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[Pirate Log]
[Entry 001: Space Pirate Society]

As noted in the species thread, the Space Pirates follow a highly specialized, highly rigid society.

For starters, the entire species, along with any other persons who participate in it, adhere to a rigorous caste system, based on promotion and skill. Instead of being born into a specific caste, they must earn it.

From birth, every Space Pirate is equal to every other. The infant pirates are raised communally by the species as a hold, and have no concept of family life. From the get go, the Pirates know only their species, and short of performing genetic tests, have no clue who their actual family is.

The caste system is as follows:

High Command
Field Command
High Research
Elite and Commando Units
Specialty Units
Soldiers
Research
Handlers
Slaves

High Command: High Command serves as the focal point for the entire Space Pirate Species. Led in secret by the Mother Brain, High Command consists of those Space Pirates proven irreplacable in research, military, or command. Qualifications for being a member of High Command usually amount to explicit success on no less than 36 missions, as well as various promotions. Notable members of High Command include to of it's generals: Kraid and Ridley.

Field Command: While High Command pulls all the strings, organizes the campaigns, and gets the funding, Field Command is comprised of the actual leaders who work on the front lines, leading their armies to battle. These include the Pirate Commanders and the Omega Pirate.

High Research: High Research is in charge with coming up with new technology and creating it. It was High research who reverse-engineered Samus' suit, and High research who discovered the applications for Phaezon.

Elite and Commando Units: When a job needs getting done that requires maximum force, but disposable personel, you send in these guys. They are armed with the best weapons and training the Pirates can afford. Think Elite Pirates, Phaezon Elites, Berzerk Pirates, Berzerker Lords, and Commando Pirates. Also includes Field Agents.

Specialty Units: When a job requires a certain amount of finesse, you send in these people. They have gear and training exclusive to specific roles, but aren't overall-exceptional warriors. These include the various Beam Troopers, Shadow Troopers, Jet, and Aqua Troopers.

Soldiers: Everyone else who's in the rank and file of the Space Pirate Military. The vast majority of these are simple Space Pirates, armed only with a wristblaster and energy scythe. When a suicide mission or distraction is needed, these are the grunts.

Research: High Research develops the tech: Research tests it out. Armed with a bit of combat training and technical know-how, these are little more than glorified guinea pigs.

Handlers: An obscure caste, the Handlers are in charge with feeding and maintaining all Space Pirate forces, equipment, beasts, and slaves. Applicable terms include "Gang Bosses," "Slavers," "Mechanics," and "Animal Handlers."

Slaves: Space Pirates are renown for their use of slave labor to maintain their war machine. Often times Prisoners of War, these beings are used for labor whenever Pirates lives aren't worth the effort, or machinery can't be used.

After birth and childhood, Space Pirates join their society working menial jobs aboard relatively safe areas: working as errand boys on space stations, or handlers on docile animals, etc. As they age, they learn and develop skills for other jobs, and naturally assume them due to promotion and job selection.

Fraternization between castes is limited only on a professional level. When on break or during free time, most pirates fraternize only with those in their own caste.

[Pirate Log]
[Entry 003: Space Pirate Jobs]

In the military, the Space Pirates have various ranks for their soldiers, along with the equipment and weapons they come with.

Researcher- Space Pirates who focus more on intellect than power, these individuals design and test the various Space Pirate weaponry.

Space Pirate- Your typical Space Pirate is just that; a space pirate. They are well-practiced in combat and piracy techniques, and being cunning and intelligent, are also adept at using most weapons and technology. They serve many roles, from guards to soldiers to scientists to animal handlers. They are quite common and weak as far as the Pirate forces are concerned.

Pirate Trooper- Space Pirates armed with durable armor and weaponry, Troopers are the enforcers of the Space Pirates. They serve as security forces in the more sensitive areas, where specialized troopers can't function.

Beam Trooper- Using special reverse-engineering technology, a Pirate Trooper is armed with a variant of Samus' Power Beam. Though not as strong as the original weapon, the armor is only vulnerbale to the power beam.

Wave Trooper- Same as the Beam Trooper but with the Wave Beam.

Ice Trooper- Same as the Beam Trooper but with the Ice Beam.

Plasma Trooper- Same as the Beam trooper but with the Plasma Beam.

Aerotrooper- A Trooper armed with a rocket-powered jetback that allows him to hover and fly. They can easily be picked up by thermal scanning and are armed with missle launchers.

Aqua Trooper- As it's name implies, a Trooper that is armed with a jetpack that functions underwater, along with a variant of the Gravity Suit that allows them to function better underwater. They share the same weaknesses as the Jet Trooper.

Shadow Trooper- A Space Pirate armed only with an energy scythe and a cloaking shield, these invisible pirates rely on thermal scanning to track down prey in dark areas. Because of their cloaking armor, they also give off extreme heat signatures, and thus can be tracked this way.

Pirate Commando- Elite pirate forces trained specifically to hunt hostile threats. Armed with exceptional training, energy shields, defensive armor, EMP Grenades, a missle launcher, and energy sycthe, these Pirates are among the fiercest.

Elite Pirate- Pirates mutated and raised on radiactive energy, these monstrosities are huge. Armed with shoulder cannons and energy siphon systems, they are the largest of the normal pirates, and possess great strength; strength enough to cause mild earthquakes in the surround area with a mere slam of their fists. They are quick to anger, and so can venture into berzerker rages and thus lose what little sanity they have left.

Phazon Elite- Version II of the Elite Pirate, the Phazon Elite is a much stronger variant, although more dependant on mutation for nourishment and strength. They lack weaponry of any kind, and so rely on their raw, formidable power and size.

Berserker Knight A Space Pirate Heavily Mutated by Phazon to grow to a colossal size, they have heavy armor and increased strength ruthlessness due to phazon mutation. They will knock teammates out of the way in order to get to their intended victim. They are a force to be reconned with, though their weakpoint is in their back, protected by Phazite Armor that must be removed.

Field Agent- Field Agents are a special sect of Commandos. Instead of working in teams, like most other commandos, these work solo, doing various small jobs on behalf of the Field Command or High Command. They can gather specimens, perform research, act as spies, or simply, be one man armies and take down opposing enemies.

Omega Pirate- The largest, most fearsome pirates. Evil and cunning, they suffer little from radioactive exposure, and instead grow stronger from it, and can even heal wounds when exposed to raw radiation sources. They are armed with shoulder mounted cannons, a cloaking device, and energy siphon systems. Additionally, they can also cause earthquakes, and their sole weak spot is their heart, which can only be hit when their Phazon Armor is removed.

Pirate Commander- Pirates with the best skills and weaponry available, along with unparalleled armor. A single Commander is said to be a match for the Hunter herself, and is nearly as well protected. Cloaking shield, red phazite armor, energy sycthe, arm cannon, missile launcher.