Lycanorukke
SOC-13
Given the imperium is pretty much surrounded on all sides, and being one of the major economic powers it seems inevitable that border trade/tourism will occur. With the case of smaller client states it wouldn’t be a problem as they are ‘imperial’ in almost everything but name, but what of the major powers? The ones which come to mind are the Heriate, Hivers, Sollies and Julians - Zhodani are out (for obvious reasons), as are the Vargr extents (complete waste of time to organize anything). Given that neither the Imperium nor other power would be too happy with foreign vessels putting around in ‘their territory’ how would they handle cross-border trade?
Would it be by a series of ‘gateway worlds’ – foreign vessel docks at a designated ‘gateway port’ and transfers passengers and cargo to a local vessel, picks up local passengers and cargo and jumps back to home territory? Or perhaps an agreed upon ‘neutral zone’ – the same thing as a gateway world but any ship can dock at any point in the zone? A gateway seems more logical as the ‘owners’ could make a killing in trade tariffs, and exercise greater control over who and what comes and goes. But given the PC’s often want to avoid nice gateway worlds, their tariffs and disagreement over hauling suspect goods – would there be a _legal_ way for a ship to cruise around in foreign territory without attracting too many problems? They would attract some attention of course - inspections and demands for papers but they would be legal and avoid having to answer serious questions from serious men with serious firepower.
Would the ship have to be inspected and certified by the power, have a transponder replacement every time it hopped the border (expensive and annoying), carry papers which are then entered into the ‘approved foreign ships’ registry and distributed, or simply be told flat out "get lost"? And what of the case of confederations - (hivers and julians) who tend to take a slightly 'lighter touch' (as they are composed of lots of mini-states under one umbrella) with the space between systems as opposed to the imperiums 'Mine! All mine!" .
Then theres the other bit about embassies/missions - how common are they outside the home power. Would you find an Aslan embassy on any old A starport or only at centres of power (Capital, Regina, etc)?. A Imp embassy in Soli territory would be as welcome as smallpox, but could you find one?
Would it be by a series of ‘gateway worlds’ – foreign vessel docks at a designated ‘gateway port’ and transfers passengers and cargo to a local vessel, picks up local passengers and cargo and jumps back to home territory? Or perhaps an agreed upon ‘neutral zone’ – the same thing as a gateway world but any ship can dock at any point in the zone? A gateway seems more logical as the ‘owners’ could make a killing in trade tariffs, and exercise greater control over who and what comes and goes. But given the PC’s often want to avoid nice gateway worlds, their tariffs and disagreement over hauling suspect goods – would there be a _legal_ way for a ship to cruise around in foreign territory without attracting too many problems? They would attract some attention of course - inspections and demands for papers but they would be legal and avoid having to answer serious questions from serious men with serious firepower.
Would the ship have to be inspected and certified by the power, have a transponder replacement every time it hopped the border (expensive and annoying), carry papers which are then entered into the ‘approved foreign ships’ registry and distributed, or simply be told flat out "get lost"? And what of the case of confederations - (hivers and julians) who tend to take a slightly 'lighter touch' (as they are composed of lots of mini-states under one umbrella) with the space between systems as opposed to the imperiums 'Mine! All mine!" .
Then theres the other bit about embassies/missions - how common are they outside the home power. Would you find an Aslan embassy on any old A starport or only at centres of power (Capital, Regina, etc)?. A Imp embassy in Soli territory would be as welcome as smallpox, but could you find one?
