The Privateer Conundrum

Posted on Mar 16, 2016
The Privateer Conundrum

The search for the elusive planet(s) with Idiranium resources continues, but as of this writing none have been located. The privateer crews are however keeping busy raiding trade convoys from the Alliance of Seven Satellites, and are really quite happy with the current state of affairs, Idiranium or not.

Meanwhile, the training of Alliance militia continues, but it will be months until they are ready to take on the privateers, and even then they will probably never be a match for the larger vessels, supplied and armed by the Directory of Havvacor and Banigoth High Command, respectively. In response to this, the Alliance’s Khar-Hurrian patrons have pledged to contribute a contingent of warriors as escort for the trade convoys, at least until the time that the Alliance militia is ready for deployment.

And now, we arrive at the conundrum. While they may enjoy disrupting trade and appropriating an occasional Alliance vessel through their privateer proteges, neither Havvacor nor the Banigoth have a slightest inclination to provoke Khar-Hurrians, having so narrowly avoided conflict last time. Furthermore, while the search for Idiranium was the primary reason for forming these privateer crews, it now seems to be much lower on their priority list. Why attempt risky voyages to the edge of known Universe when there is local plunder there for the taking?

Havvacor is the first to take action, by calling a meeting of all the privateer captains under their (nominal) command. An embargo is called on all actions against merchant vessels until the meeting can take place and some rules are established. However, this only applies to the Directory-sponsored vessels, and those owing their allegiance to Banigoth continue their activities without disruption. For now.