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Servitude and Slavery
An unfortunate discussion
Despite its horrors, slavery and servitude remains, whether through legal or illegal means, in much of the Orion Arm. Though outright chattel slavery is illegal in much of the arm, it remains relatively common in lawless areas of space, such as much of the former White Belt Administration, particularly after the collapse of its government.
Sapient Trafficking
Trafficking of sapient life is illegal nearly universally among all governments in the Orion Arm. Unfortunately, it does happen in the aforementioned poorly patrolled areas of space. Pirates are a common methodology for this; with a ransacked ship presumed destroyed, making its crew 'disappear' is comparatively easy. These enslaved crew can be forwarded on to serve on illicit vessels themselves, or forced into legal-appearing indentured servitude contracts.
Criminal Justice & War
Servitude of some sort is a common outcome in many empires as punishment for a crime, or as a use for prisoners of war. The Holy See of Visra is well known for its disciplinarian legal system, with servitude to the Church or local governments seen as a somewhat light sentence compared to some methods of execution or corporal punishment. Visra was also well known for using Prisoners of War as forced labor to rebuild their cities during The Secession War. Almost all sides in the war used forced labor in some capacity, however. Though the majority of prisoners of war were released following the 2815 Armistice, thousands remain officially unaccounted for.
A far more unfortunate fate is capture by the Stygian Automata Ascendancy, who is rumored to "roboticize" entire captured crews into faithful servants of the Ascendancy.
