Smugglers Though one
can argue that smuggling and blockade running are the same thing,
smugglers and blockade runners do nothing but argue. Many a barroom
brawl have broken out after a heated exchange of insults, and when
two cross each other on the streets, it's usually on opposing sides.
Most don't take it too far, realizing that they are indeed in the
same brotherhood, and will surely help each other in a bad pinch.
Some smugglers think runners can't smuggle for lack of class and
finesse, think their antics are hilarious, and are the first to
applaud
when one goes up in a fireball. Some blockade runners think smugglers
are half-wit, cowardly goof-offs that can't hack combat without
wetting their pants and couldn't fly themselves out of a bottle.
Interestingly, they never turn each other in to the law, evidence
that there is some sort of code amongst these beings.
Other Blockade Runners
It is quite standard to have rivalries between people in the same
business. Blockade runners have a tendency to take it a little too
far. Unless the other guy really needs the money, it's almost common
for one to steal anothers cargo
and take the run themselves, and it's seen as fun. If a blockade runner
really needs the run, they better stay up all night protecting it,
or pick it up right before they run it. Another common "joke"
of sorts between these rascals is to chase each other in space and
fire rather heavily. Amongst themselves, they will say it was a way
of getting in a little practice, but to the casual bystander it has
the unquestionable reek of rivalry. Otherwise, blockade runners are
a pretty tight group.
The Empire First and foremost, this
is the prime enemy of all blockade runners. Common forces of the
Empire that are after them on a regular basis are the: Sector Rangers,
Special Enforcement Officers (SEO), Imperial Office of Criminal
Investigations (IOCI), Imperial Customs, Imperial Navy and the Imperial
Security Bureau (ISB). The Empire does
not take someone flying through a line of ships lightly. It is common
for locally famous captains and other officers to take a keen interest
in a specific runner should that person become particularly prolific
in their runs. Woe is the runner at the top of the local Imperial
Navy bulletin board, and is often a good sign that you should remove
yourself from the area for a nice long time.
Details on the Imperial Navy, Sector Rangers and Imperial Customs
can be found in Pirates & Privateers
in Chapter 6. Details on the SEO can be found in Galaxy
Guide 11: Criminal Organizations, page 91. Details on the
Imperial Office of Criminal Investigations
can be found in both of these books, possibly others. A good place
to start learning on the Imperial Navy and the ISB is with the Imperial
Sourcebook. Entries on these two abound throughout many of
the books.
Bounty Hunters More specifically House
Tresario, House Renliss, House Salaktori and the Mantis Syndicate.
Details on all of these can be found in Chapter Eight of Galaxy
Guide 10: Bounty Hunters. The Empire (through most of the
institutions listed
above) post massive bounties on very successful blockade runners.
This is something to be feared for sure, because if you become a
large enough thorn in the Empire's side, your days are indeed numbered.
However, if you can conceal your identity enough and stay disconnected
from your ship, this will buy you some time. But infochants have
been known to sell your kind out for the right price, so watch out.
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