Trade and commerce are essential for interplanetary society and relations. The Alliance has established standardized systems for commerce, with trade routes connecting multiple worlds and facilitating the exchange of goods, resources, and technologies. This interstellar commerce network has become a cornerstone of daily life, enabling businesses and corporations to operate across multiple worlds.
While legitimate trade flourishes under Alliance oversight, illegal networks like the Blackline also operate in the shadows, particularly in the weapons and equipment trade. The complex landscape of interplanetary commerce reflects the diverse interests and relationships between various factions, neutral states, and Alliance members.
The Alliance has established a unified currency system known as Allied Credits or Allicred. This standardized currency is used across Alliance-based territories as the primary medium for interplanetary commerce.
The currency landscape becomes more diverse outside of the Alliance. Some neutral states, such as Tempus-Azal'qan societies, have adopted a pragmatic approach to currency. They accept Allicred for certain transactions but maintain their own for internal use.
Other factions and territories have chosen to reject the Alliance's unified currency. These states often accept alternative systems of exchange.
The Blackline is an illegal weapons and equipment trade network in the galaxy. "Black-lined" equipment has its data erased and its manufacturing information and logos replaced with a solid black diamond. These changes are made to prevent authorities from tracing the origin and movement of these items. While possessing black-lined weapons or gear isn't illegal, distributing these products is punishable by law.
The Blackline's origins can be traced back to the early days of CER0 technology proliferation. With the growing demand for CER0-powered equipment, many saw a chance to profit from the unregulated trade of these devices. The network quickly became sophisticated, operating in the shadows of legitimate commerce and posing significant challenges to law enforcement agencies across the galaxy.
Different factions and organizations have diverse perspectives on the Blackline's activities. VISION views the Blackline as a major threat to galactic security. They dedicate considerable resources to disrupting its operations and intercepting illegal shipments. Mirage has a complex relationship with the Blackline. While many operatives use it to acquire specialized equipment, they will compete with it or often be hired to disrupt its operations for certain contracts. As a legitimate weapons manufacturer, QUOTEK is directly impacted by the Blackline. They invest heavily in anti-counterfeiting measures and work closely with VISION to combat the spread of black-lined versions of their products.