In the far reaches of the Outer Systems, there lay a Planet. This planet was not known for its Ruling Species, an offshoot of the Elven Race who were specialists in Agriculture and Industry. It was not known for its vistas, being covered in mainly farm fields and Factory Cities. It was known, for its Port Station, Port Royal, and for being underneath the Flag of the Obsidian Fleet.

The Obsidian Fleet were a Nomadic group of Space Pirates, established Generations ago when a Mage discovered the Proper Series of Enchantments that allowed their ships to Fly. Setting sails for the Stars, they discovered that they were not alone in their region of Space. Joining the side of Magic in the Great Game, they have been Raiding and Marauding through the Sectors. Occasionally a Port city would fall into their hands, and would be converted into a Free Port for their crews to relax and redistribute the Wealth that would… “Fall”… into their grubby hands.

Just because they were the Descendants of Pirates did not mean the Obsidian Fleet was uncultured or Barbaric. In fact, most nations, at least those not engaged in all out warfare with the Fleet, would call them Honorable. The Pirates Code was deeply involved in their culture, and to disobey the code invited death by Spacing, with no exceptions.

Prisoners who fell into their hands would be enslaved, but unlike many other Nations, would not suffer the Rape and Abuses that befell other Slaves. Instead, they would be treated simply as Second Class citizens, given jobs and Wages, with the only reminder of their enslavement would be the Mana Steel Chains around their arms, and the fact that if they didn’t work the job their Masters chose, they would be spaced in a Heart Beat.

Additionally, the Obsidian fleet had in the last Century created a small Flotilla of Research Vessels. Filled with the Insane Tinkerers, many of them Descendants of the Mage that created their flying Runes, these ships would ply the sea of Stars, seeking knowledge and Discovery that they could use to enhance their own vessels and Weaponry. One of the Discoveries that they made, was the development of the Aether Stone. Its creation a Highly guarded Secret, these stones made Port Royal the Marvel that it was.

Tethered to these Aether stones, Port Royal flew high above the Planet. Allowing easy access both to cargo ships bringing food and supplies from the surface, and to the many vessels that Plied the Sea of Stars. These stones were powered by Mana, and were fed by the Many Mages that went through the Port. As part of the many docking and service fee’s that the Obsidian fleet collected, a Mana Tax was made in order to feed the Stones.

Port Royal was situated on a mountain sized chunk ripped from the Planet Below, in fact it used to be a Mountain Air Port until the Aether stones ripped the Entire Mountain from the planet Below. Its Old district, built by the Elves on the Planet Below was full of graceful arches and sturdy stone buildings. However the additions built by the many Pirates and others since its formation have surrounded it in crude ramshackle shacks servicing the many Vices of the Pirates. On the bottom of the Mountain lay the Docks and the Shipyards, full of Graceful, and some less graceful sailing ships. The Space around the Dock was full of vessels coming in to trade, and others painted black, that came in to give their Piratical crews some shore leave before they returned to Raiding some distant part of Space.

In a clear portion of Space just barely avoiding the Main trade lanes of the Merchants, and the few patrols that the Obsidian fleet dedicated to protecting the Port, the light seemed to bend around a portion of Empty Space. With a Snap more felt than heard, a Rift opened in that Space, its energies corralled by the Mana that forced it open. Out flew a Schooner, Painted Black with its Stone and Bones flag flapping in the nonexistent breeze. Its hull was marred by scorch marks from energy weapons, and the few patch marks on the hull showed where projectile ammunition had breached its thin Hull. It glided out of the Rift cleanly however, showing that despite its slightly haggard looks, it was still fit to fight.

It glided towards Port Royal, where a small tug quickly helped guide it into an open shipyard. Breaching the Air Bubble around the Port, the Tugs crew yelled across to the Deck of the Schooner.

“What got you beat up like this? Get any loot from their corpses?”

The Deck crew looked up from the lines they were tending, and one of them moved to the edge to respond. It was an Old Mage, dressed in grey Robes, holding a staff and barely keeping his grey wizards cap on from the wind of their passage. In a grave tone he responded, as he carefully drew out a pipe and started smoking it.

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“It was nothing much, simply a Jade Fleets scout patrol sniffing around the Oreole Asteroid Field like a dog sniff for a treat. We showed it why they avoid our space, and its wreckage has joined the hundreds of others in the field. You will have to await the official report to learn more however.”

A younger looking crewman stepped up to the Mage and whispered in his ear. The Mage nodded and quietly dismissed the pirate while he relayed the request to the Tug.

“Some of the crew have never been to Port Royal before, and they would like entertainment and company. Which Tavern would you recommend?”

After a moment of deliberation amongst the crew of seasoned sailors on the Tug, an answer was decided. At least after one of them was knocked back by a solid uppercut from another, who then yelled across the short distance to the Schooner.

“The Tortuga Compass! She’s the best Tavern on the waterfront right now, Tell the Innkeeper Mickey sent you and he’ll treat you nicely.”

Amid the cheers that the Schooners crew let out, the quiet sigh from the Mage went unheard. After they docked, and the various fees and taxes for the repairs and the berthing were paid, the Mage left the boat and climbed up the mountain town for a tall tower crowning it. This was the Old Mages tower, and the Local Headquarters of the Obsidian Fleet. After showing his papers proving who he was to the guards, he was let into the tower and lead up to an upper floor Office.

Inside the cluttered room, full of loot from a hundred voyages, a stout man wearing a floor length captains coat and wearing a large cap with an outstandingly large feather stood, staring out the window. In his arms he held a Monkey, a Capuchin wearing a little pirate outfit of its own, that he patted as he contemplated the busy streets that could be seen from their high vantage point. The Old Mage stepped into the office, and moved to greet the captain of the local branch of the Obsidian Fleet.

“Captain Barberossah, I am glad to see you well, I would like to report that our Mission went well.”

The Captain turned around, his Monkey leaping unto his shoulder as he clasped arms with the Mage. Greeting the Mage in turn, he bade the Mage to sit and he levered himself into his plush Captains Chair.

“So ye found her Matey? Ye sailed the sea of Stars and found the treasure of a generation? Ye found the Grey Pearl?”

The Mage nodded, and lay a stack of Papers on the Captains Desk. The Monkey jumped down and started looking through them before looking at the Captain and nodding.

“Yaar, Me little Mate Jack says you may have found her… and a fair bit of loot and salvage as well. Yer ship is too damaged to come however, I shall send me pride and flagship, the Vengeance, to recover the loot. Ye shall still get ye share of the spoils, as long as ye don’t start blabbering about. JEEVES!”

The Captains yell startled the Mage, who nearly started coughing through the pipe he had started to smoke. He was even more startled when a Suit coated figure appeared next to him, the echoes of the captains cry hadn’t even left the room yet. With a face as grim as the Grave, the butler spoke.

“You called Sir?”

The Captain began listing his orders to the Butler, that the Heavy Cruiser “Vengeance” was to prepare to depart within the Hour, even if they had to break down the doors of every brothel in the town to collect the crew. He also wanted the stationed Flotilla, the Black Hearts, to prepare to sail. If any other Nation attempted to Interfere, he wanted them ready to intervene instantly. The Mage excused himself and went looking for an Inn to stay the night, his homeport was Hobbit Town, and he had never been in Free Port before himself either.

The captain was standing at the Window, petting his Monkey as he watched the small fleet of Ships set sail from their Berths. Led by the Massive Vengeance, the flotilla was composed of a trio of Cruisers, escorted by a pair of Schooners similar to the Weeping Lady, the Schooner that had brought him the news. He was satisfied however, none of the Other Powers should know what he was had ordered done. After all, nobody else knew where the Grey Pearl, one of the Ancient Discovery ships, and the ship that had created the Aether Stones that held up Port Royal, had sunk. At least so he thought, as a small spider made of carbon fiber and steel recorded his every word and sent it to a relay disguised as a nearby barrel laying in a storehouse. This Relay sent it on, transmitting the Message Deep into space.

--- Priority Message ---

--- Port Royal Infiltration Units ---

--- Class Epsilon Priority ---

Objective Grey Pearl Discovered

Black Hearts deployed for Recovery

Class Epsilon Threat located Oreole Asteroid Field Confirmed

Deploy Interdiction Fleet

--- End Message ---