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************************* Chapter 8 - Blackmarkets **************************
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Blackmarkets exist at many colony starports. They are owned by the
SSL or FET and are created to sell somewhat illegal items to those
who have the stellars and the inclination.

Creating a Blackmarket

Creating a blackmarket may only be done by FET and SSL players.
There is no set procedure for doing this. It must be performed
using a Special Action. This Special Action takes a minimum of 45 TU's
and costs 200 stellars. At the time a blackmarket is created you
should transfer it some ground forces and some items to sell.
Without ground forces it is defenseless in the event another 
player attempts to bust the blackmarket. Without items to sell the 
blackmarket performs no useful function for the owner. Also, at the 
time you setup a blackmarket you should indicate the difficulty level 
for other players to contact it. Difficulty levels range from 1-9 
with 1 being the most difficult to contact.

Blackmarket Operations

Once you have created a blackmarket you are in control.  Whenever it
sells something you receive the Stellars.  You may change the prices
for the items sold as well as the blackmarket code word. Any BSE item
may be sold in a blackmarket, not just illegal items. Each blackmarket
may sell up to 10 items at a time and an unlimited quantity of each of
these 10 items.

When an item is given to the blackmarket to sell it must be given 
a sell price. If that type of item is already for sale at this blackmarket 
there is no problem. However if this item is not currently for sale 
a new sell price must be set by the owner. If an item is given to 
the blackmarket for sale by someone who is not the owner the sell 
price remains zero and this item will not be offered until the owner 
sets a sell price.

Interacting With a Blackmarket

There are several ways to interact with a blackmarket:

Scout Blackmarket - This is an attempt to gain the code word.  Without
the code word the blackmarketeers will not make contact with you and
will not tell you what they have for sale.  This takes 15 TU's.

Contact Blackmarket - You give the blackmarketeers the code word
and they give you a blackmarket report showing what is available
for sale. This costs 20 TU's.

Buy Item - You contact the blackmarket using the code word.  You then
spend 4 TU's purchasing any quantity of any single item being sold
by the blackmarket.

Give Item - You give an item to the blackmarket to sell.  The owner of
the blackmarket receives the Stellars when the item is sold, not you.
This costs 4 TU's per item type given regardless of quantity. A maximum
of 10 different item types may be sold by a blackmarket.

Transfer to Defense - You give ground combat itemsto a blackmarket for
its defense. This costs 4 TU's per item type you transfer.

Bust Blackmarket - This can only be done through a Special Action.
Be sure to indicate the ground forces you wish to use. If you employ
force superior to that of the blackmarket's defenses, you will be
successful. Knowing the blackmarket code word helps greatly.

Difficulty Level

The Special Interest Coordinators for the SSL and FET set the MASTER
DIFFICULTY level for their blackmarkets.  This is on a scale of 1-9.
The MASTER DIFFICULTY LEVEL allows him to set a level of difficult 
for his affiliation regarding how hard it is for anyone to scout
his affiliation's blackmarkets.

For example, let's say the Imperials are trying to shut down all the 
FET blackmarkets. The Special Interest Coordinator of the FET will 
set the MASTER DIFFICULTY LEVELS for the Imperial affiliations to 
1.  This means the Imperials can only Scout blackmarkets whose individual 
difficulty level is less than 1. Since 1 is the lowest level it is 
impossible for them to make contact.

