Free Traders

The Free Traders are “Family owned” trading ships that are members of a clan. In turn, they operate loosely under a self-governance structure called a 'Nebula'.

There are currently 11 Nebulas of Free Traders, each with seven to eleven clans, and each clan claiming thirty-five to fifty ships.

Free Trader ships are family-owned trade ships that ply the stars along trade routes within known space. Each family ship tends to have attributes in common with their clan but they are also customized to the preference of the families that crew the ships. Some ships opt for stronger defensive systems, others for larger cargo capacity or stronger engines for more speed. Most ships are bulk freighter ships but there are many ships that also cater to transporting passengers or livestock. Sometimes the most important commodity carries the least weight and takes up little to no space. All Free Trader ships deal in information. Mail, electronic lock-boxes, high ranking officials and upper management members of large corporations – everything seems to have a need to get from point A to point B.

Each ship is its own micro-village, with crews made up in family-sized units, the norm being 2-3 spouses and their offspring. The average crew size on the larger bulk freighters is normally around two hundred members. The Free Traders invest heavily in the education of their children. Along with maintaining approved standards within the federated planets of math and science, The People place a strong emphasis in trade, languages, and cultures of the different races they have trade relations with. No one who has lived most of their life aboard ship takes safety lightly, so all Free Trader ships add additional training in safety procedures that pertain to their ship and in the use of vacuum suites. As children reach the age of apprenticeship they receive general training in departments aboard ship of which they show a strong aptitude for.

To reduce genetic problems due to in-breeding, each Clan has a gathering every two years and each Nebula has a gathering every five years. The gatherings are opportunities for young adults to find mates and move amongst the ships to meet crew needs within the family ships of a Clan or Nebula. Gatherings are also used for political issues to be resolved, elected offices to be filled, and new ships to be sponsored.

Every twenty-five years there is a Grand Gathering – where all of the ships from all of the Nebulas are invited.

All three types of gatherings, Clan, Nebula, and Grand, are heavily solicited by Planets from all of known space to hold their gatherings, as Free Traders bring a wealth of business that helps to stimulate local economies. You will often find multitudes of vendors and representatives from ship yards plus companies specializing in Ship-board systems and weapons upgrade packages at the Nebula and Grand gatherings.

The Eleven Nebula:

• Houston
• Eagle
• Orion
• Warrior
• Iron Maiden
• Ring
• Walker
• Giant
• Helix
• Cherry Blossom
• Spartan

Clan Stone belongs to the Houston Nebula and has forty-three ships.

• FTS Ka-hah-zay Twelik
• FTS New Coin

Clan Morkius belongs to the Iron Maiden Nebula

• FTS Winged Freedom

The following Star Fleet member belongs to the Free Traders: Benjamin Johnathon Stonewall