Luna (The Moon)

## Introduction

The colony on Luna, Earth's moon, is exceptionally small and started as a military outpost following the Liberation War for the Sol Republic to launch quick, reactionary fleets from while their main fleets took up the best fighting positions. In the modern day, the colony is mostly dedicated to the housing of Interstellar Ballistic Missile systems which can launch warheads capable of FTL to distant star systems. Such missiles have been rendered mostly ineffective due to the various point defense systems that now exist though against smaller colonies they can be devastating. More commonly, these missiles are being outfitted with equipment to carry drop pods to rapidly deploy troops behind enemy lines before the main fleets are even necessary. With the USC's typical doctrines and the way in which humanity's government fights, this greatly enhances their capability for force projection as some former missiles are outfitted with cargo bays to ship supplies. Doing so is incredibly expensive, however, and as such fleets remain the primary method of transporting mass shipments of supplies and troops. Thusly, most troops sent into battle this way are typically covert operations or are intended to set up a landing zone for a nearby fleet to drop its troops off safely; reducing the number of lives lost in airborne operations.

People living on the moon are generally there as supporting staff to the missile silos or for the very limited number of jobs in shipping, the docks, local restaurants, bars and hotels. There is no industry upon the moon itself nor farming or similar jobs. Citrus is a staple in their diets rather than an addition to combat issues with the month-long darkness as the moon rotates. All habitats are exceptionally well designed into domes which deflect most projectiles and assist with protection against micrometeors. There are few windows though they exist and are mostly positioned towards the interior of the colony.

Some structures on the moon are underground and therefore exceptionally well defended from the environment. Such structures tend to include housing and most of the missile related structures. A few notable areas include a handful of mercenary bars where individuals tend to congregate to wait for gainful employment either through the USC military or other contractors. Weapons are strictly forbidden in these zones and the USC Marines themselves enforce this in conjunction with the Sol Republic Defense Force.

## Mercenary Culture

Most mercenaries on Luna are there to await jobs though a handful do go to swap stories with other mercenaries, to recruit other team members, and to trade between their fellow mercenaries. Generally, their time spent here is brief before shipping out on another job. Those that do stay for longer periods of time tend to operate local bars and safehouses for other mercenaries. Some of these mercenaries run clandestine operations of their own. Typically, the mercenaries running such operations are highly experienced mercenaries that no longer get their hands dirty and instead employ other mercenaries to do such work.

Retired mercenaries frequent this location as well to give their advice to aspiring mercenaries that are just entering the profession. This advice is well heeded by most mercenaries and those that do not heed the advice are commonly killed off on their first few jobs as a result of their arrogance or suffer grievous injuries. A handful of these experienced retirees have set up a small training ground for new mercenaries to practice their trade before their first job which includes old mercenaries that roleplay as civilians, targets for the rookies to practice their marksmanship and even immersive virtual reality that can bring the most abstract situations into focus.