Regular Independent Privateers

Who are the RIP?

The Regular Independent Privateers are a loose coalition of those who find The Man's world of "rules", "laws", and "statutory minimum sentences" restrictive, sometimes literally. We are individuals who share a fluid definition of property ownership and a general interest in levelling the playing field for the common man, by removing obstacles, often storing those obstacles in safe keeping for later use. Unlike some, we don't stoop to criminal levels to justify our gratuitous use of violence or our morally dubious decisions; we do it for money.

Under the wise leadership of ringleader Bob Kurosawa we have found a happy home in the peaceful bosom of Sargasso, a starless system far from any watchful eye. Where we plan our defences against the predations of the dark, dark minds of those that claim the territories that we at the RIP consider the gift of Nature, a gift to be freely exploited by whoever can get there without Simms noticing.

RIP History

The RIP's past is one of a bloody, leather clad, whipped cream and (technically unclassified) narcotics driven swathe cut through the heart of the peripheries, from the time of their discovery through to the innumerable wars, mostly involving six eyed flatulent aliens (and the rest of the FET directors). The RIP, known then as the Raiders of the Imperial Periphery, were feared as pirates of the first order, and their colonies, or gilded palaces of depravity and leacherous, semi-professional turpitude, were known far and wide as the only nightspots worth visiting this side of a Brotherhood "spiritual conversion".

Despite widespread persecution for their strongly held beliefs vis a vis stuff on your ship and their empty cargo holds, the RIP found solace in the neutral systems where all could enjoy their pleasures. In the year of our deep fried Falconian 203 the controlling factions within the RIP, lead by King Porteus, and later Duke Hellscream, had a vision, a vision for a future where all could be accepted, an affiliation not of rules and ranks, but of mutual self-improvement and understanding. That vision is here today, in the form of the Regular Independent Privateers, our illegal pointy sticks decommissioned for a new reign of peacful, mercenerary privateering. The RIP are no longer pirates and any one that says otherwise is looking for a ride home on a garbage scow. (We're not entirely sure where garbage scows go, but it wont be pleasant wherever it is. The point is we're against Bad Things now, and we have the paper work to prove it.)

A Young Man's Guide To The Affiliations

While the RIP are the most important element of the cultural melting pot that we call the peripheries, they are far from the only ingredient. As a service to our fellow wayfarers, we have compiled some notes on some of the other affiliations, and where you might fit in:

• AFT - Association of Free Traders
  • Space is a complex and dangerous place, filled with exciting encounters with aliens, incredible technology, vast space battles, lands untouched by foot, paw or tentacle, and sights so horrible they'll haunt your dreams for years to come (cf. the CIA in-house readers' wives magazine). The AFT are here for people who want to avoid all of that stuff and nonsense, and ensure that at the end of the day they make 0.2 stellars per unit. Good for: accountants.
• BHD - Brotherhood
  • The Brotherhood is a deeply religious organisation for whom every move must be made based on consultation of their holy scriptures: "The Ten Commandments of the True One", "Seven Virtues and Sins" and "Whoops Friar, What's That Under Your Cassock". A serious and scholarly order, the Brotherhood are always ready to bring their significant military forces to bear when someone infringes on their territory or says something mean about their Pope. Good for: Fans of cowls.
• CNF - Confederate Navy
  • Close allies of the BHD, and de facto rulers of the Darkfold periphery are the Confederate Navy. Formed by irritated rich people after they lost a war in the inner empire, the Conferacy grew into the powerful faction it is today in isolation from the rest of the Empire. Rumours abound that the limited genetic scope available may have had some significant side effects, but all my confederate acquaintances can count up to six on one hand, and that's a useful skill. Good for: Rogue traffic wardens.
• CIA - Confederate Intelligence Agency
  • As the intelligence wing of the CNF, the CIA have been involved in some of the most world shaking events imaginable. The discovery that Jasil and Samuel were clones, the landing on the alien artifact, and the shocking collapse of the internal CIA readers' wives magazine have all had incredible reprecussions, and all caused massive loss of life. Good for: People with decoder rings.
• COH - Children of Hexos
  • Unfortunately, the RIP databanks have had the pages on the COH replaced with pictures of Bob Kurosawa and two women who it can only be presumed are involved in some sort of complex ritual dance. It possibly involves toothpaste. Good for: ???
• DEN - Dewiek Eldar Nation
  • The Dewiek are a canine like race who come from a "pocket" periphery of systems connected via stargate to the wider universe. They are an old race, decimated in the past by a technologically superior enemy, who only now have decided to come forth, make contact, and give everyone fleas. Good for: labradors.
• DNA - Democratic Naplian Alliance
  • Sometimes the little guy has to stand up and say NO MORE! Sometimes they have to band together, work together and fight back against their opressors. OK, so they'll all die, but at least they died together, free from opression. Apart from the opression of not being alive. Good for: Anyone who knows where the garbage scows go.
• DOM - Dominon
  • The dominion are a group of criminals, miscreants and generally unpleasant characters who have been long cut off from the rest of human civilisation. An independent and resourceful bunch, their isolation has forced them to evolve along roughly the same lines as the stuff from that time G.T. Spugman left some oranges at the bottom of a non-functioning fridge in quicksnack for 3 years. Good for: Hells angels.
• DTR - Detinus Republic
  • Currently the most powerful group in the peripheries, outside the wimbles, the DTR are an affiliation for those that like crisp black uniforms, menacing leaders with thin eyebrows, and driving into asteroids. Good for: Bandwagon jumpers.
• EEM - Extra-galactic Economic Monopoly
  • Everyone needs a safe place to store their stellars, and obviously that place is the vault of RIP Freedom City. For the less financially savvy, the central financial authority in the peripheries is the EEM.
• FCN - Falconian Empire
  • The Falconians are an advanced avian race, and their space empire is vast and powerful. They also make a lovely line in feather boas, so may be a wonderful place for the fashion inclined captain. Good for: big bird.
• FEL - Felini Tyranny
  • A common motto of the catlike Felini is: "May my claw never need to remove your spirit from the body it inhabits". I think this means "don't do drugs kids" in english, and that's a good message. Good for: People who can't spell tau ceti.
• FET - Frontier Exploration and Trade
  • Excitement is the FET's middle name! Actually it's exploration, but they're not good at that either, so it may as well be Excitement! If you like filling in forms, but sometimes DON'T USE BLACK INK, the FET could be for you. Good for: Fast track executives.
• FGZ - Flagritz Repubilic
  • The Flagaritz were the first aliens to make contact with the humans, and hence the first to have a war with them. So yes, they're grey, yes, they have tentacles, yes that stuff is pretty foul looking but lets not forget: blobs are people too. Good for: Creatures From Another World
• GCE - Garcia Enterprises
  • We would never say anything bad about Garcia Enterprises' founder Fernando "Lunch Is For Wimps" Garcia, a businessman who turned his successful theatrical prop storage company into a multiple system trading concern. The GCE are known for their good natured exploitation of the populations and resources on the worlds they bring the miracle of free trade to, and for their star based employee rating system. Good for: Those looking to synergise their vertical integration opportunities.
• GCS - Galactic Crest Securities
  • The GCS, another free trader oriented company, are the result of a split of the GTT between the inner and outer empires, with the GCS forming the inner empire section, until recently when they started operating more in the peripheries. Please see the Norozov guide to Tact and Politics in the Stellar Empire (4th Edition) for more information. Good for: Van drivers
• GTT - Galatic Trade & Transport
  • The GTT for your coffee and tea, your local vending experts. Good for: Lorry drivers
• KAS - Kastorians (Yank)
  • Good for: Fans of the KST.
• KRL - Krell
  • Lunatic aliens who keep picking fights with people harder than them, and then getting blown up. Currently keeping their heads down while they rebuild. Again. Good for: Lemmings.
• KST - Kastorians (Kastor)
  • Good for: Fans of the KAS.
• HVE - Hive Hierarchy
  • The Hive are a race of insect warriors created long ago by ancient aliens. In combat, the Hive are almost impossible to best, with their two weaknesses being the song "La Cucaracha" and miniature hairy cows. Good for: Entomologists
• IMP - Imperial Services
  • Do you want a chance to prove your valour, to fight for your Empire, to fill in forms P365-A and accompanying slip P990(b)? Then service in the Imperial Stellar Patrol is for you! That is just one of the many career paths available though, others include: personal aide to the viceroy - now you can explain exactly where Capella is, or, starbase commander - their haircuts are in your hands! Good for: Particularly fastidious traffic wardens.
• IRS - Independant Retrieval Service
  • An outspoken, independent affiliation based out of the starbase Highstar in the Twinkle system, with the strategically key Twinkle stargate. Good for: The argumentative.
• MOH - Mohache
  • The Mohache are a relaxed group, a people taking it easy in a fast moving galaxy. Simple, alien folk living their lives the way they always have. Good for: The comatose.
• OPS - Obsidian Predator Swarm
  • This colourfully named bunch are currently in charge of the Hive, but in general are known for their more clandestine activies. Good for: Bugs with bugs.
• SMS - Stellar Mining & Smelting
  • I, entirely of my free will Bob, have only glowing things to say about the SMS and the technologies, which they are well known for being so generous with. Good for: Wonderful, wonderful people.
• WMB - Wimble Nation
  • Who the hell put wimbles on the list?

Other

If you as a guest or a member have any suggestions for this site, please contact the site administrator with your comments.