It was not entirely necessary to use badges to denote the identity of an invited guest.
Every mecher and everyone they considered worthy to become their associate all possessed cranial implants. This enabled them to call up additional information in real-time on anyone and anything that entered their view.
Nonetheless, it was a lot easier and less cumbersome if everyone wore a brightly colored hat or distinctly different uniforms.
The Survivalists did not force anyone to change their wardrobes to such an extent. They chose to go for the most practical solution, which entailed handing over shiny badges that were large enough to be easily visible from a distance.
Members of the Red Association received green badges while associates received teal badges.
There was nothing special about the badges. They were clearly mass-produced by materializers and did not contain any circuitry or more mystical components.
