Lets talk about Junkers.

[Xoria]

I think of Junkers as Sirius' equivalent of Earth's gypsies, Robert Heinlein's Free Traders in Citizen of the Galaxy, Robert Jordan's Tinkers in The Wheel of Time series, or perhaps the Travellers in modern America. I see them as very clannish, apparently uneducated and simple but actually exceedingly crafty and guileful.

I think their organizational structure would be quite simple structurally, but extremely nuanced and subtle in the machinations involved in advancing through it. They would have no Sirius wide organization, but would instead organize around their various bases, who might communicate or cooperate for mutual gain. Very likely they would identify as "Yanagi Junkers", "Kreuzberg Junkers", "Rochester Junkers", etc, each group feeling superior to the rest.

They would lack formal education, but be extremely proficient mechanically and practically. They might not be able to write out calculus formulas, but they could navigate as well manually as most pilots could by computer assistance. They might not be able to read an engine schematic, but they could build an engine from spare parts.

They are suspicious of strangers, but warm and loyal to their friends and especially their families and shipmates.

They would have very strong social taboos that would substitute for formal laws, and punishment would consist of social reproof, fines, and corporal punishment. Imprisonment would be non-existent and seen as a tool of "civilization" (which would be practically a curse-word among Junkers).

Superstition would play a very large role in practical affairs, and would even be the deciding factor in even major decisions. I see spiritualism in the form of occult-like superstitions being the dominant form of "religion", although it could hardly be called religion in any positive sense. Mostly it would serve as negative reinforcement against social taboos.

I think they would have the outward appearance of cowardice, but actually be quite bold when they see the opportunity for gain, and extremely shrewd in any financial matters. The Junkers would probably have rivals only among the Hogosha when it comes to negotiations and bargaining.

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