The Pirates
The Pirates are descendants of Earth criminals that were sentenced to
hard labor, and were sent to mining operations on the moons of the outer
planets. With the creation of Neo sapiens, whose physical abilities made
them better slaves, the pirate ancestors were abandoned on those moons.
They survived, however, and were able to build spaceships of their own,
so that they could attack other (mostly Earth) ships and steal whatever
they needed or wanted. Many of them developed a sense of hatred for the
Terrans (who lived in luxury) and the ExoFleet (whose sole purpose
seemed to be to hunt them), and often the feeling was mutual.
The Pirates discovered a tenth planet in our own solar system, and named
it Chaos. This planet is made up entirely of dark matter, and the Pirates
have used it to create cloaking devices for their ships. The dark matter
has had psychological side effects which result in aggressive and violent
tendencies (Dark Matter Syndrome).
The Pirates had apparently organized themselves into clans, and Jonas
Simbacca is currently their leader, although many aspire to the position.
Both the ExoFleet and the Neo sapien Commonwealth wished to have them as
allies, and opinion within the clans was split. Typhonus' treachery
caused them to side with the ExoFleet, and their decision was the
turning point which eventually led to an ExoFleet victory in the war.
Their contribution to the alliance (in return for the planet Mars
once the war was concluded) were ships with cloaking ability (including
Winfield's flagship, the Resolute II) and use of Port Chaos.
Pirate Profiles
Jonas
Simbacca
Jonas Simbacca is the leader of the Pirate Clans, a highly sought after
position which makes him the target of internal conspiracies. He
apparently established himself as a young warrior, and it has not been
revealed how he attained the position. He proceeded to become the most
feared man in the solar system by successfully leading the Pirates on a
campaign of escalating attacks against Terran vessels. He was so
effective in orchestrating these assaults that a special task force was
created within the ExoFleet for the sole purpose of exterminating the
Pirate threat. When the Neo sapien War began he kept the Pirates out of
the conflict until both sides sought to acquire them as allies. It was at
this time that he was captured by the Neo sapiens, who wished to compel
the Pirates to join their side. After Marsh, DeLeon, and Hallas helped
him escape, he began to negotiate with Winfield to bring the Pirates into
the War on the side of the ExoFleet. After being guaranteed that Mars
would be given to the Pirates at the War's end, he accepted the position
of Captain aboard Winfield's flagship, the Resolute II. Simbacca was
treated for Dark Matter Syndrome after Hallas had attempted, but failed,
to assassinate him.
Simbacca is a skillful leader, who by force of will is able to hold
together the different clans, which are comprised of people with
differing loyalties and agendas. His preferred method of attack is the
hit-and-run. He normally organizes his defenses with the intention of
baiting his enemy into a trap from which they cannot escape. These
methods were originally designed for dealing with the ExoFleet, but his
experience with fighting a superior enemy was no doubt an important
contribution to the alliance. He has respect for those ExoFleet officers
who can think like Pirates. Simbacca realizes the importance of having
skilled people in the appropriate positions, sometimes in spite of rank
or experience.
Perhaps because he has received treatment for Dark Matter Syndrome,
perhaps because of his age, Simbacca seems ready to coexist with his
allies once the war is over. Unlike his fellow Pirates, many of whom seem
to enjoy fighting for its own sake, Simbacca always knows what he wishes
to accomplish (although he does enjoy matching wits with other great
military minds). He looks forward to profiting from the opportunities to
make money that he anticipates will be available after the war.
Hallas
Hallas is a young pirate, who appeared poised to quickly climb through
their ranks. He was chosen to be one of the first select few pirates to
learn to operate an e-frame. He was then convinced to attempt an
assassination of the pirate clan leader Simbacca by Barca, who convinced
him that Simbacca saw Hallas as a potential threat to his leadership and
would try to have the young officer killed. After failing, Simbacca
grudgingly spared his life, and even made him second officer on the
pirate destroyer, Scavenger. Although he suffered major neural damage
when shot by Barca while attempting to save both Able Squad and the
Resolute II, he had recovered by the end of the war. Although he played no
major role in the Neo sapien War, he is likely to be a factor in any
future conflict.
Hallas is somewhat arrogant, regarding his own abilities and his heritage
as a pirate. He generally disdains members of the ExoFleet, although he
developed a certain measure of respect for Marsh, who provided his
e-frame training and intervened with Simbacca on his behalf. He has been
described by DeLeon as emotionally immature, and he reminds Weston of
Kaz. Barca, who was once his friend, saw great potential in him even
though he is currently an "undisciplined boy". Hallas has expressed a
desire to not receive treatment for Dark Matter Syndrome, which results
in aggressive and violent tendencies, but whether or not he ever would
is difficult to say, especially since it might be the only way to a
complete recovery from the aforementioned neural damage.
Barca
Barca is a member of the Pirate Clans who did not agree with the decision
to come into the war on the side of the ExoFleet. This opinion was based
not only on past hatred for the ExoFleet, but also the fact that if the
Pirates had joined the Neo sapien cause, their victory would have been
assured, while in allying themselves with the ExoFleet victory was not a
foregone conclusion. Therefore Barca struck a bargain with Phaeton. For
Barca's covert assistance the Pirates would receive Venus (which was
preferable to Mars, the planet promised to the Pirates by Winfield) at
the end of the war if the Neo sapiens emerged triumphant.
Although the Phaeton had no intention of fulfilling his side of the
bargain, Barca did much to hinder the ExoFleet. On various occasions he:
killed fellow Pirate and formidable warrior Jubail, convinced Hallas to
assassinate Simbacca (which failed), constantly provided information to
the Neo sapiens, planted a bomb that crippled the Resolute II, led
ExoFleet forces into traps, and conspired with Typhonus to get a ship
laden with explosives close enough to the Resolute II to destroy it
(during which he himself was killed). The death of Barca and the crew that
followed him (in "Fire Ship") is a severe loss to Phaeton, as there are
no more acts of sabotage seen being performed to obstruct the ExoFleet
from then on.
Originally Barca seemed content to control events from behind the scenes,
trying to manipulate Jubail and Hallas into acting to achieve his ends.
As time progressed, however, he began to aspire to leadership, and hoped
to claim it once the war ended victoriously for the Neo sapiens. We can
assume that he did earn his rank as Captain of a Pirate Destroyer in a
manner considered appropriate by a pirate because many of the pirates
that we see are either openly on his side (his crew on the Avenger),
share his opinions regarding the ExoFleet (those seen in Port Chaos), or
are his friends anyway (Jubail, Hallas).
Jubail
Jubail was one of the most powerful pirates, as well as a skilled
warrior. It is likely that he was leader of one of the clans, which is
why his only superior was Simbacca (who is referred to as Leader of [all] the
Pirate Clans). He has emerged victorious from engagements against both
the ExoFleet and the Neo sapiens. The latter achievement was when
Simbacca had been captured by the Neo sapiens, and although Marsh,
DeLeon, and Hallas boarded the Neo sapien vessel, it was an assault led
by Jubail on the Neo sapien ships that allowed for their safe escape.
This action was despite the fact that Barca attempted to persuade him to
let Simbacca die, since Jubail was Simbacca's most likely successor.
Although Jubail did hope to one day ascend to leadership of the Pirate
Clans, he felt it would be cowardly of him to not do the job of removing
Simbacca himself.
Jubail had been one of the more outspoken opponents of an alliance with
the ExoFleet, and he challenged Simbacca to a duel to the death to
decide the matter. Simbacca chose Marsh to fight on his behalf, and
because Marsh was victorious and spared Jubail's life, Jubail owed
Marsh a debt. Jubail repaid this debt by not pressing charges
against Torres (who hated Jubail because he had killed her fellow
ExoPilots and left her to die in a battle years earlier) for attacking
him. Although he did not like the ExoFleet, he was enraged when he
discovered that Barca was spying for the Neo sapiens, and he was shot and
killed by Barca in the fight which ensued. Barca said afterwards that
Jubail was the traitor. Jubail's record may have been cleared after
Barca's treachery became known.
Jubail seemed to be a mouthpiece for the majority of Pirates who neither
liked nor trusted the ExoFleet. Although he did not like Simbacca or
Simbacca's decisions (when he felt they conflicted with the good of the
Pirates as a whole or the wishes of the majority of clan members), Jubail
gave him the respect that was due to a leader who had earned his
position. This is why Simbacca was shocked to find out that Jubail was
supposedly a traitor. Although he seemed to have a reputation as someone
whom you would not want as an enemy, Jubail had nonetheless acquired
many.
Return to Personnel Files Menu.
Or return to Patrick Danner's ExoSquad page.
Did you notice any inaccuracies? Would you like to challenge my
interpretations? Would you like to write a biography of your favorite
character? Mail me, Patrick
Danner.
pdanner@force.stwing.upenn.edu