The Traders' Guild was at first named Marsec: an organization created to supervise colonies on Mars. After most governments on Earth signed treaties with the Star Gods, they were rewarded with stellar technology, which was used to greatly accelerate aerospace engineering and create a permanent human settlement on Mars. However, since the Red Planet already belonged to the Star Gods in all but name, the Star Gods made a condition that no national outposts could be built on Mars, only Marsec would have that right as a global organization. The governments on Earth reluctantly agreed to the deal and so Marsec became the single most influential human agency. A long time later, after the governments collapsed or became isolated, Marsec became just a part of the Guild, as their influence was expanding both inwards (to Earth) and outwards (with new colonies established).