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The orbital colony is the collective name for all the [[Space Monkey]]s living in the colony ships.  Of the 24 colony ships still orbiting [[Reach]], 7 are inhabited, and 6 more are still habitable, although empty.  The remaining ships no longer have a compressed hull due to a series of asteroid strikes 137 ATD.

== Culture ==
Those who live in the orbital colony cannot leave.  Due to years of non-gravity, their bodies have atrophied to the point that they could never survive on the surface.  Despite the fact that it is a physical deficiency, they take this as a point of pride, considering themselves above the "Mud Men" on the surface.  This attitude of cultural superiority has weakened negotiations between the colonies and the surface, as it takes a patient man to withstand the derogitory and condescending remarks of a [[Space Monkey]].

The most important aspect of space colony life is the job.  Since little to no time is spent on physical developement, most of a [[Space Monkey]]'s life is spent on education and work.  They take their jobs very seriously, with almost religious devotion.  Thus, while only a few of their functions provide benefits to themselves (such as hydroponics and [[Rail Farming]]) they maintain every original function of the ships.

See:
* [[Sandstorm Monitoring]]
* [[Communications Relay]]
* [[Proc Dump]]ing

== Resources ==
The [[Space Monkey]]s are largely independant from the surface.  They maintain their own hydroponic labs to grow food, and get most of their fuel through an [[Atmospheric Syphon]].  However, they are forced to trade with the surface dwellers for some substances, such as [[Carbon 122]] and other chemicals.  This trade is accomplished twice a year with short range [[Orbital Transport]]s.  The colony ships also supplement their resources with [[Rail Farming]]:  They receive shipments every 2.5 months from Earth.

== Factions ==
The colony ships themselves are not a united force.  While they all act under one government, there are several factions competing for political control.

Terreforming Federation
* The Terreforming Federation is the current ruling party, and they are the most conservative of the groups.  They maintain that they were sent here for a mission, and that that mission has yet to be completed.  They believe that terreforming is the ultimate goal, and that small sacrifices can be made as long as it ends with [[Reach]] being a habitable place.  This has led to disapproval in some groups, as some of the terreforming suggestions have little concern for either [[native]] or Human life.

Reach Life
* Reach Lifers believe that [[native]]s have a right to exist, and so seek to set up a cohabitable relationship.  This proves difficult, however, considering the vastly different physiology of native species and humans.  For this reason, they are the smallest party, and they tend to attract the younger and idealistic scientists.  They spend much of their time on genetic experimentation to alter both [[Reach]] and Human physiology to a more survivable state.

Orbital One
* Orbital One (sometimes called Orbital First) believe that the terreforming process is hopeless, and that the relationship with the Mud Men is parasitic.  They advocate abandoning [[Reach]] to find a more habitable planet with easier to harvest resources.  They believe that many of the functions being performed on the spacecraft give no value to the community (which, strictly speaking, is true) and so those jobs should be abandoned for more profitable research.