interstellar Consortium of Privateers / ICOP

What is iCoP?

iCoP stands for interstellar Consortium of Privateers
The Interstellar Consortium of Privateers is a privateer organization.

We are a group of raiders that are hired out by smaller organizations
allowing them a fair chance when confronted by larger organizations.

As part of our compensation for our services, we keep the spoils of war.

We are also available to perform special missions, for the right price.

Our fleet consists not only of some strong combat ships, but also of a
very diverse arrangement of ships and equipment, allowing for the
completion of a wide variety of missions.

Why we chose this route?

This allows for individuality and diversity among our members and
more freedom in the involvement and participation in our organizational
activities without the heavy burden of administration and politics.

We require only enough activity and participation from our members to
keep their skills and performance consistently at their best.

Family obligations comes first, iCoP comes second.

Will we be politically active?

iCoP will try to avoid politics where they are not directly affected.
We want to spend our time in the command chair, and among the stars,
not in a boardroom squabbling over influence and popularity.

Will iCoP services be available to everyone?

The acceptance of contracts will depend on iCoP availability and the
allure of the contract offered.

The contract offered will be judged on it’s own merits and not on politics.

No iCoP can be coerced into accepting a contract.

iCoP will refuse any contracts that tarnish the reputation of iCoP.

If iCoP is offered conflicting contracts, iCoP will choose the which
contracts, if any, are accepted. The decision will be entirely at the
discretion of the active iCoP community.

Why would anyone hire iCoP?

Same reason why privateering began in the first place.
“They were of great benefit to a smaller naval power or one facing an
enemy dependent on trade”

Any organization that needs to resolve a conflict larger than their
resources permit can supplement their force with the strategic use of
mercenaries.

This is where iCoP comes in, delivering on difficult objectives.

Who can join iCoP?

Anyone can apply, but only those who have the skills to deliver iCoP
performance will be accepted.

iCoP aims at maintaining a reputation of the highest success rate.
Quality, not volume.

How will iCoP activities benefit everyone?

iCop activities will benefit everyone by contributing to a greater
number and greater diversity in the organizations among the stars.

Allowing small organizations to prosper and fend off larger ones will
contribute to stronger and more competitive economy.

A stronger more competitive economy translates into greater production,
lower prices, and more innovation.

But isn’t privateering and pirating bad?

Privateering and pirating are different.

Pirates are chaotic, indiscriminate, with no commitment outside themselves.

Privateers are hired mercenaries that carry out attrition raids.

Like the privateering commissions of 1243 and letters of marque of 1295,
a privateer is a private ship of war that accepts a contract, which acts
as a license, in a private war, between two or more organizations.

The primary difference is the legality of capturing cargo, crew and ships.

A contract for privateering will specify: who hired the privateers,
privateers authorized to carry out raids, ship and equipment to be used,
number of crew involved, the period of time the raids can take place,
the space where the raids can take place, and the enemy targeted.
The contracts must be made public before the raids can start.

A commissioned privateer enjoyed the protection of the laws of war.
Captured crew was entitled to honorable treatment as prisoners of war,
while without the license they were deemed mere pirates
“at war with all the world,” criminals.

A letter of marque and reprisal in effect converted a
private merchant vessel into a naval auxiliary.

Privateers are also known as private ships of war.

Who’s asking?