The galactic economy operates on a three-tier currency system used by the Sol Federation, Sovereign Systems Republic, independent colonies, and most major corporate powers. Local currencies remain in circulation on some frontier worlds, but the overwhelming majority of interstellar commerce uses Credits, Marks, and Chits.
1 Credit (₡) = 100 Marks
1 Mark (M) = 100 Chits
1 Credit = 10,000 Chits
Credits are high-value currency. They are primarily used for expensive purchases such as weapons, armor, vehicles, property, cyberware, starship services, commercial transactions, and military contracts.
Marks are the standard currency of everyday life. Most people think about their ordinary expenses in Marks, including groceries, clothing, restaurant meals, utilities, entertainment, and household goods.
Chits represent the smallest commonly used denomination. They are used for public transit, vending machines, street food, inexpensive drinks, minor fees, and other small transactions. Physical Chits exist, though digital payment is far more common.
Cheap snack or drink: 20-60 Chits
Public transit fare: 30-80 Chits
Cheap meal: 1-3 Marks
Restaurant dinner: 5-12 Marks
Alcoholic drink: 2-6 Marks
Basic clothing: 8-25 Marks
One night in a budget hostel: 10-20 Marks
Weekly groceries for one person: 15-30 Marks
Civilian datapad: 40-80 Marks
Apartment rent, monthly: 30-90 Marks
Modern firearm: ₡2-8
Modern military weapon: ₡5-20
Modern combat armor/RIG: ₡20-50
Used civilian ground vehicle: ₡40-120
Military vehicle: ₡100-2,000+
Starship fuel refill: ₡15-60
Major starship repairs: ₡100-10,000+
Prices can vary considerably between planets. Active war zones such as Fortuna experience shortages, rationing, black-market inflation, and sudden price changes depending on which supply routes remain open.
These figures represent broad monthly averages. Local economies, experience, danger, specialization, and wartime conditions can substantially alter actual income.
Factory worker: ₡2, 20 Marks
Dock worker: ₡2, 50 Marks
Teacher: ₡3
Police officer: ₡3, 50 Marks
Mechanic: ₡4
Skilled technician: ₡4, 50 Marks
Doctor: ₡7
Senior physician or specialist: ₡10-15
Corporate executive: ₡20+
Military personnel generally receive housing, food, medical care, uniforms, and issued equipment in addition to their wages.
Private: ₡3
Sergeant: ₡4, 50 Marks
Lieutenant: ₡6
Captain: ₡8
Colonel: ₡14
General officer: ₡25+
Combat pay, specialist qualifications, deployment bonuses, and hazardous-duty assignments can increase these amounts.
Mercenary income varies enormously because payment is normally determined by contract, reputation, risk, and required expertise rather than a standardized salary.
Basic security contractor: ₡4-8 per month
Professional mercenary: ₡8-20 per month
Veteran combat specialist: ₡20-40 per month
Special operations contractor: ₡50+ per contract
High-risk assassination or sabotage: ₡100-500+ per contract
Exceptional strategic or near-suicidal contracts: ₡1,000+
Most citizens carry digital wallets linked to planetary banks or corporate financial networks. Physical currency still exists, particularly on frontier worlds and war zones where communication networks are unreliable.
Large transactions are almost always digital, while cash remains common in black markets, refugee camps, and remote settlements. Criminal organizations prefer untraceable Credit chips, smugglers prefer hard currency, and soldiers universally prefer getting paid on time, a fantasy that has somehow survived twenty-six centuries despite all available evidence.
Before the war, Fortuna was one of the wealthiest colonies in its sector, with an economy based on tourism, trade, shipbuilding, and financial services.
The war shattered that prosperity.
In Federation territory, ration cards and military contracts dominate the economy. In SSR-controlled regions, reconstruction programs and foreign aid keep entire districts alive. In FPG territory, ammunition, fuel, medicine, and food often hold more value than actual currency.
On Fortuna, a Marine carrying twenty Credits can buy dinner for a month in one district and get shot over the same amount in another. Economics, as usual, turns out to be just organized desperation with accounting software.