The Independent Core Systems Colonies

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**THE INDEPENDENT CORE SYSTEMS COLONIES**

The ICSC is a loose alliance of worlds that have claimed independence from any interstellar governing body. While independent from each other, member colonies sell and trade resources and pay fees to be protected by corporate armed forces. The corporate owned Central Space Consortium of the ICSC is seen as a haven for those on the run from their government. If someone with a skill set useful to a corporate colony comes seeking asylum within the CSC, the Consortium will usually buy off that person’s tribunal and make them an indentured citizen. In this way, corporations bolster their private mercenary forces and spy networks with the best of the worst elements of society.

**HISTORY**

Once known as the CSC, or Central Space Consortium, this sector was first formed in the 2080s by corporations looking for a way to avoid paying taxes to their earthbound governments. Establishing major holdings on off-world colonies, these corporations declared their independence and created their own laws. Companies like Weyland-Yutani, Seegson, Chigusa, Hyperdyne, and the Jĭngtì Lóng Corporation all have planetary holdings in the CSC.

As humanity’s reach stretched into the Outer Rim during the 2100s, more and more UA and 3WE colonies became dissatisfied with the support they received from their governments. Colonial administration was understaffed and overworked. Supply lines were late and the marines and marshals were spread too thin. Some colonies decided to declare themselves independent, but with no corporate giant behind them, they soon found themselves easy prey for pirates and government reclamation.

In the spirit of free commerce, the Consortium reinvented themselves as the Independent Core System Colonies and extended their reach past the core systems to offer support to any colony that wanted its freedom—and could afford to pay the CSC’s protection fees. Because the ICSC is outside of any governmental jurisdiction, individual planets set up their own rules. Several large banks and credit companies have settled here, providing security and bonds for corporations whose shady dealings might otherwise have their accounts frozen for government investigation.

**MILITARY**

The ICSC operates a combined security fleet of mercenary operatives from each of the corporate members. As can be guessed, while they are deadly when operating in small units, they are disastrous at fleet maneuvers and coordinated defenses simply because they do not possess the same training or follow the same rules of engagement.

**LEADERS**

The ICSC is run by the Central Space Consortium, a board of directors representing each major corporation and one director representing the member colonies outside of the core systems. The director’s office sends a representative to tour the independent colonies, getting a feel for what those lone worlds need from the alliance, as well as what they can supply in return.

**LOCATIONS**

The ICSC is clustered in the Core, in one of the richest resource-filled areas of the known galaxy—New Eden Sector. Key systems here include Volcus, Ventix, Grendel, and the colonies of Alexandria, Exeter, and St. John.

**MARTIN**

LIAISON/RECRUITER, CENTRAL SPACE CONSORTIUM, INDEPENDENT CORE SYSTEM COLONIES

An artificial person, Martin is subdued, calm and warm-hearted. He listens to the colonists he deals with, absorbing as much information as he can, and then offers solutions. Most people dealing with him never even become aware that he is an android, and his apparent empathy has made Martin the most successful colonial liaison the ICSC has ever employed. While he plays the role of problem solver, his primary mission is, of course, to keep the independent colonies asking for as little as possible while taking from them as much as he can. Martin has begun to realize of late that his promises are empty and his masters are nothing more than con-artists. He sees that his actions are indirectly hurting the people he is pretending to help, contrary to the rules of robotics. Now Martin is experiencing an existential crisis. It is only a matter of time before he suffers a programming breakdown—and there is no telling what the ramifications may be.

**RELATIONS**

Both the 3WE and the UA have imposed trade sanctions and severe import and export taxes on the ICSC. A major USCMC base is located just outside the ICSC—in part to keep a watchful eye on the independent systems, but also because Weyland-Yutani wants the Colonial Marines close in case of an invasion of the ICSC by the UPP. Even though they are separate from the major governments, the Consortium has contracts in place to use national military forces for added protection. Outside the Core, the ICSC services, protects, and trades with a smattering of independent worlds in the Outer Rim and on the Frontier, including the Solomons and Anchorpoint Station.

**CURRENT ACTIVITIES**

While corporations are cutthroat out in “the real world,” they are forced to play nice with each other within the boundaries of the ICSC. Together they operate a massive smuggling ring and black market operation. Opportunities abound for starship crews willing to do a quiet run from New Eden to the Frontier and back. Because of this, ICC agents and Colonial Marshals have their hands full policing the sector’s imports and exports. The Consortium has also been covertly sending recruiters to successful colonies in an attempt to convince them to leave their government and join the ICSC. This practice is illegal and Colonial Administration is monitoring the situation closely.