Cold Trade - Controllers of the Cold Trade: To be part of the Cold Trade is to deal with some of the most powerful groups in the Koronus Expanse. Not the heated power of raw military might, but more subtle power generated by enormous wealth and networks of agents. These are organisations that traffic with the alien on a regular basis, utilising mysterious means and devices still hidden from the Imperium, that perhaps even act on the behalf of Mankind's enemies.All are veiled in motive and methods, and even the most detailed Ordo Xenos dossiers on these organisations often contain only aliases and false information. However, although they are veiled in secrecy, these organisations are well aware of the players in the Cold Trade and events that may affect it. For an explorer looking to make their name and fortune in the Cold Trade, the question is perhaps not how to operate without their notice, but instead how to profit without their assistance.The Quintet contains some of the most powerful groups in the Cold Trade. They work jointly to ensure the smooth traffic of illicit xenos goods for the profit of all, or at least themselves. First among the Five is the Kasballica Mission, with their well-known mission on Footfall. This crime syndicate has tendrils across the Calixis Sector and deep into the Koronus Expanse. Though there are often internecine conflicts between the primary Kasballica operations in the Drusus Marches and the Kasballica Mission on Footfall over spheres of influence and profit tithes, both sides realise that these can only benefit their enemies and seek to keep such disputes minimised or hidden from spying eyes.The Mission (often represented by Vladaym Tocara, one of its senior negotiators) stands ready to greet Rogue Traders new to the Expanse, and actively seeks exclusive xenos artefact contracts, with Egarian crystalline relics a particular speciality. Where negotiations fail, the Mission is also ready with blackmail, threats, and worse to aid negotiations. The self-styled Baron Armund Deveros leads the Kasballica interests in the Quintet. He disguises a shrewd and calculating mind with bluster and boasts. His goal is to ensure potential new challengers are cut out of lucrative opportunities before they become a threat to the Kasballica and its profits.The Hecaton Cartel is also part of the Quintet, and as the name suggests operates mostly to the extreme rimward of the Koronus Expanse near the Rifts of Hecaton. Led by Barterman Primus Gulten Farnham, the cartel members trade on their name to suggest their association with this most deadly and mysterious area of the Koronus Expanse. Though more localised than many of the other trading groups, they are growing in power and strength through the audacity of their deals. The Rogue Traders who operate under their sigil are renowned for their extreme daring and the quality of the extraordinary artefacts they recover. Little is spoken though of those who never return from the Rifts, although the remaining captains raise a toast in obsidian flasks in their name each standard year.While they do not have a fixed base in the Expanse, the Serrated Query are widely respected for the breadth of their activities and operatives, as well as the extensive network of spies feeding information to their controlling cells. If there are illegal thrones to be made, the Query are probably already aware of it and demanding their slice of the action. They are also known for the extreme loyalty and ruthlessness of their agents, with their organisation acting more like a religious cult at times. There is quiet talk that this Quintet member might be more than they seem, but so far these are only the casual suspicions of a sort anyone in the Expanse might have.The Archeo-exhumators of Hive Sibellus have forced a place for themselves in the Quintet due to the power of their backers, the nobility of Sibellus and other puissant hive-lords. Well-educated, well-funded, and well-supplied with both manpower and weaponry, they range over both the Calixis Sector and Koronus Expanse to uncover new treasures for their collector-masters. While others may search for solar decades for a lost civilisation, the Archeo-exhumators draw on vast data pools and voyage logbooks to make needle-like raids, often reclaiming artefacts before others are aware they have been found. They each jealously guard their personal contacts and rarely act in concert, the main reason they have not totally dominated the trade.The last current member of the Quintet is the most overlooked one. The Mist Fleets are known for their skilled negotiators, and became a part of the Five due to their valuable services in that regard. Their flotilla operates secretly, with highly encrypted astropathic announcements of their next location sent to their clientele register. It is an open secret that they have hundreds more smaller vessels roaming the Expanse and pushing beyond its nebulous boundaries for new acquisitions. Once found, the larger ships break from the fleet to oversee excavations and protection, then return to arrange transfer to buyers. Captain Marcel Kentolli of the Maeander is one of the more well-known trader-captains and is frequently seen at Footfall to represent the Mist Fleets.There are other organisations involved with the Cold Trade that are not part of the Quintet. Some of these organisations operate more as buyers than sellers. The Ordinati Xenologis is a rogue sect of the Adeptus Mechanicus which has an overwhelming commitment to the study of xenos artefacts. Magos Nady Kimura has sequestered herself and her courtiers in a secretive void station far in the clouds of Port Wander, where she deals with Rogue Traders on specific missions into the Expanse on the Ordinati's behalf, often with their agents sent to accompany them in their tasks. The Adeptus Mechanicus presence within the Calixis Sector typically ignores this group, but remains ready to act if their research or conclusions become too heretical.Another prominent organisation is the Amaranthine Syndicate. Though mostly known for routine smuggling amidst their normal mercantile operations, it is gathering more and more Inquisitorial attention due to the numerous xenos items found among seized contraband goods. That some of these artefacts defy identification is becoming very worrisome to the Ordo Xenos, and those who have dealt with the Syndicate are coming under increased scrutiny. Though they have informally petitioned for association with the Quintet, the other members remain uneasy. There are dark tales that are only told when confidences are absolute, for those who speak too freely are usually never heard from again. These tell of horrific alien guises, massive biological constructs, and insidious agendas far beyond mere profits. Needless to say, the Quintet is not eager to allow them to join.In the middle of these groups is the most improbable of powers. She is the Lady Bellefonte, Marquessate of Albia Novis and the invisible Vertess of Port Wander. The widow of Rogue Trader Ricard Pomfroy, she is extraordinarily wealthy; her lavish asteroid-estate near Port Wander hosts huge de rigueur galas for those of proper breeding (or sufficient affluence). Here she sits like a spider in the centre of the vast web of Cold Trade dealings stretching across the Calixis Sector as well as through the Maw and deep into the Expanse, gathering information from lowly dregs as well as Highborn nobility of xenos finds, artefact desires, double crosses, and surreptitious dealings. This information is bartered to the Quintet amongst others, with some special data put aside for blackmail or extortion where necessary. What started as a stimulating game to ease the boredom of her mourning period has become her passion, and she controls a vast trove of xenos knowledge and confidential information, and most find her too useful to consider eliminating her.As the Koronus Expanse is not under the direct dominion of the Master of Mankind, the alien is allowed to roam without rightful challenge. Xenos fleets move through the Expanse, such as massive Kroot Warspheres or barbed Aeldari Corsair raiders. Ork vessels leave behind destroyed planets and drifting, bloodstained flotsam in their wake as they travel from war to war. Stryxis traders establish dealings across the Expanse, ready to deal with any who would dare. All these and more act as sources of xenos goods for the explorer canny or brave enough to deal with them. Such direct contact can lead to superlative deals, but can also lead to deadly battles should negotiations falter.Surrounding and watching these are the agents of the Inquisition, Adeptus Mechanicus, and other Imperial agencies duty-bound to protect Mankind from the heresies of xenos others they may seek to suppress or destroy (as well as those who discovered or use them). They do not seek cooperation with the alien, for their time in the Xeno Hybris has revealed to them the true nature of their foe, but they also know that only selective action will use their limited resources most efficiently. There will always be a Cold Trade in their eyes -- the best any intelligent servant of the Emperor can do is work to limit it to the benign and non-malignant, and ensure it does not lead to catastrophic disaster for Mankind.