I began writing this before #9, and it appears that my final apology was founded.
I do not see how Touched Gently's transmissions were at all inappropriate. I can easily imagine a bored Corsair fiddling with some communication equipment getting the hilarious idea of calling up a random Rogue and having a laugh while his starving family watches glumly from the kitchen table.
The Rogue transmission to the Elders just as appropriate. Diplomatic relationships can break down in a GC's heartbeat, the only responsible thing a Rogue leader of any position could do is to make sure this one hasn't.
As for the actual diplomacy, it is not a problem that the Rogues are neutral with the Corsairs while the Corsairs reciprocate with hostility. It's perfectly reasonable considering the lack of interaction between the two factions, and as so aptly demonstrated it can be greatly beneficial to Discovery in the sense of adding role-playing opportunities.
Sixthly, I wouldn't be surprised if an LH assassin was dispatched to exhibit the Hacker sympathy toward Corsair hostility.
----------
The Lane Hackers certainly do not like the Corsairs. The reasons are a bit fuzzy to me -- many things are -- but chances are the man I trust for guidance in these matters will undoubtedly show his face here soon. I'll do as best I can in the meantime.
If there was any sort of friendly treaty between the Rogues and Corsairs, there would at the very least be murmuring from Liberty's expanses of ice.
From the dark matter clouds too, likely.
On that note, the Lane Hackers were originally softly -- some would argue too soft to be important -- split into two groups: those on the Texas/California side of Liberty and those on the Colorado side. I would venture to guess that this division of sorts made it easier to establish a business relationship with both the Outcasts and Hogosha. I don't think the agreement with Hogosha goes at all beyond that of business, they are merely allowed to bring artifacts to the Galileo/Kepler Hackers who handle the smuggling from there. As far as I know, Outcasts have never moved Artifacts through Kusari so there has never been any real conflict with Hogosha in that aspect. From Outcast space, Lane Hackers as well as Outcasts bring artifacts to Liberty. In terms of lore, the Outcasts wouldn't go further than the Lane Hacker bases, though I'm certain player Outcasts do.
The interface between Liberty and the rest of Sirius in Artifact smuggling is nearly exclusively that of Lane Hackers. Inside Liberty Hackers, Junkers, and Rogues cooperate.
This all ties in with the Hacker relationship with the Corsairs. There has been concern that the Corsairs may practice imperialism in Liberty.
In terms of business, this would damage the artifact market on the supply side without a doubt. Outcast access to Liberty would be diminished and reliance would focus toward Hogosha. Times wouldn't be good for Artifact smugglers, unless they are Hogosha.
With Corsair presence in Liberty, the Outcasts would expect direct retaliation from the Hackers to compliment their own. This would shift the focus from the primary goals of the Hackers, perhaps as far as being practically abandoned. Ruefully neglected, in any case.
Of course, Hackers care for the well-being of Liberty. Most may not care for politics, but if Liberty goes downhill so do the Hackers. Corsairs attacking corporate interests in Liberty may benefit the Hackers to some extent -- a very small extent, depending on your perspective -- but just like the Rheinland Military attacking Liberty, Corsairs attacking Liberty would not be good in the long run for the Hackers.
The Rogues and Hackers are close siblings. Both are diverse groups, each with a myriad of ideologies, I would say they are only clearly set apart in the realm of technology and education -- some would also insist on "acne." They cooperate in nearly everything inside Liberty. Though both are members of the Outcast alliance, the Hackers are situated more on the outskirts of Liberty -- as touched on earlier -- and are thereby inherently more attuned to the diplomacy of their foreign allies. I would posit that while Rogues are more concerned with the (relative) integrity of Liberty, Hackers are more concerned with the cohesion of Liberty and perhaps with a wider perspective.
As a simplification, the Rogues are the blunt power of the dark Liberty and the Hackers provide the less obvious necessities. Without either, the Outcast Alliance would have no foothold in Liberty, and if the alliance ceases to serve the purposes of either, that would quickly become the case. In that manner, the Hacker and Rogue relationship with the Corsairs is only as hostile as it needs to be, not more. However, this relationship is not altogether contrary to that of the Outcasts. The Corsairs are not liked, in any way, shape, or color.
JakeSG Wrote:The Hackers might be different, as they seem to be a more terroristic movement than the Rogues and significantly closer to their Outcast masters.
Some Hackers are political terrorists, some are as self-serving as any Rogue. Some say Hackers care for nothing but themselves and some would insist this to be true, referencing a station rumor. Rumors are, of course, little more than their namesake but considering how they tell the story Freelancer, I would hold it to be true to an extent, but only with four sugars and cream.
In Liberty, the Outcasts are no masters. I mentioned the Hacker-Outcast relationship sufficiently above, I think.
I don't think I pulled the discussion too far off-track, I apologize if I did. My fundamental point is much what has already been said, we don't concern ourselves with the Corsairs until they concern themselves with us.
