Asteroid Belt

The Asteroid Belt or simply the Belt is a collection of asteroids in the Solar System between Mars and Jupiter. The Belt was colonized concurrently with Mars during the Second Space Race.

History
Main Article: History of the Asteroid Belt

Space Age
Main Articles: Space Age and Second Space Race

The period between 1955 and 2080 is known as the Space Age, which is split into three segments. The Early Space Age, from 1955 to 1991, spanned the first space race between the Soviet Union and the United States of America. The Late Space Age, from 1991 to 2080, spanned the second space race to colonization.

The Belt was mainly of superficial interest during the first space race, as the Moon was a more accessible goal. Interest rose in the beginnings of the Late Space Age, as private individuals started to eye the area for resource exploitation. Upon the beginnings of Mars colonization, several corporations sprang up to sponsor colonists to Mars in exchange for labor in the Belt.

Neo-Colonial Era
Main Article: Neo-Colonial Era

As colonization progressed, the corporations began to establish more permanent stations on the larger asteroids in the Belt. In order to limit the costs of transporting workers to and from Mars, the stations expanded into cities and the asteroids became permanent settlements. Expansion continued throughout the belt, eventually leading to the point where company rule was developed into the unofficial rule in the Belt.

During this time, the companies took control of what asteroids they wanted. Companies would often hire enforcers to protect their findings from other mining groups. Often, this led to shootouts on the asteroids that were only resolved once a team retreated or was killed.

Over time, as the companies continued to escalate their enforcer populations, they began to organize an unofficial militia. Eventually, the tax hikes from Earth led several of the companies to revolt, sparking the Interplanetary War.

23rd Century to the Present
Main Articles: Interplanetary War, Battle of Ceres, and Modern Era

The late 23rd century into the early 24th was dominated by the Interplanetary War. Several of the ruling companies in the Belt instigated the war as an act of independence from Earth, inspiring the other planets to band together and rebel against their homeworld. In the conflict, the companies provided their own resources at a price for both sides in the conflict, although at a discount for the rebelling planets. The War rarely made its way that far outward, so the Belt had little concern over the safety of their people, except for during the Battle of Ceres.

After the war, the companies signed a treaty amongst themselves, assigning each a separate asteroid family. This, along with the company rule previously established led to multiple feudal systems throughout the Belt, leaving only Ceres as a neutral location.

List of States and Territories
The list below includes each of the recognized corporate states and Ceres, which exists as neutral ground between the corporations.