Tortuga Raiders

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Introduction

The tortugan raiders, or simply the tortugans are the largest unified band of pirates out there.

Even though they are technically unified, that does not extend to working together.

Pirate bands are as numerous as they are easy to deal with, the only truly worrisome force is the one based in Tortuga.

History

Base game & Timeline

Subfactions

The Tortugan raiders have a multitude of subfactions, which is highly unsuprising considering their anarchist nature.

Here are some of the bigger players

SKRAL’s Skyravens

The Skyravens are a faction headed by an IPC called SKRAL-488, Who has gone as far as to delete empathy from their systems.
His followers also follow in this practice, whether it be by wiping parts of their systems, or using sulphuric acid to scorch a part of their brains.
The Skyravens only live to kill people, they are true maniacs who only wish to murder. Unsurprisingly, only a few of their members live long lives.

Skyraven combat tactics are just as insane as they, favouring ramming and boarding actions, Skyraven boarding parties overdose themselves on combat drugs and stimulants, usually only taken down by enemy fire or the same drugs they had just previously taken. 
In rare cases, these boarders may overdose so hard they forget which side they are on.
They also have an unique relationship with The Draconic Empire, often engaging the Empire despite the overwhelming odds against them, simply to enjoy the thrill of the challenge.

Eats-The-Eyes' Hunters

The Hunters are a band lead by the lizard Eats-The-Eyes, they only have Lizardpeople in their ranks and prefer boarding actions.
Unlike the Skyravens they do not do this out of pure bloodlust, but out of perceived respect towards ancient customs, as such they use low tech equipment, like hatchets, spears and bows in combat.

The Hunters aren't slouches when it comes to naval combat either, though they prefer to utilize asteroids. Whether it be by ramming them into enemies or attaching them to their ships as jerry-rigged armour.
It is also to be noted that Draconian Empire vessels that respect these traditions are usually left alone, or in other words The Militarist subfaction.

The index

The index consists of all crews that wish to stay relatively independent, they are mostly a Non-Aggressions Pact, though if anyone wishes to specifically hunt the index, they will find themselves crushed by superior numbers.

Due to their even more independent nature, there is no unifying doctrine in the index, only what works. They also are relatively accepting of diplomacy, though only as far as the Khan allows it.

The Great Khan

The legendary lord of pirates, The Crimson lady, Kradal Mishet. who originally terrorized The Sion cluster and whose ship held a mysterious artifact in it.
When the original raiders were finally tracked down and crushed by SolGov, in the middle of the battle her capital ship "The Grim cutlass" warped away, due to the artifact.

Exactly one hundred years later, with the cluster populated by pirates but in a disorganized mess, motion alarms of the Tortugan Conclave, the only remaning piece of slight organization began to blare.
The guards rushed onto the scene and found only a single figure. No longer the Crimson lady, but something more. She had become a hivemind, a thousand skeletal pirates in perfect unity controlled by one already legendarily skilled mind.
She gave a simple order that the guards couldn't help but follow as their predecessors had a century ago Gather The Captains, All Of Them.

Within the hour, all other factions had arrived, from members of the index to the Hunters and even the Skyravens, what was said in that council chamber is a closely guarded secret, but the Tortugans no longer fight each other, and are fiercely loyal to their lord.
Each faction leader is a member of the inner council of Tortuga, but nobody doubts which one of them is in charge.

Faction Relations

SolGov

The tortugans are primarily anarchists and as such despise the imperialist SolGov.
Infact, many are specifically on the run from the Solar Government.
Meanwhile SolGov sees the pirates as an useful nuisance to tie down NanoTrasen with, but nothing more.

Dominion of Light

Due to them being based in entirely separate sectors, most tortugans do not encounter DoL on a regular basis.
Exception is The Great Khan who ambushes DoL exploration vessels on a regular basis.
The Khan does not hold any specific spite to the Dominion, he only sees them as easy marks.
The Dominion on the other hand despises and fears the Khan and by extension the rest of Tortuga.

Draconic Empire

The Tortugans in general stay away from Draconic Empire vessels, with the exception of The Skyravens since even merchant ships are decently armed.
The Draconic Empire on the other hand sees most Tortugans as easy kills and solid practice for new recruits.
Exception to this are the Skyravens who the Tortugans respect to a degree as warriors.

NanoTrasen

Historically NanoTrasen has been at the mercy of the rest of the Federation when it comes to handling Tortuga.
In recent times that has been flipped on it's head due to NanoTrasen's newfound access to military vessels.
The Tortugan raiders often have a similar relationship to NanoTrasen as they have with SolGov, with members being on the run from NT.

Syndicate

The Tortugans are nominally allied with The Syndicate, but it is a somewhat fragile relationship due to the conflicting interests between them.
The Syndicate used to see them as an useful method of damaging supply lines, but due to increased NanoTrasen presence on shipping lanes that is no longer the case.
Infact, it is entirely likely that the alliance will be called off sooner or later, and The Syndicate will seize the resource rich Sion cluster.
The only reason they haven't done so yet, is because The Great Khan may yet pose a threat to The Federation