Ralph Mazza I really don’t know the history very well so maybe you can help me: during the EIC era, were there small-time freelance shippers/smugglers who armed themselves (either to defend against…EIC ships? Pirates?)? Or are you talking about the BIG shippers arming themselves against privateers or other state-backed actors?

I’m just trying to settle out the scenario you’re laying out in my own mind. Maybe you have something I can read through? This was kind of where I stumbled during my Rogue Trader attempts as well!