Aetherius

The population of Aetherius consists of members of every race from across Inhabited Space, though members of the Outlier Territories are rarer.

Aetherius, and the Free Systems Alliance by extension, is governed by the Alliance Council, which is made up of the leaders of every major star nation that's a part of the FSA. This council is responsible for passing reforms and policies that affect the Alliance and its members, as well as responding to major galactic events. Since this council only gathers for particularly important matters, Aetherius is ruled by a council of representatives in their absence, who are elected from among the stations population to manage the infrastructure and day-to-day matters of Aetherius itself. In the event that a Custodian is elected to deal with an especially dire crisis, total governance of Aetherius also falls to them. All taxes collected within Aetherius are used to fund the maintenance of the cities infrastructure and its services.

Aetherius has an external defence system consisting of sentry guns and shields that activates in the event of an invasion, which is further supported by whatever alliance ships are in the area. Additionally, all hangers are sealed off to prevent enemy ships from docking, and the transportation network is shut down in order to limit the movement of any enemies that make it inside. In the event that the station is breached, all security forces (as well as any other military forces that are present) are mobilised in its defence.

Being the center of politics within Inhabited Space, just about every corporation in the galaxy has established a branch within Aetherius, bringing their myriad services with them.

Aetherius was built with a working sanitation system, an expansive hydroponics system capable of supporting a number of plants and crops, and an extensive power grid capable of supporting the various systems of the station. Due to its immense size, Aetherius has an extensive transportation network, including highways, a magrail network, and numerous hangers for spacecraft of various sizes.

Administrative Sector

Located in the center of Aetherius, this sector is the political and administrative center of the colony. It's here where the Spire (the seat of power for the Alliance Council), as well as the numerous embassies of the star nations affiliatted with the Alliance, can be found.

Residential Sector

This section of Aetherius contains the vast majority of residential buildings within the colony, including both permenant and temporary residences.

Commerce Sector

This section of Aetherius is where the colonies marketplaces, entertainment areas, and financial institutions can be found. It's also where the various corporations have established their offices in the colony.

Industrial Sector

This section of Aetherius is where the various heavy industries associatted with the running of the colony, including power generation and manufacturing, are located.

Garden Sector

The informal name given to the section of Aetherius where the hydroponics farms, as well as many of the larger parks, are located.

Research Sector

This section of Aetherius is where the colonies most advanced research institutions, hospitals, and universities are located.

The Spaceport

Encompassing the outer perimeter of Aetherius, this is where incoming and outgoing starships dock and disembark, as well as where any cargo and passengers associated with them are processed.

The Alliance Security Force: The police force of Aetherius, responsible for upholding the law within the colony, and ensuring the safety of its residents.
The Corporations: Being the hub of galactic civilisation that it is, it's no surprise that the many corporations of the galaxy would be interested in Aetherius. Within the colony itself, their branch offices can be found in a section of the Commerce Sector known as Aurim Plaza.
The FSA Custodial Force: The direct army of the Alliance, responsible for dealing with the most critical threats to galactic society.
The Uncharted Stars League: An organisation which supplies Wayfinders old and new with cantacts, supplies, and leads. Due to the size of the colony, as well as the wide range of people that pass through it, the Aetherius Branch of the League is considered to be one of their largest.

The history of the Aetherius Orbital Colony is tied to the history of the Free Systems Alliance itself. In the wake of the chaos of the Age of Discovery, the newly formed Free Systems Alliance agreed on the importance of establishing a centralised, neutral location where matters between the now-cemented galactic powers could resolve disputes without resorting to open conflict, as well as where coordination between Alliance members could be more effectively managed. Settling on the then-unclaimed Alius system, the Alliance began construction of a massive starbase to suit their purposes, with every member race contributing manpower, resources, and technology to the endeavor. It's thanks to this collaborative effort that Aetherius was able to become the center of galactic society that it is today, and it continues to stand as a monument to the Alliances ideal of a unified galaxy.

The Spire: Located at the very center of Aetherius, the Spire is the seat of power for the Alliance Council, and the center of government for the Free Systems Alliance as a whole. Consisting of a large tower surrounded by a circular structure at its base, the Spire is where the day-to-day affairs of the colony are managed, where new reforms are passed, and where matters between the galactic powers are settled.
ASF Headquarters: Located between the Residential and Commerce Sector, this is the base of operations of the Alliance Security Force, and where they train and conduct their anti-crime operations.
Aetherius Central Transit Station: Located within the Administrative Sector, this is the heart of Aetherius' magrail network. While the rails run all throughout the colony, all of them converge here from every sector, making it one of the busiest areas in the entire colony.
Aetherius Institute of Science and Medicine: Located in the Research Sector, this is considered to be the premier center of learning within Alliance Space, counting many of their finest minds among its alumni.
Aurim Plaza: Located in the Commerce Sector, this is where the branch offices of the many corporations of the galaxy are located. It's also a popular venue for these corporations to show off their latest products and advancements to potential customers.
Unity Park: Located in the Garden Sector, this is the largest park in the colony, and a popular venue for tourists and events.
The Hub: Located within the Commerce Sector near the border of the Residential Sector, the Hub is an underground club hidden in the lower levels of the sector.

As the "capital" of the FSA, Aetherius has drawn in visitors of all backgrounds from across the galaxy, including diplomats, merchants, scientists, and general sightseers, as well as more exotic visitors such as Wayfinders and bounty hunters.

The majority of buildings within Aetherius are made up of solid, geometric shapes (usually rectangles and squares), though buildings like entertainment venues, commerce centers, and parks use more smooth, flowing shapes.

While Aetherius is a large orbital colony, there are a number of areas that contain greenery, such as parks and hydroponics farms.

The internal climate of Aetherius is regulated to always be moderate.