While the Syndicate have no standardized insignia, this style is normally seen on inter-chapter missions. The four amber spheres represent virility of the highest order.
History
The central philosophy of the Syndicate is summed up by the following haiku, written by the previous don while excising the pineal gland from a traitorous underling:
He who fucks with Syndicate
gets short end of deal.
The organization is believed to have its roots on Terra during its pre-FTL years, and as such has had a longer and more arduous history than some nations. Their earliest activities are poorly-documented, but it is said that many characteristics of their organization (including their general regimented attitude and the current chain of command) date back to those fledgling days.
The Syndicate has always been composed of several chapters, each granted "control" over a different region of known space. There were once planetary chapters, but they've since merged into larger blocs and the TSE chapter now stands on its own. Every now and then, through a tortuous and bloody succession process, a don is appointed from one of the chapters and given significant authority to command the actions of the Syndicate, although whether or not he gets to keep it remains to be seen. Depending on his legitimacy and competence, a don can rule for two centuries or be assassinated within days.
Slowly but surely, the Syndicate's influence has expanded throughout known space, and its chapters are now led by several different species around the galactic arm (each with its own designated pineal gland equivalent, to be excised as proof of a kill). Nevertheless, some Terran livery remains present, although "xeno" chapters prefer to insert their own mythological creatures into the mix, along with whatever passes for social deviancy (nose piercings are not universally "badass", for example). But somehow, the characteristics of the chosen animal remain the same: proud, gaudy, and fierce. The Syndicate soldier carries himself as no person to be trifled with.
Their activities in known space are generally of the most cutthroat and illicit kind, revolving around contraband smuggling, trade convoy raids and well-organized tech heists. They have a strict "no quarter" policy when it comes to boarding ships: unless necessary, nobody is to be left alive to tell the tale. Because their ships are generally some variety of repurposed rustbucket, they rely on their corrupting pull with local governors to delay the intervention of the authorities. As such, their most heinous crimes tend to go completely unpunished.
Chapters
I'll fill this in later.
Technology
Syndicate ships are hastily lashed together from civilian and surplus military tech, often built on cheap, "pre-loved" transport chassis that were declared unsafe after trade lane accidents. Their combat vessels generally mount commonly-available yellow lasers, although red lasers are not unheard of in some chapters. While their smaller ships are quite tame, their cruiser and battleship-class vessels are typically commissioned custom by rich local crime lords, who can afford to splurge on illegal cutting-edge tech that matches or exceeds the performance of military hardware.
Ships
Updated with pinyin tone marks for that authentic space triad feel.
Corvette "Dāo"
Description: One of the lightest Syndicate systems, normally found in small wolfpacks where little resistance is expected. As with many Syndicate vessels, it is somewhat more sluggish than systems of comparable size.
Size: 52.48
Hull: 170
Speed: 4.20
Turning: 1.80
Accel: 0.40
AI: Flanking
Armament:
8x Yellow Tiny Laser
1x Yellow Light Laser
Frigate "Qiāng"
Description: A general-purpose attack frigate that forms the backbone of larger raiding parties. The firepower of this system is somewhat anemic for its size, as it is normally drafted for its cargo space more than anything.
Size: 66.61
Hull: 240
Speed: 3.40
Turning: 1.35
Accel: 0.30
AI: Normal
Armament:
4x Yellow Light Laser
2x Yellow ER Light Beam
Destroyer "Jiàn"
Description: A very dangerous vessel, in which the effect of the Syndicate's tech trading begins to manifest. In numbers, its dual EMPCs are highly effective in controlling the firepower of larger systems. A target to prioritize.
Size: 97.51
Hull: 420
Speed: 2.0
Turning: 0.75
Accel: 0.20
AI: Normal
Armament:
4x Yellow Light Laser
2x Syndicate EMP Cannon
Pirate Hulk "Tiānlóng"
Description: A large cargo/support system designed for survivability more than anything else. Its experimental Leech Beam makes it very hard to destroy, while its sizeable fighter complement serves to harrass smaller systems that approach it.
Size: 112.58
Hull: 800
Speed: 1.6
Turning: 0.5
Accel: 0.15
AI: Normal
Armament:
4x Yellow Heavy Laser
1x Syndicate Leech Beam
4x Light Missile Rack (8 tube)
Fighter Compliment:
10x "Fēng" Assault Cutter (each w/ 4x Light Missile)
SCCS Cruiser "Mèngdé"
Description: An advanced system generally commissioned by local Syndicate lords for their most loyal subordinates. Outfitted with heavy weapons, thick armor, and a fully-featured military-style Sensor Command and Control Suite, the Mèngdé is a force to be reckoned with.
Size: 112.15
Hull: 650
Speed: 1.84
Turning: 0.80
Accel: 0.22
AI: Normal
Armament:
4x Yellow Heavy Laser
4x Yellow Twin Medium Laser
1x Syndicate Leech Beam
4x Light Missile Rack (8 tube)
Support Ship "Chatsubo Type-27"
Description: A dedicated support system, capable of carrying significant quantities of dry cargo and cryogenic liquid fuel. In addition, it is capable of effecting fleet-level maintenance maintenance operations using its two Support Orbiters. Beware, it's not quite toothless...
Size: 88.57
Hull: 400
Speed: 1.92
Turning: 0.53
Accel: 0.18
AI: Normal
Armament:
2x Support Orbiter (each w/ Yellow Snub Superheavy Cannon)
Merchantman "Chāngshèng"
Click for animation!
Description: I assure you, sir, this vessel is assuredly not carrying any regulated weapons, narcotics or illegal nanite precursors. If local authorities were to scan its hold for contraband ("Freelancer Alpha 1-1...") it would definitely offer its full cooperation instead of reacting violently. Also, it is probably not armed to the teeth with preposterously dangerous long-ranged weapons. That suspicious protrusion on the front is a cargo ramp, not an 8 gigawatt railgun that launches 3 ton multimodal containers at significant speed. Those cryogenic fuel tanks are securely fixed to the hull and will never become torpedoes.
Wha-- routine search? My vessel has "merchant ship" written on the hull. Isn't that proof enough?
Size: 106.00
Hull: 420
Speed: 1.20
Turning: 0.40
Accel: 0.18
AI: Normal
Armament:
1x Multimodal Container Railgun
4x LH2/LOX Tank Torpedo
Unique Technology
Syndicate EMPC
This new type of EMP-based weaponry was originally intended for the civilian market, but was withdrawn due to the Syndicate pulling strings with the manufacturer. Now the Syndies have exclusive access to this ludicrous piece of black-market bling. While originally designed as a "soft-kill" weapon, the Sydicate version is so powerful that-- in addition to the stun effect-- it actually induces significant warping and heating damage in the target system's hull. The tradeoff is that it can only operate in short pulses, marginalizing the system shock effect.
Syndicate Leech Beam
Prototypes of a highly-experimental weapon delivered as a "tithe" from the Delphinus Frictionless Bearings Corporation.
The Leech Beam projects a stream of illegal CX-class nanite precursors contained within jets of superconducting working fluid, which strike the target at a 20th of the speed of light. The nanites strip recoverable metals from the target system and form them into magnetized bezoars, which are then retrieved by the allied system to "patch up" sections of damaged armor.
Ship Downloads
http://puu.sh/2LZGL
