Shuttle or other for 400 ton Corsair?

[GypsyComet]

Wait ... hold on ...
What's a Type C Cruiser ...

LBB2.77, p19-20:

So ... basically an earlier take on the Type C Mercenary Cruiser (LBB3.81, p20):

I refer to the two specs as the C77 and C81. FASA actually published an Exploration Cruiser, so the idea of the Type C as a larger group that the Broadsword is just one example of was present early on; even stated as such in the Broadsword's JTAS appearance.

FASA's Chameleon Corsair may as well be a Type C (Pirate). It is way over-gunned and over-sized.

 

[whartung]

Kind of amusing how the more authority in the system (as manfiest by Navy and Scout bases), the higher chance of piracy.

Perhaps there's some level of collusion and corruption being manifest here.

 

[kilemall]

Kind of amusing how the more authority in the system (as manfiest by Navy and Scout bases), the higher chance of piracy.

Perhaps there's some level of collusion and corruption being manifest here.

I don’t think it’s a sim thing at all, just greater rewards for higher pop/tech trade goodies coming with higher risk. An extension of the trader upgrade path to get armed, get that mail contract etc.

 

[Spinward Flow]

Kind of amusing how the more authority in the system (as manfiest by Navy and Scout bases), the higher chance of piracy.

Perhaps there's some level of collusion and corruption being manifest here.

Less a matter of collusion/corruption and more a matter of camouflage.

After all, where is the best place to hide a tree?
Duh ... in a forest.

So if a pirate is going to masquerade as being "legit" until they can dock and board ... the best way to do so is in a star system where "legit" system defense assets are expected to be present (and opening hailing frequencies to order rendezvous for inspections while in flight as a matter of routine). The EXPECTATION is that any orders to "pull over for inspection" OUGHT TO be coming from "legit" parties ... but what if that isn't the case?

As I'm sure most of us reading these forums are aware ... it's illegal to impersonate a government official (police, judge, etc.).
Think that's going to stop thieves/pirates from plying their trade, by impersonating government officials?
Serious answer: only if they get caught ...

Remember, for a pirate ... until you've got your prey right where you want them (in your power and at your mercy) ... subterfuge and guile is the name of the game.
You HIDE your True Flag ... until you're ready to hoist your colors.

Even something as simple as a variety of Two Factor Authentication ("Copy that, SDB-12. We're going to need to authenticate you with SPA Control before we will comply with your orders to go delta-v zero and prepare to be boarded for inspection. Please stand by while we authenticate your authority. Until then, we will be maintaining course without deviating. Over.") is something that some targets will fail to attempt (for reasons various, petty and sundry). As with so many things ... including security ... You Get What You Pay For.

 

[G. Kashkanun Anderson]

Since the CT tables ONLY bring up 'Pirate' as a potential illegal encounter, I think it might be safe to assume that it is, in fact, referring to a wide range of under the table activity in starship form. Situationally, there are likely many more smugglers, traffickers, skippers, scammers, fencers, poachers, claim jumpers and the like represented in that encounter label than scurvy pegleggers with blasters (at least in the 7- subcategory of Type S/Y ships)*. I would bet, in fact, that the odds of the encounter being among the former over the latter being strongly proportional to that of the Law Level for the mainworld of the system.

This would also explain why the presence of Naval or Scout assets in the system increases the odds of encountering a 'Pirate'. Someone's got to go after the Han Solos of the universe, even if he is of no obvious or direct threat to the commercial shipping lanes.

*The 8+ Type C subcategory of encounters are obviously more militarized, and as such less likely to be Han Solo types, but they are also more likely to be semipro privateers/corsairs than startup or just-getting-by freebooters. These guys will be more like an old school mafia encounter, where you'll be expected to 'play ball' with them, but at least you'll still be able to keep your ship after the encounter. The insurance rates are no doubt reasonable, and once you have a relationship with them, you won't have to worry about having to deal with any 'real' pirates in the system anymore.

 

[spank]

This would also explain why the presence of Naval or Scout assets in the system increases the odds of encountering a 'Pirate'. Someone's got to go after the Han Solos of the universe, even if he is of no obvious or direct threat to the commercial shipping lanes.

That's pretty much my take on the matter, The Scout/Naval base is the effect of the Piracy, not the cause.

 

[aramis]

Being a CT/MT type, I made excellent use of a Type R Privateer... and a battlefield meson in the cargo bay. As the boarders are coming in to dock to the ship, meson gun to their airlock.

 

[spank]

Being a CT/MT type, I made excellent use of a Type R Privateer... and a battlefield meson in the cargo bay. As the boarders are coming in to dock to the ship, meson gun to their airlock.

I keep meaning to sit down and design a Free Trader-Privateer, A Beowulf refitted a giant powerplant and with alot of guns.
the "Grendel" class.

 

[whartung]

As the boarders are coming in to dock to the ship, meson gun to their airlock.

Tha...that's really mean.

I mean, geez, that's reverse piracy right there. That's Q-Ship territory.

"Oh no, if we don't stop, the pirate will hurt us."

"We better stop then, for safety"

"Hey Pirates, we're stopping, you promise not to hurt us, right?"

"Yar!"

"Ok, come on over!"

Then you get a nice, shiny ship, parked nearby as they come over in, well, whatever.

Meson blast to the bridge.

"Hey pirates, is something wrong with your ship? We saw a bright flash!"

Meson blast to their power plant.

"Oh never mind, it's all dark now. Must have been a sun glare."

I mean, geez, this is right up there with why SFB doesn't let you beam Transporter Bombs onto the opponent's ships.

 

[kilemall]

My fave close in no fair weapon in cargo bay is a VRF Gauss gun firing californium rounds.