Summary
More of an informal pattern of behaviors, standards and confluences of interest that are acknowledged as similar enough across the galaxy to share a banner and little else. FU zones are secret ports for outlaws and travelers where mutual safety is enforced.
History
Habitat
Generally, FU ports are formed in desolate or dangerous areas at the margins of empires. They almost always make use of clever concealment, and their locations are generally only given to trusted associates by word of mouth.
Government & Politics
Subdivisions
Nearly every FU port is fully independent. Rarely a Portmaster may own multiple ports, but it is rare for a pirate group to have that sort of reach since FU ports are relatively rare, and separated by heavily enforced aligned sectors.
Rulership
Most Portmasters are Pirates, Merchants & Entrepreneurs, Engineers, and rarely, Military Defectors. But the latter are generally putting a target on their back by assuming Portmastery rather than assuming a new identity and quiet anonymity.
In order of likelihood, one becomes a Portmaster by acquiring an abandoned port, hijacking an existing non-aligned one, taking one by force from an existing Portmaster, or buying or constructing their own.
Rulership is generally undisputed, as most port regulars benefit from the stability of protecting popular Portmasters, obeying the strong ones, and signaling reasonable restraint to the community. Extortive Portmasters do not last long in the absence of might.
Foreign Relations
Criminal Enforcement & Resolution of Civil Disputes
Entirely informal, yet surprisingly standard norms prevail at FU ports across the galaxy. The Freebooter’s Union Manifesto is a community-written collection of observations about FU norms, and serves as a guideline for behavior in FU ports.
Portmasters may have civil & criminal codes to ensure justice, generally a standard or modified version of the FUM. More often, norms are enforced by Portmasters and the community as they see fit according to context, with the knowledge that they are subject to the very same enforcement. Generally, the community will defend you if the offense against you is egregious or detrimental to overall order. If the offender is powerful enough, the only censure may be ostracism from FU circles of trust. The benefits of FU berthing are enough that this is a sufficient deterrent to most offenders.
Berthing almost always costs a fee. Unless you’re a pariah, if you’re in dire straits someone will usually pay for your berth. But nothing is free. Many honest but desperate travelers find themselves indebted to dangerous people here.
Most patrols or enforcers are contracted from the community by the Portmaster, or from his own crew. These are minimal but ensure whatever baseline of order is necessary to keep the port profitable.
FU ports commonly host onerous people like pimps, slavers, pushers, mercenaries, and even bankers. But noise draws attention, so FU ports and their environs are non-aggression zones. Guests are welcome to pursue their moral crusade or take their grudge out, but not here.
Economy
FU ports are generally thriving black market economies. Ports mainly derive their income from berthing fees and leases. Their expenses tend to be for patrol contracts, law enforcer bribes, and infrastructure maintenance. The inefficiency of governing by force is offset by the profitability of its trade.
Portmasters may own only the port, or they may operate some or all of the businesses that operate within it. More often, the warlord structure of pirate bands does not lend itself well to complex business structures, so they tend to let outsiders lease space and provide the service.
Common businesses generally depend on what’s illegal or scarce in the area. Frequently, they consist of shipyard services, black markets, drug dens, fences, ship signature & personal identity reassignment, and proscribed entertainments. There is also a substantial sector for meeting travelers’ or residents’ basic needs.
FU ports are also major hubs for subcontracting. Megacorps and states may post their truly dirty jobs here anonymously. Nearly every mercenary and spy makes frequent trips to FU ports.
Social Divisions
Infrastructure
Culture
Food
Literature, Philosophy, Visual Art, Music, etc.
Sports
Mass Media
General Aesthetics
Values
Freedom, independence, strength and daring.