Considering a major faction for Interspace

[eyvind]

I would like to say, first off, that I greatly welcome the sight of a high-quality, prospective Interspace Commerce faction proper.

Are accounts deleted after a certain period of inactivity? I'm looking at about 3 months now.

Inactive accounts are deleted after approximately one month. It is highly unlikely that your accounts are retrievable.

Are there any costs or other requirements relating to unofficial factions (not including anything covered by the general server rules, particularly regarding role-play)?

There is very little in the way of official guidelines when it comes to unofficial factions. Even the line between unofficial and official is quite fuzzy, at least in certain ways.

In the big picture of play in Discovery all characters, groups, and factions, whether with higher aspirations or not, should work toward improving Discovery. In my experience, unofficial factions spawn some of the highest quality role-play in the form of original material within the realm of Freelancer, something established and official factions are not in an opportune position to produce. I suggest you disregard any potential requirements for your faction and simply aim as high as you can.

Are there any official or unofficial factions relating to Interspace Commerce (not including [IND])?

I am not aware of any, at least none that maintain the activity and dedication that it seems like you aim to achieve.

Is [IND] essentially a rogue branch of IC? After all, smuggling is not really an acceptable method of profiteering so far as a lawful company would be concerned. Or are they just an undercover operation controlled by Malta that secures the spread of its staple?
If not, is [IND] an authorative body of IC, or simply a franchise?

I am not qualified to give any authoritative information on IND, but I believe it is simply a division of IC, as the name (Interspace NeuralNet Division) suggests. I believe they are a largely self-contained and cohesive organization, allowing for the liberties they enjoy today. They have substantial amounts of background information in their faction status post, which I suggest you read.

What is the diplomatic position of Bonn Station in New Berlin and also of IC operatives within Rheinland? Given the dire situation between Liberty & Rheinland, it must be a nervous if not worse.

The representation of the Rheinland government in these forums is very adept at answering such political questions, so I will leave that to them. I can say is that I believe IC -- like other corporations with such wide zones of influence, such as DSE and ALG -- have over time distanced themselves from the close bond with the politics of the House they were once founded by. Of course the corporation still has strong ties to their home House, but most factions in Sirius realize that not all corporations can be treated as one with their House.

some of the details will even be confidential due to would-be-security.

My opinion is that in-roleplay security should not be solved in part or whole with secrecy from other players, only from their characters. In my opinion, you should provide even sensitive information freely for other players to read and trust in their ability to keep themselves and their knowledge seperate from their characters and their characters' knowledge.

It is no way to combat meta-gaming with real secrecy and paranoia. Such secrecy between players only serves to blur the difference between player and character knowledge.

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