Gallic Brigands

The Gallic Brigands, otherwise known as the Free Brigands of Gallia, is a loosely affiliated union of experienced criminals and other antisocial elements, many of whom are former Police pilots. The Brigands are known to be the largest criminal organization in Gallia

Synopsis
While Brigands sustain some sort of romantic aura of medieval highway bandits who robbed the rich and gave to the poor, they often do the opposite, robbing smaller shipping companies in favor of larger corporations and their Police protectors. Brigands are numerous, and in large numbers are a force to be reckoned with; together with the Unione Corse, they firmly control all black markets in Gallic space. While the Gallic Brigands avoid political struggle and have no sympathy for the ideals of the Council, it is widely known that they have indirectly assisted Maquis and Council in various operations of the Second Gallic War, including the liberation of Marne.

History
The Gallic Brigands, otherwise known as the Free Brigands of Gallia, is a loosely affiliated union of experienced criminals and other antisocial elements that first appeared in criminal chronicles circa 290 AGS. Most of the Brigands initially came from miserable urban centers located on economically struggling planets like Amiens and Berry where they had underpaid jobs or no job at all. Others were space construction workers, former police officers, convicts, or simply criminals who wished to try their luck in space. While many new people still join the Brigands nowadays, the bulk of the faction's current members are brought up Brigands from their childhood in the families living within numerous asteroid bases that belong to the Brigands, and on Planet Marne. It is unknown how many people in Gallia consider themselves part of the Gallic Brigands, but estimates show that the number could be as high as 300,000 or more.

Despite (or perhaps because of) the huge member count, the Brigands rarely act as an organized force. Rather, each community, or each base, of Brigands has its own leadership and agenda. The Elder Summit, the supposed highest ruling body of the Brigands, is rarely convened and is hardly ever attended by each and every station leader. Yet, all Brigands have a number of common traits: they consider themselves to be free people living without the restraints of Royal law and conservative morals, and most of their income originates from smuggling and piracy. The Brigands currently control a major part of the black market of Gallia, despite the efforts of Unione Corse to change the situation. Their activities in space are usually related to smuggling, escorting ships that pay for protection through pirate-controlled areas, and outright piracy against civilian ships and convoys. The Brigands promote themselves with romantic notions of middle-aged highway bandits who rob the rich and give to the poor, but they customarily do the opposite, preferring to rob smaller companies and freelancing shippers, since large corporations mostly have capable escorts and pay the Police for protection. Many Brigands also receive money from corrupt Police pilots who wish to blackmail certain civilian ships and pay the Brigands to choose their targets with discretion.

The Second Gallic War showed that the Brigands are a military force to be reckoned with. In huge numbers, the Brigands assisted The Council and the Maquis in some of the crucial operations of the war, notably the battles in the Dauphine system in 726-727 AGS. While they usually served as support and rearguard units and did not actively engage the Navy if they were not engaged themselves, their presence alone changed the course of a number of battles. Elder Summits were assembled three times during the war, once on Marne, once at Salbris, and the last time in 732 AGS at Frejus. At those meetings, Brigands chose to support the Council actively, for the war within the Gallic Border Worlds provided extensive economic opportunities and a decline of Police attention. The Brigands also agreed that expanding into Sirius should be a high priority on the faction's agenda. Many Brigands escaped from Languedoc along with the Council in 733 AGS, and established a base of operations in the Roussillon system.

Brigands have no base that serves as their headquarters, and the Elder Council assembles in various locations. Among the leaders of the Brigands, those originating from Marne, Frejus and Boulogne are currently considered the most influental.

Activities
As a pirate organization, the Brigands are involved in some way involved in nearly every illicit activity in Gallia. Rumored to control over three quarters of the black market, they ruthlessly enforce this monopoly. Longtime smugglers between systems, the Brigands have recently increased their profits by running goods for the Council and the Maquis. Independant analysts have stated that the black market has grown by 150% in the last 30 years and that the frequency of pirate attacks have increased threefold in the border worlds. A sudden lack of government opposition due to the Navy's occupation with the Council has allowed the Brigands to expand their operations and develop new markets. They have recently created new bomber class craft and increased their defenses in order to protect themselves for the inevitable counterattack of the Gallic government. It is also widely rumored that the Brigands intend to expand into the newly reunited Sirius Sector.

Bases of Operation
The Brigands have several key bases in the Gallic Border Worlds. In Languedoc there is Narbonne Base, Valence Base in Dauphine, Montbard Base in Burgundy, and Epernay Station in Champagne. With the exception of Epernay, all are asteroid bases, often abandoned by their previous owners. These bases are heavily defended, and not able to afford any measure of mercy to possible foes, the Brigands will shoot first, ask questions later. Of late, the Brigands have had a presence on "liberated" planets like Marne and Quillan, even to the point of controlling a docking ring and mooring station above Marne. The large populations of these planets have provided the Brigands with a new source of recruits, and factories on Marne pump out all of the arms and supplies that the Brigands need.

Known Bases

 * Epernay Station, Champagne
 * Montbard Base, Burgundy
 * Narbonne Base, Languedoc
 * Valence Base, Dauphine