The Free Exchange Trust

It’s easy to underestimate the great institutions. Look no further than the FXT, which some mistake for a corporation. 

They control money, but they aren’t a bank. They control trade, but they aren’t merchants. They’re a monopoly, but they’re not a monolith. They’re a sprawling web of open hands and closed fists.

Confused? Think of it this way.

Claiming ownership of clusters of stars is no true power. Instead, it lies in controlling a vital element of interstellar life. The six great institutions have each managed to do this, getting all the benefits of power without the need to operate as a traditional government or corporation. 

The Free Exchange Trust did this with trade. They don’t do the trading themselves, but the traders can’t operate without them. Traders need loans to invest in stock, orbitals to drop the cargo, and they get paid in Frags. Guess who controls all those things?

Controls, not owns, right? Look, I didn’t say this would be simple.

The institutions have surprisingly few employees, and the FXT are no exception. Instead, they rely on their network of sponsored agencies and organisations. Though technically independent, they rely on their institution in order to operate within its domain. 

All those parts of the network treat you differently based on your status with the institution. Everyone’s status is recorded as one of the following:

Sponsored: Given support and authority
Certified: Trusted and recognised
Registered: Permitted to operate
Flagged: Monitored and restricted
Blacklisted: Denied all access

Sponsored by the FXT? Now you’ve got more frags than you know what to do with.

Registered? Sure, you can go about your business as long as it’s benefiting them. 

Blacklisted? Good luck getting anything done when you can’t dock at an orbital and nobody trusts you to pay your debts. 

Sure, you could start up a new bank that isn’t part of the FXT. See how that works out. Getting Blacklisted is far from the worst outcome there. 

Despite their omnipresence, institutions are still made up of individuals. Discovering their personal agenda and desire is more important than understanding the wider machinations of the institution.

When you make a deal with the FXT, they always win, so find a way to make a deal with that desperate person behind the suit instead.

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