Official RAIDERS OF THE IMPERIAL PERIPHERY (RIP) Profile

Affiliation # 17

Pirate Affiliation

History

Since the dawn of time there have always been individuals who have 
chosen to plunder the goods of others, thus increasing their wealth 
and fame.  Blackbeard, Calico Jack, and Anne Bonny were the most famous 
of these people in early Earth history.  Even with the development 
of space travel these ideas have not changed, but have given a new 
dimension to the word "Pirate".  The first of these spacefaring pirates 
were nothing more than a disorganized band of cut-throats.  However, 
with the arrival of a powerful leader, this situation quickly changed.

Following the failure of the first rebellion in the years 131-143, 
Lord U.A. Gression fled civilized space and discovered the entrance 
to the Capellan Periphery.  Within a few years he set-up a secret 
base from which to plan another rebellion

However, in the year 158 the Imperials also discovered the Capellan 
Periphery and began sending ships to exploit its resources.  By 178, 
Lord Gression began financing a fleet of highwaymen to harass IMP 
shipping.  Thus was born the RIP.

In the following years the RIP have both successfully and unsuccessfully 
carried out attacks against the Empire and various Imperial Chartered 
Affiliations.  Although Lord Gression's personal goals are to bring 
about the downfall of the Empire, he understands that all RIP members 
may not share the same idea.  However, whenever possible he directs 
his band of pirates to attack IMP and IMP supported positions.  Gression 
particularly hates the FET and EEM who were largely responsible for 
the failure of the first rebellion.

The RIP have a history of supporting companies or governments who 
have tried to secede or rebell against the Empire.  During year 186 
the RIP hired themselves out to the CPR during the Second Rebellion.  Following 
the failure of this rebelion, many CPR posiitions joined the RIP.

More recently the RIP supported the DTR during the DTR/IMP war of 
189-190. The RIP were again hired to support a rebellion and this 
time the DTR survived. During this war, the SSL were major supporters 
of the Empire, incurring the wrath of the RIP thereafter.

Even if someday the Empire should be overthrown and Lord Gression 
steps down as RIP leader, there will always be people who wish to 
become rich and famous through the misery of others.   For this reaseon, 
the RIP will never know defeat.

Affiliation Description

The RIP are an infamous pirate group who raid Imperial possessions 
and chartered affiliations for fun and profit.  All regions of the 
known universe are not safe from the RIP.  

The strength & power of the RIP have wide variations.  Since they 
are posted by most affiliations the length of a "RIPPER's" life in 
the game can be short.  As such, much of the history of the RIP is 
scattered with short, decisive attacks rather than long, drawn out 
campaigns.  The RIP like to hit poorly defended targets and flee back 
to secret bases with their plunder.

Ship Building

The RIP builds Corsairs (41), Survey Cruisers (9),      SupraFreighters 
(15), and War Galleys (2).

RIP Special Abilities

1. RIP members may use either the RIP or IND code for their Colonies.

2. Positions receive a 10% bonus to hit ships/colonies in space battle.

3. RIP starships have the ability to steal goods & stellars from enemy 
ships immediately following battle.

4. RIP attack fleets are limited to no more than 4 capital ships
participating in the same battle.  This limit reflects their hit-and-run,
piratical mentality. However, with special permission from Lord Gression,
the RIP can attack in larger numbers but this is highly unusual.

5. In ground battle troops each receive an additional 2 combat factors 
over normal troops. They also get 0.5 for each level of Small Arms 
Training.

6. REPAIRBOTS & CREW can repair double the amount of damage.

7. RIP Agents have a 10% less likely chance of being captured in an 
enemy starport. When performing acts of sabotage, RIP agents can destroy 
twice as much as other agents.

8. RIP positions may set-up an Agent anywhere on a planet provided 
they are in orbit of the planet.

9. RIP Agents perform sabotage for only 500 Stellars.

10. No declaration of war is necessary for RIP military actions against 
Imperial positions and their supporters. Imperial supports are defined 
as any Imperial Service or any Imperial Chartered affiliation. Attacks 
against all other affiliations must be preceeded by a posting request 
or submission of a declaration of war.

11. Are able to specify a maximum number of targets in space battle 
twice as great as other affiliations for the same size ship.

12.  Space weapons dish out 10% more damage against enemy ships/colonies 
in space battle.

13. RIP Boot Camps produce SOLDIERS, not GREEN TROOPS.

14. Preparation for land battle takes 10 TU's, not 15 TU's.

15. Being a very sneaky sort, the RIP may elect to have their colonies 
built in such a way that they may not be visible from orbit.  Only 
colonies of class 5 and below are eligible for this ability.

16. RIP ships may cloak for 3 TU's without using KORONDITE.  This 
may only be done once per turn and takes 10 TU's to implement.

Goals

The goal of the RIP is to pillage and plunder, becoming wealthy and 
famous in the meantime.  Most of all the idea is to have fun achieving 
these goals.  Primarily the RIP seek to harass the Empire and assist 
in its downfall.

The personal goal of Lord Gression is to bring about the downfall 
of the Empire and restore the House of Lords and Senate.

Direct attacks on the IMP are not advisable.  It is better to attack 
company shipping and show the companies that the Imperials take their 
taxes and build large war fleets but don't use them to protect the 
company's shipping.  Hopefully this will encourage a company based 
rebellion.

Political Structure

The RIP is governed by  a group of lords, each advising Lord Gression.  This 
is called the High Council.  Each Lord controls one Political Position 
and has the ability to perform: Stellar Transfer, Promotion, Probation.  Each 
Lord also receives the following reports: Personal Report, Probation 
Report, and Assignment Report.  The purpose of these limited reports 
is to protect the secret locations of RIP colonies from hostile affiliations.

A new Lord is elected by a unanimous vode of all existing Lords, including 
Lord Gression.  The region reigned-over by each lord is reached by 
mutual agreement between themselves.

The RIP Code

The RIP operate by a loose code of ethics. Since the typical RIP member 
is regarded as a criminal by much of known space, they can occasionally 
infringe on each other's rights. 

A RIP player owns the planet where his colony is located.  No other 
RIP player may build another colony there.  RIP players may not infringe 
on the ownership rights of any other RIP player regarding colonies, 
outposts, deposits, etc.  No other RIP positions may end their movement 
in orbit over the colony of another RIP player.  Obviously any of 
these rules may be circumvented by the permission of the player involved. 
In the event of a dispute, Lord Gression, will arbitrate the dispute. 

Membership

To be granted membership in the RIP it is necessary to secure a positive 
vote from at least one sponsoring Lord and Lord Gression.  At this 
time the new RIP member is placed on probation for 2 months.   At 
the conclusion of probation the sponsor and Lord Gression vote again 
if he is to remain in the RIP.  Only experienced starcaptains who 
desire a life of high risk are sought after by the RIP.  The advantage 
of joining the RIP is that you have much more freedom to conduct your 
affairs than in other affiliations.  The disadvantage is that you 
will be placed on nearly everyone else's enemy list.  That is the 
challenge of playing the RIP. 

Most players who join the RIP do so after being frustrated by the 
constraints placed upon them by their former affiliation.  Such players 
should attempt to switch to another affiliation before considering 
the RIP as a last resort.
