The Migrant Fleet [MIGRANTS] - Organizations

History

On August 9, 2681, Armitage in the Orion system was under a surprise attack by a Vanduul raiding party. The planet fell quickly, and the United Earth Empire abandoned all hope of recapturing the colony. Cities were destroyed and families were murdered, but not everyone who called Armitage home was there to witness the horror.

The Armitage Trade Fleet, a flotilla of around twenty ships, was away on a trip to the Stanton System when captains heard the news that their system had fallen to the Vanduul horde. While most of the Fleet was in silent shock, the crew of the Heritage broke formation and flew themselves into the system’s star seeking to join their Armitage comrades in death.

Horrified by the actions of the Heritage’s crew, the rest of the Fleet agreed to initiate a state of martial law to protect the lives and cargo of the remaining ships. Captains of the ships agreed that the overall direction of the Fleet should be determined by a group of Admirals. These Admirals would each command a portion of the Fleet under the oversight of a High Admiral. While the Captains created this central power, they still decided that they would have total control over their own ships so long as it did not endanger the rest of the Fleet. This mutually beneficial relationship between ships and the rest of the Fleet has endured for over two and a half centuries.

Over time, the Fleet grew with new ships and citizens. Citizens, or “Migrants” as they are known to outsiders, are from many backgrounds. Some are direct descendants of the original Armitage Trade Fleet, while others are newcomers or descendants of those who joined the Fleet. The Fleet still practices its trading heritage, and nearly every ship is marked somewhere with the unofficial motto “Never Forget Armitage” that was introduced thirteen years after the Fall of Armitage.

More recently following the Vanduul raid on Vega and Admiral Bishop’s moving speech, some citizens of the Fleet decided to go on hiatus and enlist in the Empire’s navy to do their part. Lending their mechanical and flight expertise, our Fleet is well represented in the military. It is said that many captains in the navy even write letters asking for a Migrant to be transferred to their ship. Nearly every ship in the Fleet has at least one person who has enlisted, including the High Admiral himself who, like many others, recognize that if the Empire fell to the Vanduul then the Fleet would too.

Manifesto

“The Migrant Fleet has survived nearly three centuries safely because of cooperation. We look forward to what the future will hold for us.”
-High Admiral Patchateeka

Just as the Armitage Trade Fleet did two and a half centuries ago, the Migrant Fleet as it is known today still stands as a remarkably strong coalition of ships bound together with a common desire to survive out in the void of space. Traveling as a flotilla of ships ranging from giant Reclaimers and Hull E-class vessels to nimble Heralds and Auroras, the Migrant Fleet visits new systems every Earth-standard week. As the Migrant Fleet travels from system to system, resources are extracted from any viable location for the improvement of the Fleet. While the Fleet’s destination is not always publicly broadcasted, the Fleet welcomes temporary visitors, long term affiliates, and new citizens at all times.

While Captains are free to determine for themselves how their ship will handle its daily functions, the Admiralty Board provides general direction for the entire Fleet. While this is unusual when compared to most groups where micromanaging is common, it has proved fruitful for the Migrant Fleet which sees benefits to this arrangement almost daily. There is no collective bank of assets either; Captains and Admirals own their own ships, and the profits of their combined efforts are distributed fairly. Some have compared their culture of self-determination and nomadic traveling as similar to the buccaneers that sailed Earth’s Caribbean sea over 1,200 years ago, but similarities are few and far between. Others have compared the Fleet to the Banu that travel through space selling anything that can earn them a profit.

The unofficial motto of the Fleet, “Never Forget Armitage”, is more than a saying to most citizens who are direct descendants of the Armitage Trade Fleet. The Admirality board has expressed an interest in organizing an effort to retake Armitage to the leadership of the United Earth Empire, but the Fleet has yet to receive a positive reply.

Charter

The Honourable Captains and Admiralty Board of the Migrant Fleet hereby present the Charter of the Migrant Fleet. Henceforth, all members of the Fleet will be subject to the Charter of the Fleet and expected to follow the guidelines within. No citizen of the Fleet will be punished without trial, and no citizen of the Fleet is above the Charter. Non-citizens shall obey the Charter while within reasonable distance of the Fleet and aboard its ships.

Chapter 1: The Fleet

Section A: The Admiralty Board

The Fleet shall be governed by a council of five Admirals and one High Admiral chosen by their predecessors at the time of their abdication. The Admirals and High Admiral are collectively known as the Admiralty Board. Admirals shall determine the destination of the Fleet, coordinate Fleet activities, and assist the High Admiral in commanding groups of ships for the prosperity and defense of the Fleet. Admirals can act independently of the High Admiral when direction is not explicitly given and the need arises. Admirals are both the judge and jury in trials that involve two or more ships and will determine punishment in criminal cases. The High Admiral will settle all ties.

Section B: Captains

The Captains of the Fleet govern their own ships. Any criminal activity on one ship will be handled by the Captain. Captains are expected to work cooperatively but ultimately can determine for themselves what is best for their own ship so long as it does not interfere with the safety of the Fleet.

Section C: Lieutenants

Lieutenants are typically second in commands of ships but may also captain a ship owned by another Captain.

Section D: Crewmembers

Crew members comprise the crew of ships. Ship owners who do not actively use their own ships are often classified as crewmembers until they register their ship with the Fleet Registrar and actively use it.

Section E: Affiliates

Ship captains and crew members who are not actively registered with the Fleet Registrar as citizens of the Fleet but wish to remain affiliated will be classified as Affiliates. These are not citizens of the Fleet.

Chapter 2: Laws of the Fleet

Section A: Theft

Theft of ships and/or assets owned by members of the Fleet is a criminal offence with varying degrees of severity in punishment. Ship theft is a capital offense and trials will be governed by the Admiralty. Theft of non-ship assets that occurs between two ships will result in a trial governed by the Admiralty, while theft that occurs on one ship will result in a trial governed by the Captain of the ship it occurred on. Each may have any varying degree of punishment. Captains that decide to leave the Fleet on their own accord will have the ability to do so and will not be subject to trials involving theft.

Section B: Murder

In all murder cases, the Admiralty will govern trials. The Admiralty Board and Captains and their crew will be allowed to defend themselves and those around them. Self defense and protecting the Fleet are reasonable defenses and may be considered by the Admiralty Board during trial.

Chapter 3: Punishment

Section A: Single Ship Incidents

With the exception of ship theft and murder, Captains will have the privilege of setting laws aboard their own ships so long as they do not conflict with the Charter of the Migrant Fleet. Furthermore, Captains will be able to determine for themselves suitable punishment for any trials they oversee aboard their own ships.

Section B: Multiple Ship Incidents

The Admiralty will oversee any incident that occurs between ships as well as any cases of ship theft and murder.

Section C: Capital Punishment

The Migrant Fleet and all ships within will never seek to execute any citizen or non-citizen. All criminals deemed too dangerous to the Fleet shall be marooned on the nearest habitable planet.

Section D: Non-Citizens

All non-citizens, including Affiliates, who break a law of the Fleet will be blacklisted without trial. Should any non-citizen feel they were wrongfully blacklisted, they can file a request for a review with any Admiral. These reviews will be handled at the discretion of the Admiralty.

Chapter 4: Addendum

Section A: Updating the Charter

The Admiralty has the privilege of updating the Charter. The Captains of the Fleet have the right to be made aware of any changes to the Charter. Lieutenants and crew members have the responsibility of being aware of any changes made.

Section B: Blacklist

A blacklist of those the Fleet will officially not trade, communicate, or give refuge to will be maintained. All Captains will be notified of any changes to the blacklist and will be asked to distribute the information to the crews. While there is no mandate preventing anyone from trading with those listed, it is a generally inadvisable to engage in activities with those blacklisted.

The Migrant Fleet / MIGRANTS