Shuttle or other for 400 ton Corsair?

[Condottiere]

But if you don't, you show that you lack confidence in your charisma and leadership skills, and that kills your charisma. So you need to show that you do trust your subordinates, but without trusting them too much...

A balance obviously can be found, because at least one Vargr state covered about a sector and lasted centuries (though I bet it's government didn't). By Traveller standards that's not much. By the standards of our history it's a major and long-lasting state.

Trust, but verify.

You want to be sure that you have the borrower's testicles in your grip, if only by proxy.

 

[Enoki]

Privateering is very specific.

A lot of pirates appear to be privateers that went into private enterprise, and crews somewhat disenchanted with navy life, but with a skill set that's monetizable.

Vikinging appears to be more community based, even if captain might be of higher status.

The Barbary corsairs it was both religiously based, and capitalism; which, to be fair, might not have receded into history.

"Privateering" is simply a variant of being given a letter of marque. A privateer in 20th century terms is a merchant raider. That is, a government sponsored vessel operating in a grey zone where it uses subterfuge and guile to take prizes.

In Traveller I could see a ship like this being either a merchant hull or warship that "flies" false colors to lure in prizes. You could have, say an enemy of the Imperium who has either a copy of or captured Imperial warship that acts like a customs or other official government vessel. They demand the target ship heave to and allow a boarding for "inspection." The boarding party then takes the ship.

I vaguely recall a movie from the late '60's where some pirates use a submarine they refurbished to do something like this to an ocean liner. Found it!

Überfall auf die Queen Mary (1966) ⭐ 5.6 | Adventure, Crime, Thriller

1h 46m | 12

www.imdb.com

 

[Condottiere]

Privateering is pretty specific permission against the national enemy.

Pirates are actual outlaws, that aren't automatically granted due process.

 

[Enoki]

Privateering is pretty specific permission against the national enemy.

Pirates are actual outlaws, that aren't automatically granted due process.

 

[Enoki]

Ral Rantans. The pirates par excellence of Traveller.