Yes, clearly I have not have given enough thought over this whole matter.
The roleplay started with an event I did not participate, so I had to rely on what people told me it had happened. To be specific afc reports on the occasion and comments on skype were my sole guidance on who did what and to whom.
Second, since John asked me for something worthwhile to do in the aftermath, I tried to come up with something regarding the prisoners. However, since other members of the Association took the credit for unlocking this situation, I deferred to them on the continuation. No suitable or interesting proposals arrived to my eyes, unless you consider an old leecher harassing a girl for days and having to be dragged out of the room by guards entertaining. I assume by your post that it is not.
Killing or making a show of torture of them would not make a point, and would lower the moral playing field of our feud, making killing the basic response to any captured or ambushed member (an eye for an eye, make the whole world blind). Slavery is not a specialty for the Hogosha, since the slavers of Sirius are our enemies, and Corsairs don't really need more mouths to feed.
Finally, I (my choice) just resorted to a ransom request. Defying the Hogosha in their home turf should be a costly affair. The price, while inflated in hindsight for "just another human being", was what was suggested and chosen by the group.
Planning for the ransom exchange was weak, and communication before and during the encounter was shallow, I admit. I foolishly thought the best thing was to release the characters sooner than later, so they could go their own path once again, instead of being held back by the whims of another.
Should have asked you and the owner of the other character what you really wanted to happen as a prisoner. I admit my lack of judgement.
While I wont retconn ransoming the 150 Mil from the AFC, I am willing to return the funds oorply, should @nOmnomnOm demand for them. For the lack of everything else, "defying the Hogosha is a costly business" will held true.