Mercury

Mercury, the first planet in the Sol System, has been largely untouched by human colonisation efforts, mostly due to its inhospitable nature and proximity to the Sun. This has been changing recently with the dawn of the megastructure age, as the many nations of humanity spread out across the system and have begun constructing vast habitats and facilities.

Several nations, most notably the United Arab Republics and the Federation of Oceania have established mining operations on Mercury, recruiting skilled labourers and setting up orbital habitats in near-Mercury orbit. The de-facto ‘capital’ of Mercury is Nizami, established to handle the administrative duties that come with operating the Mercurian Mass Drivers (MMD), as well as handling various spaceport duties.

Geography

The oldest man-made structures in Mercurian orbit are various scientific and corporate satellites, which gave way to the first long-term space stations, and eventually, the first habitats. Since the mid 22nd Century, the various states of Earth have turned their attention to this often forgotten body, especially as a source of valuable minerals for use in various megaprojects.

The most important orbital habitat in Mercurian orbit is Nizami, considered a colony of the United Arab Republics. It serves a vital role overseeing the operation of the Mercurian Mass Drivers, giving them a significant influence boost in the region. Nizami has recently been contested by the construction of Aoraki Spaceport, by the Federation of Oceania. It is expected to double the mass driver capacity of Mercury, and ruin UAR dominance over the mineral trade.

Politics

Control of Mercury is largely split between the United Arab Republics and the Federation of Oceania, though many orbital stations and habitats lie outside of their control, owned by corporations, and subject to their jurisdiction. While Nizami has been afforded the luxury of democratic rule and civilian administration, Aoraki has yet to complete its transition from colonial rule to a civilian one, largely governed by bureaucrats.

Culture

Mercurians are typically identified by their minor adaptations to life so close to the Sun. They are hardy people, who operate highly advanced exosuits and drones. Their skills are always desired across Human-occupied space, and many can be found living off-world, having been lured away by high pay or by simple wanderlust. For those who don't work in the mining sectors, life on the Mercurian habitats is comfortable, if a little dull. There is a friendly rivalry between the peoples of Nizami and Aoraki, largely played out in sporting events, or raging at each other in online chats. Though it is mostly banter, it comes from real economic uncertainties between the two habitats.

The vast majority of Mercurians are baseline humans, though with the advent of Genemodding, the various subcultures that develop around certain modifications have made their way to Mercury, and some of the less prudish laborers have found themselves modifying themselves to better suit their mining way of life.

History

The first orbiting habitats and space stations around Mercury first started appearing as soon as it was possible, in the late 2050s in a brief moment of respite between climate catastrophe and civil upheaval. But it would not be until the early 22nd Century that long-term habitation became a reality. Corporate influences held dominance over the planet until around 2130, when the United Arab Republics began construction of Nizami. Nizami remained the most prominent habitat in Mercurian orbit, and ot would not be until 2156 when the Federation of Oceania began construction of Aoraki, which finished in 2287, now home to a sizable population.