Mutiny!

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FTL is not practical for intra solar system travel, by the time the ship is up to speed it is far beyond any planet.  The old rocket technology is still used for commercial transport, mostly ore from Mars and the asteroid belt, although Callisto and Titan are beginning to start producing economical returns and will soon be added to the spaceways.  Rockets are cheap, easy to maintain, and there is no law or regulations that apply to them.  (Exxon vs. the United Planets, 3116).  They are crewed by underpeople, and the living and work conditions are atrocious.  The ship's officers, all underpeople, are traitors and convicted murderers, they are expected to keep order by any and all means necessary.  Underpeople have no rights and are considered expendable, as long as the ore is delivered no inquires will be made.  It appears that two of the R'clan have had enough.  There is a colony of runaway underpeople on Phobos, they possess Sunlet© nukes and for the time being are left alone.  The Martian mines are far too important to disrupt and the malcontent colony will be dealt with when convenient.  The mutineers will drop moonside in a lifeboat after locking the controls for Earth, this will be enough of a distraction to cover their escape.  If they escape, the doors they locked are being burned away by the rest of the crew, if the shipment is lost or delayed the punishment is very severe and very imaginative.

Underpeople are a Cordwainer Smith* concept.  They are of modified animal stock and have no rights or protections.  It is cheaper to kill them instead of hospitalization, and the foot soldiers of all the planets and nations lead a short and brutal life.  Most humans live lives of extreme luxury because of this slavery, and all interest and inquiry concerning underpeople is ...discouraged.

*https://misterscribbles.blogspot.com/2021/08/the-game-of-rat-and-dragon.html

 

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