Red Skull Pirates

Pirates were never an organised group, and they are desperate people willing to go to any lengths to get their share of the wealth after being marginalised. Hardly a threat to anything more than commercial ships unarmed and alone, and so were the space pirates. In the early days of the expansion, traditional piracy was an immediate success. There were almost no military ships and any weapons a transport ship had were mostly useless as the crew would surrender cargo and ship before risking their lives. Whenever the pilot decided to resist, there was a good chance both sides would end dead as seriously damaged vessels had no safe way back to port. When civilization pushed back, as in history, piracy became a fool’s errand and inevitable suicide; pirates would have become extinct if it wasn’t for one man and a small squad of Fighters. Flint was believed to have been a veteran Terra military captain gone rogue, now leading a small group of five fighters, counting himself, with the only distinct marking being a red skull painting on each ship’s exterior. With brilliant strategic command and coordination, the Red Skulls would prove invincible. As Flint and the Red Skull’s stories spread, more pirates would paint the skull on their ships and look for them to join. The former Terra captain proclaimed himself the Khan and set the rules that would define the Red Skulls' way of life and death that remains to the present day. The Red Skulls behave as a nomadic tribe. Their primary operations are led by convoys of captured large freighters that keep moving, avoiding detection. Their attack fleets carry operations many sectors away from the convoys, in rapid strike and retreat guerrilla tactics. Each fleet acts as a tribe led by a Master of War, who answers to the Khan. The Khan is always chosen and prepared by the predecessor. Not all Red Skulls are part of a tribe, many venture independently to prove their worthiness; most die trying.

Disposition: The Red Skulls are hostile to most that are not part of their group, and do not accept members who have not been born or introduced by other members, unless they prove their worthiness first. The Market is an event promoted by the Khan every few months, where some of the lowest members of the Red Skulls come in peace to offer cheap ships and equipment (usually in terrible state) to any potential buyer. It’s also when the Red Skulls buy the equipment and supplies they cannot raid or steal. There had been many attempts from the Terra military to seize The Market, which led to significant loss of life, before they decided to turn a blind eye to the event. Every faction is hostile towards the Red Skulls, except for the Venghi that have a neutral relationship.

Ship Design: There are no Red Skull ship factories, and all ships are acquired from other factions, typically captured or scavenged. The ships are then reformed with whatever parts are available and altered to best serve the Khan’s designs. Traditionally those ships appear damaged and mended with reinforced metal parts. The vessel also receives extensive exterior alterations that look chaotic, but have a devastating effect on the collision with other ships. Every ship has at least one red skull painted in its exterior and any bright colour substituted by black, dark red or dark blue. The Red Skull repurpose their ships as: attack squads (Interceptors, Fighters and Gunships), defensive (Gunships and Destroyers), living space (Pleasure and Carrier) and storage (Freighter). To most people it’s odd to think of Red Skull Pleasure ships and Freighters, as they will never see those ships, but they make the core of each nomadic tribe. Stolen Pleasure and Carrier ships are where the Red Skulls’ social structure lies and where they rest. Each member lives and dies to feed and protect the vessels that carry their families. The fleets often count on at least one Destroyer of the Freighter size as a capital ship, under the orders of the War Master and a few Gunships that never stray too far. It is said that the Khan himself commands a Battleship of Cruiser size captured from the Terra Military long ago, but the rumour was never confirmed. The bulk of the Red Skulls fleet is composed of Interceptors and Fighters spread through the galaxy, plaguing any ship that seems worth preying on. Their attack Gunships are less common but extremely deadly.

#### Related Perks

* Pirate
* Aggressive
* Marauder

#### Ships

* Screamer
* Mauler
* Saw
* Nightmare
* Corsair
* Terror
* Cerberus

#### Unique Equipment

* Pirate Impulse Drive
* Pirate Heavy Impulse Drive
* Pirate Capital Impulse Drive
* Pirate Speed Booster
* Pirate Heavy Booster
* Pirate Capital Booster
* Pirate Heatsink