Social Services Sector (Dramilian Federation)

The Dramilian Federation's social services sector provides an enormous number of free and paid services to Dramilian citizens, and a handful of services to non-citizens as well.

History
The social services sector was the first sector established at the time of the Federation's founding 370 million Earth-years ago. Initially it was focused on agriculture and hydrogen production, with the goal of out-producing and underselling the Federation's competitors in order to become the sole supplier of Star City's food and energy. The city's best genetic engineers were hired to develop new crop species that could withstand constant daylight conditions and provide higher yields with less growth time. The company commissioned a new building near the southern coast of Telephus with 12 cubic miles of interior space, which was filled with layers of growth beds stacked from floor to ceiling. Within three years, the Dramilian Federation's "warehouse farming" operation was profitable. After another five years, production exceeded the demands of Star City's 300,000 citizens and food prices plummeted, driving the Federation's competitors out of business. All profits from food production were immediately reinvested in energy infrastructure. Solar and hydroelectric power plants were constructed all across Telephus, and the generated electricity was used to power electrolysis plants to produce hydrogen. It didn't take long for the city's dozens of smaller energy companies to collapse, unable to compete with Federation prices. With a monopoly on basic amenities, the Federation began to leverage its position with the use of a blacklist to force the adoption of policies that would shape the course of Tetrian civilization and culture for millions of years to come.

Free Services

 * Packages up to 17 cubic feet can be shipped for free via a pneumatic tube network anywhere within Star City.
 * Public primary schools are free for Human Dramilian citizens between 500 and 1000 days of age, and for citizens of other species between 243 and 729 days old.
 * A multitude of free hypernet channels operated by the Federation provide access to databases containing information about science, art, engineering, history, and dozens of other disciplines.
 * For convenience, Dramilian citizens are provided with a free bank account for their VLT currency only. Deposits do not accrue interest, which is standard for Tetrian banks.

Paid Services

 * Unprocessed food products are sold to businesses and individuals at a cost of 1 VLT for about 5 pounds.
 * Pelletized metallic hydrogen is sold to the public at a rate of 1 VLT for about 710 pounds.
 * Vehicles can be registered for a nominal fee which entitles the owner to a comprehensive insurance policy that covers accidental damage and loss.