R232A - Monetary System
The entire Pavonis sector uses a standard currency, technically called Sector Exchange Units, commonly called “Secs” and
normally abbreviated “S.” All prices are calculated in Secs unless an event specifically indicates you can trade or barter.
Prices vary from system to system for the same item, normally the base price is given and the actual price must be computed
(R229A, multiplier table R241).
Banks
Whenever you are in an area with banking facilities (R205) you can deposit or withdraw money in a bank account at no
charge. However, each bank account is opened and used with a specific set of identification papers. Forged papers are not
detected upon deposit, but will be detected upon withdrawal unless you succeed with a Cunning roll (R202). If you become
“wanted” in a system, all accounts in that name are frozen and no withdrawals are possible.
You can have a bank pay certain fees or policies (starship loan payments, death insurance, etc.) at some specified future time
However, a bank requires that money must be deposited into the account for this, plus a 10% extra charge paid for the service
(at the time of deposit).
Banks do not communicate from one star system to another. Each star system has a separate bank. As a result, you may
have many separate accounts in various star systems, as well as different accounts (under different names) in the same star
system.
Money Handling
In addition to bank accounts, you can also carry money on your person, in your starship (the money, regardless of amount,
takes up 1 CU of space), and/or place it in a cache (R229C). Spending or receiving money takes no time, but you must
actually hand over cash for any purchase. Signed checks, bank drafts, etc., cannot be used — nobody trusts such things in the
Pavonis sector! Of course, whenever making a transaction in an area where you have a bank account, you can make an instant
withdrawal from your account for the amount needed and pay that. Banking facilities, if available, presume computercontrolled
accounts and instant access “money machines” on virtually every street corner!