On Fetterman IV, the original colonists--those that survived--carved up most of the planet for themselves. Later settlers, who came hoping to acquire land and property for themselves, found it all taken by the Firsters. Fetterman was something of a "hard-scrabble" planet; you had to be tough to survive there. One quickly learned that in the struggle to live it was best to cooperate with others, rather than going it alone. During the first several centuries of human habitation there, a neo-fuedal system developed with the later waves of colonists becoming essentially serfs under the "protection" of the Firsters. Fetterman IV was a very isolated system far away from most of Human Space. Colonization swiftly closed down, once prospective settlers learned that it was the opposite of a paradise and not a place for the ambitious to settle. Visits by merchants and military were very rare events. It was considered a marvel if one witnessed two arrivals in one's lifetime. The Firsters usually discouraged a second visit by outsiders. They liked the system they had created and tended to be suspicious of outsiders and their ideas and practices. Over time, technology regressed to a level roughly the same as 18th century Earth's. By the time three more local centuries had passed, the Fetterman masses had been repressed to the point of rebellion. The common people began to demand more rights, more privileges, and even insisted that the great land holdings of the Firsters should be greatly reduced in size and the rest divided up among the lower classes. The first folks to voice such were killed, imprisoned, and exiled in the Barrens, which was pretty much a lingering death sentence. Some survived, though, and they secretly promoted their ideas among the commoners. Soon, there came several years of protests and riots. The shaken Firsters promised they would seriously consider their demands, but cautioned that it would take time to institute them. A decade passed. For awhile, things quieted down but gradually the Commoners became more and more restless as they saw no return on the Firsters' promises. Increaingly violent protest sprang up in all the major population centers--and quite a few of the lessor ones as well. The Firsters clamped down on public assemblies and instituted curfews. Their militaries burned the homes of suspected ringleaders and tried to round them up. The Firsters badly miscalculated the public rage. They had tossed a flaming torch into the powder room. Overnight, the population rose up against their masters. The revolution had begun! _________________ Started this render quite a few months back but only recently finished it. Hope you enjoy it. My email is messed up. I know I'm getting messages,but for some reason, since December 22, it won't let me open them up!!! So if you need to reach me, please use the Renderosity message route. Thanks! Jeremy CREDITS: Officer: DAZ Aiko3 with "Nenna Surion" clothing (both DAZ); Neftis "Ceasarius" hair (DAZ). Pistol: Scarpa's "Steampunk Pistol" (ShareCG). Soldiers: Predation's "LoRez Figures - Modern Males" (DAZ); their clothing and rifles created by Varsel (ShareCG). Eco-system: Various Vue6 plants.