The Confederation Handbook Read Online Free PDF Page A

declared independence from the UN in 2090, they
also initiated a (hostile) buy-out of the JSKP multinational
consortium which had originally funded Jupiter’s atmospheric
mining. Because of the enormous cost involved in starting up the
operation, the debt was not paid off until 2135. After this the
Edenists were truly independent. Fusion remains the major power
source throughout the Confederation and, given the gas giant reserves
of He3, is likely to remain so. Research continues into direct
mass-to-energy conversion and other systems, but as yet none has
demonstrated any practical application. Following the one serious
attempt to break the Edenist energy monopoly, when Earth built
antimatter stations, Confederation politicians have retained a policy
of quiet moderation in this field.
    The continuing demand for
He3, and their use of self-sufficient bitek habitats, means that as a
group Edenists have the highest socioeconomic index in the
Confederation. It is worth noting that even if He3fusion were
completely abandoned by the Confederation, their bitek habitats,
financial services, and industrial strength would mean that Edenists
could retain their standard of living with little disturbance.
Although Adamists complain bitterly among themselves about the
He3monopoly (excepting the Kulu Kingdom and Tranquillity) they also
acknowledge that the Edenists, with their high ethical standards, are
an ideal group to supply the Confederation with this fuel. Political
blackmail is not an option ever considered by Edenists, even as
regards the most oppressive Adamist dictatorships. Edenists regard
the Confederation Assembly and its Navy as the only legitimate method
of censure.

Finance
    The habitat personality acts
as bank and accountant for all financial transactions, corporate or
personal. There is no physical cash in the form of notes and coins,
and the fuseodollar is an entirely electronic currency, distributed
through Jovian Bank credit disks.
    Although Edenism is certainly not a Communist ideology, revenue
raised from He3mining is administered by the habitat personality, and
made available on a communal basis; a research project or an artistic
endeavor considered worthwhile, for example, will be funded from this
central source. Capital for commercial enterprises is also advanced
by the Jovian Bank. Edenists do not seek funding from Adamist banks,
which is another source of contention, as Adamists frequently apply
for loans from the Jovian Bank. Because of affinity, the habitat
personality (through its financial sub-Consensus) is actively
involved in the planning of commercial ventures from conception
through to researching marketability, etc., so that when a project
reaches the stage where finance is necessary to fund start-up
manufacturing, it will always be granted.

Industry
    Edenism is technologically and industrially self-sufficient, and the
habitat-based companies export a great quantity of manufactured
products across the Confederation. Problems with radiation shielding
aside, gas-giant orbits are an ideal place to site zero-gee
industrial stations, providing proximity to supplies of raw material,
energy, and habitat populations. Jupiter is the greatest
concentration of manufacturing capacity in the Confederation, even
managing to out-produce Earth’s O’Neill Halo. Edenist
companies tend to be run on a family level (extended family), with
executive ownership spread among participating members; primary
funding always comes from the Jovian Bank. Children of participants
are eligible to work their way in after they reach legal maturity (at
age nineteen).

Trade
    The relative wealth of the
citizenship, plus a prodigious appetite for luxury goods and exotic
food make Edenist habitats an extremely valuable market for the
Confederation, and commerce is correspondingly brisk. Adamist
starship companies rarely have any complaints about Edenists in
public or private, as their habitats, right across the