Midway
The immense space station of Midway is the hub of travel between the inner and outer systems, sitting at the most secure and safe path through the Asteroid Belt. For centuries it has kept the peace, offering a neutral ground for factions to come and enter into negotiations and seek more amicable ways forward before war erupts.
Foundation
During the early years of human expansion outward from Earth Midway began life as a simple refueling station located at the edge of the Asteroid Belt. Ships leaving the inner system would stop at Midway, refuel and take on supplies needed for further travel into the Outer System. As time passed it grew, its population increasing as more and more was added to its original mass as humankind spread further and further. At first it was controlled by a consortium of interests who sought to control all trade and travel in and out of the inner system, yet gradually it became an independent nation of its own, its inhabitants abandoning the worlds and colonies of their birth and declaring Midway their home thereon.
Merchant fleets flocked to Midway, as did mercenary groups and navies; all seeing the riches that could be gained through Midway. And naturally, criminal cartels established a foothold there as well with the Oberzahn becoming prominent patrons of the station and thus inveigling their way into its political structure. The Council of Midway, made up of its most politically adept citizens, declared sovereignty and offered Midway as a place open to all.
In the decades and centuries that followed Midway would continue to prosper and grow. Now it has attained the size and mass of a Earth's moon, an immense city in the stars protected by its own loyal citizen soldiery and a fleet of privateers. In all the years it has remained neutral, never taking sides in conflict and its own cadre of peacekeepers offering their services to those who wish it.
Political Structure
For a time the Council of Midway controlled the station, made up of the leaders of the most prominent factions from the workers, merchants, military, religious and other groups. Factions waxed and waned with some disappearing and others rising. Criminal bosses who became successful enough could get a position so long as they had the support.
Recently though, the Orleans family has attained a prominent position as de-facto rulers of Midway. This family, with their long, long ties with the station since its early days, has the support of the populace and several other factions. Its patriarch, Ezekiel Orleans, has deftly played rivals against one another and through generous donations and stirring speeches built up overwhelming support amongst the common citizenry. Now Ezekiel sits as Governor of Midway and has ushered in a golden age of unprecedented trade, swelling the coffers of any and all willing to sit at his side.
Beneath the beneficent facade though Ezekiel is a ruthless and cunning man, willing to do anything to keep his beloved Midway free and safe and strong. That his family grows wealthy as a result is a convenient byproduct he takes no small pleasure in.
Law and Order
Despite rumours of it being a lawless and chaotic place, Midway is nothing of the sort. Weapons are not allowed to be only carried and only those with special permits are allowed. A dedicated constabulary, the Midway Militia, are fair but broke no nonsense when keeping the peace. Crime is of course omnipresent but controlled, the Council having long ago realised the harder they try to stamp out most petty crimes the more work they have to do. Slavery is prohibited on Midway and any slaves who enter it are free and given citizenship. Child abuse, sexual assault and murder are dealt with harshly.
The sheer size of Midway and its vast population has certainly created problems. The Militia have not the manpower to police the entire station and certain areas are left to their own devices under the condition that order is maintained and a tithe payed. It is uncertain if the time will come when Governor Orleans clamps down upon the wild districts of Midway.
It should come of no suprise that Midway is a place where outcasts from across the solar system come to, eager to disappear from their pursuers and start afresh. It has long been a policy to keep checks on such individuals. Just in case.
Military Might
The Midway Defence Fleet operates as the naval defence of Midway, an assortment of various vessels whose crews and captains have sworn to protect their home against any and all transgressors. Under the leadership of Admiral Fenton, a man with a murky past but indeniable loyalty to Midway, the Fleet is a formidable threat to any hostile force, despite its motely assortment of ships. The centrepiece is the Lucifer Rising, an immense battleship of antiquity retrofitted with numerous new additions and state of the art weaponry and armour. Its prescence alone is often enough to warn away those of hostile intent.
The Ascendant Empire
When the Ascendant Empire rose from the chaos of the Inner System Midway braced itself. It knew it could not oppose the military might of the Empire, yet it would not abandon its neutrality or independence without a fight. The Ascendant Emperor surprised them with words of peace and negotiation instead of conquest. He saw the need for a meeting ground, a place where the disparate nations of humankind could come and meet and trade. That Midway possessed a sizeable defence force doubtless also factored in to this peaceful contact. Its population was estimated to be close to a million and the people of Midway were staunchly independent. To occupy Midway would be to kick a hornet's nest and so the Emperor allowed the station its autonomy and what's more, invited the nations of the Outer System to come to him and negotiate. In this way the Empire was able to secure a foothold in the Outer System without the need of military conquest and loss of life.
When the Empire fell Midway weathered the chaos that ensued, its fleet focusing solely on protecting its immediate territory. Now with the looming threat of the Earth Empire swallowing up the Inner System and its eyes turning to the rich and wild Outer System, how long before Midway finds itself yet again facing a threat to its cherished sovereignty.
The people of Midway respected the Ascendant Empire and were counted amongst its most staunch supporters. When it did fall Midway offered sanctuary to many within its upper echelons, allowing them to disappear from history. It is very likely that hidden amongst the teeming masses of Midway's population, within its deepest depths, there exist enclaves of Ascendants still. Waiting for the day when they may rise again.
Relations with the Inner System
With the fall of the Ascendant Empire Midway was, for a time, largely left to its own devices as trade and travel fell apart. Yet with the growing power of the Earth Empire Midway prepares for the worst. It has watched this new Empire conquer the habitats and worlds of the Inner System with brutal swiftness and fears the coming day that Midway stands in its rapacious hunger. Governor Orleans has made tentative steps to establish peaceful relations with the mysterious masters of this new Empire whilst also reminding the nations of the Outer Systems of just how important Midway is. How long before the Empire's Envoys arrive? How long before its warships?
Relations with the Outer System
The Tuatha, the Dwarger and other Outer System Nations all have embassies in Midway. All maintain peaceful relations with Midway, lest they be banned from it and thus robbed for important trade as well as other valuable resources. The Station is a mecca for the more alien denizens of the Outer System, yet its citizens are used to the strange and unusual and rarely register much beyond a mild curiosity.
With the looming threat of the Earth Empire, Midway has become even more busy as agents of the Outer System Nations gather intelligence on this new potential enemy. Thus the station has become an important site of espionage for each nation. Doubtless Earth Empire agents are already at work within Midway and likely beyond it.
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