Simmering Tensions¶

Social and political pressure points that could erupt into open conflict.

Belter Independence¶

The Belt combines fierce cultural independence, weak UEF authority, and the precedent of Lunar secession. Unlike Luna, Belt communities are fragmented — no unified government, no single voice. This makes organized independence harder but also makes the situation more volatile. A flashpoint could emerge from any of dozens of stations — or from orphan corporations like ARC, whose treatment of independent Belter families has already crossed lines that would never be tolerated closer to Earth.

The He-3 Monopoly Crack¶

The UEF's control over Helium-3 extraction has been one of the three pillars of federal power. That control is now cracking. Corporate extraction operations at Saturn — licensed grudgingly as an "innovation experiment" — represent a precedent that different factions view very differently. Fleet hardliners see a dangerous mistake. Corporate interests see the first step toward breaking the monopoly entirely. Belters watch and calculate what fuel independence might mean for their own aspirations.

The Saturn operations are young enough that the outcome remains uncertain. But the precedent has been set, and precedents are hard to reverse. See The Outer System.

The Mental Illness Reckoning¶

As Talent detection improves, the connection between unmanifested Talent and mental illness diagnoses becomes harder to ignore. How many people were institutionalized, medicated, or marginalized for what was actually untrained Talent? Lawsuits, scandals, and radicalized survivors seeking justice — or revenge — are inevitable.

Citizen and Non-Citizen Divide¶

The franchise requires service; not everyone serves. Citizens see non-Citizens as freeloaders enjoying protections they didn't earn. Non-Citizens see Citizens as authoritarian or "bought off." Those who serve skew younger and from particular economic circumstances — the franchise favors those who can afford the interruption.

Talent Registration and Rights¶

Do Talents have to register? Can Talent be hidden, and how reliably? What does being "outed" look like socially? Employment discrimination, social stigma, and the question of what Talent uses should be illegal remain contested. The legal framework for telepathic crimes barely exists.

Mycroft as Single Point of Failure¶

Mycroft is Luna's critical infrastructure, strategic defense coordinator, AND a Council member simultaneously. No backup exists. An attack on Mycroft could cripple logistics, disable the asteroid defense network, and remove a Council member in one stroke. Luna's contingency plans — if any — are not public knowledge.

Orca Integration¶

Dolphins serve in Fleet, but orca-compatible shipboard service remains impractical. Whether this can or should be addressed is an open question — and a point of tension between orca advocates and Fleet logistics.

The Covert Anti-Talent Movement¶

Signs indicate at least one organized anti-Talent movement operates covertly. No public organization, no visible leadership — but coordinated harassment, strategic leaks, and suspicious incidents suggest something more than random bigotry. The lack of a visible target makes the threat harder to counter and contributes to Talents' sense of facing a diffuse, implacable enemy.

Organized Hidden Talents¶

At least one organized group of hidden Talents exists — people who have concealed their abilities and found each other. Their goals and methods are undefined. Are they a mutual protection society? A conspiracy? A government they don't trust would love to find out.

The Military's Fourth-Branch Status¶

The armed forces have become a de facto fourth branch of government through constitutional design, wartime necessity, and Peacekeeper popularity. The Fleet Commander and Commander In Chief are political figures who testify before the legislature and issue policy recommendations. Off-Earth, judicial rulings depend on military cooperation for enforcement. The balance has shifted in ways the founders did not anticipate — and no one knows if it can be rebalanced.

The Kinetic Registration Question¶

In a society that accepted weapons regulation, kinetics are "walking weapons" who can't be disarmed. Current law treats kinetic ability like martial arts expertise — relevant to culpability, not requiring registration. "We gave up our guns — why do they get to be walking weapons?" has political traction. A high-profile kinetic incident could force legislative action in unpredictable directions.

The Broken Generation¶

Survivors of the Genetic Engineering Boom (born 2120s-2150s) still live in 2375. Some have endured over two centuries of chronic conditions that cannot be cured — and in some cases, cannot be ended. They are living monuments to what went wrong: powerful witnesses with moral authority that's hard to challenge. Their politics vary. Some advocate complete prohibition of genetic modification. Others argue restrictions go too far. A few may want revenge on specific institutions or individuals responsible for their suffering.

Prime Children Misdiagnosed¶

The most powerful Talents ("Primes") manifest in infancy or toddlerhood — but are currently misdiagnosed as severe developmental disorders, autism, or early-onset mental illness. The connection has not yet been made. When it is, the implications for families, institutions, and Talent research will be explosive — an extension of the mental illness reckoning into even more politically charged territory.

ARC — orphan corporation exemplifying corporate frontier tensions
Outer System — He-3 operations and frontier installations
Story — starting hook and current events
Mysteries — unanswered questions and hidden truths