Note: this faction has been disbanded as of 10th of August, 2023. This page is an archive of their history and lore.
The Black Hearts are an Independent Pirate faction. The faction's main focus is to give independent pirates a place to find other pirates to fly with, band together, and take on tougher targets than a solo pirate might be able to handle. Our goals are to create a threat to the trade lanes and give the lawful players something to play around and deal with. We also explore RP possibilities of using pirates as mercenaries or political activists.
The faction is mostly decentralized, functioning as a free pirate brotherhood. There is no mandatory activity, and the only requirements are to follow the Pirate Code below and to be able to issue a coherent piracy demand with slightly more effort than "give money or die". We extort credits, we relieve traders of their cargo, and we do it all in style. The members are free to partake in character RP, smuggling and anything else the ID allows them to do as they like.
Characters of Rheinland origin are appreciated, but not required. Your pirate can be from any corner of Sirius, within reason.
HISTORY
The Black Hearts started out as a small-time pirate outfit operating from a hidden base in the Omega Border Worlds. Preying on shipping between Rheinland and Bretonia, this warband has grown to be a thorn in the side of both Houses and has also earned the ire of the Corsairs by going after their alien relic smugglers.
A diverse group containing deserters from the Rheinland Military, disillusioned Bundschuh radicals, disgraced mercenaries, and Gallic and Bretonian exiles, the Black Hearts are united in their hatred of the corrupt Houses and the corporations which control them. They see themselves as people scorned by the powers that be who must lash out at the giants that tread on them.
Despite this outward idealism, Die Schwarzen Herzen is hardly an ideological movement. Rheinland government propaganda portrays them as black-hearted fiends, which is how they got their name. Cynics say that the group is little more than a gang of self-serving outlaws who use the pretense of revolutionary idealism to justify extortion, violence, and robbery, while others point out that these outlaws show an atypical amount of caution in their attacks, avoiding collateral damage when possible.
The truth is that Die Schwarzen Herzen are highly individualistic free pilots trying to survive in a harsh universe the only way they know how. Some relish in taking from the weak, some are reluctant, and some like challenging prey. Some are depraved maniacs, others show restraint. Each has a reason for doing what they do, and the only thing they have in common is the will to beat the odds, to fly through fire and death where the promise of a fat stack of credits waits on the other side.
The response from established criminal factions of Sirius towards this upstart warband has been mixed. The Red Hessians have seen the value of cooperating with the Black Hearts, perhaps hoping to eventually absorb them into their much larger organization. Others reacted with indifference or hostility. Though they achieved some recognition, it remains to be seen what kind of name the Black Hearts will make for themselves.
Regardless of their reception, the Black Hearts' ships can now be seen almost anywhere in the sector. It is suspected that they travel between the Houses on a small fleet of support ships or even have a mobile base to launch their attacks from. They occasionally approach Zoner or Junker bases to exchange their plunder for supplies, but never stay in the open for long: even a rumor of the Black Hearts lurking nearby is enough to make merchant captains stay docked in their harbors. Despite their Rheinland origins, the Black Hearts recruit pilots from all across the Sirius sector.
The recent agreement with the Red Hessians has alleviated the equipment shortages the Black Hearts were suffering from. They now wage a guerilla war on the Corsairs, rob transports and mining operations of House corporations, challenge police and military ships, and disappear into the closest nebula when they are outmatched.
GOALS
"Gents, we're all here because we tried playing by the rules and got played ourselves. We are nothing to the ruling nobles, corporate crooks, and pompous admirals running the show. The second it all went wrong, they threw us into the gutter like worthless rats. But we're the ones who built this Sector up and we're the ones who will tear them down." - Kurt Weinbaum
The Black Hearts pay little mind to the politics between Houses, focusing on finding profit and surviving retaliation from the authorities. They live day to day, attacking shipping lanes on the fringes of House space and launching raids into core systems. Although every member of Die Schwarzen Herzen is self-serving in the end, they are willing to challenge House naval and police forces by banding together into raiding parties.
The current goal of Die Schwarzen Herzen is to grow rich by taxing the trade lanes and to oppose the Corsairs at every opportunity. The latter involves robbing their artifact smugglers, which aids with the former. A more challenging and long-term goal is to drive Corsair raiders out of the Omegas and Rheinland. In a misguided way, the Black Hearts fight Rheinland's fight, though the House will never recognize their efforts. This hardly matters to the pirates, though: they are more driven by greed than patriotism and glory-seeking.
THE PIRATE CODE
The Articles of the Black Hearts' Code declare that every member shall:
1) Cooperate with fellow pirates. Fight lawmen together with the other Black Hearts. Share the loot: every member of a raiding party is entitled to an equal share of the prize, so long as he didn't run from battle.
2) Conduct herself with dignity. Always offer prey a chance to talk. Do not be rude to others, be they prey or lawmen. Respect the Freeport no-fire zones: do not commit piracy or start fights near Freeports.
3) Never engage in piracy against Zoners or Junkers. Independent and quasi-legal traders are essential for supplying our organization. If you stop one of their ships by mistake, let them go or offer them an escort without a fee.
4) Treat captives and hostages fairly. Honor offers of ransom. Do not engage in the slave trade. Any 'liberated' slaves may be offered a chance to join the Black Hearts. If they refuse, drop them off at the nearest Freeport.
5) Consider the survival of mankind before other grudges. Do not knowingly aid Nomad collaborators. In a battle between lawmen and aliens, aid the lawmen.
Amendment 1. The pirate council reserves the right to revoke the Article 3 safety guarantees of any group or individual deemed undeserving, regardless of their faction affiliation. The following groups and individuals have had their safety guarantees revoked:
[FPKM]-
TOOLS OF THE TRADE
The Black Hearts possess very limited shipbuilding facilities. Their pilots will use any ramshackle vessel they can get their hands on, regardless of origin, so long as it is compatible with their technology. Die Schwarzen Herzen acquire ships through many means: through agents on the open market, obscure Border Worlds dealerships, the black market, theft, or capturing them in battle.
Although the outfit does not have enough resources to build new ships, its ship maintenance technicians have plenty of experience breaking down wrecks into useful components and restoring spacecraft to a battle-ready condition with salvaged parts. Many of the Black Hearts' ships are therefore old and highly customized.
The naming convention for Die Schwarzen Herzen ships is the following:
Ithaca is the place of the Black Hearts' founding. It is a pirate lair run by a loose coalition of warlords, captains, and lone wolves. It serves as a neutral ground for pirate crews to repair ships, store loot, and swap stories. There, the strong rule and the weak suffer, but both are akin to roaches, crawling out to steal their share from an honest man's plate. The station is a minor hub of smuggler activity and is frequented by unscrupulous freelancers looking to deal in stolen cargo. The Black Hearts contribute to maintaining the existing order on the station but have little interest in seizing it for themselves.
Canberra Star City
Far removed from their primary area of operations, Canberra is of interest to the Black Hearts due to its status as a gateway into the underworld and as a potential expansion of their organization. They maintain a small presence on the station to keep in touch with the rest of Sirius, trade, resupply, and recruit crew.
Abandoned Reason
The Abandoned Reason is an old Bustard-class carrier. Salvaged from the depths of the Walker Nebula and restored to spaceworthy condition with help from the Junkers, it serves as the flagship of the Black Hearts' fleet and their main base of operations. Though armed and kept running by the colossal efforts of its engineering team with surplus components, it has never been used in frontline combat. Instead, it serves as a mobile staging point to deploy strike craft, allowing the Black Hearts to operate almost anywhere in Sirius. Because of its importance, the Abandoned Reason's present location is a carefully guarded secret.
DIPLOMACY
As pirates, Die Schwarzen Herzen rarely enter long-standing treaties. It would be too constraining on individual pirate crews to have to abide by wide-sweeping agreements of the kind that lawful organizations make. However, there is a common understanding to avoid angering current employers as well as groups that support the existence of the Black Hearts.
There are few organizations that could be described as friendly to the Black Hearts on a permanent basis. But many independent or even hostile entities could have useful contacts, given a bit of cooperation. Because of this, pirate captains are encouraged to use their own judgment when dealing with outsiders.
Auxo
Blood Dragons
Bundschuh
Coalition
Farmers Alliance
Gaians
Gallic Brigands
Golden Chrysanthemums
Hogosha
Lane Hackers
Liberty Rogues
Maquis
Mollys
Order
Outcasts
Unione Corse
Unioners
Xenos
Everyone Else
Bounty Hunters Guild
Core
Corsairs
GMG
House Police Forces
House Navies
House Corporations
House Intelligence Services
IMG
Nomads
Vagrants
Wild
FRIENDLY - "A hearty welcome aboard."
The factions in this category are viewed as partners. The attitude towards them is more likely to be cooperative than not, and they can be a source of mercenary work, supplies, or even allies.
Independent Pirates - although other pirates are treated with suspicion, they are respected for their tenacity and willingness to work solo.
Junkers - one of the few groups willing to work with pirates, the Junkers are appreciated for their willingness to fence stolen cargo and their shipbuilding facilities.
Nebula Shipping Express NSE|= - there is an unofficial agreement between the Black Hearts and the NSE corporation that makes the latter's merchant ships exempt from piracy. In exchange, the corporation is willing to supply high-tech equipment that pirates would normally have difficulty acquiring.
Raging Vengeance RAVE~ - as fellow pirate crews, the RAVE and the Black Hearts have a cooperative relationship and have supported each other in multiple missions.
Red Hessians - the largest organization in Rheinland's underworld, the Red Hessians effectively rule the Omegas and are a convenient ally both against House police forces and the infringing Corsairs. Their bases help repair the Black Hearts' fleet, and they also supply the Black Hearts with weaponry.
Zoners - the Black Hearts tend not to stage raids from Zoner installations, preferring to use them as convenient hideouts when a pirate needs to lay low and get patched up. In addition, the Zoner merchant ships can be good suppliers for any commodity a pirate base may need.
NEUTRAL - "Nothing personal, just business."
In this category, the included factions either have an uncertain stance with the Black Hearts or are too far away to be a concern. They could be a source of jobs or valid targets for piracy, and a given encounter could go either way.
Auxo - The Black Hearts are extremely wary of any dealings with these reclusive scientists and prefer to keep them at pulse cannon range.
Bundschuh - the Black Hearts sympathize with their reformist cause but tend to view their methods as naive. Members of the two factions have both supported each other and violently clashed in the past, leading to strained relations.
Coalition - officially the Coalition is hostile to pirates. However, the Coalition supports the Red Hessians, who in turn support the Black Hearts. They have also aided the Black Hearts in battle against mutual enemies on occasion. They leave each other alone, for the most part.
Farmers Alliance - the dealings with the Farmers Alliance have been warm - at least, with the Rheinland portion of it. The Black Hearts have not had formal contact with the LWB leadership, or indeed the Farmers Alliance leadership, but the few individual ships they've met so far have been friendly.
Liberty Rogues - like most established criminal factions, the Rogues are highly territorial and wary of potential rivals. Though outright conflict has not broken out yet, any Black Hearts venturing into Liberty should be prepared for the possibility.
Outcasts - a wealthy patron and a powerful ally against the Corsairs, the Outcasts have their own agenda. Though the Black Hearts have done a few jobs for them in the past, they do so reluctantly and are not keen on acting as pawns to expand the Cardamine network.
Unioners - their alliance with the Corsairs suggests that the Unioners are nothing more than lapdogs of Crete. Still, as fellow Rheinlanders, they are respected enough to be left alone - if they do the same.
Xenos - the Black Hearts have indirectly supported the Xenos before by taking on a smuggling contract, but they have not had formal contact. Still, it would be unwise for a non-Libertonian outlaw to expect anything but weapons fire from these extremists.
Everyone Else - many people and factions have not yet encountered the Black Hearts. It remains to be seen what their reaction will be.
UNFRIENDLY - "You've really done it this time."
These factions are rivals of the Black Hearts or are opposed to their existence, or they may be targets for piracy. It is not unheard of for cooperation to happen with one of these, but it is quite rare.
Bounty Hunters Guild - these are regarded as a high-level threat, as each pirate is eager not to become an easy payday for a professional hunter.
Core - they consider themselves the law in the Omicrons, and the Black Hearts do not care to challenge that. There have been some non-hostile encounters between the groups, but no formal agreements. It would be wise to keep their regular attitude towards pirates in mind during any Omicron ventures.
Corsairs - as an outfit made up primarily of Rheinlanders, the Black Hearts see the Corsairs as a natural enemy. They have caused untold misery with their attacks on the House and they also have the lion's share of the lucrative alien relic market, which the Black Hearts do not mind profiting from.
IMG - although the Black Hearts prefer to target House corporations, the miners have made themselves fair game by attacking Black Hearts' ships.
HOSTILE - "Let the guns do the talking."
The Black Hearts recognize these factions as an existential threat and will never knowingly work with them under any circumstances.
Nomads - much time has passed since the Nomad War, but even a pirate would not be foolish enough to think these aliens are anything but an enemy.
The deepening ties between the Black Hearts and the Red Hessians meant a slow but inevitable decline of the former's independence as they gradually became dependent on the Hessians for supplying them with ships and weapons. With both groups made up primarily of Rheinlanders, it wasn't long before the Black Hearts started losing their identity and effectively became subordinate to the much larger organization - an arrangement that suited some, but not all members.
In the midst of this, an unexpected offer of amnesty from Rheinland muddled the waters further, giving rise to the voices who felt the Black Hearts lost sight of their original goals. Not bound by anything more than their Code, the disagreeing pirate council was divided on how to proceed. The structure collapsed. The pirates divided their plunder and each member went their own way.
A small number followed Kurt Weinbaum in seeking amnesty, mainly support crew and non-combatants. Some of them were motivated to don the uniform and continue the fight against Corsairs, the rest sought some semblance of peace in civilian life. They wished to return to their old lives, though they knew it will not be the same.
Lady d'Aubigny tried to return to Gallia, but the way home was barred to her. Instead, she decided to seek her fortune in the Tau Border Worlds and founded a shipping enterprise to make an honest living.
Maija Niska struck out on her own, taking her crew with her. Her ship is sometimes spotted on one Freeport or another, but details about the ex-Unioner's new adventures are hard to come by.
Big Shot and Flint left for Manhattan. They went into hiding, sticking to low-profile mercenary jobs while working out a way to clear their criminal records.
Others scattered as well. The rest joined with the Hessians, content with their lifestyle.
The Abandoned Reason disappeared. Rumors passed around in bars tell the legend of a pirate carrier hidden away in a secret location, waiting to be reactivated when the time is right. Far more likely, the carrier ended up in the hands of the Hessians or one of the former members of the Black Hearts looking to repurpose it for their own needs, but confusing accounts obfuscate the ship's fate.
And so, in an outcome that surprised no one, the Black Hearts faded away like many other pirate warbands before them, their fleeting moments of glory lost forever.