Major Organized Crime Syndicates

by Dr. Park Byung-Heon
Deputy Director of Operations, Megacorp Intelligence Bureau
Presented at the 52nd Annual Symposium on Interstellar Law Enforcement, New Boston, 2149

The Zionist Crusade

Seen as monsters by the Terrans, angels by the people they have liberated, and unfortunate but necessary allies by the Akashans, the Zionist Crusade is considered by many as the most controversial and most dangerous organization in the Known Sphere. The Crusade is a group fueled and unified by their fanatical hatred of the Terrans. They have two goals: first, to liberate all the people of Zion from bondage and to return them to their homeland; and second, to destroy the Terran Military Order.

Organized as a group of independent, loosely affiliated cells, the Crusade has launched a massive and unprecedented campaign of terror and mayhem against the Order that continues to the present day. Although the President of the Church of the Chosen and the Council of Twelve Apostles direct general Crusade policy and coordinate the actions of various cells, individuals cells are capable of sustaining themselves independently for years or even decades. Unlike the hierarchical Yakuza, members of Zionist cells are relative co-equals, led by a First Brother elected from their ranks. Only individuals born into the Church are eligible to become Crusaders.

Incredibly dedicated to their cause and shockingly brutal in their methods, the Crusaders have been disturbingly successful, despite the best and most abominable efforts of the Terran Security Agency. The Crusade was instrumental in helping to pry free dozens of worlds from the grasp of the Terran Military Order, and they provided invaluable aid to the Akashan Republic, gathering key military intelligence during the Unification Wars and generally keeping a large portion of the Terran Federal Army occupied and off balance. However, in the process, they have also killed tens of millions of civilians.

Near the beginning of the 22nd century, the Akashan Republic cut off support to the Zionists as the former's relationship with the Terran Military Order improved and the latter's methodology became increasingly extreme and brutal. As a result, the Crusade needed new sources of income to continue their fight with the Terrans. They developed strong links to the underworld, generating billions of M-Creds annually from smuggling, drug trafficking, assassination, and other even less savory activities.

The Crusade's underworld activities ended during the Second Unification War as the Republic provided massive funding and all Crusaders were reassigned to fighting the Terrans. However, as Akashan assistance dropped off after the end of the Second War, the Zionists once again are active competitors for control of the underworld. With decades of Akashan training and technology and toughened by their wartime experience, the Crusaders' slice of the pie has grown dramatically, although, given their extremely secretive nature and stringent membership requirements (the Terran Security Agency has tried in vain for decades to infiltrate the Crusade, losing dozens of their best operatives in the process), some experts feel that they are approaching the natural limit of their power.

The Yakuza

The Yakuza, or "Yak" as they are commonly called, are the largest organized crime syndicate in the Known Sphere, with a presence on every major planet in the galaxy. They have been the lords of the underworld for decades, but their prominent position is under massive assault from the incredible increase in the size and strength of the Zionist Crusade's criminal activities since the end of the Second Unification War. Hard on the heels of the destruction of the Italian and Russian mafias, this challenge from the Zionists has many oyabun fearing for the continued existence of the Yak. After hardline elements recently seized control, a bloody purge of their senior leadership is now underway.

The Yakuza are an ancient crime organization originating from different elements of traditional society in feudal Japan. However, the Yak are a gestalt entity, evolving to keep pace with the times, such as riding the wave of ultra-nationalism during the Pacific War between the American Hegemony and the Empire of Japan. Unsurprisingly, Yakuza use the traditional Japanese hierarchy of oyabun (father) and kobun (children). Each oyabun, or gang boss, leads his particular group of underlings, the kobun. The kobun, in turn, are ranked as elder or younger brothers. The oyabun is all-powerful within the clan and his word is the law.

Once accepted into the Yakuza, members cut their family ties and swear their loyalty to their gang boss. Although non-Japanese members are easily accepted into the Yakuza, as a rule, the upper levels of leadership are dominated by those of Japanese descent.

In the past, the Yak were often easily recognizable because of their flamboyant attire, although this practice has dropped off after a rash of assassinations by the Zionists. Yakuza are also known for their extensive use of tattoos.

Unique among major organized crime syndicates, on a considerable number of worlds, yakuza racketeering operations are considered semi-legitimate. The Yakuza view this as the collection of a feudal tax, an extension of part of their origin as communal police forces. On worlds with a sizable Yakuza presence, the Yak often mobilize disaster relief faster than the government.

The Harmonious Society for Galactic Peace

The Harmonious Society for Galactic Peace is an enormous sect (some would say "cult") founded by the charismatic Reverend Kwame "Papa" Touré, whose fiery sermons are broadcast weekly across the Known Sphere. Touré is almost singlehandedly responsible for the Society's meteoric rise from a tiny congregation on the remote colony of Lynchburg to a rabid fellowship of millions throughout the galaxy.

The Reverend has, by his own account, led a most remarkable life: a genius-level IQ of 180, decorated war hero, galactic champion athlete, fluent in eleven languages, and highly accomplished as a scientist, inventor, philosopher, film director, and fearless space explorer. And, Society members are quick to add, his triumphs as a writer and a messiah are irrefutable. When hearing his life story, most people are quick to assume that Touré is a pathological liar or some breed of megalomaniac, because it certainly does seem hard to believe. However, his followers have meticulously and painstakingly researched their founder's biography and obtained all the necessary documentation to prove their claims beyond a shadow of a doubt. Regrettably, this paperwork has yet to see the light of day.

Ruling the Society with an iron fist, Papa Touré is a highly controversial figure: Some critics allege that he is more con artist than religious leader. Others describe the Reverend as a billionaire plutocrat who exploits his followers, both to generate his immense personal wealth and to serve as political shock troops. Among many, many other things, he has been accused of brainwashing, breaking up families by aggressively "encouraging" young people to break off contact with the outside world, and sell trinkets to raise money for the Society, and defrauding millions of senior citizens of their life savings through his followers' "spiritual sales."

As a result, Papa and/or the Society are the subject of thousands of ongoing criminal investigations. Unsurprisingly, many star systems have declared the Reverend persona non grata and banned him from visiting.

The Reverend's supporters vehemently denounce criticism of him and the Society as unfounded attacks from the "liberal media" and steadfastly assert that he is a shining paragon of virtue battling to liberate the galaxy from sin. At the same time, to expand his influence into the political arena, Touré has acquired a number of sizable media outlets. However, these outlets' neutrality and credibility have been severely criticized and met with skepticism. Thus, they merely serve as a mouthpiece for the Society and to promote or condemn various individuals and causes that the Reverend backs or opposes, respectively. In addition to his media push, the Reverend annually donates billions of M-Creds through the Society to various political figures throughout the galaxy, prompting campaign finance concerns.

Quilombos de Liberdade

A strange alliance of anti-establishment rebels on New Leopold, the Quilombos de Liberdade also control one of the largest illegal drug empires in the galaxy, which they use to finance their struggle to oust the ruling regime in Kurtzville. The seeds for the Quilombos' genesis were first planted nearly thirty years ago after a massive ecological disaster ravaged the once prosperous colony of Katanga, leaving millions destitute and the local economy in shambles.

Into the breach stepped the Association Internationale de Katanga, a supposedly humanitarian and philanthropic organization led by its Chairman, Dr. Leopold Howe. Nonetheless, once entrusted with the planet's care and carefully ensconced in power, Chairman Howe revealed his true motives as he ruthlessly began extracting profits from his "investment." Soon afterward, the Public Peace Bureau was created to enforce the law, maintain order and suppress dissent of the newly renamed colony of New Leopold.

Among the millions sent to Howe's forced labor camps was Keila Cabral, who spent ten years working for the Chairman before escaping to the mountains. However, the rest of her family was not as fortunate. Vowing revenge, Cabral established the first of the rebela groups that would become the Quilombos.

During the first decade of the Chairman's rule, many attempts were made to alert the outside galaxy as to the Katangans plight. These proved unsuccessful, however, as Leopold ran an enormous publicity and disinformation campaign that quelled all rumors. As a result, Quilombos realized that they would have to rely on themselves in their battle against Howe. Without support any of the Great Powers, Quilombos needed hard currency to buy guns, vehicles, and other hardware and turned to the highly lucrative drug trade to generate that currency. With New Leopold reverting from being a Core World to a part of Wild Space, this put Quilombos beyond the direct reach of authorities in their target markets.

Under Cabral's direction, Quilombos established a monopoly on drug production and trafficking by ruthlessly slaughtering any and all potential rivals. At the same time, she became a local folk hero by spending billions of M-Creds to provide schools, hospitals, clothing and other basic necessities to needy Katangans. This has inspired fierce loyalty among the indigs, dramatically hindering the Public Peace Bureau's attempts to stop Cabral, though they did claim to kill her after firebombing the entire village of Msiri.

However, there are rumors that Cabral is not dead. Quilombos is stronger than ever, and has started directly attacking Kurtzville. Perhaps not coincidentally, over the last two years, every member of the joint agency task force assembled to assassinate her has died under violent and/or mysterious circumstances.