I just read the GalNet article by Quade "PIRATES TARGET PEGASI REFUGEES". Unless this is some prelude to Archon and his minions being banished from the game, I have to say I'm surprised FD allowed it into print.
"Reports are pouring in from the Amitrite system of pirate attacks on refugees fleeing the Pegasi Pirate War. The transports pouring from the Pegasi sector are often overloaded and poorly equipped, making them easy prey for the pirates."
I'm no pirate but being a pirate was supposed to be a legit path to follow I thought. Archon, no matter how despicable most of us think he is, has as much right to push his agenda as Hudson, Duval, or Mahon. By printing this in GalNet that group is now cast as terrorists and murderers instead of dastardly pirates. That seems unfair to me. Before, If I wanted to play as a pirate I could fancy myself as a cargo redistribution specialist. Now, I'd be just thrown in with murderers. If I've missed some important plot point, I'm sorry. Otherwise this is a calamitous remapping of an entire role playing class.
Yes, you are correct. Piracy in and of itself is a core part of Elite and its lore, and will surely continue to be such. Your participation in piracy does not in and of itself does not make you a "murderer" or anything worse than a "cargo redistribution specialist" if that's what you want to call yourself.
That said, casting Archon as a simple pirate doesn't do justice to the character FD built for him. He's not just a pirate in the terms you consider piracy. He is the quintessential "bad guy" that was set up for everyone to hate. Call me prejudiced because of my Imperial point of view, but I feel any attempt to give Archon a veneer of legitimacy goes against the character FD appears to have built.
Here are some snippets from the GalNet articles FD published on Archon (not player submitted articles) as they prepared for Powerplay.
First article:
14-May-3301 - "A talented tactician, and a brutal fighter, Archon famously assumed leadership of the Kumo Crew at the tender age of 15 after violently beating the previous leader to death during a clan moot.
So far, the Kumo Crew have shown no interest in taking direct control over any of the regions they’ve plundered. Instead, they’ve taken to sending regular raiding parties to collect tithes on behalf of the Crew. Systems who agree to their demands are spared, while those who refuse are burnt to the ground.
All attempts to stop the spread of the crew throughout the Pegasi Sector have so far met with failure. The Kumo Crew are described as being well armed, psychotic and thus extremely dangerous."
Archon was introduced as a "
Villain, murderer, madman." - 3-JUN-3301
It was said that: "
Those who find themselves blocking the Kumo Crew’s spread throughout the Pegasi sector will pay the price for their defiance." - 18 JUN 3301
Archon's methods are not that of the "normal pirate" simply wanting your cargo:
24 JUL 3301 - "Reports coming in from the sector indicate that the Kumo Crew are now operating in over 160 different systems, with millions of people being forced to pay the pirates for protection, or else risk death or dismemberment for failing to do so."
This refugee crisis was discussed way back in June:
23-JUN-3301 - "Thousands of Pegasi sector civilians were forced to evacuate their homes last week, following a series of brutal raids carried out in the name of Archon Delaine."
Pranav Antal was
quoted stating:
23-JUN-3301 - “Their greed, their jealousy… these are the things that drive the Kumo to try to own, control and destroy everything they see.”
“This desire for base things has led the crew down a dark path, one which has caused much pain for the people of Pegasi. We at Utopia understand their sorrow, their troubles, and we want to help.”
“Agents of Utopia are seeking to open a new commune in Hip 116213. Once approved, our engineers will begin the dangerous process of establishing an enlightened defence against the uncivilised horde.”
FD baited both the Federation and the Empire to fight the Kumo Crew:
23-JUN-3301 - "Some resilient residents have attempted to reach out to the Federation and Empire homeworlds for assistance, but so far, their pleas for help have gone unanswered. This leaves the
question on everyone’s lips: who will stop the Kumo Crew?"
Empire bait:
13-JUN-3301 - Exactly what the Kumo Crew plans to do with the Imperial Slaves is unknown, although given how much the Kumo Crew were paying for them it’s almost certainly not going to be pleasant.
Federation bait:
24-JUN-3301 - Almost 20 billion members of the Federation live within territory that has now been claimed by the Kumo Crew. Despite this, the Federation has yet to take an official stance on the Pirate King’s activities.
GalNet reached out to the Federal Navy for comment and was informed that:
“The Navy is aware of the situation in the Pegasi sector. The issue will be resolved in due course, but we are unable to divulge any operational details at this time.”
Here's a collection of all Archon / Pegasi Sector related articles:
From Backwater to Front-Page News: A History of the Pegasi Sector
Hope that answers your implied question:
If I've missed some important plot point, I'm sorry.
