. This was followed by massive dislocations as the economy of the 'Verse went into freefall. Large numbers of people simply gave up their lives in the Core and migrated outward to the frontier worlds, especially to Blue Sun. This, in turn, led to an extensive reshuffling of power on countless little moons as thousands of strangers arrived with nothing but the clothes on their back, attempting subsistence farming and largely failing at it. Likewise, most of the terraforming efforts underway in 2520 were interrupted or deliberately disrupted, resulting in several failed efforts. These "black rocks" are uninhabited, save for wildcat mining operations, salvage efforts, and the ubiquitous pirates.
The infrastructure of the Cortex network was a primary target for nearly all of the warring factions. It was quickly attacked and destroyed by the major combatants, and not yet fully restored by 2525. As a result, data transfer and communications are severely limited. For most users, reliable transmissions are only available in-system, and even then only near major worlds. Interstellar communication is extremely expensive, and largely limited to the mega-corporations who maintain their own networks. There is no single unified communications network anymore.
Similarly, no single currency exists within the 'Verse. Each interplanetary body has created its own currency for internal use, and most independent worlds will accept currency at constantly changing exchange rates, but for interplanetary use, these currencies are difficult and occasionally useless. Gold and platinum retain their value as a universal mode of currency, and barter has never gone out of use on the frontier.
For electronic transfers of wealth, however, a new form of currency was developed by the true economic titans of the postwar period, the corps. Immediately after the cessation of hostilities in 2522, the Rance-Feeney Corporation hosted a series of conferences in the city of New Cardiff/Londinium, wherein the major megacorps of the 'Verse, including Blue Sun, Weyland-Yutani, and Magnus among others, agreed to a single corporate currency to be used among these enormous commercial powers.
The new currency unit is officially called the "Consortium Exchange Unit" (CEU), but they are almost always called "Londy Bucks", "CeeYou's", or "Credits". One CEU is usually worth roughly a hundred standard platinum coins, so they are useful for large purchases. Unfortunately, the CEU is new and in limited circulation, so most of the worlds on the Border and Rim still have almost no access to CEU's in useful amounts.
Independent Worlds of the 'Verse - In 2525, the 'Verse is marked by a relatively large number of independent worlds of all manner of governments and character. There are few such planets in White Sun, but generally the further out on the frontier, the more worlds that are self-governed or ungoverned. These range from peaceful farm world to psychotic military dictatorships and everything in between. A few worlds are politically divided at the regional level, with multiple independent states on each planet's surface, each with its own government and laws. Such worlds tend to be chaotic, conflict-riddled places.
Roughly half the worlds in the Red Sun system are independent in some capacity, though most suffer from a great deal of outside interference by corporations and major political powers. Some worlds have a unified government, while others are highly fragmented. Many of the worlds in Red Sun were the site of large battles, both on land and in space, and still bear the scars.
Kalidasa is almost entirely independent of outside influences, save for Sho Je Downs being a member of the Alliance, and several corporate-dominated minor worlds. The largest population center in Kalidasa remains Beaumonde, which managed to remain neutral by cheerfully surrendering to whichever side claimed the Kalidasa system at any time. It is currently attempting to extend its influence through the system, mostly through economic assistance. Salisbury and its satellites are claimed by the "Salisbury March", a small Persephonic domain with a surprisingly well-funded navy.
Interplanetary Nations of White Sun
Inner Republic (Londinium), "The Londies, Corps" - The smaller of two inheritor states of the old Rump Parliament, the Inner Republic is named for the location of its two member worlds. Both are high-population worlds, though Londinium utterly dominates affairs on Bernadette, which serves as a source of labor and agriculture. The two worlds possess a powerful economy, as they escaped the worst of the war and have attracted most of the mega corporations that have relocated from Sihnon as it became more bureaucratic. The Inner Republic is a class-conscious society, with status going in hand with wealth. The Inner Republic now assigns voting rights based on a person's status within the corporate hierarchy; Blue Sun, Weyland-Yutani, and the other large business concerns dominate politics. Despite its attempts to contrast itself with the old Alliance, the Inner Republic remains a top-heavy, somewhat autocratic state, though much more friendly to big business than Sihnon. Londinium remains the financial center of the 'Verse, and maintains good relations with almost every polity in the 'Verse.
Union of Allied Worlds (Sihnon), "The Union, The Centralists" - The larger inheritor state of the old Rump Parliament, the Union of Allied Worlds has retained many of the Alliance institutions, while also adopting a more deliberately Confucian philosophy of rule. After the destruction of much of Sihnon's government during the war, the various bureaucracies turned to the heads of the traditionalist universities and monasteries that educated Sihnon's elites. The Union has become a somewhat rigid place, a mix of typical giant bureaucracies, cutting edge social theory, and a version of traditional Chinese culture. Citizen's lives are closely controlled by planning bureaus, and much of the workforce is employed in repairing war-ravaged urban areas. It is an economic powerhouse largely due to its size, wealth, and the use of AI's in economic planning. Unlike most other successor states, the Union has member worlds and client states in multiple systems, making it the only true interstellar state in the 'Verse. It is fairly vigorous in pressing these claims, sometimes resulting in local conflicts.
White Sun Federation (Ariel), "The Feds" - The successor state of the Ariel Consensus, the White Sun Federation is a multi-party democracy composed of three formerly wealthy high-population worlds. The government struggles to rebuild the damage left by the recent war, while at the same time engaging in quiet "Cold War" against the Union of Allied Worlds. It has managed to retain the relatively enlightened forms of government espoused by the Ariel Consensus, though the dictates of war and reconstruction have led to some internal tensions between member worlds. The White Sun Federation attempts to expand its influence and export its values, and so can be found meddling in local affairs throughout the 'Verse.
Principality of Lux (Persephone), "The Aristos" - The Principality of Lux has unified the various planets and moons of the protostar Lux under the sovereignty of a single Prince, with a hierarchy of various nobles below him. Regions of a world are ruled by Counts, who select one among their number to serve as Prince for life. Individual moons are often independently run as duchies; Dukes rank similarly to Counts, but have more independence of action. This is similar to the system used when Persephone was subject to rule by the Alliance, but now the Prince wields sovereign authority. The state is organized around Persephonic feudalism, as well as the subtle influence of certain Transhumanist principles. Lux inherited a number of large naval vessels, and thus exerts influence far beyond its borders. The various scattered domains generally referred to as "Marches" owe fealty to Lux, and can count on protection by the Prince's Navy. In the last couple of years, it has become a custom of the nobility to use a form of Latin as the official language of the realm, as a way to further distinguish themselves as aristocrats.
Interplanetary Nations of Georgia
Murphy Confederacy (Hera), "The ConFeds, The Browncoats" - Best described as a Browncoat Democracy, the Murphy Confederacy started off as a mutual defense pact among the fractious worlds of the proto-star Murphy. With events spiraling out of control in 2320, the worlds took the further step of both leaving the Alliance and unifying under a single government, albeit a loose one. With lax laws and a weak economy, the Murphy Confederacy has acquired a reputation as a smuggling and pirate haven. Despite this, several medium sized corporations have relocated their operations to Murphy, to take advantage of conditions there. Citizens of Murphy are infamous for being quarrelsome, independent, and heavily armed. Indeed, most civilian ships in the system are routinely armed as well. The biggest challenge faced by the government of Murphy is the opening of Shadow to settlement. There is considerable tension between those who remained on Shadow, refugees who relocated to Hera and Aphrodite, and the waves of new settlers from the core worlds devastated by the most recent war.
Interplanetary Nations of Red Sun
Jiangyin Hegemony (Jiangyin), "The Hegemony", "Red Menace" - When Admiral Sutton was assassinated in 2521, his large naval force fragmented almost immediately under its admirals. A series of large naval battles left Red Sun split between two rival camps. The inner system was dominated by this group, which is now known as the Jiangyin Hegemony. Jiangyin itself is a manufacturing center and relatively high population world, largely untouched by the war. Most of its needs are met by the other worlds of the Hegemony, or by mining in the Motherlode Belt. The Jiangyin Hegemony is a military state, though it it remains popular because of the stability it provides. The ruling junta is mostly non-ideological, willing to trade with any businesses who accept the many rules. The numerous restrictions on the citizenry have resulted in a sizable black market for offworld entertainments and consumer goods of various sorts.
Free League of Heinlein (Lazarus), "The League", "Hine Liners" - The Free League of Heinlein is composed of the four medium-population worlds orbiting the protostar Heinlein. During the war a moderately large naval squadron defected from Jiangyin, and offered protection to the four worlds in exchange for fealty. As a result, the system came under a single unified government centered on Lazarus. Though the government is military in nature, it limits itself to managing issues of law, defense, and interplanetary economics. Each individual world manages its own internal affairs. The Free League is involved in a Cold War of sorts with Jiangyin, which would like very much to extend its control to all of Red Sun. The Free League works to assist efforts on independent worlds to counter Jiangyin's influence, but often finds itself encountering friction from the various Browncoat worlds because of its background in the old Alliance military.
Interplanetary Nations of Blue Sun
Blue Sun Defense League (Meridian) - This polity is a defense arrangement between most of the low population worlds of the Blue Sun system, centered on Meridian, that has matured into the closest thing to a system government as exists in Blue Sun. It is often described as textbook "Browncoat Democracy", as there is little effort by the central government to dictate anything to the members about their internal politics. It limits itself to defense, economic assistance, and coordinating the increasing immigration to Blue Sun. In addition, it maintains a close relationship with the Murphy Confederacy, with a mutual trade and defense pact signed in 2522. Both fly the Browncoat flag, the only difference being the coloration.
Holy Republic of New Canaan (New Canaan), "The Mormons" - No longer limited by Alliance policies, the Neo-Mormon colony has established itself as one of the few true theocracies in the 'Verse. Offering stability and purpose to the disenfranchised masses of the Core, New Canaan Neo-Mormonism has been successful in proselytizing. As such, its population has exploded years as immigrants and converts from across the 'Verse flock to this small, fertile world. New Canaan itself has become a launching point for a new mission, almost a crusade, to resettle Miranda. The New Canaan sect of Neo-Mormonism refers to the process as "Redemption". Since Miranda is still officially claimed by Sihnon, as well as the local Reaver population, this makes Miranda a hot frontier indeed.
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