One of the things that helps with the setting are the diverse and differing opinions of the main ‘factions’ in the solar system. Many of these factions, of course, have differing views on various points, which vary based on their social situation and motivations. Then of course, certain technologies, lifestyles and mindsets all have their own inherent drawbacks, which can be preyed upon, or played up to ratchet up the fear of those with similar flaws or vices - and therefore more likely to be preyed upon. Whether or not such concerns are fear-mongering or legitimate are up to individual interpretation. General fears [list][*] Loss of free will: This is a big one for everybody - from the average indenture to Firewall at large. Free will and self-determination are [i]huge[/i] issues to infringe upon, anywhere - and many problems arise between the factions as to what the exact limits of one's free will are, especially in relation to the free will of others. The Firewall sourcebook explicitly points out that a scenario where Transhumanity could theoretically survive in it’s current form, but lacks the ability to self-determine, is neither ideal nor acceptable. [*] Hacking/Being hacked: For Synthmorphs and those equipped with Cyberbrains, hacking is even bigger and more dangerous than ever, as theoretically anyone with the skill and will to do so could do severe and lasting harm to an ego, and their morph, without repercussion. Not only are Synths and Pods at risk, but others could be at risk by proximity - as a hacker could just as easily subvert, and puppeteer, a cyberbrain-equipped body to do harm, while the ego within would be helpless. [*] Bioconservatism: This one stands out among most of transhumanity because of the completely incompatible ideals bioconservatism carries as compared to the generally accepted views of transhumanity. To most, the mind is separate from the body, and a body is little more than hardware - while bioconservatives assert differently. A major concern for those who delve into such debates is that the bioconservatives could be [i]right[/i] - and transhumanity is living a golden lie, just waiting for the rug of their very existence to be torn out from under them. [*] The TITANs: As mentioned by others, the TITANs returning is a major fear of every political power in the system, for the simple reason: The TITANs were [i]winning[/i] the Fall - and most other theaters they were operating in. The human nations of Earth were just as divided and fractious as the current factions of the solar system - should the TITANs return, there is little question, by any reliable expert on the subject, that transhumanity would be at the mercy of their rogue creations.[/list] Other fears stem from the ideological views of the major factions, their manifestos and general propaganda. Some nations might not even regard their neighbours as threats - while said neighbours meanwhile tout them as the first and foremost threat to their entire way of life. While not straight up fears these factions embody (to me) particular themes that they fight viciously to protect (or assert) in the current times of the setting - which influences their major points of concern, and ideological fears and paranoias that could arise from such differences in view. [list][*] Planetary Consortium/Morningstar Constellation - Control: While money always talks, the means to have and manage that money is paramount within the hypercorps - whether an indenture or an oligarch. Control means being able to self-determine without interference, or make that interference suffer commensurate to however much one feels they should. Control means upgrading from a crappy Case to something more fleshy, without having to pay ridiculous fees, or work another day in your life. Control means keeping your customers coming back for their routine maintenance and service packs. Any threats to that control, that prove how out of control, and chaotic reality is, or roadblocks to its advancement are things to be demonized and destroyed. Likewise, the overbearing and controlling nature is something other nations fear - for if they are under someone else's control, they aren’t making their own choices. The Planetary Consortium are rather upfront about their ambitions for controlling the rest of the Solar System, something the Autonomists revile and fear, and have rejected in the most clear and straightforward ways possible. [*] Autonomist Alliance/Extropians/Scum/Exhumans - Freedom: There is no shortage of ways to express oneself, and Autonomists embrace all of them. There isn’t a point to surviving if one doesn’t [i]live[/i], and screw anyone who tries to tell you different. Freedom is succeeding and failing on your own merits, settling things your way, and blazing your own trail - or following someone else's, if that’s what you want. Freedom is knowing that you are only responsible for you, and the other guy has to make do with what he’s got - and the ability to help out the other guy with nobody to tell you different, if you think he’s worth it. Naturally freedom comes with the pitfalls of coexisting, and the occasional ‘issues’ that come up when one person's freedom interferes with another's. Naturally such unchecked freedoms are uncomfortable for the hypercorps - as there is no easy way to leverage control over them. Likewise bioconservatives might have (not entirely unfounded) fears that such limitless freedoms could lead to yet more disasters somehow worse than the fall. These fears are embodied, if not compounded, by the Exhumans, who take such freedoms to logical (and illogical), and horrifying extremes. [*]Jovian Republic - Purity: Touting themselves the last bastion of Humanity, the Jovians stand out from their neighbours by upholding the ideals of nationalism as well as physical, moral and [i]spiritual[/i] purity. To give up one's humanity as blissfully as the rest of the system speaks of a terrible ignorance and lackadaisical approach to identity that borders on willful species-treachery (a view that many bioconservative extremists take to a very severe level). They have the worry that science still cannot explain certain aspects of existence - particularly those addressed by religion - and are unwilling to blindly leap to what might be the doom of their species. Instead they fight to preserve the species against such pernicious and frivolous uses of technology, while, at the same time, protecting themselves from those who would use transhuman technology against them. Notably, such purity does not reject things like understanding of how to use or make transhuman technologies, but rejects their faults, and precludes their use in any way that does interfere with maintaining the purity the Republic stands for. Such views, and the sheer vehemence of the Republic's willingness to defend them are off putting even to their closest neighbours, while transhumanity at large demonizes them as backwards fanatics. [*]Brinkers/Titanian Commonwealth - Community: While a part of the Autonomist Alliance, and ostensibly sharing in the freedoms of their neighbours, the Titanian Commonwealth invests more into the community that has been fostered under it, since before the Fall. With the democratic government, direct representation and a large cultural influence from the first settlers, the Commonwealth embraces the ideas of equality and community, rather than elevating one person above others. Brinker collectives and communities likewise generally (but not always) share these ideals of community - as with their tight knit groups, if one part of the community is alienated, or falls out of line, the entire community could collapse. Larger groups, such as the Commonwealth itself, often concern themselves with the wellbeing of other communities - reasoning that all of transhumanity should have the same prosperity and opportunities within their own communities. Valuing the freedoms of their community, and others, these groups stand vehemently opposed to the rampant control-mongering of the hypercorps, but at the same time oppose the unchecked freedoms that would destabilize and endanger the community.