Orion Pirates

Orion Pirates, Xo-a Kulkaadi
INFORMATION
Quadrant:	Primarily Beta Quadrant
Year Founded:	200,000+ years ago
Status:	Extant
First Contact:	2151
Major Languages:	Ur'eon, Vondemi,
Major Species:	Orion, Red Orion
Currency:	Latinum
SOCIO-POLITICAL DATA
Capitol:	None
Government Name:	Varies; Anarcho-Capitalism is most common
Government Type:	None
Head of State:	None; varies with ship or fleet commanders
Fleets in Service:	Ship or fleet based
END OF BRIEFING
Template:Organization

At a Glance

The Xo-a Kulkaadi (which translates in old Ur'eon to "Tidal Scum," is a play on words of a natural phenomenon on Orion: the protein foam that floats on tidal marshes and seems to serve no purpose. The term is perjorative but the Xo-a Kulkaadi have taken it as their own as a badge of pride. The Orion Pirates enjoy a similar infamy in Orion space as pirates did on Earth. There is something romantic, anti-hero and free about it- even if it is also dangerous, destructive and tragic about it. The only common thread among the Xo-a Kulkaadi is that they summarily reject Orion social contracts and constructs- the very few that Orions seem to have.

Organization

Ships

Fleets

Outposts

Governance

An unusual aspect of the Xo-a Kulkaadi is that their rejection of many Orion traditions and institutions has pushed them- past and present- into interesting experiments with governing styles. Some pirate groups practice recognizably Orion-like ruling structures, but a number of pirate outposts have experimental social contracts that aren't found on any world in the Orion Colonies.

Despotism

Despotic rule under the pirates is far less common than foreigners realize. Unquestioned authority centralized in one person has never sat well with the majority of Orion people. Even the Caju have dualistic rule and the input of those with greater powers of Xo-I and Vodazee. Most rulerships of despotism are found in the most extreme Orion pirate gangs, often because they have gone through a succession crisis. 80% of these despots are female Orions with the strong backing of other females and Tah'e Bulls. They seldom last long if their rulership is based on fear or malicious behavior toward their crews.

Talata-Vero's Role in Despotic Rule

Anarcho-Capitalism

Libertarian Democracy

Anarcho-Communism

Philosophical Leanings

Rejection of Orion Institutions

Rejection of Foreign Influences

Rejection of Cluros

Rejection of the Orion Neutrality Pact

(Tense) Cooperation with the Orion Syndicate

Exalting Bunjeezu and the Qodi

The Qodi-Kadai

Prevalence of Titles

Thakolarivaj Influences

Criminal Activities

The Orion Pirates are most well known for their criminal trades but outsiders often miss that this is not the core of the Xo-a Kulkaadi. The Xo-a Kulkaadi want freedom from what they view as indenturing, oppressive or wage-enslaving practices. Freedom of expression and choice is the most important element to these people. A large percentage of the Orion Pirates' time has little to do with piracy or criminal activity. The Pirates are sophisticated enough to manufacture and fabricate a portion of their needs. Most orion Pirates operate in a deeply gray, amoral zone of commerce- either in neutral space or else through loopholes. But when illegal activity and violence are necessary, the Orion Pirates don't falter. To them, there is a kill or be killed, take or be taken mentality.

Ties to the Syndicate

Despite having similar operations and goals, the Syndicate and the Xo-a Kulkaadi are occasionally in competition with one another. Despite the fact that they sometimes engage in similar criminal or gray market practices, the reality is similar to organized Mafias compared to street gangs. The Syndicate is born from a conspiracy at the highest levels of Orion society to secure Orion interests and longevity. The Xo-a Kulkaadi reject most Orion culture that the Syndicate upholds as sacred. They do occasionally work together- though it is usually the Syndicate overseeing bands of Xo-a Kulkaadi. The typical Orion Pirate band lacks the precision and resources of the Syndicate. The Syndicate has no issue with using the Pirates as their fall guys and scapegoats. It is that practice that leads to outsider misunderstanding of the two. Many outsiders think they are the same group- they are not.

Smuggling vs. Legitimate Trade

Piracy vs. Privateering vs. Mercenary Action

Sapient Trafficking

Sapient enslavement, while still an Orion practice, is in decline. It was far more common before the Federations' foundation and consolidation of local space near the Borderlands. The darkest elements of the Orion Pirates and Orion Syndicate still traffic in sentient beings, but it has twisted into a form of debt servitude. The vilest, most despotic pirate cells will raid shipping lanes and take hostages which they sell to various galacto-political powers- groups like the Breen. None of the Orion Colonies officially sanction slavery any longer; the slave trade is not allowed on Verex III in the 24th Century.

Bounty Hunting

Drug Trafficking

Large-scale Larceny

Origins

Pre-Diaspora Gangs

Sometimes known as the "free scum," the Xo-a Kulkaadi have roots in the roving gangs of "Qaj-less" youths, exiles and those of such poor reputation that they could not function in normal, pre-Diaspora Orion society. The Orion Pirates were born out of what is the closest to an "Untouchable" class as Orion civilization has.

Like some of the rebel Qaju that were exiled from Orion (and went on to found Vondem and Kolar), the Xo-a Kulkaadi were rounded up and exiled from the homeworld as well, by those in power trying to prevent a total collapse of Orion's habitability.

The First Age of Piracy

Notable Pirate Groups

Black Vacuum Winter