Asteroid Colonies

All across the Main Asteroid Belt are space stations that serve as mining operations. They mine for minerals, metals, and even water found in many of the asteroids and other bodies orbiting throughout the Belt. There are eight primary colonies that serve as hubs for other smaller colonies around them. The belt has untold wealth and no one nation has claim to it as the only way to lay claim to an area is to establish a colony within it. So mining is not only competitive and lucrative, but also dangerous, as there is little law enforcement out in the Belt. And what little law enforcement there, are restricted to being near one of the eight primary colonies.


FOUNDROCK
Foundrock was once a mining colony on a large asteroid that has become a hub for belter trade, travel, and communications. It got its name from the story of its discovery when a stranded explorer reported back to base "found rock" to get other explorers to come looking. They had originally sent out an SOS and were ignored by greedy mining corporations but blasting the discovery of resources immediately drew in entrepreneurs who were then forced to respond to SOS when live feeds back to their colonies caught them.


NEW BABYLON
A space station at the edge of the Belt closest to Mars, New Babylon boasts itself as the center of human civilization (almost literally). It is a central trade station as well as tourist trap known for its seedy entertainment district. It has a space elevator dubbed "the Tower of Babylon" that tethers it to an asteroid with a spin that gives it a well-regulated orbit despite its distance.


NEW PLYMOUTH
One of the first and largest belter colonies, New Plymouth was built into a huge asteroid hidden among clusters of smaller space rocks. Its size gives it a slight gravitational pull allowing other rocks in the area to orbit around it as it orbits Sol. It originally had a wealth of resources but has run nearly dry and is now more of a symbol of Belter independence and human achievement.


WAYWARD STATION
Floating out at the farthest reaches of the Belt is the Wayward space station. Surrounded by mining facilities and mining colonies, the station is the last stop for human civilization. It's also the first station that picked up the signal. Because it's so far from the inner planets, it's surrounding territories are known as a lawless area of pirates and gangs. People living out in these areas pay good money for protection aboard the station, though many simply cannot afford it and must rely on stealth and luck to avoid encounters with deadly pirates.