Relation with Inners

There’s a truism in the Belt: Belters are needed, but not wanted. The Inners, or Inyalowda in Belter Creole, who dock within The Belt are happy to drink Belter liquor and blow off steam in Belter brothels, buy Belter metal and sell third-rate materials back. Earth and Mars rely on the minerals of the Belt for technology and industry, yet they continually oppress the Belters and refuse to allow them to rule themselves. The choicest fruits (and grains, and beef) of Europa and Ganymede go to Mars, and even Earth, before they come to the Belt. The Earth corporations most Belters work for cut corners, resulting in unsafe work conditions for asteroid and water miners. Basic necessities such as water [okwa] and air [ereluf] are tightly controlled, and shorted during times of financial hardship (for the corporation, that is). Belter habitats are outfitted with recycled and reused air scrubber units, adding to the plague of hypoxia among Belters.