Jack of Harts

When the big three alliances went to the stars, so did Constantinople.  One of the little secrets that nobody talked about at the time was that Constantinople actually helped fund the early colony expeditions to Alpha Centauri, and most of the big ones that came later.  In exchange, they secured rights to trading stations with very minor service fees.  Even now, they’re very minor, but they have stations everywhere.  Added all up, they make serious money.