Outer Colonies

The Outer Colonies were a set of planets controlled by the Terran Confederacy. During the events of StarCraft, it appears that many Confederate citizens were imigrating to the planets, despite the Confederacy's attempts to discourage them.

The living conditions of the Outer Colonies are unknown. However, it appears that Confederate influence was minimal and self-sufficency may have been required to live there. Merdith Jernic was able to avoid the notice of the Ghost Program and taught to make do, or do without respectively.

Fringe Worlds?
In truth, the term "Outer Colonies" may actually be a reference to the Fringe Worlds; a belt of planets located on the edge of the galaxy and far from Confederate space. Clearly the two regions, if they are two different regions, have much in common, such as their isolation from the Confederacy and their living conditions. However, it is implied that the Confederacy wanted to limit imigration to the Outer Colonies, while the Fringe Worlds were seen as a source of cheap labour.