The difficulties imposed by the planet's proximity to the sun and high orbital velocity have limited development greatly. A handful of solar power stations exist on "peaks of eternal light" at the north and south poles, which means most of our Mass Effect Roleplay's Mercury population exists on orbital stations full of miners on leave from their families. The work to mine Palladium and Platinum leaves them away from their family for long stretches of time and in dangerous conditions, barely made safe by armored worksuits but lured in by the high pay that such mining can offer. Yet the hardest part of living near Mercury isn't the job itself, but the pirates that often attack the stations in hopes to steal their mineral lodes. Merc groups like the Blue Suns and Blood Pack have found new work in keeping the miners safe from pirates, but has a costly fee for their protection.
