History Main / SpaceCossacks

The [[TitleDrop Space Cossacks]] are semi-nomadic outcasts that restrict their traveling to the borders of the galaxy and refuse to join TheEmpire, TheFederation, or whatever space superpower is expanding. Unlike their RealLife counterparts, it's not absolutely necessary for them to be a militarized society but it's not uncommon either. In any case, chances are they are VenturousSmuggler, HiredGuns, {{Intrepid Merchant}}s, or all three. [[HadToBeSharp Sharp people]] living under the principle of LibertyOverProsperity.

UsefulNotes/{{Cossacks}} were groups of Slavic professional warriors living on the steppes, proudly being free from a bigger [[TheGovernment government]]'s influence.

Like anything, these people can be [[RecycledWithAGimmick put in space]], resulting in this trope. The [[TitleDrop Space Cossacks]] are semi-nomadic outcasts that restrict their traveling to the borders of the galaxy and refuse to join TheEmpire, TheFederation, or whatever space superpower is expanding. Unlike their RealLife counterparts, it's not absolutely necessary for them to be a militarized society but it's not uncommon either. In any case, chances are they are VenturousSmuggler, HiredGuns, {{Intrepid Merchant}}s, or all three. [[HadToBeSharp Sharp people]] living under the principle of LibertyOverProsperity.

If they persist for multiple generations, they may become SpacePeople. Can overlap with ProudWarriorRaceGuy (a member of a species/culture who is a BloodKnight, often because their culture/species says they should be), ProudMerchantRace (a race where everyone is a merchant), LibertariansInSpace (space libertarian fighters), and SpaceNomads (a space-based culture who moves around nomadically). Compare it with its {{Sister Trope}}s: SpaceAmish (a race that rejects most forms of advanced tech in favor of an agricultural life), SpaceJews (aliens, animals, or monsters based on real-world racial stereotypes), and SpaceRomans. See also SpaceWestern.

If they persist for multiple generations, they may become SpacePeople.

Can overlap with ProudWarriorRaceGuy, ProudMerchantRace, LibertariansInSpace, and SpaceNomads. Compare with its {{Sister Trope}}s: SpaceAmish, SpaceJews, and SpaceRomans. See also SpaceWestern.

Can overlap with ProudWarriorRace, ProudMerchantRace, LibertariansInSpace, and SpaceNomads. Compare with its {{Sister Trope}}s: SpaceAmish, SpaceJews, and SpaceRomans. See also SpaceWestern.

* ''Literature/{{Dune}}'': The Fremen, a ProudWarriorRace (er, subculture) of humans, live on the desertic planet Arrakis and thrive off stealing water and FantasticDrug Spice from [[AristocratsAreEvil Harkonnen]] patrols. Additionally, according to Fremen legends, they were once runaway slaves.

* ''VideoGame/StarCraft'': The Raynor's Riders become this post-Mengsk's betrayal. With the stolen flagship ''Hyperion'' as their flying base of command, they defend Terran colonists in need and fight for liberty even when the Confederancy paints them as terrorists.

UsefulNotes/{{Cossacks}} were groups of Slavic professional warriors living on the steppes proudly living free from a bigger [[TheGovernment government]]'s influence.

If they persist for multiple generations they may become SpacePeople.

Can overlap with ProudMerchantRace, LibertariansInSpace, and SpaceNomads. Compare with its {{Sister Trope}}s: SpaceAmish, SpaceJews, and SpaceRomans. See also SpaceWestern.

* ''Literature/{{Dune}}'': The Fremen, a ProudWarriorRace (er, subculture) of humans, live on the desertic planet Arraki and thrive off stealing water and FantasticDrug Spice from [[AristocratsAreEvil Harkonnen]] patrols. Additionally, according to Fremen legends, they were once runaway slaves.

* ''LightNovel/StarshipOperators'': The crew of the ''Amaterasu'' was a bunch of space cadets on a training exercise when its homeworld was conquered. So they started a guerrilla war funded by filming their fights for a reality show.

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* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'': The Exodites, an [[Characters/Warhammer40000Eldar Eldar]] faction, are [[DefectorFromDecadence willing exiles]] of the first Aeldari empire. They made isolated, primeval planets their home and embraced primitive technologies and a tribal lifestyle, so they are something of SpaceAmisha as well.

* ''VideoGame/{{Stellaris}}'' has multiple randomly-generated versions:
** Privateers are a conglomeration of species from past empires who subsist by piracy.
** Nomads are the peaceful version who put you in contact with other empires and might sell your empire ships or ask to settle on one of your planets.
** Marauders, added in the Apocalypse DLC, are more like Space Mongols. They occasionally raid systems or extort tribute but can also be hired as mercenaries [[spoiler: until the Great Khan arises.]] Furthermore, they have no central government and no law other than the "law of the jungle." The only thing that holds the Marauder bands together is a shared contempt for outsider meddling, enforced by the fact that, collectively, they have a hell of a lot of guns.

** Baanthurian space is a lawless wasteland on the fringe of galactic society, [[spoiler: at least until they unified under the Great Khan]].

** The dissident kimashargur movement advocates a partial relaxation of restrictions on exploration and innovation. By yar 3700, it slowly becomes influential in the rimward portions of the Grand Empire of Stars, aka the Ziru Sirka.

* ''VideoGame/Starbound'': Some Apex have fled from their homeworlds to live among other races to escape the totalitarian, science-oriented Apex regime. As a result, they are a fairly common sight in the Protectorate and are at least as numerous as the Hylotl. The former RebelLeader begs the player to a stolen Miniknog ship and rove the galaxy to recruit allies.

** Privateers are a conglomeration of species from past empires who subsist by piracy

** Marauders, added in the Apocalypse DLC, are more like Space Mongols. They occasionally raid systems or extort tribute but can also be hired as mercenaries [[spoiler: until the Great Khan arises.]]

* ''TabletopGame/{{Traveller}}'': Has a lot of examples of this. Among them are the Vilani Kimashargur, The Classic Traveller volume "Pocket Empires". And much of the history of the Sword Worlds as well as a sample campaign from the Gurps volume of that name. Many others.

* ''Literature/TakeshiKovacs'': The UN sends a huge chunk of Earth's youth as interstellar colonizers on {{Sleeper Starship}}s. While they are away, the UN devolves into the tyrannical Protectorate. As it's all a calculated move, the people are purposefully enticed by the appeal of adventure and getting to live far from an EarhtThatUsedToBeBetter.

* ''Literature/HyperionCantos'': The Ousters are a splinter human race adapted to living in deep space, making do with scarce resources and unconnected to the [[PortalNetwork Farcaster network]]. They attack the also-human Hegemony for apparently no reason.

Like anything, these people can be [[RecycledWithAGimmick put in space]], resulting in this trope. The [[TitleDrop Space Cossacks]] are semi-nomadic outcasts that restrict their traveling to the borders of the galaxy and refuse to join TheEmpire, TheFederation, or whatever space superpower is expanding. Unlike their RealLife counterparts, it's not absolutely necessary for them to be a militarized society but it's not uncommon either. In any case, chances are they are SpacePirates, HiredGuns, {{Intrepid Merchant}}s, or all three. [[HadToBeSharp Sharp people]] who live under the principle of LibertyOverProsperity, in a nutshell.

Note that this trope is about groups of people with their own culture, not individual characters. For that, you may consider VenturousSmuggler.