Official Frontier Exploration & Trade (FET) Profile

Affiliation #10 

Imperial Chartered Affiliation

History

The FET was born in a time of strife.  The First Rebellion had lasted 
for 5 years.  To choke the Emperor into submission the rebels enforced 
a blockade of Earth.  No supplies could get in or out of the Imperial 
Homeworld.  In the year 136 Emperor Justin enlisted the help of a 
young privateer, Ferdinand Relav, to assist him in setting-up a group 
of blockade runners.  Justin named this "company" Frontier Exploration 
& Trade to give it an air of legitimacy.  However, from the beginning, 
the FET began to look out for itself as much (if not more) than the 
Empire.  Despite this the failed blockade demoralized the rebels and 
gave encouragement to the Empire.

In 137 FET freighters carried Imperial troops to the home of the rebels, 
the colony Tate. These forces retook Tate and mass executions of the 
rebels occured.

The FET then seized an opportunity and began to compete with the SSL 
to establish Blackmarkets in colonies throughout the galaxy.  This 
set up a rivalry with the SSL that persists even today. 

In 167 the FET built their HQ colony in the Capellan Periphery, FET 
Clove on Utopia MCXVI.  In 175 the Free Trade Convention occured and 
the FET received an Imperial Charter to operate in the Capellan Periphery.

A  large FET Colony, Fewlo, was taken over by rogue ships in 182 and 
was recaptured by FET forces later that same year. 

In 183 the FET & SSL battled for control of the pseudoworld, Farnhams 
Kind.  The SSL beat back the FET and forced them to leave this alien-constructed 
world.  In the same year, the FET took losses in the Doppler System 
to the Flagritz. 

In 184 the RIP began attacks against the FET. However these pirates 
took the worst of the fighting and were wiped ou at FET Azoomink.  A 
war also broke out between the USS and SSL.  

The FET sought to have the Community (COM) remove their tent temples 
from FET starports.  The COM responded by allying with the Imperials 
and conducted spot checks of the FET starports for illegal drugs.  A 
'Treaty of Compliance' was signed to avert hostilities between these 
two organizations. 

In 186 the FET lost 20 colonies to the newly formed PDC.  The FET 
was reduced to a shadow of its former self.    It took several years 
for the FET to regain its lost power.

Affiliation Description

Living on the edge - an apt description of the lifestyle of an FET 
starcaptain. Adhering to the creed "high risk means high returns", 
FET commanders are known as the boldest, hardiest rogues in the periphery. 

Leaders in the development of new drug resources and the distribution 
of exotic and illicit goods, FET starcaptains will go to almost any 
length to make a stellar.  This inclination has often led members 
to run afoul of Imperial law, though the FET does not view itself 
as an adversary of the Empire.  The FET enjoys the considerable patronage 
and protection of many of the elite of Imperial society. 

Aware that moral standards differ from place to place, the FET feels 
obligated to withstand temporary pressures as they continue to ply 
their trade in the periphery.  If an FET member ends up on the Imperial 
posted list now and then, such is the cost of doing business.  It 
is in the FET's best interest to maintain the present status quo, 
and they have sided with the Empire on numerous occasions.  FET starcaptains 
respect Imperial law and those who enforce it evenhandedly.  It is 
simply that the breed of starcaptain that the FET attracts are more 
likely to accept greater risks than those of other affiliations.

By necessity, FET ships rarely report sightings of RIP positions, 
though the FET is certainly not immune from their depredations.  Both 
the RIP and Imperial services are viewed as unreliable business partners.

The FET does a brisk business with the SMS.  The GTT's heavy reliance 
on SSL luxury goods has somewhat soured their relations with the FET 
in the past.  For the SSL, there is contempt, enmity, intense rivalry, 
and often bloodshed when their interests overlap those of the FET.  Relations 
with the AFT and WCE are fair, though, after the SSL, these groups 
have been most likely to stray into the FET's traditional markets.  Many 
races in the TCA region have embraced the smugglers of the FET with 
open arms and open purses.  The FET operates in TCA area via a charter 
issued by the TCA in early 1991.

Special Abilities

1. Can set-up blackmarkets.

2. Colonies receive a colonist morale bonus for using drugs.  Drugs 
are 5x more effective at FET colonies.

3. An ability developed during their days as blockade runners allows 
them to cloak their ships for 6 TU's at any point in a turn without 
using KORONDITE.  This may be done once per turn and costs 10 TU's 
to implement.

4. FET agents have a 50% less chance of being caught during agent 
actions.

5. Special Complexes do not count toward the total number of starport 
complexes when determining how many complexes may be contained in 
FET starports.

Goals

The goal of the FET is to work on the edge of governmental laws, promoting 
their own self interest.

Political Structure

The FET hierarchy is led by an Executive Vice President, assisted 
by VP's of Shipping, Colonization, Space Defense, Ground Defense,
Information, and a Special Interest Coordinator.  The FET's unique talents
and interests have necessitated the evolution of a specialized substructure 
within the FET organization - the Serpent Clan.

When a new member joins the FET he begins as just another rank-and-file 
FET member. As he performs services for the company he is rewarded 
not only with promotions in rank, but promotion into the Serpent Clan. 
The lowest ranking within the Serpent Clan is Drugrunner (DR).  There 
can be an unlimited number of starcaptains with this designation.  The 
next level above Drugrunner is Drugknight (DK), followed by Druglord 
(DL).  There may be no more than 5 Drugknights and 2 Druglords.  The 
Serpent Clan is made up of only the most trusted FET members and is 
a secret organization.  It's only purpose is to promote the sale of 
drugs.  The Special Interest Coordinator is responsible for promotions 
into the Serpent Clan.  Once a player is promoted into the Serpent 
Clan he may place the rank designation following his starcaptain's 
name if he so chooses.
