We also find artifacts - ancient structures, rusting wrecks, but no living beings. It's as if they all disappeared suddenly. Nobody's sure if it was some kind of catastrophe or a war, but it seems long ago. Still, the first settlers decided they were best to keep themselves armed.
Slowly, the colonies grew, by selecting people willing to work hard and had the necessary skills they needed to make the colonies succeed. Their planning paid off well, a few were even talking about independence from Earth.
And then it happened - colony ships from Earth arrived and drop off thousands of ill-prepared involuntary colonists. Most of them had been on welfare their entire lives, and were demanding homes and benefits - and rioting when they didn't get them.
The colony world of Alexandria rebelled. Calling the rioters into a sports stadium, the colonial militia demanded they drop their weapons. Instead, they surged forward, and found themselves facing assault rifles and machine guns. Few of the rioters escaped.
Earth responded by forming the Terran Federation and the Federation Fleet. Alexandria fell to the thud of Federation Marine boots, their government officials rounded up and shot to the cheers of the involuntary colonists. The other colonies were not spared, either. Valhalla, Majorian, Hestia, Bellataine, Zhangzhong, Aporia, Fiddler's Green, Brakis, Montgomery, Nova Skopje, Taishō. It took four bloody years before the Terran Federation had taken over the last of the free colonies, placing a Terran Federation governor and troops in charge. Still, they needed the original settlers to help support the thousands of involuntary colonists being deported by Earth, so a general amnesty was declared.
Of course, not everyone was happy to return to making a living scratching in the dirt, since it was mostly going to people who did nothing to earn it. More than a few found themselves stranded on worlds after the war with no way of getting back.
Some took up banditry. Some took up bounty hunting. Some took up trading. (And some became very good at multi-tasking.)
Today in the news feeds for Hestia Port, capital of the colony of Hestia:
"Captain of the Vagabond Trader is looking to take on a new crew for trading and other such jobs as may be needed. Promise of fair wages, good food, and private quarters. Must provide own ammunition. Probation period, unsuccessful candidates will have to find their own way home. Send your resume to VagabondTrader@hestiaport.com."
"Captain of the Vagabond Trader is leaving in three days for Fiddler's Green. Standard one week passage is 500 feds, three meals a day and private quarters, no steward service. Two standard suitcases allowed, excess charged cargo rates. Cargo space available. Contact VagabondTrader@hestiaport.com, Slip 23."
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