The Junker Congress is a loosely affiliated band of the disenfranchised, disaffected and disillusioned uniting under the common banner of a better life for all Junkers. We originate from all colonies throughout Sirius; some being Junker by origin with generations of history behind them, and others who came to us as ex-convicts and political refugees with nowhere else to run. This is irrelevant with the exception of practical application; a Bretonian will thrive best in Bretonia as the shock of integration will be minimal.
They have joined the Junkers and found new lives; cargo captains, escort fighter pilots, scrap workers and scavengers. Some in time ascend to the great round-table network of the Congress. We have privateers who trade in commodities ranging from ship components to human flesh. Many come to us and find their niche in a field that they could follow nowhere else. Some of them ply a trade that is unique throughout the colonies due to our connections.
What each congressman does is irrelevant, so long as the basic premise is followed; furthering our power base through trade, intelligence and influence. Some choose to further their wealth and aid those Junkers who have little but a CSV and a field of scrap to sift through, others contribute to the vast intelligence network that is the true heart and purpose of the Congress. Borders are irrelevant except to how they apply to business associates.
Regulation of the Congress is loose for one reason; Junkers are responsible for their own destinies. What little regulation exists is there solely to preserve the delicate balance struck through centuries of carefully cultivated appearance. Congressmen who endanger this balance are swiftly dealt with; punishments ranging from forcible repossession of assets to total exile are not unknown. Each member of the Congress is responsible for his own actions, and as a result answers to his own failings.
We unite for one reason; a future of greater power and influence for Junkers, and ultimately for all humankind through the guidance of our invisible hand.
Current Situation:
Liberty is the hub of most smuggling and trade efforts, as well as the access point to Puerto Rico. Liberty is also in a state of upheaval due to the inevitable war with Rheinland. Due to these circumstances, there is unmatched opportunity for personal gain. Junker expansion inside Liberty has gone well; but dealing with the Liberty Rogue/Lane Hacker/Outcast triumvirate, and those select Liberty companies who can stomach the Junkers business practices is critical for the future. There is also political change afoot; and the Junkers must maintain an effort to ensure not only that they have a hand in reshaping the landscape, but that the Xenos do not.
Enemies: The Xenos: The so-called Knights of Labor are impressively well-funded, more than what can be garnered from a grassroots funding campaign. Congress agents must investigate the source of their increasingly vast resources. The course of action we take in response may vary depending on how deep this rabbit hole goes. Be assured it will be swift, brutal and give pause to anyone else who would exploit the working masses for such ends.
Local Challenges: The LPI: Distrustful of Junkers by nature, be subtle in dealing with officers and you may find one with flexibilities in accordance to his net account. The Liberty Navy: Evade when not being visibly constructive to the Liberty war effort. Conversely, be as conspicuous as possible when being constructive, such as bringing in salvaged metals to a smelter or ship parts to a shipyard. The LSF: Be highly wary of the LSF. They are the secret police and thus are everywhere. We have suspicions of LSF eyes among the Junkers. The fact that we have yet to be flushed out is either indicative of the subtlety of our affairs or the value of the services the Junkers provide as a counter to these little indiscretions. The Bounty Hunters: A trigger-happy gang of sociopaths who will shoot their own mothers for credits. No concept of loyalty, and to be extremely wary about. Ageira/DSE: Two Liberty corporations whose high-security operations have meant complete stonewalling of Junker inquiries for dealing. Seek out cooperative third parties for securing their goods if they are required. Universal Shipping: As Liberty's prime freight corporation, they trust no one without the proper paperwork near their convoys. Ignore unless they are moving something desirable; then hire someone else to hit them and leave your hands clean.
Docking Rights & Circumstances: The Congress has clearance to dock at these locations, and only these locations:
- Rochester
- Beaumont
- Allentown
- Thunder Bay
- Liberty Rogue bases (Rogue hospitality willing, be subtle as the bases are intended to remain hidden)
- Lane Hacker bases (Hacker hospitality willing, be subtle as the bases are intended to remain hidden)
- LPI Sugarland (scrap metal/captive Xenos as cargo)
- Newark Station (appropriate reasoning and cargo)
- Toronto Station (appropriate reasoning and cargo)
- Baltimore Shipyard (appropriate reasoning and cargo)
- All planets
Conduct:
Combat-oriented vessels should be hidden from lawful eyes when even remotely possible. Congress members should be seen by the law primarily in CSVs, Collectors, CSFs, and the odd Salvage Frigate. Stay away from Zone 21. Scrap can and should be taken to the LPI Sugarland, as conspicuously as possible. Engine Components and Hull Panels, when secured, can and should be conspicuously sold to shipyards. Covertly support the Boron operation on Pittsburgh, and while youre down there, see if theres a market among the miners for some more illicit cargo. Quietly aid the cartels in their supply gathering from our bases, they are important assets to our advancement. Build connections where possible, everywhere you go. Don't be afraid to contract the services of one or more criminals to do your dirty work; the Rogues love our credits especially. Most importantly, keep your eyes and ears open for details that can be archived as intelligence this is a commodity that can be traded to most anyone for additional favors.
Current Situation:
Bretonia grows desperate with the loss of the Tau-31 Gate and Stokes Smelter. Bretonia favors the Outcasts in the ongoing Hispanian war, having gone so far as to appear to have struck an arrangement of convenience. Hogosha and AFA vessels are reported in Leeds regularly, which is insufferable. The Mollys remain stalwart trade partners, and the Bretonian Parliament has shown astounding flexibility in regards to their willingness to gain some ground. The Corsairs frequently raid Bretonia, seeming to side with Kusari and the Gaians; their blatant use of Trafalgar has been a source of contention with law enforcement. The Gaians and Junkers have seen a cooling of their relations as of recent months, dispatching a communique should be a priority.
Enemies: The Hogosha/AFA: These hatchet men of Samura have been issued new hardware and are strafing Bretonian supply lines. Our own spear carriers should intercept them when possible and remind them where they belong, and to leave war to the militaries.
Local Challenges: The BPA: Distrustful of Junkers and far less pliable than the LPI, they should be avoided unless the Junker in question is performing actions that would gain their trust. The Armed Forces: Evade when not being visibly constructive to the Bretonian war effort. Conversely, be as conspicuous as possible when being constructive, such as bringing in salvaged metals to a smelter or ship parts to a shipyard. The Gaians: They may deal with us at Trafalgar, but they are rumored to house the Hogosha/AFA at their asteroid base in Edinburgh. It remains unknown if they will defend their new allies if they are attacked by us, but do not rule such a possibility out. Dealings should be professional and minimal, as if Bretonia drives Kusari back and the KNF/Hogosha support wanes, they will be targeted as not only terrorists and thieves, but as a faction that has committed high treason. At that point, they will be poison. The Kusari Naval Forces: They have yet to attack us in Bretonia. Be ready to flee if they do so; do not start a shooting war with a house military, especially with the fate of Yanagi at stake. Feel free to subtly sabotage, delay and spy on their movements while inside the border. The Bounty Hunters Guild: A trigger-happy gang of sociopaths who will shoot their own mothers for credits. No concept of loyalty, and to be extremely wary about. BMM: The industrial heart of Bretonia; we will avoid antagonizing this highly paranoid and well-defended faction due to their ownership of Southampton. Our continued access to Southampton is critical to maintaining our usefulness to the Bretonia, and the continued existence of Trafalgar as a result. Bowex/Gateway Shipping: Bretonia's freight corporations are two bloated worms fighting over the same carcass. Absolutely do not harass or impede, due to Bretonia's desperation and the immense reprecussions that will be sure to follow if Junkers are implicated in the loss of Crown assets.
Docking Rights & Circumstances: The Congress has clearance to dock at these locations, and only these locations:
- Trafalgar
- Battleship Hood
- Molly bases (Molly hospitality willing, be subtle about your visitation)
- Gaian bases (Gaian hospitality willing, be subtle about your visitation)
- Southampton Shipyard (with scrap brought in, and a general avoidance of loitering)
- Waterloo Station (pending proper reasoning and cargo)
- Luxury Liner Shetland
- Cardiff Mining Facility
- South Shields Refinery
- All planets
Conduct:
Combat-oriented Junker vessels should be hidden from lawful eyes when even remotely possible. Congress members should be seen by the law in CSVs, Collectors, CSFs, and the occasional transport. Scrap and other materials can and should be taken to Southampton, as conspicuously as possible. Hull Panels and Engine Components can and should be evenly distributed among all buyers, as to fuel all markets and simultaneously create more demand for new ship parts due to these parties' tendencies to deplete one another's resources. Build connections where possible, everywhere you go. Don't be afraid to hire someone to perform an unsavory task you don't want to be near. Most importantly, keep your eyes and ears open for details that can be archived as intelligence this is a commodity that can be traded for additional favors.
Current Situation:
Rheinland and Liberty are all but at war. They are highly insular and suspicious of outsiders; not to the same extent as Kusari, but enough that exclusion is evident. The RFP are a well-armed force, recently fielding a ship that appears to be the spiritual twin to our Recycler, and they are a difficult force to contact directly. The RM are a similarly difficult force, but for an entirely different reason; they trust no one but who they are told to trust. ALG is the exception, and happily deals with Junkers due to our willingness to undertake the less savory aspects of scrap collecting. Rheinland is unique in that its unlawful factions, while diverse in ideological leanings and origins, band together to create a unified front. The Hessians are the big dogs of the entire affair, with other parties either content to remain on the fringes or struggling to survive on the leftovers. The Bundscuh and LWB are both relatively content in their dealings with the Congress, but bonds could be strengthened. Matters in Rheinland would be relatively simple if not for thie aforementioned desperation; the Alster Union, a strong Unioner splinter group, has announced the severing of business dealings with the Junkers and will target us as a means of income.
Enemies: Das Wilde: Former humans with Nomad parasites. Ignore the human aspect, these vermin wish us all dead or subjugated. If you are unsure of your survival in their presence, flee. If flight is impossible, prepare alternate means of evading capture at all costs. If you are certain of your survival, terminate with extreme prejudice.
Local Challenges: Alster Union/The Unioners: The lowest tier of criminal in Rheinland, poverty has forced them to sever ties to organizations they feel they would benefit more greatly from by hijacking, rather than trade. Evade if possible, bargain or engage if confronted. Do not seek them out pre-emptively, or you may be forcing a conflict of loyalties on the other Rheinland parties. Their hostility is based in commerce rather than ideology, this is a matter of business and there is no profit in unnecessary bloodshed. The RFP: Well-armed yet rumored to be on a restrictive salary. Seek out possible leverage points and try to endear us to them. The RM: Fiercely loyal to their nation and to the Chancellor. Work with them and fuel their war machine and you will have their favor. Work against them and they will come at you with a near fanatical zeal. There is little means of bargaining with them, outside of potential personal whims individual pilots may suffer from. Kruger/Daumann: Two cogs in the ancient industrial machine that are due to be replaced. Dealing with individual pilots may be of use, but tread carefully. They have a healthy distrust of all things Junker. The Bounty Hunters Guild: A trigger-happy gang of sociopaths who will shoot their own mothers for credits. No concept of loyalty, and to be extremely wary about. Republican Shipping: Rheinland's premier freight corporation. Also healthily distrustful of Junkers. Dealing is of little use, but informing interested parties as to their whereabouts may be profitable.
Docking Rights & Circumstances: The Congress has clearance to dock at these locations, and only these locations:
- Kreuzberg
- Dortmund (with appropriate cargo)
- Bonn (with appropriate cargo and reasoning)
- Red Hessian bases (Hessian hospitality willing, be subtle as the bases are intended to remain hidden)
- Bundschuh bases (Bundschuh hospitality willing, be subtle as the bases are intended to remain hidden)
- LWB bases (LWB hospitality willing, be subtle as the bases are intended to remain hidden)
- All Planets
Conduct:
Combat-oriented Junker vessels should be hidden from lawful eyes when even remotely possible. Congress members should be seen by the law in CSVs, Collectors, CSFs, and the occasional transport. Scrap and other materials can and should be taken to Dortmund, as conspicuously as possible. Working with ALG is highly encouraged. Needed imports can and should be evenly distributed among all direct buyers, as to fuel all markets and simultaneously create more demand for new ship parts due to these parties' disagreements. Build connections where possible, everywhere you go. Don't be afraid to hire someone to perform an unsavory task you don't want to be near. Most importantly, keep your eyes and ears open for details that can be archived as intelligence this is a commodity that can be traded for additional favors.
Current Situation:
Kusari has pushed into Bretonia, and their hubris is apparent. Based on intel garnered from interrogation of a captive Farmer's Alliance pilot, Samura has apparently issued a blanket bounty on all Junker vessels in and around Kusari for the Hogosha/AFA, who are currently seen operating in Leeds more often than in Bretonia. The GC and Blood Dragons continue to fight but there seems to be a stalemate. Kusari should be avoided unless there is a very specific mission involved; loitering within house borders is a very efficient way to disappear.
Enemies: The Hogosha/AFA: These hatchet men of Samura have been issued new hardware and are more dangerous than ever. Inside Kusari, they are to be engaged only as needed; attacking them raises unnecessary alarms and invites escalated reprisals. There are differences between the two factions, but for their general attitude and disposition toward the Junkers, they should be considered one and the same. The rivalry between our kind and the Hogosha is ancient, and based in both ideological and commercial incompatibility. We want access to the markets of Kusari, and they will die to the last man before we have that access uncontested.
Local Challenges: Samura Industries: The issuer of the blanket bounty against the Junkers, and what appears to be the bankroll for the gangsters. If there is one house corporation that we have full license to cripple and harass, it is Samura. Let them know business will be business, and that even they can not stop progress. The KSP: Apparently the less corrupt lawful force in Kusari. Avoid contact, do not engage. Do not be seen. Obey orders if caught. The KNF: Activities in conjunction with Hogosha have painted them as in the palm of Samura. There is no recorded attack by the Naval Forces on a Junker vessel, but do not mistake this for mercy. Stand clear at all costs. If engaged, retreat. Return fire as a last resort, and shoot to wound. Yanagi's continued existence may hinge on your restraint. We can not and will not bear the brunt of a house military assault. Kishiro: Treat as a common corporation; no apparent ties to any corporation aside from the GMG, whom the Sigma-13 Junkers have cultivated an uneasy peace with. To be left unharassed unless provoked. The GMG: Their presence in Sigma-13 makes them highly volatile to interact with; past dealings have hinted toward a legal flexibility that may suggest common ground. The Congress should attempt to further this opportunity... very carefully.
Docking Rights & Circumstances: The Congress has clearance to dock at these locations, and only these locations:
- Roppongi (extremely dangerous)
- Golden Chrysanthemum bases (GC hospitality willing, ensure you are not followed. Kusari has eyes everywhere.)
Conduct:
All Junker vessels are to be be hidden when even remotely possible. Congress members are not to be seen, and supply craft are advised to fly with escort. Support of the Golden Chrysanthemums should be steady, and relations should be fortified with the Blood Dragons. The Blood Dragons are highly secretive, our continued good business dealings will only be maintained if we respect their distance and privacy. Subtlety is key in Kusari; attacking Hogosha/AFA in their home space should be kept to a minimum, or reprisals may be a regular occurence. Most importantly, keep your eyes and ears open for details that can be archived as intelligence this is a commodity that can be traded for additional favors.
Current Situation:
With the gravitational drift of the New Berlin Jump Hole, Yanagi is no longer the warzone it once was. Trade traffic past the station has waned to a faint trickle, and the vast battlefleets that have reburied our station in capital vessel hulks and set back the cleanup at least two decades have all but left. Yanagi remains the crossroads for smugglers from colonies across the sector. The GMG as of late have been cordial toward the Junkers, opening the path for potential business deals. Few Junkers are foolish enough to trust the GMG implicitly, but if there is any organization seasoned enough in deception to match the GMG double-cross for double-cross, it is us. The Wild remain a constant threat, and the elevated guard presence is a permanent fixture as a result.
Enemies: Das Wilde: Former humans with Nomad parasites. Ignore the human aspect, these vermin wish us all dead or subjugated. If you are unsure of your survival in their presence, flee. If flight is impossible, prepare alternate means of evading capture at all costs. If you are certain of your survival, terminate with extreme prejudice.
Local Challenges: Corsairs, Outcasts, other pirates: Yanagi may no longer be the ever-growing graveyard it once was, but there remains tensions between the Corsair and Outcast forces that converge there. There is an iron-clad policy regarding a no-fire zone that spans a 5k radius in all directions from the station. Junkers are authorized to use deadly force to protect the station and those aboard it. The GMG: Their presence in Sigma-13 makes them highly volatile to interact with; past dealings have hinted toward a legal flexibility that may suggest common ground. The Congress should attempt to further this opportunity... very carefully. The ALG: Helgoland is an excellent dropoff point for scrap metal, and to pick up on lawful trade traffic passing through Sigma-13. Junker support of the ALG should remain active; ALG's progressive stance potentially heralds the future of Rheinland's industry, and Junker influence in their success could pay off immensely. But do not flaunt our other side before them; they are on the rise and can't afford to be affiliated with an organization whose darker dealings they are fully aware of.
Docking Rights & Circumstances: The Congress has clearance to dock at these locations, and only these locations:
- Yanagi
- Helgoland
- Gas Miner Naha (At the leisure of the GMG, with appropriate reason and cargo)
Conduct:
Combat-oriented ships are to be kept from the eyes of the GMG. Yanagi's no-fire zone is to be upheld regardless of the faction perpetrating the offense. Scrap is to be moved to Helgoland to maintain the appearance of an ongoing salvage operation. Diplomatic behavior here is paramount at all times. Do not enter the Chugoku jump hole.
Current Situation:
The investigation continues. We are coming close to concluding what transpired here, but little technology we can reverse-engineer has surfaced. We continue to maintain the facade of a salvage operation with an artificially elevated price on the salvage, to ensure the greedy salvagers who sneak in on our claim at least sell off their ill-gotten metal where it's intended to go. We've taken to shipping out finished alloys to further offset the costs of the Gruinder Project, already well-repaid by opening the base as a supply depot for those that know the way in. The Junkers are advised to defend their claim for the sake of insurance and for keeping the credits in our hands.
Enemies: None
Local Challenges: Bounty Hunters: Omega-15 has the misfortune of being a central rallying point for the Core, constructing enormous capital-class ships for a war out in the deep dark ends of space. Misguided Hunters occasionally come in and harass the locals with volleys of capital-class turret fire. The station has taken damage, but repair is quick and feasible with the surplus of alloys about. Core vessels are to be avoided until Bornholm comes under threat, and then they are to be repelled. Rheinland Military: They simply guard the pathway into Dresden against Hessians and Corsairs who may slip in that way. Do not impede in any way, cooperate if called upon.
Docking Rights & Circumstances: The Congress has clearance to dock at these locations, and only these locations:
- Bornholm
Conduct:
Charging a premium to claimjumpers is encouraged. Driving off freeloaders is equally encouraged. Combat-oriented vessels are on a defense-only order unless dealing with an unauthorized salvage operation. Junker salvage of the Gruinder is heavily encouraged. The true purpose of Bornholm is a Junker-only secret and must remain that way.
Introduction:
Junkers have a unique place throughout the colonies as the faction that most have some dealings with, and that we are typically left alone. This is due not only to our beneficial scrap collection, but that we have means of achieving goals and attaining goods that are difficult or impossible for more legitimate enterprises. We have the well-earned reputation as the Sirius Sector's expansionist middlemen. Only the Zoners are more powerful and widespread, and they are fragmented. Our knowledge rivals the databases of any house intelligence agency.
Because of our unchecked expansion, we are at risk of inflaming many formerly willing business partners. Our smuggling network, if unrestrained, can threaten the revenues of those who produce the goods we ship. We must exercise great care to maintain solid business relationships lest we collapse the trade arteries through tapping too deeply.
However, we must also defend against those who would undermine both us and our trade partners. Smugglers who fly under no flag and pay tribute to no one threaten to flood the markets we so carefully engineer. Unaffiliated salvage workers clear more metal than intended, removing the much-needed cover we use to conduct our deals away from prying eyes. In the special case of Bornholm Depot, they remove credits from our economy, taking the artificially-inflated price of scrap designed to reward those enterprising Junkers who would work this remote and dangerous field for our ends.
The Congress is the single largest collaboration of minds and estates in the Junkers, an ancient round table for the affluent and ambitious. It is our duty to uphold what has been so carefully built, and is now under attack by the ignorant and greedy. But even as such, there must be restraint and order, so as to not invite great reprisal for our actions.
Acts of piracy are typically left for the desperate, the militant, and the ideologically aggressive. But there are times when members of the Congress must stand for what we have built.
WARNING: There must also be great consideration for your actions before you undertake them; reprecussions may be severe and unforeseen. Any damage you do is yours to fix.
Claimjumping:
This has always been an issue in the Gruinder. The situation here is basic: they are stealing work from Junkers, dipping into the fund we have set aside for other Junkers to benefit from, and potentially tampering with a highly sensitive investigation. Yet, we will offer benefit of the doubt; these salvage workers may purchase a temporary pass at a high price. If they refuse, deny them access to the station. Add their wrecked ship to the twisted flotsam of the Gruinder if you believe they may cause further disruption.
Competing Smugglers:
The first thing to be said here is that we do not wish to eradicate competition. If all smugglers were Junkers, then it would be a foregone conclusion that illegal goods reaching the houses would be due to Junker presence. With competing smugglers, the doubt remains. The fact that unaffiliated smugglers are caught and prosecuted at a much higher ratio than Junkers, and higher still than members of the Congress, stands to our benefit.
Our network as a matter of fact is cultivated to allow a set percentage of smugglers to operate without our interference. But there are those that will attempt to cross this line. I will leave it to you to cull the numbers and bring the markets back in line, without harming or bankrupting the smuggler if possible.
The tactic I suggest employing is dubbed the 'Hostile Takeover'.
You will need:
- Cargo space capable of hauling the entirety of the smuggler's cargo, among multiple ships if necessary
- Cruise interdiction
- Credits to purchase thousands of units of contraband
- Enough firepower to subdue any violent resistance, including escorts
This is a two-man operation at the very least. The smuggler will be tracked; the Congress knows most of the secret runs, and the trap will be laid. The target will be brought to a halt. You will buy out the smuggler's cargo at a rate that offers benefit to both the smuggler and yourselves. Some haggling may ensue, this is natural. Do not allow your own profits to slip below a satisfactory line. Do not insult the smuggler with a rate that offers him no benefit; they're often impoverished and too great a profit loss will end badly one way or another.
If the target refuses, he can't be controlled or trusted and is better off dead. Eliminate him and leave no evidence. If he complies, let him go and run your newfound cargo shipment.
But remember; we are the colony-wide leaders in this industry. Our reign should be a benevolent one if possible.
WARNING: Do not interdict smugglers affiliated with those who produce the goods. We have no qualms about Outcasts wanting to move their own Cardamine, or Corsairs flying in their own Artifacts.
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