Caveat Emptor

A pirate is a man who is a criminal everywhere he goes. A trader is a criminal everywhere but in his home space. Beyond that, there is little difference between the two groups.

Traders are the merchants of the stars. Some are old crooks, some are new ones, but every single one of them is flying a ship for the profit of it.

Free Traders as a group share a disdain for the various imperial navies and merchant fleets, and a universal hatred of corsairs and piracy. The near-constant warfare of the core and second sphere leaves the pirates empowered with letters of marque, the imperial merchants fleets with warshi protection, and the Free Traders stuck in the middle. It is not a position they like, but they are proud of the 'Free' part of their predicament. If a few extra thousand spent each cycle on weaponry and barding defenses is the only price of admission for the Free Traders club, then most are willing to pay.