But required now.Since,both of their most common freeports are in places that are prone to nomad attacks and other piracy activities.
The pirates don't mind you because your freeports are open to them both in the edge worlds and closer to house space and you quite possibly ferry / smuggle the odd supplies to them. They have no reason to attack you. The Nomads really wouldn't bother prioritizing Zoners as targets given their 'innocent' nature (even Nomads don't have infinite resources, so I'm sure they'd rather send squids after the Order than some Zoners), and you've got those same pirate groups and the Order to protect you from them.
Until you build Battleships. Then they'll all want you dead before you become a threat to them.
Which doesnt mean that the pirates dont pirate Zoners,although they are diplomatically neutral.And inRP the only ones who have the courage to fight the nomads are the house navies and the Order.The piratescant care less if the Zoners are attacked,unless they are attacked and/or they gain something from defending the Zoners.Its not something like shelter/food that the pirates get from the Zoners.
Since the Zoners cant deny them that for not helping them if attacked.And firstly,what will be the use of these battletransports,if the whale is already not used mush by the indys other than the official and unofficial Zoner factions?
EDIT:Nomad target human race as a whole.They destroy everything that supports the Order and other of their enemies like the Bounty Hunters,Sairs.When these freeports serve as a home and/or a place for these factions to reside(as it is welcome to everyone) the nomads wont mind taking out the whole freeports and the Zoners that keep them running.
Since why Freeport 7 was destroyed in the first place.If the nomads need anything,they dont care about other things that their actions might affect.And they dont have any diplomacy to be afraid of,before taking on any human.
