Corsair

A Corsair is one of the most common terms used to describe interstellar pirates.

• Due to the very high numbers of Vargr corsairs, the term is strongly associated with that sophont species.
• Please also see: Corsair Band and Corsair Vessel

Description (Specifications)

Note that all raiders who work within a single system are of the corsair variety.

• Vikings are too smart to stay in one place, and rippers either self-destruct or are hunted down and exterminated.

A Corsair is a ship or group of ships whose objective is the capture of other ships for loot (People or Goods). This may be formally undertaken as an Act of War, under a recognised Letter of Marque or informally by non-warships in aid of a warring state (or, in fact, by anyone) as an act of Piracy.

Vargr worlds are typically more nuanced in (or less caring of) their distinctions between Legitimate and Illegitimate warfare (c.f. Imperial Rules of War) than the Imperium and these differences of cultural opinion have resulted in Vargr Heroes being Vilified in Human territories and declared nothing but Pirates.

Associated Terminology

1. Black Marketeer
2. Corsair
3. Corsair Band
4. Corsair Vessel
5. Counterfeiter
6. Criminal
7. Pirate
8. Smuggler
9. Space Pirate

Hierarchy (Vocation)

Corsairs often use a seniority system similar to that of Militaries e.g.

1. Marine
2. Corporal
3. Sergeant
4. Lieutenant Commander
5. Lieutenant
6. Leader

These ranks have no legal basis and are generally not recognised as equivalent to the Military rank by any formal military system.

History & Background (Dossier)

Corsairs in pre-Rebellion times were bands of pirates, usually Vargr, who raid both ships and worlds for goods.

• During the Rebellion period, with the failing naval powers to suppress them, many armed ships turned to raiding to support themselves.
• As always, the bulk of corsair recruits are military deserters, criminals, and desperate indiviuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. Corsairs do not like fighting against well-organized and comparably-equipped defense units—they prefer preying on the weak and attacking by surprise.
• Many corsair societies have adopted an appropriatly macabre, ritualized method of announced assassination, which discourages casual attempts at assassination and thereby stablizes the band's leadership.
• Corsair bands in 1126 are retaining an increased numbers of dependents, who may either be stashed in a safe place immediately before a "hit" or brought along for the ride. The crowding and filth aboard corsair hulls is legendary.

References & Contributors (Sources)

This list of sources was used by the Traveller Wiki Editorial Team and individual contributors to compose this article. Copyrighted material is used under license from Far Future Enterprises or by permission of the author. The page history lists all of the contributions.

• MegaTraveller Hard Times
• Journal of the Travellers' Aid Society 21 in Article: "The Pirates of Tetrini"
• "Pirates and Pirate Bases," MegaTraveller Journal 4
• Planetary Survey 3: Granicus