The Great Divide in the Squad 51 Universe
It’s not just space that separates the Inner and Outer Sol colonies. It’s history, power, and a whole lot of snobbery.
Where the Line is Drawn
The line is unofficial but sharp. Everything from Earth out to Saturn is considered Inner Sol. Beyond Saturn—Uranus, Neptune, the Kuiper Belt, and all the scattered rocks and moons in between—is Outer Sol.
The division isn’t just geography. It’s about status.
A History of Control
The Inner Sol colonies were the first wave of humanity’s expansion off Earth. They got the best resources, the cushiest planets, the political power. When the corporations collapsed, those Inner Sol colonies styled themselves as the new heart of civilization.
The Outer Sol? That was something else.
The first Outer Sol colonies were built for one reason: exploitation. They were outposts set up to mine, harvest, and ship resources back to the Inner Sol, supporting their “civilized” lifestyles. The Outer Sol became a dumping ground. Some colonies were founded by workers bound to brutal contracts, others by people the Inner Sol didn’t want.
If that sounds familiar, history repeats itself, even among the stars.
The Mini Suns and the Fight for Independence
It was the invention of the mini suns that changed everything.
The Outer Sol colonies were barely hanging on. Far from the Sun’s warmth, survival was a daily struggle. The Inner Sol colonies developed technology to create artificial suns, claiming they’d “graciously” share them with their struggling cousins.
But the Outer Sol didn’t wait to be rescued.
In a bold move during the second rebellion, the Outer Sol colonies stole the plans and key components to the mini sun technology. It was risky. It was illegal. And it worked.
With access to the mini suns and the natural resources around them, the Outer Sol colonies became truly independent. They no longer needed the Inner Sol’s charity or control.
Lingering Tensions
The split left scars.
In the Inner Sol likes to pretend they’re still the center of the universe. There’s an unspoken belief that being closer to Earth makes you better—smarter, more refined, more civilized. It’s the same kind of snobbery you see in old Earth cities, where living in the right district or having the right name means everything.
In the Outer Sol, that attitude doesn’t go unnoticed. Outlings know exactly how the Inner Sol used them in the past and how quickly they’d do it again if given the chance. The Outer colonies don’t forget. They don’t trust easily. And they don’t bow to anyone.
The tension simmers beneath every alliance, every trade agreement, every conversation. It has mellowed over the decades and centuries, but it’s still there.
🚀 Curious about the worlds of Squad 51?
I’ll be sharing more behind-the-scenes looks at the history, tech, and factions of the Squad 51 universe as we countdown to the Kickstarter launch. Follow along to dive deeper into the chaos.
