Independent Alliance of Merchants [IAM] - Organizations

History

2242: A Desperate Gamble

In a time not long past, a cargo smuggler pilot known as Harker sought his fortune by taking a shortcut through an uncharted binary star system. His ambition burned brightly as he accepted a lucrative contract to deliver contraband across the galaxy, drawn in by a clause that promised a fourfold remuneration if he could reach the [REDACTED] system within ten Earth Solar days. To Harker, this was a ticket to success, a way to break free from the shackles of corporate bondage that had stifled his ambitions during his two years as a corporate cargo runner.

However, fortune often favors the bold, but rarely the reckless. When Harker dropped out of quantum travel, he found himself ensnared in the clutches of pirate vessels prowling the area. The binary stars’ immense gravitational forces rendered his quantum drive useless, and his ship, the Shadow Runner, was immediately targeted. Shots peppered the hull, damaging critical systems; his pulse quickened as he scrambled to raise shields and evade the incoming onslaught.

Guided by instinct and desperation, Harker maneuvered his craft into a dense asteroid belt. The pirates, relentless in their pursuit, launched assault after assault, leaving chaos in their wake. But Harker was determined; any semblance of fear was buried beneath the adrenaline coursing through his veins. He danced through debris and fire, using every ounce of skill to lose his pursuers among the rocks.

Finally, he found refuge behind the cool surface of a larger asteroid, where he powered down all systems, praying for the pirates to lose interest. Minutes turned into hours, hours into days, and with each passing moment, he felt the air reserves of his craft dwindling. The weight of his precious cargo—a collection of forbidden goods purchased with his hard-earned profits—began to bear down on him.

As the specter of suffocation loomed, Harker weighed his options and made the heart-wrenching decision to jettison his cargo, hoping to lighten his ship enough to escape the asteroid’s confines. He watched as his dreams of financial freedom drifted away, realizing the existential risk he faced. In a final act of desperation, he overloaded the hyperdrive fuel cells, sending a cataclysmic explosion into the void. The shockwave provided a crucial burst of speed, propelling him from the pirate-laden area just before the echo of the explosion drew them in.

2243: The Fractured Alliance

Emerging from the debris of his desperate escape, the smuggler—now known only as Harker—found himself drifting through the remnants of the binary star system. The loss of his precious cargo weighed heavily on him, but he had survived, and he had a plan. The echoes of parting explosions had attracted attention, not only from pirates but also from various factions seeking easy pickings in the aftermath of the chaos.

Harker knew he couldn’t return to the life he led before. The corporations he once served were merciless, and even a slip-up would lead to retribution impossible to shake. Instead, he forged an unlikely alliance with a group of rogue traders and ex-mercenaries who called themselves The Fractured Alliance. They operated on the fringes of lawful society—smuggling, trading, and occasionally conducting covert operations for the highest bidder.

Working alongside the Fractured Alliance brought Harker into a web of new dangers. His new life consisted of high-stakes jobs that tested his skills and resourcefulness, from hijacking corporate shipments to undertaking dangerous rescues of fellow outcasts from pirate clutches. In exchange for a safe haven, Harker offered his piloting expertise, proving that sometimes the best way to survive in the galaxy was to be a jack-of-all-trades.

Despite these new allies, fame had its price. Rumors of Harker’s audacious escape spread throughout the systems, drawing the unwanted attention of a notorious pirate lord known as Kalthor the Ruthless. Kalthor, seeking revenge on the pilot who had jettisoned his potential fortune, sent his fleet out on the hunt for Harker.
2244: The Rise of the Iron Deliverance

By early 2244, Harker had transformed from a simple cargo smuggler into a celebrated ghost in the galaxy, captivating tales of his daring escapes reaching every corner of known space. However, fame came with a target on his back. The Fractured Alliance decided to capitalize on his notoriety and catapulted Harker into the role of a frantic hero, while simultaneously enshrining him as a figurehead of rebellion against oppression from corporations and organized crime alike.

They built a ship tailored to Harker’s piloting style—The Iron Deliverance. This modified Caterpillar became an icon, adorned with the symbols of the Fractured Alliance and reinforced with a patchwork of salvaged technology from various heists. The ship was both a mobile fortress and a hub for daring missions against greedy corporations who exploited weaker planets and systems.

As the crew of The Iron Deliverance undertook missions, Harker found himself embroiled in a larger conflict. The Fractured Alliance began targeting the infamously exploitative Farron Dynamics, a megacorporation notorious for regrettable safety standards in their cargo runs. The Alliance planned a high-profile heist: their mainframe housed deep within a fortified asteroid, housing valuable data and corporate secrets Harker and his crew could use to leverage their power.
2245: Shadows of Betrayal

The mission to infiltrate Farron Dynamics proved successful, but it wasn’t without its complications. As Harker and the crew celebrated their victory, a betrayal would cause the very ground they stood on to evaporate. One of their own, a charismatic and promising recruit known as Elyra, had secretly been feeding information to Kalthor. The pirate lord had been monitoring Harker’s movements closely and orchestrated his revenge, targeting the very heart of the Fractured Alliance.

Kalthor staged an all-out assault on the Alliance’s hidden bases, forcing the organization into retreat and chaos. The betrayal devastated morale, fracturing the Alliance from within and leaving Harker without allies in a rapidly deteriorating situation. Facing overwhelming odds and a renewed bounty on his head, Harker grappled with the choices he had made—was the path of glory worth the lives of his comrades?
2246: The Storm Before the Peace

As Kalthor’s grip tightened, Harker embarked on a frantic mission to gather the remnants of the Fractured Alliance and bolster their ranks. Skirting between corporate territories and lawless outposts, he had to not only fend off Kalthor’s relentless pursuit but also rekindle trust among fractured factions who previously rallied around the same cause. Moments before their last stand, Harker found an old rival—Drake Renfield, a former corporate operative turned bounty hunter—with whom he struck an uneasy truce.

Harker orchestrated a harsh yet brilliant plan to lure Kalthor’s fleet into a trap—the Celestial Maelstrom, a treacherous region of gravitational anomalies that had claimed many ships. Just as Kalthor’s fleet emerged from hyperspace, chaos erupted, and Harker’s fragmented forces exploited every opportunity to strike at the pirates. Though the battle left many ships wrecked, it marked the decisive turning point for Harker; the price of survival meant sacrificing old grievances for the sake of a new alliance.
2247: A New Reality

The decisive battle solidified Harker’s reputation as a leader, and he began to rally new advocates into a reformed Fractured Alliance—one that included remnants of the old guard as well as new factions unified against corporate greed and pirate tyranny alike. The cooperation between former enemies became a beacon of hope.

In the subsequent years, Harker and his newly formed alliance focused on rebuilding and restructuring their operations. They started clandestine outreach programs to oppressed planets, negotiating legitimate trade routes in return for asylum and supplies. Harker also became increasingly involved in organizing planetary coalitions to resist corporate oppression on a larger scale.
2248-2254: The Rise of Legend

As days turned into years, the stories of Harker’s adventures echoed throughout the galaxy. The Fractured Alliance transformed from a rogue group of renegades into a symbol of resistance against the suppression of freedom. The impact reached far and wide, influencing many aspiring pilots and traders who sought to take control of their fates amid the conflicts of a turbulent cosmos.

With new representatives in nodes of power across the stars, Harker’s ambitions blossomed. While many battles yet remained to reclaim lost regions and influence, the alliance was no longer merely surviving; it was thriving, and Harker began to dream of a greater future—a galaxy where freedom could spread unencumbered, and smugglers could navigate the stars with pride rather than fear.

As 2254 dawned, the legend of Harker and the Fractured Alliance stood poised to bring down the walls of oppression and pave the path for a new era among the stars. The future lay open, and only time could tell how far their influence would extend.

Manifesto

Independent Alliance of Merchants (IAM)

The term merchant is referred to any human or alien species that offers services for profit.
We all offer a particular service in one form or another, hence we are all merchants.
Services may be but are not limited to, commerce, security, trade, smuggling, bounty, assassination, piracy or charity.

Space is a vast void of unknown surprises and dangers. It could be pirates lurking around an asteroid belt, two rival factions competing for a section of space, a civil war that broke out near a shipping lane, a solar flare that damages your ship as you pass too close to a star… these are some of the dangers you might encounter in uncharted territories and space.

The IAM are Merchants that banded together to ensure their prosperity in the universe.
The IAM was formed to free all merchants from the scrutiny and conflict of all third parties and provide security and safety.
All merchants belonging to the IAM adhere to values of fair trade, and observe the laws the IAM holds most dear(see Charter).

Charter

IAM is an organization of human and alien members which generally operate outside of UEE space and jurisdiction. IAM was formed in order to provide coherence and standards to commerce and code of conduct in lawless space. The IAM has two fundamental laws consisting of the Moral Code and the Intelligent Life-form Rights Act.

These are the Charter members of the IAM are able to belong to other organizations, with the exception of all Senior IAM members and the Founding Fathers council. Once a member accepts the position of a Senior IAM member they must sever all financial and moral ties to any other organizations. They may stay on as an advocate of the IAM with in their old organization, but all financial and moral obligations will be tied to the Independent Alliance of Merchants.

The Independent Guild or Arbitrators (IAG) has no oversight or jurisdiction over IAM members. Any member engaging the use of the IAG to resolve disputes within the IAM will be disposed of with prejudice. Any IAG member attempting to oversee a dispute with in the IAM will be disposed of with prejudice.

The UEE and any other organization has no jurisdiction over the IAM, unless they enter into a contract with the IAM, which must be agreed upon by the IAM Senior council and the Founding Fathers council… (see above)

A member is responsible for his own ability to stay profitable, in any endeavor they choose to take part in. Be it, commerce, bounty, fame, or fortune. Which ever endeavor they choose to pursue, belonging to the Independent Alliance of Merchants guarantees that the Merchant adheres to a higher moral code and standards.

Each member of the Independent Alliance of Merchants is the judge, jury, and executioner of their actions. Governed by the By adhering to the Acts and Codes as outlined below the IAM member guarantees their prosperity in the Alliance.

Moral Code of Conduct: Human and Alien right must always be observed and followed by all IAM charter members. When in Alien and/or Human space, governed by non UEE or IAM laws all charter members must adhere to and observe the local laws and codes of conduct. The Moral Code prohibits an IAM member from engaging in needless violence and fire only if fired upon, unless there is strong evidence that a threat is imminent. An IAM member must respect all life forms as outlined by the Intelligent Life-form Rights Act. An IAM member will not engage in immoral contracts with a third party or another IAM member. In the ete of the law all IAM members are equal regardless of rank or social status.

Intelligent Life-form Rights Act: All intelligent life-forms, henceforth to be referred to as life form, be they human or alien have a basic right to fair judgement and defense by their peers. Any life form that has been detained can not be held for longer than one solar earth day, unless formally charged. If a life form has been formally charged they must be judged by a council of their peers, unless a summary judgement has been passed by an IAM member. If a Summary judgement has been passed, it will be reviewed by the Senior council or the Founding Fathers Council at a later data to make sure that it adheres to the charter.

Transaction Act: All transactions and dues must be completed and paid in full to or from an IAM charter member upon contract completion, unless this is otherwise stated in a signed contract. The signing of a contract can take the form of a verbal agreement, a handshake, a communication, or a signed agreement between two parties. A signed agreement is always preferred.
If an IAM member is found to be in breach of contract with a third party, the IAM Senior council will pass judgement and reimburse the third party for their losses. All transactions with the IAM guarantee the highest standards and the adherence to the strictest moral code. By following these rules and guidelines all commerce and trade with the IAM is highly sought after. We get the job done right the first time. The Transaction Act does not cover aspects of the Robin Hood Act.

Robin Hood Act: A Merchant is allowed to engage in piracy. As long as said Merchant can “justify” this piracy as outlined by the IAM charter. Stealing in order to survive. Stealing to advance the status of the IAM in the known universe. Stealing from the haves to distribute to the have not’s. Stealing to save someones life. Stealing to prevent a violation of the IAM Moral Code of Conduct or to enforce the Intelligent Life-form Rights Act. Stealing from those that violate or have violated the IAM Moral Code of Conduct or Intelligent Life-form Rights Act. During acts of piracy all members must observe the Moral Code, and Intelligent Life-form Rights Act, and any or all applicable local laws.

Assassin Act: The Assassin Act describes the right of an IAM member engaging in Murder. An IAM member is justified in murder when a target has broken the IAM Moral Code of Conduct or the Intelligent Life-form Rights Act (Fundamental IAM laws). An IAM member may be contracted out to perform a hit(commit murder) or collect a bounty on a target by third party that does not belong to the IAM, in which case the targets “factional” rights need to be observed and taken into consideration. The target does not have to be an IAM member.
If the target is an IAM member, and if the evidence is overwhelming, and the target(IAM member) has been found to be guilty of breaking the two fundamental IAM laws, a summary judgement may be passed by a peer of the IAM. All summary judgments passed on fellow IAM members will be reviewed by the Founding Fathers council.

Allegiance to IAM: All IAM charter members are encouraged to take all the steps necessary to further the IAM, financially, technologically, and socially in the known universe.

IAM membership: All IAM members are

IAM membership benefits: Members of the IAM get preferential treatment in other organizations and guilds. Being a member IAM guarantees that the contract prices are at a premium as an IAM member guarantees their

IAM Founders:

IAM Senior member:

IAM Founding Fathers council: The Founding Fathers council is rotated every solar earth year. Potential members of the Founding Fathers council are endorsed by their peers (Founding Fathers) and entered into a lottery drawn at random to select the 3 new members.

IAM Senior council: The Senior council is rotated every three solar earth years. Potential members of the Senior council are endorsed by their peers (Senior members) and entered into a lottery drawn at random to select the 7 new members.

IAM fees and taxation:

IAM obligations: 1. All IAM mem 2. All IAM mem 3. All IAM mem

IAM dispute resolution:
Between IAM members: All IAM disputes between charter members will the resolved internally with the oversight of the Senior Council, and Fouding Fathers council if necessary. All resolutions are final as voted by the

Between an IAM member and a third party:

IAM reviews and judgments: All IAM reviews and judgments performed by the Senior council, can be overturned by a emergency session peer review of the Senior members, or the Founding Fathers council (Hierarchically). All IAM reviews and judgments performed by the Founding Fathers council can be overturned by an emergency session peer review by the Founding Fathers.

IAM violations: The Moral Code and Intelligent Life-form Rights Act are the two most important pillars and building blocks of the Independent Alliance of Merchants. If at any point a member of the IAM is found in violation of these laws

IAM ejection: If any member is found to be in violation of the IAM charter they may be ejected from the IAM with great prejudice.

IAM release: Unless you are a Senior IAM member or a Founding Father, under some circumstances the IAM reserves the right to peacefully and without prejudice release a member from their Independent Alliance of Merchants obligations. An IAM member will be heard by the Senior council, and both the Senior and Founding Fathers councils will decide the release and conditions of release of said member.

IAM enrollment: IAM enrollment is only possible via an existing IAM member endorsement. Only a current IAM member is able to recommend a citizen for the Independent Alliance of Merchants. All enrollees will be put to the test, to ensure that only candidates of the highest caliber with the strongest moral standards are considered and enrolled into the IAM.

Independent Alliance of Merchants / IAM

History

Manifesto

Charter