Freelance Traveller
Pirates are the scourge of the spacelanes. Whether operating in large organizations or as independent vessels, pirate ships account for significant losses of cargo and ships.
Most pirates are not the swashbuckling adventurers of holovid legend. They are often desperate individuals, living on the fringes of society, with no family or friends to speak of. Ruthlessness is a hallmark of the successful pirate. Every now and then, though, you will run across the "gentleman buccaneer" type of pirate.
Pirates often attack small unarmed merchant ships, or ships that don't present much of a threat. Their high-G acceleration ships (called "corsairs"; usually modifications of existing ship designs) are to allow them to run away from the inevitable Patrol Cruisers and SDB's that show up in response to their victim's distress calls.
ROUTINE TASKS
Attacking ships, stealing cargos, starting fights in cheap starport bars, maintaining and operating ships, stealing ships, saying "Arrrr" a lot for no apparent reason.
| ENLISTMENT: | 7- | +1 DM if Soc 7- +2 DM if Int 6+ |
| INJURY: | 8- | +2 DM if Int 8+ |
| COMMISSION: | 5- | +1 DM if Str 10+ |
| PROMOTION: | 6- | +1 DM if Int 9+ |
| CONTINUANCE: | 7- |
| Skill Tables | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Die Roll | Physical | Social | Mental | Career | Education | Pirate's Life |
| 1 | +1 Str | -1 Soc | Computer | SPACECRAFT | Mechanics | Brawling |
| 2 | +1 Dex | Carousing | Camouflage | Environment Combat | Tactics | Pilot |
| 3 | +1 End | Intimidation | Astrogation | Gun Combat | SPACECRAFT | Grav Craft |
| 4 | Brawling | CHARISMA | Gunnery | Blade Combat | Sensors | Blade Cbt |
| 5 | Melee Cbt | CHARISMA | Mechanics | Gunnery | TECHNICAL | Jack of all Trades |
| 6 | Gun Cbt | CLANDESTINE | TECHNICAL | CLANDESTINE | Vac Suit | Electronics |
| RANK AND SERVICE SKILLS | SKILL ELIGIBILITY | |
|---|---|---|
| All | Brawling-1 | 1 skill per year |
| Long Blade-1 | 1 skill in term Commissioned | |
| O4+ | Pilot-1 | 1 skill in each term Promoted |
| Table of Ranks | |
|---|---|
| Enlisted | Commissioned |
| E1. Crewman | O1. Henchman |
| E2. | O2. Corporal |
| E3. | O3. Sergeant |
| E4. Senior Crewman | O4.Lieutenant |
| E5. | O5.Captain |
| E6. | O6. Pirate Leader |
| E7. | |
| E8. | |
| E9. | |
| MUSTERING OUT TABLES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Die Roll | Cash Table (credits) | Material Benefits |
| 1. | - | Low Passage |
| 2. | - | +1 Int |
| 3. | 1,000 | Weapon |
| 4. | 10,000 | Letter of Marque* |
| 5. | 50,000 | -1 Soc |
| 6. | 50,000 | Middle Passage |
| 7. | Corsair (ship) | |
| Max 3 rolls. +1 if Gambling-1+ | ||
* A Letter of Marque means that the character has authorization from one government to raid the commerce of another. In Year 0, this would most likely be "pocket empires" outside the Imperium preying on Imperial shipping. Such pirates are known (at least in the area that issues the letter) as "privateers".
NOTE: I've put the Clusters in CAPITALS. Thought that might make them easier to see.