In the future, the solar system is largely dominated by seven major conglomerate mining and extraction companies. Their formation began in the early 21st century, where little unified resistance and the proclivity of political leaders to be swayed through financial means allowed them to achieve an unanticipated level of wealth, ownership and influence.

Presidents and world leaders still exist, but they largely serve as token figureheads, doing the bidding and pushing policies for whichever conglomerate feeds them the largest stack of cash.

The Seven have staked claims and majority ownership of moons throughout the system, and their extraction and processing fleets are a regular sight.

Most of humanity ends up employed by or makes a living off the business of the Seven, in one form or another. Some refuse, however, moving through the system independently and banking on the fact that one day they’ll hit literal pay-dirt on some patch of natural satellite. These people think of themselves as pioneers.

The conglomerates consider them pirates.