Organized Crime in the Galactic Scene

## Overview

Organized crime plays a significant role in the galactic scene, particularly due to the complex political relationships and divided extranet systems that exist among the major factions. Criminal organizations generate revenue from various sources, including the sale of "super drugs," smuggling Frex nanobots and unstandard nanobots, extranet data piracy, extrajudicial hits, and special operations.

In the galactic scene, there are three primary groups at play, with many more smaller organizations filling niches and vying for power.

## The Three Groups

Organized crime in the galactic scene is divided into three primary groups, each governing different areas.

### Mission Space - Soran Cartel

The Soran Cartel operates within the territory covering the Mission. With a strict Sora-only policy for top leadership positions, the group employs members of other races in lower-level roles. Daelen Homet, a male Sora, seized control of the cartel after a violent coup against the previous boss, Riccon Jireat, in 340C. Homet has attempted to improve the cartel's public image and expressed a desire to collaborate with Mission leaders to combat drug addiction. The Soran Cartel still deals in drugs but claims to do so reluctantly with an eye on eventually getting out of the drug trade.

### Union Space - The Little Union

The Little Union, a powerful faction led by a coalition of Tellia and Ledev, governs organized crime in Union and Red Mission territory. Unlike the Soran Cartel, the Little Union has no qualms about drug trafficking. Although they struggle to gain a significant foothold in the Red Mission due to the latter's prosperity and resistance to bribes and threats, the Little Union remains influential.

### Dead Space - The Dead Family

The Dead Family operates primarily within the Dead, a loosely organized and frequently changing faction. Comprised mainly of Kendis and Feneran, the Dead Family does not represent a singular crime family. In fact the name "Family" is something of a tongue-in-cheek anti-reference to this group's lack of cohesion and loyalty. For many years, various figures have attempted to take charge of a significant enough faction within the Dead to be considered to top boss in Dead space. Top players in the Dead, such as Ringa, The Vicious, and Findley Roque Pouldon, often run their enterprises independently of the Dead Family.

## The Red Mission's Stance on Organized Crime

The Red Mission is renowned for its refusal to engage with organized crime groups and its low levels of corruption. This policy has made certain operations more challenging for the Red Mission but has bolstered their reputation for integrity.

Even lower-level leaders in Red Mission space are compensated very well, helping insulate them against the threat of bribery.

Note: all drugs are legal in the Red Mission, and drug abuse is treated as a public health issue instead of a crime.

## The Mission and the Union's Reliance on Organized Crime

Both the Mission and the Union occasionally employ criminals due to the bureaucratic challenges of sharing resources, immigration, or data exchange between the factions. However, this is much less common in the Union than in the Mission. This reliance on organized crime often forces individuals who would otherwise avoid such dealings to utilize black market services. The Red Mission, however, maintains a close relationship with the Hren Dau, an alternative to dealing with criminals.

## Hyperdrugs

Due to the ease of synthesizing "common" drugs using hacked replicators, the drugs dealt by organized crime groups are not typical intoxicants. Instead, they focus on "hyperdrugs," such as helldose, invictus, and killer haze. These powerful drugs have varying effect-levels on different species and are extremely challenging to synthesize, often resulting in unstable and dangerous forms. Although primarily consumed by the wealthy and elite, some drugs, like invictus, are used to temporarily enhance the senses of special operations mercenaries.

## Extranet Systems and Organized Crime

Several independent extranet systems exist within the galactic scene, each controlled by different factions. The Mission, the Red Mission, and the Union each operate their own, with smaller or lawless factions maintaining even more systems. This separation of extranets is unpopular among the general population, who argue that cultural and artistic exchanges should not be restricted by factional boundaries. As a result, a thriving business in data piracy, especially between different extranets, has emerged, primarily operated by organized crime groups.

Union leaders have occasionally expressed a willingness to consider merging their extranet with the Mission's, despite potential security risks. However, Mission leaders staunchly oppose the idea, ensuring that extranet unification remains an unresolved issue. In 320C the Red Mission and the Union successfully joined their extranets.

## Nanobot Smuggling

Nanobots are vital and ubiquitous technology throughout the galactic scene. Frex nanobots, or "Frex nanos," are seen as the most stable and reliable option. However, the Frex have intentionally limited their nanobots' capabilities, leading to a demand for "unstandard" nanobots with enhanced abilities. These cheaper alternatives are often dangerous, unstable, and susceptible to hacking.

Due to the Frex's affiliation with the Union, the Mission relies on black market sales of Frex nanos, as they refuse to establish an official trade agreement with the Union. In contrast, the Red Mission has secured a legal trade agreement for Frex nanos with the Union. The Union tolerates the black market trade to the Mission to avoid the disastrous consequences that would result from the Mission's inability to access the nanobots. Union leaders have made public statements to the effect that innocent, ordinary Mission citizens shouldn't be forced to suffer simply because of the pride of Mission leaders.

## The Court

Thanks to the tight security there and the Court Rules enforced by the sentinels, there is virtually no physical presence of organized crime on the Court. However, the same is not true of a virtual presence. The Court's internet is directly connected to both the Mission's extranet and the Union-Red Mission's extranet and is subject to the same vulnerabilities.