Space Pirates

A life of piracy isn't the adventure seen on vids. It's months stuck on a ship, eating rations and sharing cramped cabins. It's arguments that nearly turn deadly as violent people get antsy. It's being wary of sticky fingers and traitorous motives, of rising tensions as the hour draws near.
It's also blood spilled for the score, and returning to port with heavy pockets and the taste of victory. A week of indulgence to ease the pain of bullet wounds and dead friends. Or perhaps simply to spit in the face of anyone who told you you couldn't.

A Pirate's Life For Me

The life of piracy attracts all sorts, each for their own reasons. For every tragic backstory of an ailing relative who needs expensive medicine, there's someone who wants to prove that might makes right without regard for others' lives.

Some pirates fly solo, using strike fighters to harass small-time merchants in low- or near-orbit. However, the risk of getting caught often outweighs the value of what they might pilfer. There are few places where this could be successful, and those territories are already claimed by small-time, terrestrial pirate crews.

Pirates work together in crews, which always need a captain, a ship, and enough members to support their actions. While some crews manage with a free merchant and three or four members, most successful ones have a corvette and at least twenty on board at all times. Each crew develops their own culture, curated by their captain the missions they choose.
It's not a life for the meek or faint of heart. On top of the regular dangers of space travel, every crew must be ready for deadly combat at any time. Whether for a mission, to evade law enforcement, or to fight back against a rival crew.

Why be a pirate?

Power

Over others, over themselves, over the law

Freedom

To live outside the confines of society, rules, place

Ideology

To follow their own code of justice or morality

Money

More ways to acrue the funds needed or wanted

Malice

An excuse or opportunity to cause harm to others

Excitement

The thrill of the fight and the score

Smuggling versus Piracy

Smugglers are often included under the space pirate umbrella, but their roles are quite different. Pirates attack other ships to steal cargo or ransom hostages. They typically have a powerful ship, large crew, and use intimidation tactics. Smugglers transit illicit goods, and typically use small groups and stealthy ships for their work. They want to avoid drawing attention to themselves, and focus more on defending and escaping than attacking.
While pirates often also smuggle goods, especially as a means to accrue early funds, they tend to lack subtly. More often, they hire professional smugglers to transit their ill-gotten goods. As such, smugglers are often found in and around pirate bays, and outsiders may not be able to tell the difference.

Information

(In)famous Pirate Leaders

Captain Hawk
Alice

Known Pirate Crews

Crew of the Dragon's Daughter

Related Locations

• Parala
• RS802

Did you know?

The Protectorate occasionally pardons pirate captains and their crews to allow them to retire with their ill-gotten goods. In some cases, offering such a pardon can bring greater peace to a region than continuing to hunt the crew down.