The Cosmos

The Human Dominion stretched across the solar system, a vast empire of industry, war, and survival. Each planet had become a world of its own, shaped by its environment, resources, and the unrelenting march of human ambition. Nations rose and fell in the void, economies flourished and collapsed, but one truth remained constant—power belonged to those who controlled wealth, weapons, and influence.

At the center of it all stood the Sol Standard Credit (SSC) ⨀, the universal currency that dictated the flow of trade between planets. However, each world clung to its own monetary system, reflecting their autonomy, economic standing, and unique industries.

The Sol Standard Credit (SSC) ⨀ – The Universal Currency

The Sol Standard Credit (SSC) ⨀ was the dominant financial standard, enforced by the Lunar Trade Commission (LTC) and recognized across the Human Dominion. Originally backed by energy reserves, it evolved into a digitally controlled currency regulated through interstellar banking systems.

Other planetary economies, while independent, were still tied to SSC ⨀ in some form. The Lunar Exchange Credit (Ξ) was the most stable, nearly equal in value to SSC. The Venusian Platinum Mark (♛) was considered a high-value currency due to its backing by rare metals and biotech industries. Meanwhile, the Martian War Bond (Ϟ) fluctuated depending on military conflicts, while the Jovian Mining Credit (⛏) was collapsing due to the Nightmare crisis.

Illegal markets operated outside of these regulated systems, where criminals and mercenaries used Black Hand Credits (☠) for untraceable transactions.

Earth – The Polluted Machine

Earth was a planet choked by pollution, ruled by industry, and divided between the powerful and the desperate. Its capital, Nova Terran, was once a beacon of progress but had since become a corporate stronghold under the rule of the Earth Industrial Authority (EIA). The EIA controlled all legal commerce, enforcing strict economic regulations while exploiting the working class.

Beneath the corporate towers, the United Worker States (UWS) fought for survival, an underground network resisting the EIA's grip. Meanwhile, the Crimson Triad, a ruthless crime syndicate, dominated the black markets, smuggling contraband and weapons.

Earth's currency, the Earth Industrial Credit (₡), was highly unstable due to hyperinflation. Many people resorted to barter or relied on foreign currencies like SSC ⨀ to retain value. The rich lived in luxury, while the poor scavenged for survival.

The Moon – The Corporate Bureaucracy

The Moon was the financial heart of the system, where interstellar trade and economic policies were dictated by the Lunar Trade Commission (LTC). From the towering spires of Selene City, banks, megacorporations, and financial institutions regulated currency flows across the Dominion.

Unlike Earth, the Moon maintained economic stability through the Lunar Exchange Credit (Ξ), a highly valuable currency nearly equal to SSC ⨀. The elite of Selene City lived in pristine, climate-controlled habitats, untouched by the struggles of the outer worlds.

The Star Seekers, a mysterious group within the Moon's ruling class, used their ability to predict trade routes and economic shifts, giving them immense power. While the Moon appeared orderly on the surface, it was a world of financial warfare, stock manipulation, and silent assassinations in the corridors of power.

Mars – The Military Stronghold

Mars was a world built for war, ruled by generals and warlords. The Martian Command Authority (MCA) maintained a strict military government, prioritizing weapons production and soldier training above all else. Every resource was directed toward military expansion, and citizenship itself was tied to mandatory service.

The capital, Meto City, was a fortress of concrete and steel, where soldiers marched in perfect formation under the ever-watchful eyes of military enforcers. Civilian life was spartan, dictated by rationing and controlled trade.

The economy relied on Martian War Bonds (Ϟ), a currency backed by military funding. Soldiers were paid in war bonds, which could be exchanged for weapons, supplies, or land grants in Martian territories. However, war bonds fluctuated in value depending on ongoing conflicts, leading to an unstable but aggressive economy.

Beyond the MCA's rule, the Red Sand Republic waged a guerrilla war, seeking to break free from the military's grip. They controlled hidden supply lines and smuggled goods, creating an underground economy independent of war bonds.

Jupiter – The Nightmare Frontier

Jupiter had once been an industrial powerhouse, its vast moons supporting massive mining operations. But that era had ended when the Nightmare Beasts emerged. Now, the world was a battlefield.

The city of Nereida, once the pride of the Jovian colonies, was now under siege. The Void Operatives, an elite special forces unit, fought desperately to contain the endless onslaught of monsters. Entire industrial zones had been abandoned, their once-thriving economies collapsing into ruin.

The Jovian Mining Credit (⛏) had lost nearly all value, as mining operations were either shut down or destroyed. Evacuations were ongoing, and traders refused to accept ⛏ as payment, fearing its worth would soon vanish entirely.

For those who remained, survival was the only currency that mattered. The few who could still extract and transport resources sold them on the black market, while mercenaries were paid in SSC ⨀ for high-risk operations.

Neptune – The Deep-Space Shipyard

Neptune was the shipyard of humanity, home to the Neptune Shipwright Consortium, the largest manufacturer of interstellar vessels. The capital, New Eden, was a sprawling orbital dock where warships, cargo haulers, and colony vessels were constructed.

Unlike the war-torn planets, Neptune thrived on interstellar commerce. Shipbuilders, traders, and mercenaries alike came here to purchase vessels or take on deep-space contracts. The Outer Rim Explorers Union operated from Neptune as well, a loose organization of asteroid miners and long-haul traders seeking untapped resources.

The primary currency was the Neptune Star Credit (✦), which was used for ship purchases, fuel, and space-travel transactions. Since deep-space trade was essential for the entire solar system, the ✦ was a highly valuable currency, second only to SSC ⨀ in reliability.

Neptune remained neutral in most conflicts, but its shipyards built war machines for all sides, ensuring it remained one of the wealthiest planets in the Dominion.

The Unregulated Economy: Black Markets & Illicit Trade

Outside the legal economy, a vast network of smugglers, pirates, and rogue AIs operated an alternative financial system. The Black Hand Syndicate, an interplanetary criminal empire, controlled much of the underworld trade.

Instead of relying on traditional currency, criminals used Black Hand Credits (☠), a decentralized, untraceable system that existed entirely off the books. It was the preferred currency for assassination contracts, illegal cybernetics, and weapons smuggling.

While most governments condemned the use of ☠, they secretly relied on black-market trade to fund secret operations. The line between lawful and unlawful economies was often blurred, and many powerful figures had a hand in both.

Exchange Rates (Approximate)

1 SSC = 100 EIC (Earth)

1 SSC = 5 LEC (Moon)

1 SSC = 50 MWB (Mars)

1 SSC = 0.5 VPM (Venus)

1 SSC = 200 JMC (Jupiter) [Highly volatile]

1 SSC = 2 SQT (Saturn)

1 SSC = 500 DTC (Uranus) [Fluctuates due to illegal use]

1 SSC = 1.2 NSC (Neptune)

1 SSC = Varies in BHC (Pluto, black market exchange rate varies)

Additional Notes:

Lunar Exchange Credit Ξ was the closest to SSC ⨀ in value, given its status as a reserve currency in high-value transactions.

Venusian Platinum Mark ♛ was considered even more valuable due to its exclusivity, but limited usability outside the luxury and biotech markets.

Martian War Bond Ϟ fluctuated depending on military conflicts and arms production.

Jovian Mining Credit ⛏ was in economic freefall, as Jupiter's industrial operations collapsed under the Nightmare threat.

Black Hand Credit ☠ was completely unregulated, existing outside legal financial systems, making it impossible to track its actual worth.