The Akai System

Hundreds of years ago, on the threshold of modern society, the Sakurans lived on a moonless Akai. It was a technologically thriving collection of societies, but the planet was dying, recoiling from centuries of Sakuran evolution and exploitation. It was a crippling population with vanishing biodiversity. The uber elite all across the planet spent their fortunes in a battle for space. Anyone with any worth of sway among the highest classes had a stake in developing technology capable of sustaining them in space. Alliances were formed and eventually the first long-term settlement, Hajime, was established.   Hajime is a spherical habitation zone with intricate internal workings, including agricultural areas, life support, etc., and vast space for the communities aboard to live freely. It was inhabited by the elite that built it. A large population of the working class, namely academics and engineers, were brought to keep the system maintained and up to date. From the relative success of Hajime, other spheres were developed as well. They became self-sustaining allowing certain spheres, colloquially called moons, to focus production and allow trade between them. Eventually, they lost almost all necessary contact with the planet largely because it was unnecessary, but as generations lived and died on the moons, interest in their terrestrial origins were of little interest.   On Akai, life for those not involved in the space race was not as ideal and exciting. They practically destroyed their bodies for the construction of the estates for the rich and labored from dawn to dusk in the agricultural fields all for meesly profits that barely kept them alive from day to day. When the rich began ascending into their celestial orbs, there was a mixed reception. Some believed life would get easier without living under the thumb of the elite, but others feared the elite would put down harsher expectations now that they were removed and dependant on them.   In reality, it was difficult for a time. The elite had taken nearly all the planet's resources, making their own sustainability harsher, but over time, they were left alone. With nearly all of their academics removed, technological regressed, with only a few aware of how to produce and improve it. And most had no time admist the constant struggle to survive to be able to devote any significant time to the study of it. Akai fell to unrest and anarchy for a period with no strong leadership and hardships shared across the board.   Cities fell to rubble and after a few centuries, the landscape began to reclaim itself, reverting to its natural pastoral make-up, but with significantly less biodiversity. Over time, order was also established with a new ruling class and government system as well as a new elite. They were nothing compared to the elite of the moons, but enough to have some disposal wealth to share among those who were loyal to them. With much of the technology and political construct they once had only in the mind of a handful of dedicated individuals, order resorted to a fuedal system of city states, each with monarchical rulers and an economy based on agricultural and artisan trades.   The two systems have lived with only minor contact for over half a century, but had not been forgotten. Stories, both based on history as well as obscured from reality have persisted in either society, particularly among the working classes. The Akai Sakurans have mixed beliefs about the Moon People, ranging from mystical superbeings to evil warlocks. The Moon People often regard the Akai Sakurans as a race of savages and socially unproductive members. Parents sometimes tell their children they'll be sent to the planet if they misbehave and tell gross exagerations of life on the planet.