Editing Corsair

[[File: VARGR CORSAIR .png|150px|right]]
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 [[world]]s 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 [[Humaniti|Human]] territories and declared nothing but [[Piracy|Pirates]].

=== Associated Terminology ===
# [[Black Marketeer]]
# [[Corsair]]
# [[Corsair Band]]
# [[Corsair Vessel]]
# [[Counterfeiter]]
# [[Criminal]]
# [[Pirate]]
# [[Smuggler]]
# Space Pirate

== Hierarchy (Vocation) ==
[[Corsair]]s often use a seniority system similar to that of Militaries e.g.
# [[Marine]]
# [[Corporal]]
# [[Sergeant]]
# [[Lieutenant Commander]]
# [[Lieutenant]]
# [[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&mdash;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]]) ==
{{Intermediate}}
{{Sources
|S1= {{MT}} [[Hard Times]]
|S2= [[Journal of the Travellers' Aid Society 21]] in Article: "The Pirates of Tetrini" 
|S3= "Pirates and Pirate Bases," [[MegaTraveller Journal 4]]
|S4= [[Planetary Survey 3: Granicus]]
}}
 

{{LE|Corsair|Organization|Pirate|Vocation}}