Re: Space Opera Factions
Primitives often have a dark side. They can be superstitious and barbaric. Often they are there as a Wacky Wayside Tribe type of hazard along the way.
The Free Traders: These are small traders outside the purview of the great Megacorporations. Solar Queen is an example.
Star Mercs: The Martial version of Free Traders.
Space Cossacks. These have some similarities to Primitives in social and political organization. But they are a hi-tech interstellar culture. They exist at the fringes of the Empire/Federation. They often double as Free Traders or Star Mercs, or even criminals. They can be rebels but often just want to live their lives. At the least they are likely not to take the law to seriously except for their own internal law. This does not mean they do not have a strict code of honor, in fact they often appear in a heroic light. Examples are The Nomads in The Peregrine, or The Maquis in DS9.
The Scouts: The exploratory element of government. The IISS in Traveller is an example.
The Patrol: Basically the space coast guard
The Navy: traditionally modeled on the British or US navies but other variations exist.
The Marines: These are the tough guys that go down on planets to smash things.
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"The navy could probably win a war without coffee but would prefer not to try"-Samuel Eliot Morrison
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