The Federation of Independent Space Travelers exists to restore balance to the universe. Traders have been living in a false peace and vulnerable to depredations for far too long. No more. The Federation of Independent Space Travelers is here to jar the yawning populace from its complacency. Any ship that refuses to prepare for battle with pirates such as the Better Ship Lollipop or who through negligence allows such a villain to prosper shall be answerable to a new power in the galaxy. FIST. Unless you have previously incurred the wrath of FIST or of the FIST member with whom you are paired, you will not be attacked without warning. Refusing tribute, failing to respond to a hail, or attacking a FIST member who has not demanded tribute of you will result in your destruction. If you are hailed by a FIST member, you should reply to the hail and follow all instructions. The leniency of the judgment against you will depend in a large part upon the speed and diplomacy of your actions. Novices are very likely to benefit from interactions with FIST members. Established ships who have failed to play with adequate preparedness will be required to pay tribute according to their ineptitude. All tribute collected furthers our aims to rid TBG of the dull complacency which has overwhelmed us for over a hundred turns. FIST members are not pirates. We are among the top rated ships of TBG. We have grown tired of dull turns meeting peaceful ships and having no need to communicate. We find it aggravating that one evil and spiteful player exults while the merchant ships of the major alliances go about their business. We have friendly rivalries with other players that we wish to escalate into more aggressive conflict. Each FIST member has their own motives, but we have a common goal – to make TBG a more dangerous and exciting game. Since turn 500, it is no longer business as usual in the TBG universe. If you are in sympathy with our goal then be patient with our method. Meeting our ships will not be a comfortable proposition, but if you follow instructions and do your part then we will help make the galaxy a better and more interesting place. Our course of action will not be popular, but few familiar with TBG will argue that it is not absolutely necessary. The only career pirate in the game has advanced far enough so that only a handful of players can challenge or be challenged by him. Whether you view us as pirates or freedom fighters, we are here to whet the fighting spirits of every captain from Zosca to Vega.