The Black Dragon Yakuza

The Black-Dragon Yakuza -黒龍やくざ Kokuryū yakuza -was a major criminal organisation founded in the 23rd century.    

Ancient Origins

The Yakuza is a historical organisation that can trace its roots back more than a thousand years to ancient Japan on Earth. It rose to prominence as a criminal organisation in the 20th century but by the 21st century it had become much weaker and was seen more as a sort of social club than a criminal organisation.  

Modern Foundation

The Yakuza began to make something of a comeback during the 22nd century as it exercised power on the frontier. There were accusations of collaboration between VENTRISS UDC and the Yakuza, which was always refuted by VENTRISS.   In the mid 23rd century, the various Yakuza clans had become very powerful, though few of them had power on more than one world. As a group, they came up with "rules of business" to reduce inter clan conflict and to allow them to dominate the trade in ilicit guns, drugs and prositution.   In the late 23rd century, this agreement was formalized, creating the modern Black Dragon Yakuza. All the major clans were made "Council Seat Holders" and all agreements required a 2/3rd's vote of the council.   After the Black Dragon Yakuza seized Fort Carpenter, it became their capital and the centre of their power.  

Organisation

The Black Dragon Yakuza is made up of member clans, who are divided up and organized into tiers:  

• Council Member - the most powerful clans sit on the Black Dragon Council and have an official voice in how the Black Dragon's operate.
• Full Member - clans that are members in good standing but are not council members.
• Affiliate Member - clans that are either too small or unproven to be full members. Criminal groups that do not have "sufficient purity of blood" are often forced to remain as affiliate members.

Each clan is granted full authority over its own clan members, though there are rules that run through the entire organisaton that must be obeyed.  

Code

The Black Dragon follow an "honour-code" that has been handed down by the generations.   Yakuza are bound to:

• Silence: A Yakuza would never inform to a non-Yakuza
• Service: A Yakuza will serve his boss and his culture
• Culture: A Yakuza honours Japanese and Yakuza culture, even if they are not Japanese
• Honour: A Yakuza whose family, clan or organisation is wronged should seek to right that wrong

In addition to these, the Yakuza are very concerned with the concept of "purity of blood". At one time, to be a full member of the Yakuza, you must be able to trace your families lineage back to ancient Japan.   This has been gradually relaxed over time but there is still a very strong bias towards Japanese culture within the Yakuza.

Hierarchy

Within each clan or group, there are distinct ranks:   Clan Chief The top dog within a clan, normally a blood relative of the previous clan leader. Clan chiefs represent the clan at the highest of levels and should be treated with utmost respect.   Chief Retainer / Hatamoto The Hatamoto is the top retainer and sometimes "enforcer" for the Clan Chief. They are persons of great power and respect and are often greatly feared in combat   Boss/Oyabun The Oyabun is the overall boss of the organisation answering only to his clan chief. The Oyabun is a powerful leader within the Yakuza and has the loyalty of his entire organisation   Lieutenant Acts as the Oyabun’s right hand man and is the next in line to take command of the organisation or, if another spot opens elsewhere, would be in line for that.   Soldier The enlisted men of the Yakuza who are expected to pay their dues up to their boss. Soldiers are required to earn for their organisation or at the very least provide a service like muscle.   Associates Non-member allies and workers who perform a role but are either not yet trusted to be Yakuza or cannot be for whatever reason. Associates can later be promoted to full Yakuza   Support In addition to these characters, each Yakuza clan would have other persons who run administrative, legal or accounting functions for the clan.  

Major Clans

According to Republic Dept of Justice sources, there are more than forty different Yakuza clans. These range from the incredibly wealthy and powerful "Council Clans" to the less powerful local clans.   The most prominent clans include:

• Clan Hasegawa -powerful on Mars but also having major holdings on Fort Carpenter. Generally considered to be the most subtle of the major clans
• Clan Hattori -the oldest clan, it has holdings on New Berlin and Avalon. Considered to be one of the more honorable clans.
• Clan Tanaka -Controls the criminal trade on New Silesia, as well as having some holdings on Avalon and Fort Carpenter. Known for its viciousness.
• Clan Koda - Has major holdings on Vanheim but also on St Lawrence. Known for its largesse and wealth.
• Clan Toydama -A recent "upstart" clan that, in just three generations, has become a very powerful clan. Strong on St Lawrence.

 

Fort Carpenter

In the early 24th century, after the Confederate Union's crushing defeat at the hands of the Karkouri Regime, the Black Dragon Yakuza launched a shock invasion of the planet Fort Carpenter.   The local Marine garrison was easily overrun and in a four week campaign, the Black Dragon Yakuza took total control of the planet.   Life on Fort Carpenter essentially became "Neo-Medeival" as all citizens are classified as "Nodo" meaning non-Yakuza or "slaves".   Slaves are denied all basic rights and live in brutal conditions. However, most of the planet's population are part of the Nodo class.   Control of Fort Carpenter has allowed the Black Dragon Yakuza to become more centralized and powerful over the centuries.