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The Hutt Cartel
History
The Hutt Cartel was a criminal organisation centred around a collection of Hutt crime families, governed by the Grand Hutt Council, a council of elder Hutts who mediated disputes between the families. The Hutt Cartel made its riches through smuggling, protection and a myriad of illegal businesses across Hutt space and the wider galaxy.
With a rich history stretching back to the High Republic Era, the Hutt Cartel has been a constant presence, in one form or another, for centuries. During the era of the High Republic, the Hutt Clans alerted to efforts to spread 'peace and prosperity across the galaxy, came into conflict with the expanding Galactic Republic, as well as the carnivorous Drengir Species and the anarchistic marauder's Nihil, but were not known to venture into Republic space due to sanctions upon them.
By the time of the Clone Wars, the Hutt Cartel was one of the most powerful criminal organisations in the galaxy. The Hutts' had a considerable influence over the Outer Rim, specifically focused on its hyperspace lanes. During the Clone Wars, the Hutt Cartel aligned with the Galactic Republic to counter efforts by the Confederacy, who operated extensively in the Outer Rim. The chaos during the war enabled the Hutts to broaden their efforts and expand their influence into the galaxy's far reaches.
When the Imperial Era arrived, the Cartel was part of the intergalactic criminal organisation known as the Five Syndicates. Around this time, the Hutt Catel was involved in a series of trade wars with the InterGalactic Banking Clan, clashing on multiple occasions with mercenaries operating across Outer Rim worlds such as Tatooine. During this period, the Hutt known as Jabba rose to near total domination of the Cartel, completing his takeover when the other members of the Council were murdered by the Sith Lord, Vader, following the Council ordering an attack on the Sith Starship Executor.
The end of the Imperial Era also saw the end of the 'Desilijic Dominion', a period through which Jabba and his family controlled the Cartel. With Jabbas's assassination at the hands of New Republic Senator Princess Leia, the Hutts entered a period of decline, their power waning across the Outer Rim as rival Hutt families fought over Jabba's legacy.
Other members of the galactic criminal community rose to significant prominence during this era, with the Hutts effectively retreating to the eponymous 'Hutt Space', where they remained in relative isolation. With the advent of the Force Eternal Era, the Hutts attempted to take greater power for themselves under their new leader, Durr, expanding their territory and influence and bringing more tithe-paying worlds under their command.
Around this time, the Hutt, Durr, also developed and deployed the AMS virus to destabilise the galactic community for the Hutt's gain. This backfired, and sometime later, he was assassinated, with the Hutt Lord Nor'baal assuming his position as leader after a period of economic and geopolitical retraction, in which various worlds in Hutt Space were lost to other galactic powers. Nor'baal established the Cartel as an independent syndicate, spreading its influence traditionally, and covertly onto other planets outside of their space, and announced he would use the newfound wealth of the Cartel to solidify their position and 'return to the old ways'.
For near on four decades the Hutt Cartel expanded it's influence over Hutt Space, the region around it and the galactic underworld. They built fleets of warships, vast financial reserves and more. As the years went on it's leaders began to look north for expansion - and that was when the war began. Shortly after the announcement that Emperor Emer-Drast had died, they sent mercenaries to attack Imperial planets.
Peace talks broke out rapidly, with the Hutts securing a very heavily favourable deal - the Cantonica Concordat.
In the modern era, the Hutt Cartel stands as 'Lord' over countless planets, a complex system of tribute held over the billions of 'subjects' ot comands. It has reach into the underworlds of thousands of systems outside of 'Hutt Space', and the Cartel is considered a force of considerable wealth and power in the Galaxy
Politics
Dominated by the Hutt species, the Hutt Cartel is a neo-fuedalistic tyrannic state, in which power is centralised into the hands of 'crime lords', and their enforcers. Led by a Supreme Mogul, each sector is commanded by a Hutt Lord, who in turn oversees a web of Daimyos, or planetary Hutt 'leaders' who oversee and command operations on the planet over which they lord.
Within 'Hutt Space' this power is excersized directly, with a planetary Hutt palace or compound serving as the foci of power on the planet. Here the Hutts control the organs of Government, appointing security chiefs, controlling the ports and much more. They in turn report to senior Hutts of the families, who lord over the Sectors, and they in turn report in to the Supreme Mogul.
Outside of Hutt Space however in places such as the Empire, and factions outside it's direct control the Hutts exercise considerable influence and sway in a different way. Here they dominate the underworld, living in the shadows be that in a cantina, a sail barge or some other form of 'criminal asset'. The Hutts here act as they have done throughout history, controlling the black market, granting patronage to street gangs and keeping the peace in the underworld. Their power varies from mere criminals in some cases, to the de facto masters of the planet they 'command', politicians on their payroll, and entire military and security command structures under their thumb.
The Tribute System
Known as the 'System of Chakaph', the tribute method is how the Hutts 'do the business of Empire' across the planets the lead and the underworlds they dominate.
Since time immemorial Chakaph has been the manner in which business is conducted across the Hutt world's. In quasi-feudal method of economic management and power brokerage, Chakaph ensures that the Hutt Species remain at the top of the food chain, by requiring tribute or patronage to be paid in some form, on any and all business transactions across their domain.
Citizenship for non-Hutts is guaranteed by Chakaph, the right to own a business is guaranteed by Chakaph, residency on a Hutt world likewise. If a credit changes hands, or a deal is done, a Hutt must be included in the deal.
This system works like a pyramid, with junior Hutts paying up the chain to their more senior clan members, who in turn pay clan rulers and thereafter the Hutt Grand Council itself. So well established is the system that the Hutt currency, Wuipui, includes a additional measurement in its value to account for the amount traditionally demanded in Chakaph.
Economy
An economic powerhouse, Hutt Space is dominated by a slave economy, in which raw resources, industrial goods, food and, war material and drugs are produced on mass at a low cost. The Hutts squeeze the largest profits possible, to fuel their hedonism, and power their 'Empire'.
Outside of Hutt space, where relevent, Hutts make their living in the 'old way' - through the underworld.
That means they take 'their cut' from local gangs and criminals, they peddle spice, broker bounties, sell on the black market and much more. Rest assured where credits are made, a Hutt is going to want a look in.
Military & Defence
The Hutts have long sought to avoid open conflict, and they have done so through a combination of fear, corruption and cheating. To that extent the Hutt 'Military' is split into the forces of Hutt Space, the combined 'militias' of the underworld, mercenaries on Hutt payroll, and the legitimate planetary defence forces of Hutt dominated planets.
Within Hutt Space, the 'Hutt Armarda' is a collection of large fleets, run and operated by the Supreme Mogul, to control the flow of trade and traffic, and to police Hutt borders. It consists of a great multitiude of warships, sent to defend the Hutt Space from external attack, and remind planets that have rebellious sentiments who is in charge.
Meanwhile, Hutts Daimyos, Lordas and more command a collection of 'goons', effectively being able to muster a militia of enforcers and gangsters at short notice. At the most basic level, this allows Hutts to engage in violent street and urban warfare, with hit and run squads mowing down rivals in street warfare. More established Hutts can call upon droids, even professional batallions of guards, and sometimes second hand military vehicles, to take the fight to a new level.
Mercenaries are common place, as are slave troopers, with the Hutts within Hutt Space able to muster entire legions of slaves in a time of war, alongside beast and even 'the Grand Legion of Hutta' - a group of ten batallions of trained warriors, drawn from specific thrall races.
However, all of this is seen as a last resort for many Hutts. For they would prefer to do the good, Hutt thing, and avoid direct combat altogether. And, if shots must be fired, they would rather the local security service that's on the take, gets shot first. As such (OOC: To be agreed before attacks) in some cases, the Hutts simply remind the local planetary defense forces who pays their 'Bonuses', and suggests they should be defending 'their planet' from a hostile attack.
The Hutt Cartel is a large faction, dominating in real terms a region of thousands of planets known as 'Hutt Space', where it is the recognised Government of the region. It holds sway over the underworld of swathes of the Galaxy, with some planets flush with the cash of Hutt criminals, the Hutts having embedded themselves into the planet and its way of life.
All in all, the Hutts remain a dominant force in the Galaxy - with a commanding battlefield presense, wealth beyond counting, and a malignant underworld presence across the so-called 'civilised' galaxy. They are not to be underestimated.
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