the association of free traders is a proud but dwindling organization. they see themselves guardians of federation space, and their main enemy is the guild of free traders. they have created their own class of ships, which are civilian ships that have been thoroughly upgraded and tweaked, and fitted with a vast array of weaponry and pirate technology. the once-proud association met its decline in power after a very strong bureau fleet, with the help of the guild of free traders, organized an attack on the association. the bureau invited the association leader, morgan, to a peace-treaty, which turned out to be an ambush, helped by the guild of free traders. morgan, his crew and his wife met their death there, and the leadership of the association has been replaced by olaf greyshoulders. the association has ever since been an enemy of the bureau of internal investigation, though they are not in open war with the federation. joining them reveals morgan to have been the protagonist's father.