Pirate

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Pirates are a common and numerous threat to the Imperium.[1]

Overview

Imperial pirate[6]

Usually dwelling in isolated regions of space, these areas naturally attract renegades, exiles, and mercenaries. Without the guidance of the Emperor, this drudge of humanity often fall to the powers of Chaos. However many do not, instead opting for a life of plunder. Hiding away on fringe worlds, moons, or in asteroid belts these men form pirate fleets. Their ranks are filled with deserters from the Imperial Guard and Imperial Navy as well as those fleeing from the Adeptus Arbites. Many are also anti-Imperial insurgents, who see themselves as freedom fighters against the tyranny of the Adeptus Terra.[1]

While the Imperium does not know their exact number, the Adeptus Terra once estimated there were at least fifteen thousand Human Pirate gangs operating in the Galaxy. This number though ranged from small groups to large fleets and hundreds are thought to have hidden bases that they used to strike at the Imperium. The Maelstrom Warp Storm is known to be densely infested by Pirates and their bases, though Asteroid Belts and Nebulae also serve as popular hideouts for them as well.[5] Pirate bases act as safe havens for every criminal, miscreant, heretic, and rebel throughout the Imperium. Such bases are a constant bane to the Imperium, often serving as epicenters for raiding outposts and isolated colonies. However most pirates survive by living off the plunder acquired through raiding Imperial Merchant Fleets. When faced with the firepower of the Imperial Navy however most Pirates will opt to flee, for they lack the heavy firepower or capital ships of the Imperial Fleet. However due to their hit-and-run attacks and guerrilla tactics, Pirates are usually able to stay one step ahead of the Imperial Navy.[1] They will also join forces with other Pirate gangs in order to successfully bring down a targeted ship, that is protected by escorts. This includes even working with Ork Freebooterz and Eldar Corsairs if the raid is ambitious enough for the Eldar.[5]

Such is the level of piracy in the Imperium's space lanes that one of the prime duties of the Imperial Navy is to hunt down pirate bases and keep shipping lanes safe for Merchant ships. It is important for the Imperial Navy to destroy pirate bases early, for they have been known to grow exponentially as a successful pirate fleet gains more followers, glory, and plunder. Eventually an unchecked pirate fleet could even check Imperial rule at the System level.[1]

Leadership

Pirate Captains are the leaders of Pirate Gangs and are lavishly equipped with the best of their plundered loot. They are said to be the most evil, meanest and largest member of their gang and make formidable opponents in battle. However Pirate Captains are also quick tempered and if angry enough, they will kill any Pirate that challenges their command. Though Captains make use of First Mates and Pirate Champions to maintain control over their gangs,[5] this does not always work. If they find it difficult to control their wayward forces, a Pirate Captain's fleet will often be made up of many different factions and individual warlords looking out for themselves as opposed to combining efforts for the common good. As such it's little surprise that infighting and backstabbing are common among pirate fleets.[1]

Tactics

Imperial pirate[6]

Pirates prefer to operate in 'Wolf Packs', small squadrons of swift craft which will launch an ambush against unprotected targets. Wolf Packs often operate in areas where the Imperial Navy is already embattled against heretics or xenos, forcing the Imperium to divert ships to stop their raiding. Usually when faced with Imperial warships, pirate Wolf Packs prefer to scatter and fight another day.[1]

Pirates will rarely strike or operate in deep space, such regions lack plunder and are often extremely hazardous. At the same time they will rarely raid a world or the space around it, where orbital defenses and Defense Monitors can quickly respond to their threats. Instead, pirates prefer to strike in shipping lanes and sparsely inhabited regions of Imperial space.[1]

Pirates will offer a targeted ship a chance to surrender after attacking it, but if this is refused, they will disable their target's engines. Once this is done, Pirates will normally use Power Grapples to tear a hull in the ship's hull, so that a Boarding Tube can be injected into it. More rarely, richer Pirates may use Boarding Torpedos and other extravagant methods to board a ship instead. They then form hordes and fight as crazed maniacs to overwhelm their enemies and subdue any defenses a boarded ship may have. Once it is under their control, the Pirates will then fight amongst themselves to keep the best loot. This will often require their Pirate Captain to step in to settle the matter, before things escalate. These boarding attacks are often over in minutes, as the Pirates will seek to escape with their stolen goods, before the Imperium can launch a response.[5]

Types of Human Pirates

  • Pirate Captain are the leaders of Pirate Gangs.[5]
  • First Mates are the right hand of Pirate Captains and are trusted with their Captains' deepest secrets. They are also often psychotic and like to lead Pirate Veteran squads in boarding attacks, so that they can get into the thickest of the fighting.[5]
  • Pirate Champions are experienced, cruel and relentless fighters, whose Captains have tasked with making sure their gangs do as they are ordered to. These qualities and responsibilities can also one day earn the Champions the right to command their own Pirate gangs.[5]
  • Pirate Veterans are shock troops that are sent in squads to lead the charge into a boarded ship. They will use melta-bombs to destroy any bulk heads that may block their gang's path.[5]
  • Pirates make up the bulk of a Pirate gang's forces and form hordes as they charge at their foes.[5]
  • Pirate Gun Crews have the important task of manning their warship's weapons in space battles. Once their targeted ship is disabled, the Gunner Crews take up heavy weaponry and join their gangs in boarding it. In this role, they are similar to the Astra Militarum's Heavy Weapons Squads and consist of a team of three pirates, who are deployed alongside three to five other Gun Crews. They will then fire volleys at their enemies, while the Pirate hordes of their gangs charge into battle.[5]
    • Pirate Gunner Champion are the leaders of Gun Crews who direct their fire.[5]
  • Pirate Scavengers are the biggest, meanest pirates in their gang and are known for their strength. They will fight other members of their Pirate gang to ensure they lay claim to the best looted weapons and equipment.[5]
  • Pirate Bikers are Pirates who ride Bikes into battle and they are deployed in squads. They play an important part of their Pirate gangs' attacks, as the Bikers can use their speed and ferocity to quickly plunder loot or fuel.[5]
    • Pirate Biker Champions are the leaders of Pirate Biker squads.[5]
  • Rogue Psykers are wanted by every Pirate Captain so that they can gain an advantage over their enemies. However the number of Rogue Pyskers that actually serve in Pirate gangs is very rare and comes with several dangers for doing so. If the Imperium becomes are of aware of the Rogue Psykers, its forces will be sent to deal with them, likely making the Pirate gang a target as well. Daemonic Possession is a major concern as well and if this occurs, the Daemon controlling the Rogue Psyker will attempt to corrupt the gang. Their efforts will be subtle at first, but the possessed Rogue Psyker will work towards convincing their Pirate Captain to worship the Chaos Gods. This can be for various reasons, such as wanting aid to increase his stolen wealth, but once a Captain does so, their Pirate gang will eventually become a Chaos Cult instead.[5]
    • Rogue Psyker Champion[5]
  • Ogryn Mercenaries can be hired by Pirate Captains for troublesome attacks and will form mobs within their gangs.[5]

Ships

Pirate ships are often converted and modified Imperial Transports or Armed Freighters. However many more are captured small Imperial Navy escort craft or older light vessels.[1]

Commonly encountered Pirate ships include:[1]

Wargear

Pirates will often wield swords like Scimitars and most commonly Cutlasses, which they can coat in Blade Venom. They will also use Whips, Digital Lasers, Combat Drugs and guns that use Armour Piercing Ammo or Seeking Ammo. Wounded Pirates can replace limbs with bionics or make use of Wooden Legs, Hook Hands, Bone Crutches, and Cranial Plates. Pirates are also known to have Cyber Parrots in their gangs.[5]

Non-Human Pirates

Famous Pirates

Sources

Heretic Tomes banner.jpg

This article includes as a source one the three Black Library novels reissued under the now-defunct Heretic Tomes banner (Farseer, Pawns of Chaos, Space Marine) which, per the Publication Disclaimer, contained material considered outdated or inconsistent with established background lore. The banner has not appeared since 2016, leaving the status of these works uncertain – except for Space Marine whose description now labels it a “curiosity.”

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