Corsairs

Corsairs
Corsairs
220px
Capital	Planet Crete, Omicron Gamma
Official languages	Spanish, English
Government ? - Leader   Elders of Crete
Founded	0-50 A.S. A.S.
Controlled space	Omicron Gamma Omega-41 Omega-5 Omicron Delta (*) *Contested space
Affiliated organisations	The Brotherhood Corsair Benitez Family Omega Pirates Guild

The Corsairs originate from a larger group of Hispania sleeper ship survivors that landed on Planet Crete. They are believed to be the largest criminal organization operating in Sirius -- frequently attacking civilian, commercial, and even military targets. Now, the Corsairs and their allies are fighting a Sirius-wide war for power and influence with an old enemy, the Outcasts, and their supporters.

History

In the past, the Corsairs were unable to grow food on the mountainous terrain of Planet Crete, so they were forced to eat their own people in order to survive.

Today the Corsairs, while not as desperate as before, are still starving, so regular shipments of smuggled food from the Houses must be brought to Crete. Their smuggling of Artifacts is their primary source of income and they use the money from that to buy their equipment and food shipments from the Zoners and from the Houses. If they can't get it from the Zoners, the Corsairs must use piracy to get their remaining supplies and extra money.

The ancestors of the Corsairs that had set adrift from the crippled Hispania made planetfall on Planet Crete shortly after the other Houses arrived in the Sirius Sector.

Scratching out a living, the Corsairs managed a bleak existence for four centuries. Eventually they developed a strong self-identity, isolated from the rest of the Houses. In 450 AS, that insular world changed. An exploratory expedition headed by Franz Schulman -- financed by Daumann and the Rheinland government -- stumbled into the system while mapping the far reaches of the Walker Nebula. The local inhabitants, sensing a historic opportunity, attacked the landing party en masse, killing all save Schulman, whom they took hostage to gain control of the mother ship Schiller in orbit above the planet.

No one is entirely sure who first nicknamed them the "Corsairs," recalling the ancient pirate clans of the Mediterranean, but the name came into popular use among the Houses sometime around 500 AS. The Corsairs began attacking unprotected outposts and ships, plundering whatever supplies and equipment they could lay their hands on, before escaping through one of their secret Jump Holes. The systematic expansion of the Houses into the Omega Border Worlds further fueled the Corsair movement, dramatically increasing the quantity and variety of accessible goods.

The final chapter began in the sixth century AS, when an enterprising, well-armed Liberty freelancer named Jim Bown made his way to Omicron Gamma. He brought various Consumer Goods to trade, but the Corsairs could offer little but Artifacts. A year later, he returned. Those trinkets were all the rage with the elite of Manhattan. He saw a great business opportunity if they could set up a viable trade route to Liberty. The Corsairs were on their way. They grew rapidly in size and sophistication as they built up the Artifact trade.

The primary smuggling route goes north to Sigma-19, where Artifacts are traded with the Hogosha onboard the Hawaii. They have also opened up a route into Rheinland via the Yanagi Junker base in Sigma-13. In the west the Corsairs invaded Bretonia in order to reach the Junker Trafalgar base in New London.

The Bounty Hunters Guild has taken advantage of several Freeports in the Edge Worlds to attack the Corsairs’ home system. So far they’ve been more of nuisance than a real threat, but the presence of Zoner-controlled bases so close to Omicron Gamma has provoked intense debate among the Elders of Crete regarding the future of nearby Independent bases.

Controlled and contested space

• Planet Crete - Omicron Gamma
• Tripoli Shipyard - Omicron Gamma
• Leon Base - Omega-41
• Cadiz Base - Omega-5
• Yaren Base - Omicron Delta

Foreign relations

Allies

The Order

Hogosha

Gaians

Farmers Alliance

Enemies

Outcasts

Red Hessians

Liberty Rogues

Blood Dragons

Lane Hackers

Bounty Hunters

Gas Miners Guild

House Corporations

House Police

House Militaries

Player Factions

[TBH] - The Brotherhood

The Brotherhood is a powerful brotherhood/sisterhood of Corsairs, including high ranking Elders.

-Benitez - Corsair Benitez Family

The Corsair Benitez Family is a powerful Corsair family, based partially off the ancient Earth culture of Rome.

[OPG] - Omega Pirates Guild

The Omega Pirates Guild is the only real sea dogs in Sirius waters. Beware!