Merc World by Darklorddc

Mixed Medium • Science Fiction • posted on Oct 05, 2010

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Description

The planet Murgal lies in the unsettled space between the Xintrin Merchant Guild and the Empire of Many Suns, near the border of the Free Colonies. Though it is listed as an independent world, in reality it is controlled by the Xintrin, who have turned the planet into a giant market and furlough spot for mercenary companies. Mercs from all over local space come to Murgal to buy ships and weapons, find jobs, rest and relax, settle old scores or catch up on the latest training techniques. The entire planet's economy is built around supplying and entertaining the roughest, most ruthless customers in known space. Throughout it all you can find Xintrin traders plying their wares, raking in billions of credits for themselves and the Merchant Guild. Other sellers, such as the Fahreen, are officially welcome, but unofficially bad things tend to happen to those who are not careful or who take too big a bite out of Xintrin traders' sales. There are two types of settlements on Murgal: Mercenary camps and No-Fire Cities. Mercenary camps are settlements dedicated to one mercenary company. Some are exactly that: camps. Others are fortress cities with docking cradles that can fit cruisers. The No-Fire Cities are independently run and cater to the mercenaries every whims. Most have giant bazaars for merchants, gambling dens, whorehouses, sporting and gladiatorial arenas, drug houses and everything in between. Very little is illegal to buy, sell or do on Murgal, except damage the lives and property of merchants. Doing so brings down the Murgal Guard, a Xintrin and human mercenary group formed to keep Murgal independent and (relatively) peaceful. They are known to have a tendency to shoot first, shoot a bit more, and only resort to asking questions when they are out of ammunition. The threat of that level of violence is just the kind of thing needed to keep control of the planet that has become known as Merc World. Done in GIMP, with ships rendered in Carrara. Enjoy, and let me know what you think.