White Skull is an asteroid located in a lawless section of space around the Vemor star. There are no planets there; just several rings of asteroid belts and other debris. People have tried mining the asteroids but the frequent pirate attacks and low mineral wealth of the asteroids make it unprofitable.
Several centuries ago, an unknown pirate captain mourned the loss of his friends. He found a large asteroid and used his ship’s weapons to carve the asteroid into the shape of a skull. He then landed on the asteroid and inscribed the names of his fallen comrades.
Other pirates followed his example. Names of crew, names of captains and names of the ships themselves have been added over the years. Sometimes treasure is left there as tribute but not often. It is bad luck to steal from White Skull but pirates still do.
The area around the White Skull is considered a safe zone among pirates. A pirate caught attacking another pirate while they are in the process of mourning will be hunted down by all other pirates. They will be slaughtered and their names will never go onto the White Skull.
Eighty years ago, a Star Navy Admiral ordered the destruction of White Skull. It was demolished and reduced to atoms. He claimed that it made no sense to allow a monument to piracy.
Pirates from all six rings came in protest. Pirate ships formed fleets with the sole purpose of destroying Star Navy ships. Starbases were destroyed instead of looted, shipping lanes were obliterated and entire planets watched their economies collapsed.
It was known as the Great Pirate Invasion. It was a time or cooperation among pirates despite having no single leader.
The Star Navy had to take desperate measures. They convicted the admiral of “Extreme Vandalism” and gave him a life sentence of imprisonment. Star Navy engineers selected a new, larger asteroid and carved it into the shape of a skull. A Star Navy edict went out declaring the Vemor Star system to be outside their jurisdiction.
The pirates broke apart. They ceased their relentless attacks on the Star Navy and returned to their old hunting grounds. They called the new asteroid White Skull and returned to their practice of inscribing the names of the fallen.
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