Banu Merchantman

Arthur Wurrel was a reporter on assignment for the New United when he captured this image of a Banu Merchantman. He had spent weeks living alongside the miners, chronicling their day-to-day lives for a human interest piece, Wurrel quickly learned that after months of being completely isolated from family, friends and the usual amenities, a visit from traveling Banu Merchantman ships was a welcome relief from the monotony that plagued remote mining platforms.

It wasn’t unheard of for miners to spend unhealthy portions of their pay to buy rare and unique items that the Banu merchant had collected along the way of their travels. When the last customer ship would leave, the Merchantman would simply close up shop and move to the next system.