Also note that being friendly to Kusari with a Samura IFF while carrying artifacts through the Sigmas won't let you off the GMG hook. Your in luck, however, because activity in Sigmas is relatively low so you'll probably get through easily enough. But I hope for many smugglers and pirates passing through so don't feel dissuaded from smuggling artifacts.
Thanks for all the advice folks! Nice to know I'm on the right track so far.
I was pretty sure I'd still have to worry about non-player affiliated Corsairs, figuring a way to work that into the RP. Won't be venturing forth into their territory without first consulting the council though...so I'll have to find a different way to "prove my loyalty" rather than trading on their bases a few times first. Permission and Respect for the Elders and the Corsairs in general is paramount to my RP.
Although not entirely necessary for in-game, I'll also be carrying one particular item that will be recognizable to a Corsair scanning my cargo, and an encrypted pass-phrase known only to myself and corsairs (In RP though, since of course it would have to be broadcast on the forums to make it known, where everyone can read it.)
That is all, of course, based entirely on permission from the elders to run my RP, and the time frame of getting my BW Transport and my IFF flashing freelancer or a Kusari Multinational.
When the time comes, soon. There will be a story to go along with it posted.