Pirates

I've been turning it over in my mind... Are the pirates still on Hypatia? Although Star fancies itself to be a pirate, Star is not a thief. Star does not threaten or hurt anybody. Star is nervvy and takes risks, often putting itself in personal danger to succeed at its goals. Therefore, piracy as a way of life would be antithetical to Star's character and past performance. Despite what has happened to Star, it would not turn and prey upon its former race. So the pirates of Hypatia, if they still exist, need to be something other than out and out pirates. They could either be in some kind of speculation or they transport risky cargos. Given STar's current vessel, a very fancy yacht, Star could not be useful carrying large loads. But Star could easily carry messages, data or gems.

Suppose there is a find on Hypatia of gems of some kind or naturally occurring material that is scientifically/industrially significant, like a substance harder than diamonds or something useful in computer technology. I am out of my depth here as to what sort a something that might be in a far-in-the-future technology, but something like that. Perhaps even something that could revolutionize ship navigation which would change how runners operate their ships. There could be a Fungusian connection here. The Fungusians have no love for the Pantheran Empire. Sending STar to Hypatia doesn't have to be altruistic on their part. It doesn't have to be cynaster toward Star either. Pirate in this sense may mean less about theft and force and more about taking away the Pantheran hierarchy of androgyne design. After all, Pantheran society has been shaped and reshaped by a fuchsia-colored Pantheran.