TEXT:  
   
  Random Cargo 
  So, last week you wrapped up that little adventure on Santo to everyone’s 
  satisfaction. Now you have to get your PC’s to Persephone for their next bit of 
  excitement. You’ve given the stirring background to whet their appetite, provided 
  a nice, gleaming player hook to get them motivated and things are going 
  according to your clever plan…when suddenly… 
   
  Player (#1): Hmm…Persephone, huh? Well, we’ve got a day or two to spare before we really 
  need to head out. I say we use that time to pick up a cargo job. I mean, yikes, we really need the 
  extra money. 
   
  Player (#2): Yeah. Good idea. Me and Jones will hang around town and see if we can pick up 
  any potential cargo jobs.  
   
  Lame Gamemaster: Erm….well…uh, you don’t find any cargo jobs. 
   
  Player group: Awwww. 
   
  (Aw, come on now. You can do better than that, right? With these nifty little 
  tables we can magically produce cargo jobs for your players. So, let’s try that one 
  again…) 
   
  Exceedingly Clever and Awesome Gamemaster: Okay, cool. After a few hours Jones has found 
  you a corporate job transporting 200 tons of PseudoLiquids to Persephone, taking up about half 
  your cargo area and paying a whopping 400 credits. Meanwhile, you’ve found a slightly non-
  legal job delivering about 100 tons of recorded memory media…hmm…let’s say some very 
  nicely programmed virtual reality software, paying 200 credits.  
   
  Player (#3): Ooooooh. PseudoLiquids? Cool. As soon as we hit the black and no one’s looking, 
  I’m cracking open one of those containers and getting a look at that stuff… 
   
  Much better. Everyone’s happy, you’ve got some extra money heading their way 
  and it’s looking very likely that Player #3 is going to do something really dumb 
  and exciting.  
  So, how’d we do it? Here’s how: 
   
  Finding cargo and generating random cargo. 
   
  Hauling cargo is the bread and butter of most spaceships, but sometimes it is 
  feast or famine.  A captain always takes a risk, no matter what kind of cargo he 
  deals with.  Corporate cargo is usually the most reliably profitable but requires 
  bureaucratic talent.  Small business is more plentiful but usually pays the least.  
  Illicit cargo is not always plentiful and always risky, especially because the value 
  of the cargo is usually variable and fluctuating. 
   
  Here’s the skill checks to determine whether or not your player finds a cargo to 
  haul. The action itself depends on whether they’re looking for Corporate goods, 
  dealing directly with smaller Business or making a back-alley deal for Illicit 
  goods. 
   
  The Difficulty of a roll to attract jobs depends on how appropriate the approach is 
  
   
   
  to the location and circumstances. 
   
   
   
   
  Intelligence + Influence/Bureaucracy for Corporate goods. 
  Willpower + Influence/Barter for small Business goods. 
  Willpower + Influence/Streetwise for Illicit goods. 
   
   
   
  As you can see, anything but a Botch lands you some kind of cargo hauling 
  opportunity. How large a cargo and how much you earn depends on the results 
  from the table above.  
   
  For example:  
  Let’s say the Circumstances are “Standard Economy”. Meaning that we’ve 
  considered the moon/planet our players are currently on and decided the local 
  economy is neither particularly good or bad and local officials are neither 
  especially crooked or honest. In other words, your average ho-hum moon.  
  Now, Player #1 decides he’s spending his time looking to land a nice, fat 
  Corporate cargo job and doing so completely Above Board (not being particular 
  about who he contacts, checking all the local bulletins, putting the word out on 
  the street, etc.)  This makes the Difficulty of finding a cargo Average. 
   
  Player #1 then makes an Average Intelligence+Influence/Bureaucracy check and 
  gets a Success. Checking the table we get: “2cr x ½ cargo space”. Looking at the 
  player’s ship’s stats we find it has a Cargo Capacity of 400 tons. So, that gives us 
  200 tons of cargo (half the ship’s cargo capacity) at 2 credits per ton (400 
  credits).  
   
  If you're particularly concerned with what exactly is being shipped (that is, if it 
  isn't necessarily integral to the plot) then these tables can help you determine a 
  random cargo, depending on what world is exporting or shipping out. The tables 
  are geared more toward producing a random result than to specifically tailoring 
  each table to the world in question. Hence, results will vary. Which is kind of the 
  point. 
  Results 
  Corporate 
  Small Business 
  Illicit 
  Botch:  
  Refusal to do business 
  No business to be had 
  Reported to Alliance 
  Failure:     
  2 credits x ¼ cargo space 
  1 credit x 1/3 cargo space 
  1d4 credits x ¼ cargo space 
  Success:    
  2 credits x ½ cargo space 
  1 credit x 2/3 cargo space 
  1d8 credits x ¼ cargo space 
  Extraordinary: 
  2 credits x full cargo  
  1 credit x full cargo space 
  1d10 credits x ½ cargo space 
  Circumstances 
  Above Board 
  Pragmatic 
  Under the Table 
  Rich economy, good times 
  Easy 
  Average 
  Hard 
  Rich economy, hard times 
  Average 
  Average 
  Average 
  Standard economy 
  Average 
  Average 
  Average 
  Marginal economy, honest 
  Average 
  Average 
  Hard 
  Marginal economy, crooked  
  Hard 
  Average 
  Easy 
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Core  
  Border 
  Rim  
  Export/Cargo 
  1-10 
  1-5 
  1-15 
  Metal 
  stocks/elements 
  11-25 
  6-10 
  16-25 
  Valuables 
  26-30 
  11-25 
  26-40 
  Organics and 
  Livestock 
  31-45 
  26-35 
  41-45 
  Electronics  
  44-50 
  36-50 
  46-50 
  Tools and 
  Machinery 
  51-65 
  51-60 
  51-55 
  Vehicles, Parts 
  and Robotics 
  66-75 
  61-65 
  56-65 
  Chemicals, 
  Compounds and 
  Minerals 
  76-80 
  66-80 
  66-80 
  Perishables and 
  Foods 
  81-100 
  81-100 
  81-100 
  Merchandise 
  and Bulk 
  items 
   
  Valuables 
  1-15 
  Artworks 
  16-20 
  Diamonds, Rough/Cut 
  21-34 
  Precious Stones, Rough/Cut 
  35-50 
  Jewelry 
  51-64 
  Museum Artifacts 
  65-80 
  Precious metals: Gold/Silver/Platinum 
  51-100 
  Secured Valuables 
   
  Organics and Livestock 
  1-6 
  Aquaculture Stock 
  7-12 
  Digestive Bacteria 
  13-19 
  Bio-Agents, Agricultural 
  20-25 
  Botanical Fibers 
  26-33 
  Fertilizer and Soil Treatments 
  34-41 
  General Livestock 
  42-47 
  Horses 
  48-52 
  Human Organs/Cybernetics 
  53-60 
  Live Plants 
  61-67 
  Livestock Embryos 
  68-74 
  Natural Gums 
  75-83 
  Paydirt 
  84-91 
  Pharmaceutical Plants 
  92-96 
  Small Animals 
  97-100 
  Specialty Grains 
   
  Tools and Machinery 
  1-4 
  Autobars 
  5-8 
  Construction Machinery, Extreme 
  9-12 
  Construction Machinery, static equipment
  and trailers 
  13-16 
  Conveyance machinery 
  17-20 
  Desalinization equipment/Mobile 
  Desalinization  
  21-24 
  Equipment for the Disabled and 
  Handicapped Equipment 
  25-28 
  Farm Machinery/Non-Self propelled 
  Farm Machinery 
  29-32 
  Fire Fighting Equipment 
  33-36 
  Food Processing Equipment 
   
  Electronics  
  1-6 
  Computers and cortex terminals 
  7-13 
  Consumer electronics 
  14-18 
  Data Cable 
  19-24 
  Electromagnetic Transmitting Elements 
  25-29 
  Electronic Components 
  30-35 
  General Service Autonomous Robotic 
  Devices 
  36-40 
  Industrial Process Robotics 
  41-47 
  Laser systems 
  48-53 
  Medical and scientific instruments 
  54-59 
  Medical Devices 
  60-63 
  Medical Diagnostic Imaging Systems 
  64-69 
  Memory media, unrecorded 
  70-74 
  Memory media, pre-recorded 
  75-79 
  Meters and Sensors 
  80-85 
  Miscellaneous Office machines 
  86-90 
  Power Cable 
  91-95 
  Satellites 
  96-100 
  Solar Electric Panels 
   
  Metal stocks/elements 
  1-20 
  Aluminum stock 
  21-25 
  Beryllium 
  26-40 
  Copper stock 
  41-65 
  Iron stock 
  66-80 
  Lead stock 
  81-90 
  Magnesium stock 
  91-92 
  Rare Earths 
  93-94 
  Titanium stock 
  95-100 
  Zinc stock 
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  37-40 
  Gambling and Gaming Equipment 
  41-44 
  Geophysical survey and mapping 
  equipment 
  45-48 
  Gymnasium, Exercise, and Playground 
  Equipment 
  49-52 
  Irradiation Devices 
  53-57 
  Metal Working Machinery 
  58-61 
  Metal or Synthetic working tools, dies, 
  etc./Industrial Molds 
  62-65 
  Mining Machinery 
  66-69 
  Non-powered Hand Tools 
  70-73 
  Police Equipment 
  74-77 
  Portable Drilling Rig/Pile Drivers 
  78-83 
  Power Driven Hand Tools 
  84-87 
  Pumps and Compressors 
  88-91 
  Space Habitat Modules 
  92-95 
  Specialized Autonomous Robotic Devices 
  96-100 
  Textile Related Machinery 
   
  Vehicles, Parts and Robotics 
  1-4 
  Ambulances, Wheeled/Hover 
  5-8 
  Bicycles 
  9-12 
  Boats, Civilian 
  13-16 
  Busses 
  17-20 
  Civil Aircraft 
  21-24 
  Construction Vehicles 
  25-28 
  Fire Fighting Vehicles 
  29-32 
  LTA Aircraft 
  33-36 
  Mobile Food Service Units, Non-Self 
  Propelled 
  37-40 
  Mobile Food Service Units, Self 
  Propelled and trailer mounted 
  41-44 
  Motorcycles 
  45-48 
  Passenger Cars 
  49-52 
  Rail transport systems 
  53-56 
  Recreational Vehicles, Wheeled/Hover 
  57-61 
  Robotic Vehicles 
  62-68 
  Salvage 
  69-72 
  Small utility vehicles 
  73-76 
  Small Watercraft, 
  Powered/Unpowered 
  77-80 
  Spacecraft/Alliance military Spacecraft 
  81-84 
  Spacecraft Parts 
  85-88 
  Tires: Aviation Tires/Alliance 
  military/Heavy Tires 
  89-92 
  Trucks, semi-trailer/Trucks, van 
  93-96 
  Underwater Utility Robots 
  97-100 
  Vehicle Parts 
   
  Chemicals, Compounds and Minerals 
   
  Perishables and Foods 
  1-4 
  Abrasives 
  1-4 
  Animal Feed 
  5-8 
  Adhesives 
  5-7 
  Apiary Supplies 
  9-12 
  Biocides 
  8-11 
  Beer Concentrate 
  13-16 
  Ceramics 
  12-15 
  Coffee/Chicory Roasted, Sorted and 
  Graded Coffee beans 
  17-20 
  Consumer packaged chemical goods 
  16-19 
  Condensed Milk 
  21-23 
  Disinfectants 
  24-27 
  Drugs 
  28-31 
  Epoxy Resins 
  32-33 
  Explosives 
  34-35 
  Finished Stone 
  36-39 
  Fire retardant foams/Anti Kinetic 
  Foams 
  40-43 
  Foils and Laminates 
  44-47 
  Industrial Acids 
  48-51 
  Industrial Gasses 
  52-55 
  Insulating Foam/Structural Foam 
  56-59 
  Lubricants 
  60-62 
  Nuclear Fuel Elements 
  63-66 
  Paint 
  67-70 
  Pesticides and Vermicides 
  71-74 
  Preservative and Fire retardant 
  Chemicals 
  75-78 
  Primary Plastic Resins 
  79-82 
  PseudoLiquids 
  83-86 
  Reaction fuel 
  87-90 
  Refrigerants 
  91-94 
  Repellants 
  95-97 
  Soap and Detergent 
  98-100 
  Waxes and Polishes 
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Merchandise and Bulk items 
  1 
  Alliance military Kit 
  2-3 
  Basic Educational Materials 
  4-5 
  Batteries 
  6-7 
  Bulbs and other Expendable Lighting 
  Elements 
  8-9 
  Bulk Chocolate 
  20-23 
  Dairy Foods 
  10-11 
  Cabinetry 
  24-27 
  Eggs 
  12-13 
  Carpets and Rugs 
  28-31 
  Emergency, Alliance military, or 
  Humanitarian pre-packaged Rations 
  14-15 
  Chocolate Confectionery Products 
  32-34 
  Extracts 
  16-17 
  Collapsed Shipping Containers 
  35-38 
  Fertile Eggs 
  18-19 
  Commercial/Industrial/Institutional 
  lighting fixtures 
  39-42 
  Flavoring, Syrup and Concentrates 
  20-21 
  Cosmetics 
  43-46 
  Frozen Dairy Desserts 
  22-23 
  Dental Hygiene Expendables 
  47-50 
  Fruit Juice Concentrate 
  24-25 
  Disposable Diapers 
  51-54 
  Meat/Meat, Frozen 
  26-27 
  Dolls and Stuffed Toys 
  55-58 
  Non Perishable Prepared Foods 
  28 
  Emergency Shelters 
  59-62 
  Nuts 
  29-30 
  Expendable Filter Elements 
  63-65 
  Pickles/Jams, Jellies, and Fruit 
  Preserves 
  31-32 
  Finished Textiles 
  66-70 
  Produce, General 
  33-34 
  Furs 
  71-74 
  Seafood 
  35-36 
  Games, Toys, and Children's Vehicles 
  75-78 
  Special Prepared Food 
  37-38 
  General Clothing 
  79-83 
  Spices 
  39-40 
  General Parcels 
  84-88 
  Tea Prepared, packaged Tea 
  41 
  Hair Care Products and treatments 
  89-92 
  Vegetable Oils Liquid Cargo 
  42-43 
  Handicrafts 
  93-96 
  Vitamins 
  44-45 
  Hardwood Lumber 
  97-100 
  Wine/Distilled Spirits 
  46-47 
  Hardware 
  48-49 
  Hazardous Environment Clothing 
  50 
  Heavy Weapons 
  51-52 
  Leather, Fur, and Hide Apparel 
  53-54 
  Lingerie, Loungewear and Nightwear 
  55-56 
  Luggage 
  57-58 
  Medical/Scientific Sterile 
  Expendables 
  59-60 
  Millwork, Marquetry, and Carvings 
  61-62 
  Miscellaneous Office Supplies 
  63 
  Munitions 
  64-65 
  Musical Instruments 
  66-67 
  Novelties, Collectibles, Souvenirs, 
  And Curios 
  68-69 
  Prefabricated Collapsible Structures 
  70-71 
  Prefabricated Modular Buildings 
  72-73 
  Printed Materials 
  74-75 
  Private Household Goods 
  76-77 
  Pyrotechnics 
  78-79 
  Seasonal and Holiday Decorations 
  80-81 
  Rope, Cordage and Twine 
  82 
  Sensitive Alliance Cargo 
  83-84 
  Signage 
  85 
  Small Arms 
  86-87 
  Small Arms Ammunition 
  88-89 
  Special Decorative Lighting fixtures 
  90-91 
  Sporting Goods 
  92-93 
  Synthetic Blood Plasma 
  94-95 
  Wall Coverings 
  96-97 
  Windows and Doors/Ornamental and 
  Architectural castings, stampings, etc 
  98-100 
  Work Clothing 
  
   
   
  Abrasives 
  Used in Industry, but mostly in mining and 
  construction as cutting agents. Abrasives are 
  bought from manufacturers and sold to 
  corporations, and sometimes retailers 
  serving mining and construction operations. 
   
  Adhesives 
  Used in industry, in construction and sold 
  also to retailers for repackaging. Bought 
  from chemical manufacturers. Relatively few 
  buyers need adhesives on a wholesale level, 
  and those that do generally want what they 
  want when they need it, so this class of 
  chemical goods makes for an erratic 
  speculative cargo. On the other hand, on an 
  under-supplied frontier planet, a shipment 
  of adhesives is the sort of thing that gets the 
  "I wonder what I could do with that" gears 
  turning in the heads of local engineers so the 
  demand might be surprising. 
   
  Alliance military kit 
  Body armor, equipment harness, and other 
  generally wearable items associated with the 
  Alliance military. Alliance military 
  organizations usually do not scrutinize 
  carriers of these cargos as they do with 
  weapons. On occasion, military kits will be 
  sold to non military retailers or 
  organizations. Sellers are manufacturers. 
   
  Aluminum stock 
  Basic stock shapes of Aluminum, and 
  aluminum alloys. These are obtained from 
  Aluminum Refineries and sold to 
  manufacturers, developers, and sometimes 
  retailers serving industry. As a standard 
  bulk material, this is a hard one for the small 
  trader, as large supplies and regular 
  deliveries at cheap prices are the norm. 
   
  Ambulances, Wheeled/Hover 
  Specialized vehicles for rescue and medical 
  evacuation. Generally, stock vehicles are 
  bought by special manufacturers and 
  converted. Bought directly by organizations 
  with medical evacuation roles, including 
  hospitals, civil services, and the Alliance 
  military. 
   
  Animal Feed 
  In general, animals will not be raised where 
  the local conditions do not permit the 
  production of food, but there are exceptions. 
  The biggest one is in the area of 
  supplementary feeds. Sometimes the soil of 
  terraformed planets and moons, even where 
  digestible and nutritious for livestock, lacks 
  some key nutrients, which must be provided 
  in supplementary feed. Hence, many tons of 
  the stuff are in demand in such 
  environments. Buyers will be farms, or 
  dealers stocking goods for farms. Sellers will 
  be dealers or manufacturers. 
  Special Instructions: Some animal feeds, 
  like grains, can produce flammable dust. 
   
  Apiary Supplies 
  Definitely one of those "special cargos" the 
  independent traders love so much. 50% of 
  pallets contain hives with live bees. These 
  have been drugged so as to remain less 
  active, but are still alive. They need standard 
  atmospheric conditions and occasional 
  monitoring and feeding to survive lengthy 
  voyages. Buyers are farms, farm co-ops, and 
  agencies that support farms. Sellers are 
  other farms, or on occasion specialized 
  apiarist suppliers. 
  Special Instructions. Live Cargo 
   
  Aquaculture Stock 
  Eggs and larvae that will mature into edible 
  fish and other sea creatures. Once an 
  aquaculture farm is up and running, it is 
  usually self sufficient in stock, but new sites 
  will be established and older farms will 
  occasionally purchase new stock to improve 
  their lines. Aquaculture stock is transported 
  in special refrigerated canisters packed onto 
  refrigerated pallets. The cargo is liquid, but 
  since it is transported in relatively small 
  canisters the hazards of moving a bulk liquid 
  do not apply. Purchasers are pretty much 
  limited to aquaculturalists and fish 
  hatcheries, and suppliers are other 
  aquaculturalists and fish hatcheries, 
  generally larger and more established ones 
  but occasionally small and specialized 
  "breeder" farms. 
  Special Instructions: Refrigerated live 
  cargo. Cargo will be rapidly destroyed if 
  refrigeration is lost. 
   
  Artworks 
  Includes painting, sculptures, and other 
  elements of tangible art, other than museum 
  exhibits. This can work as a speculative 
  cargo, provided the trader picks the right 
  market and most importantly, knows it well. 
  Very well. The amateur art dealer is in 
  
   
   
  trouble. Sources are artists, galleries, and 
  dealers, and sometimes auction houses. 
  Buyers are dealers, galleries, individuals, 
  and institutions. Larger orders for artwork 
  may be in the form of large commissioned 
  works needing 2-10 pallet sized spaces. 
  Special Instructions: Delicate Cargo 
   
  Autobars 
  Robotic devices designed to mix and serve a 
  variety of beverages, generally alcohol 
  based. Autobars need to be periodically 
  restocked, and that can create repeat 
  business for the trader. Autobar demand is 
  subject to cultural restrictions. Like many 
  types of specialized machinery, the Autobar 
  is available in a wide variety of models, with 
  different features and appearances. The 
  trader should be an astute buyer and seller, 
  especially if this is to be speculative cargo. 
  Sellers are dealers and manufacturers, 
  buyers are retailers, dealers, corporations, 
  organizations, and sometimes individuals. 
   
  Basic Educational Materials 
  This category includes printed workbooks, 
  as well as models and demonstration media, 
  charts and posters, displays and other types 
  of elementary and primary school level 
  educational material. Sellers will be 
  manufacturers, buyers will are typically rim 
  world governments and communities where 
  cortex access is unfeasible or prohibitively 
  expensive. Rarely a good speculative cargo, 
  as school officials will wish to choose in 
  advance what educational materials they 
  wish to order. Locally connected traders 
  have a definite advantage in this area. 
   
  Batteries 
  One of the denser cargos and in general use 
  everywhere, hence a workable speculative 
  cargo. Batteries are bought by retailers, and 
  vehicle and equipment manufacturers, and 
  certain organizations. They are sold by 
  wholesalers and manufacturers. 
  Special Instructions: Batteries may contain 
  toxic or corrosive chemicals. Electrical 
  hazard. 
   
  Beer Concentrate 
  It was inevitable. After humanity began to 
  spread out across the worlds, it was quickly 
  realized that beer and similar beverages 
  were too bulky to cheaply transport. Beer 
  concentrate was invented. Shortly 
  thereafter, Concentrated Beer Concentrate 
  appeared. Within a decade, "CBC" had 
  become the standard, and the redundant 
  name was no longer necessary. Beer 
  concentrate is sold to retailers, including 
  bars ands restaurants. It is obtained from 
  brewers. Beer concrete is packed in small 
  drums on pallets. It can build up 
  considerable pressure. It can be an effective 
  speculative cargo, especially the more exotic 
  brands. 
   
  Beryllium 
  Includes Beryllium alloys. A high value light 
  weight metal used in aerospace and other 
  application where extreme strength to 
  weight ratios are desired. Sources will be 
  Refineries and dealers. Buyers will be 
  specialized factories and dealers. It's relative 
  rarity makes it a potential speculative cargo 
  even though it is a bulk raw material, as 
  buyers will usually want to acquire reserves 
  stock if the price is good. One significant 
  downside to transport: The stuff is very 
  toxic. Exposure to small amounts can cause 
  chronic diseases. 
  Special Instructions: Toxic and an 
  environmental hazard 
   
  Bicycles 
  Also includes parts for bicycles. Generally 
  shipped un-assembled in pallets. Popular 
  un-powered vehicles, and a good potential 
  speculative cargo where the conditions are 
  right. Markets for bicycles tend to be poor in 
  places with severe climates, or rim worlds 
  where horses largely take precedence. 
  Sellers are manufacturers, buyers are 
  retailers. 
   
  Bio-Agents, Agricultural 
  The term "bio-agent" may conjure images of 
  biological warfare, and in a sense, that's 
  what it is, but not the type directed against 
  humans.  Most bio agents are natural or 
  tailored organisms which are deployed to 
  kill unwanted organisms. The Bio-Agents 
  are usually microbes, but insects are not 
  unknown; for example, parasitic wasps may 
  be released to control a beetle infestation. 
  Bio-Agents are frequently engineered so as 
  to be non-viable in the natural environment 
  after a few generations, but there use always 
  has an element of environmental risk. 
  Sometimes, they are used by agencies 
  charged with eliminating pests or unwanted 
  
   
   
  creatures from an area other than a farm. 
  For example, a virus may be spread to kill a 
  fungus attacking a forest, or rats infesting a 
  city. Sellers will be the rare specialized 
  producers. Buyers are farms and agencies 
  charged with maintaining the environment. 
  Most Bio-Agents are very specific. Bio-
  Agents are supposed to be benign to 
  humans, but there may be medical 
  consequences to inhaling, for example, the 
  massive dosage of fungal spores that may be 
  released should a canister rupture. 
  Special Instructions: Refrigerated Live 
  Cargo. Possible health and environmental 
  hazards. 
   
  Biocides 
  Potent chemicals designed to sterilize a large 
  area. Used as a last ditch means of removing 
  biological contaminations, or on worlds as a 
  means of preventing native organisms from 
  spreading into areas where they are not 
  wanted. Buyers will be Farms, Farm Co-ops, 
  retailers, and certain organizations. 
  Suppliers will be chemical manufacturers. 
  Special Instructions: Liquid Cargo, Highly 
  Toxic. 
   
  Boats, Civilian 
  Fishing Boats, Yachts, Utility and work craft, 
  rescue craft, or other boats. Includes 
  hovercraft designed to operate primarily on 
  water. Boats have overnight capability, 
  otherwise they are considered, small 
  watercraft. These are sold singly, and are 
  vehicle cargos with their own particular 
  difficulty: They can't be driven on and off by 
  themselves. As vehicles, they take up space 
  but are not packed in containers. They are 
  sometimes shipped on wheeled trailers to 
  make shipping easier, but this increases the 
  space each unit takes up. Buyers include 
  dealers, fishing co-ops, agencies who 
  operate boats, and private individuals. 
  Sellers are generally dealers and 
  manufacturers. Some boats are very large 
  "oversize" cargos. 
   
  Botanical Fibers 
  Cotton and others. Suppliers are farms. 
  Buyers are textile plants. Steady production 
  and steady requirements, and a low cost 
  bulky product are a bad combo for the small 
  trader. Leave it to the bulk carriers. But, 
  every now and then, you may find an 
  obscure product, or an some product of 
  exceptional quality. Pounce on it. A textile 
  company might pay a lot to be first on the 
  market with a unique fabric. If it becomes 
  more popular, eventually, the big boys will 
  squeeze you out (or you might make some 
  quick money and be ready to become a big 
  boy yourself) and then its time to move on. 
  Another end of this cargo type you can deal 
  in is very high end, quality material. 
   
  Bulbs and other Expendable Lighting 
  Elements 
  The lighting devices of the modern 'verse 
  does not burn itself out every 1000 hours or 
  so like its Earth-that-was ancestor, but it 
  still needs periodic replacement, especially 
  in the more powerful fixtures. 
   
  Bulk Chocolate 
  Bulk Chocolate is an acceptable speculative 
  cargo, as it will certainly provide the needed 
  choco-fix to the desperate. It is also in 
  demand by border world industries, in this 
  case Food processing plants, especially those 
  turning out Chocolate Confectionery 
  Products. Chocolate is supplied by chocolate 
  manufacturers, which typically buy the 
  beans from plantations. 
  Special Instructions: Heat and exposure to 
  vacuum will ruin the product. However, 
  chocolate need not be refrigerated if room 
  temperature can be maintained, nor kept in 
  atmospheres if it  packed in airtight 
  containers. 
   
  Busses 
  Large people carrying vehicles. Typically 
  ordered by local governments, transport 
  organizations, or other groups needing to 
  move large numbers of people over road 
  networks. Not a typical speculative cargo. 
  Sources are Manufacturers. A vehicular 
  cargo. 
   
  Cabinetry 
  A good export for worlds with forests with 
  attractive hardwoods, but a difficult cargo to 
  work in speculative mode. There are simply 
  too many styles and designs. Better to run 
  around with a full set of samples and offer to 
  bring back filled orders on the next run. Or, 
  deliver finished wood or synthetic products 
  to a cabinetry shop on a planet and let them 
  do the actual fabrication. Cabinetry includes 
  not only wood, but pieces molded from 
  resins and synthetic materials, but wood is 
  
   
   
  still held in the highest regard. Sources are 
  manufacturers, (who are themselves buyers 
  of lumber, synthetic stock, and some 
  chemicals) and buyers are retailers and 
  developers. Buyers may also include local 
  installers, as well as manufacturers of 
  finished products to be installed in cabinets, 
  such as computers or entertainment devices 
  or large appliances. 
  Special Instructions: Natural wood 
  products should not be exposed to vacuum 
  or environmental extremes. 
   
  Carpets and Rugs 
  Textile floor coverings of all sorts, from mass 
  produced simple carpet rolls to small rugs to 
  adhesive backed carpet tiles to hand made 
  oriental carpets. The latter, of course, being 
  of highest value, along with soft angora and 
  alpaca rugs and similar luxury products. The 
  high end of this cargo class which is figured 
  on a per pallet basis, makes a good 
  speculative cargo. The low end is generally 
  shipped as needed, in containers. Buyers are 
  retailers and developers. Buyers of high end 
  carpets are usually dealers, or sometimes 
  individuals or organizations with an 
  interest. Sellers are manufacturers and 
  dealers. 
   
  Ceramics 
  Includes ceramic devices and parts as well as 
  such things as cups and plates, tiles, fixtures, 
  and ornamentals. Sources are manufactures 
  and dealers, buyers are dealers and retailers, 
  and sometimes factories and certain 
  organizations. A workable speculative cargo. 
  Special Instructions: Handle with care 
   
  Chocolate Confectionery Products 
  This form of Chocolate works well as a 
  speculative cargo, as it is something buyers 
  will purchase on the spur of the moment, 
  and demand is as close to universal as you 
  get. It makes for good repeat business as 
  well, thanks to the chocolate's mildly 
  addictive qualities. Chocolate is supplied by 
  chocolate confectioners, and generally 
  purchased by retailers. 
  Special Instructions. Heat and exposure to 
  vacuum will ruin the product. However, 
  chocolate need not be refrigerated if room 
  temperature can be maintained, nor kept in 
  atmospheres as it can be packed in airtight 
  containers. 
   
  Civil Aircraft 
  Non-military aircraft are typically 
  recreational, passenger, or cargo types. One 
  trick to remember if you are getting into the 
  aviation business - each world has different 
  flying conditions and models of aircraft are 
  not universally interchangeable, although 
  many can be adapted from one to another. 
  Buyers are corporations, agencies, and 
  organizations needing aircraft, and in some 
  cases wealthy individuals. Sellers are 
  aviation manufacturers. Aircraft are a 
  vehicle cargo, but they are rather awkward. 
  Most have to be partly disassembled and 
  specially prepared for transport. 
  Special Instructions: Delicate Cargo. 
   
  Coffee/Chicory Roasted, Sorted and 
  Graded Coffee beans 
  Not as popular as it was on Earth-that-was, 
  having long since been eclipsed by tea, but 
  still a decent speculative cargo. Shipments 
  are frequently made in whole container 
  amounts where quantities justify. Sellers are 
  generally coffee plantations. Buyers are 
  typically retail markets, wholesalers, food 
  processing plants, and institutions (Alliance 
  military, educational, large hotel/restaurant 
  chains, etc) that do a lot of feeding. Chicory 
  is occasionally desired as a coffee substitute. 
   
  Collapsed Shipping Containers 
  Due to imbalances in the type and volume of 
  shipping, shipping containers (here 
  containers means containers and pallets) 
  will often accumulate at one point and be in 
  short supply at another point. Typically, this 
  is not a job for a small freighter. There is 
  little money in it, and the shipping back of 
  empty containers is not a high priority, so 
  they tend to go on the big bulk carriers. Still, 
  there are times when shipping containers 
  are urgently needed somewhere. This may 
  be because a local industry has found itself 
  with an unexpected increase in orders and 
  production, and needs to react. Or, perhaps 
  a new start up industry is trying to establish 
  itself. Also, from time to time, shipping 
  containers need to be replaced, so new ones 
  are shipped from specialist factories. 
   
  Commercial/Industrial/Institutional 
  lighting fixtures 
  Generally lightweight and easy to move, 
  these run from simple overhead fixtures 
  used in institutions to decorative street 
  
   
   
  lighting to area outdoor lighting. Demand 
  will be sporadic and therefore this cargo is 
  tricky if bought as speculation. 
   
  Computers and cortex terminals 
  A popular item, central to the daily 
  functioning of humanity. Sellers are 
  manufacturers. Buyers are institutions, 
  corporations, agencies of all kinds, and 
  retailers. 
  Special Instructions: Avoid rough handling. 
   
  Condensed Milk 
  Condensed milk, although heavier, is a far 
  more desirable product than dehydrated 
  milk powder. Typically irradiated and 
  sterilized, it does not have to be refrigerated. 
  Buyers are typically retail markets, and 
  institutions (Alliance military, educational, 
  large hotel/restaurant chains, etc) that do a 
  lot of feeding, and food processing plants. 
  Sellers are dairy wholesalers and dairy farm 
  co-ops. Containers are specialized tanks. 
  Sometimes, smaller tanks will be used so the 
  cargo can be broken into pallets and sent to 
  diverse locations easily. This will generally 
  be the case when the destination is anything 
  but a wholesaler or food processor. 
  Special Instructions: Liquid Cargo 
   
  Construction Machinery, Extreme 
  These vehicles are massive cranes and earth 
  movers, huge mechanical monsters that 
  even challenge a ship with a large cargo bay. 
  These are not suitable for speculative cargo 
  because they represent a substantial 
  investment on the part of the corporation 
  purchasing them and are typically ordered 
  in advance. There is no standard market, but 
  they are more likely to be delivered to 
  worlds with substantial mining and 
  construction activity. Sellers are 
  manufacturers, and they appreciate sales 
  efforts by traders. 
  Special Instructions: These vehicles tend to 
  be especially abusive to floors. If driving 
  aboard an interface craft, make sure the 
  floors are well protected. 
   
  Construction Machinery, static 
  equipment and trailers 
  Non-self propelled but generally portable 
  equipment used in the construction trades, 
  including mixers, hoists, portable welding 
  sets, saws, compressors, and other tools. 
  Purchased by construction oriented 
  organizations and also by retailers. 
  Produced by specialized manufacturers. 
  Vehicular cargo. 
   
  Construction Vehicles 
  A wide range of bulldozers, scrapers, 
  loaders, mixers, excavators, and other self 
  propelled construction machinery is 
  included in this category. In demand 
  everywhere there is heavy construction 
  work, by developers and Alliance, and also 
  by retailers. Provided by specialty 
  manufacturers. 
   
  Consumer electronics 
  The home television, audio/visual recording 
  systems and the home stereo system have 
  since merged to become one 
  cortex/entertainment system. Not all 
  electronics devoted to entertainment 
  purposes are cortex dependent, however. 
  This class is the purely entertainment side of 
  the house, usually portable video and 
  holographic games and the like. Consumer 
  electronics are sold to retailers, and on 
  occasion, to organizations. Suppliers are 
  manufacturers. 
  Special Instructions: High magnetic fields 
  and high energy radiation can damage 
  components. Keep shielded. 
   
  Consumer packaged chemical goods 
  This cargo represents a broad array chemical 
  products packaged in small convenient 
  containers for local distribution to 
  consumers. This cargo, whether regular 
  freight or speculative, is usually bound for a 
  border world. Larger markets find it easier 
  to import products in pallet or container 
  sized tanks and repackage them. Sources of 
  consumer packaged chemical goods will be 
  dealers, wholesalers, and manufacturers (at 
  least, those which supply a broad range). 
  Buyers are just about everyone, with 
  retailers in the fore. Two important 
  precautions: first, "consumer packaged" 
  means exactly that. If a shipping container 
  ruptures, do not expect the many individual 
  containers to provide much defense. In fact, 
  they will only add to the misery, as many of 
  the products will be packed under pressure, 
  and will burst in vacuum. Second, with the 
  broad range of products, all kinds of 
  reactions will take place and by products 
  released in a major rupture situation. In its 
  way it is less predictable and more 
  
   
   
  dangerous than a rupture of a tank 
  containing a single dangerous chemical. 
   
  Conveyance  machinery 
  Generally, large fixed machinery designed to 
  move people or things from one place to 
  another. Installed at buildings, at freight 
  handling facilities, and aboard ships 
  including starships. Conveyance machinery 
  is almost always ordered for a specific use, 
  and systems are customized. It is considered 
  a vehicle cargo, as it is not packed in 
  containers, but it is not self propelled and is 
  notoriously bulky and unwieldy. An 
  exception is conveyance machinery built for 
  the mining and construction industries, 
  which is often trailer mounted and portable. 
  Example of conveyance machinery include 
  move slideways, escalators, conveyor belts 
  and other machines. 
   
  Copper stock 
  Includes alloys of copper such as brass, 
  bronze, etc. A basic metal with widespread 
  industrial applications, copper is one of 
  those standards that tend to be avoided by 
  the small freighters. Suppliers are smelters 
  and dealers. Buyers are factories, and 
  sometimes developers. 
   
  Cosmetics 
  For the trader who can keep up with shifts in 
  fashion and demand, a good, high value to 
  volume speculative cargo. Novelty items can 
  often find a market, but this category 
  includes many tried and true classic 
  cosmetics, toiletries, and scents, which are 
  often exceptionally profitable items 
  considering their size. Sources are 
  manufacturers and dealers. Buyers are 
  almost always retailers. 
   
  Dairy Foods 
  Miscellaneous Dairy products including 
  cheese and butter, moved in refrigerated 
  containers. Includes imitation dairy such as 
  Tofu. Buyers are typically retail markets, 
  and institutions (Alliance military, 
  educational, large hotel/restaurant chains, 
  etc) that do a lot of feeding, and food 
  processing plants. 
  Special Instructions: Refrigerated Cargo 
    
  Data Cable 
  Reels of cable, usually optical, for the 
  transmission of data. Used by developers 
  and organizations providing 
  communications networks, also acquired by 
  retailers and manufacturers. Sold by 
  specialized manufacturers. Demand is 
  universal, and cable is non-perishable, so 
  data cable can work as a speculative good. 
   
  Dental Hygiene Expendables 
  Buyers are retail companies, occasionally 
  institutions. (Although for most schools, 
  Alliance military units, etc, this is something 
  that is bought "on the outside".) Sellers are 
  factories. This is a steady mover, and as such 
  buyers will often want regular sources, but 
  the independent trader  can generally find 
  buyers for new brands, new products, and 
  bargain products. The independent trader 
  might also be involved in test marketing for 
  a manufacturer- deliver a pallet to that place 
  and we'll see what happens. The best thing 
  about Dental Hygiene Expendables is that 
  they are a safe, if small bet, for the 
  speculator, as they are needed universally, 
  and they have a reasonable cost to 
  volume/mass ratio. If you can't unload them 
  in one port, you can take them anywhere. 
   
  Desalinization equipment/Mobile 
  Desalinization Equipment 
  This equipment will be useful on water short 
  worlds with salty seas. There is no regular 
  market. Machinery of this type is ordered on 
  a need basis, when a new desalinization 
  plant is built or an old one replaced or 
  upgraded. Likewise, there is no regular 
  source. Suppliers are specialized 
  manufacturers who will usually build 
  desalinization equipment on as-needed 
  basis. That being said, no manufacturer 
  would have any objection to a trader with 
  the right connections trying to drum up 
  business, and will make it worth that 
  trader's while. The mobile version is truck or 
  trailer mounted and is a vehicular cargo. 
  These are rare, but are used on rim worlds to 
  provide water to explorers or Alliance 
  military units deployed away from civilized 
  areas. 
   
  Diamonds, Rough/Cut; Precious 
  Stones, Rough/Cut 
  Buyers of raw diamonds and other gems are 
  places with gem cutting businesses, sellers 
  are diamond and gem mines. Finished 
  diamonds and gems are sold from the 
  cutters to jewelry makers, retailers, or 
  
   
   
  dealers (or merely moved, as they may be 
  the same firm). As both of the first two are 
  rare, there is no real calculable Typical 
  market. Gem Cutters want all they can get, 
  sellers will want to unload whatever they 
  have, and Jewelry makers can afford no 
  more than a tray or two at a time . The 
  quantity is small enough, though, so that 
  usually, even the annual source from a mine 
  will be less than half a pallet of trays of 
  gems. Traders will keep them in a ship's 
  vault, or among personal possessions, or in 
  another special place.  If a trader is being 
  paid to move diamonds or gems as freight, 
  the owner will usually be very interested in 
  the security procedures and overall 
  reputation, and will take steps to make 
  certain that the amount of diamonds or 
  gems at the end of the voyage is the correct 
  amount. 
   
  Digestive Bacteria 
  Not what it sounds like. Digestive Bacteria 
  are the staple of recycling centers, waste 
  disposal centers, and some plastics 
  industries. They break down waste products 
  and metabolize recoverable usable proteins. 
  Periodically, a population in an industrial 
  setting will begin to "lose coherence" as 
  mutant strains less useful from the human 
  point of view begin to multiply. When this 
  happens, new bacteria must be shipped in. 
  New bacteria are also used to establish new 
  facilities. Sellers will be the rare specialized 
  producers. Buyers will the operators of 
  waste disposal and sewage plants 
  everywhere, and certain plastics factories. 
  Special Instructions: Refrigerated Live 
  Cargo. If Canisters open, they will die 
  quickly, but in the process they may cause 
  extreme damage to certain synthetic 
  materials 
   
  Disinfectants 
  Chemicals used to kill microbes in an area, 
  while remaining safe for other living things. 
  At least, in the quantities normally used. 
  Rupture a whole tank of the stuff, and it's 
  not a good idea to breath nearby. Buyers are 
  retailers and sometimes institutions that go 
  through a lot of the stuff. Seller are 
  manufacturers. 
  Special Instructions; Liquid Cargo, Toxic 
   
  Disposable Diapers 
  One of the technological advances that made 
  modern civilization possible, although 
  contributing massively to landfill problems. 
  Disposable diapers can be a much higher 
  priority item than one might think, if the 
  market has been neglected for too long. Sold 
  to retailers, and bought from manufacturers. 
  Demand will be closely linked to the 
  population's fertility level, of course. 
   
  Dolls and Stuffed Toys 
  On the low end, simple stuffed animals and 
  plastic dolls. On the high end, includes many 
  with animatronics features. Advanced 
  technology has led to a blurring of the line 
  between toy and robot. Many examples are 
  state of the art. As in other toy categories, a 
  good feel for the whims of children and good 
  timing can make a speculative trader 
  wealthy. Buyers are retailers, and sometimes 
  organizations. Sellers are manufacturers. 
   
  Drugs 
  Prepared medicines. Supplied by 
  manufacturers, and bought by hospitals, 
  retailers, and organizations with a need to 
  acquire them. One of the more valuable 
  cargos in terms of value per unit ton or unit 
  mass. 
   
  Eggs 
  Yes, Eggs, infertile and generally from 
  chickens. Eggs are good food sources in their 
  own packages (although they need 
  protective packages to avoid damage) and 
  with the advent of advanced poultry genetic 
  engineering, not nearly as health 
  threatening as they were in the bad old days. 
  They keep well when refrigerated, and are a 
  good "rounding out cargo" to carry when 
  visiting worlds of limited agricultural 
  production. 
  Special Instructions: Refrigerated, Delicate 
  Cargo 
   
  Electromagnetic Transmitting 
  Elements 
  Such things as antennas and control 
  equipment. Stuff for the sending and radio, 
  television, microwave, and other 
  communications signals. Bought by 
  communications oriented organizations, 
  sold by manufacturers. 
   
  Electronic Components 
  Small parts that are used to make and repair 
  electronic devices. Sold by manufacturers, 
  
   
   
  and bought by retailers as well as other 
  manufacturers, and Alliance military and 
  other organizations that maintain a lot of 
  electronic equipment. 
   
  Emergency, Alliance military, or 
  Humanitarian pre-packaged Rations 
  Typically not a speculative item, but there 
  are certain exceptions. Often, these are a 
  priority cargo going to a place stricken by an 
  acute food shortage, in a case of natural 
  disaster. More frequently, they are shipped 
  as a part of regular Alliance military 
  sustenance program that in many cases is 
  handled with chartered civilian ships. 
  Another possible destination is an agency, 
  foundation, or organization that is acquiring 
  supplies as part of an ordinary preparedness 
  program, or an agency or corporation that 
  needs pre-prepared rations to sustain people 
  in a wilderness environment, such as 
  scientists working in the field. Finally, 
  certain retailers, particularly those 
  supporting wilderness recreation, and 
  wilderness oriented businesses, will 
  purchase these meals. Sources are typically 
  specialized food processing plants, although 
  the cargo may be being moved from a 
  warehouse belonging to one of the 
  organizations above. 
   
  Emergency Shelters 
  Generally, tents and other such portable 
  shelter designed for quick erection and 
  resistance to the elements. In times of crisis, 
  this may be shipped to an area temporarily 
  lacking in regular housing. Or, it may be 
  delivered as part of Alliance military 
  supplies, or to an agency or organization 
  stocking up for future contingencies. 
  Alternatively, it may be delivered to retailers 
  and organizations interested in wilderness 
  operations, such as recreational groups, or it 
  may be brought in temporarily as part of a 
  cultural program or fair requiring temporary 
  shelter. Sources are manufacturers, 
  warehouses, and dealers. 
   
  Epoxy Resins 
  Chemicals that consist of several parts, 
  stored separately, that must be mixed for the 
  material to harden. A staple in the chemical 
  industry, used by developers and 
  manufacturers, and also sold to retailers. 
  Bought from chemical plants. Like paint, 
  normally shipped in smaller containers 
  stacked on pallets to prevent the settling 
  that might occur in larger tanks. Exposure to 
  air will ruin the product, keep in sealed 
  container. 
  Special Instructions: Avoid mixing of parts. 
   
  Equipment for the Disabled and 
  Handicapped 
  This is various powered and un-powered 
  equipment designed to assist the 
  handicapped and infirm. This category also 
  includes such ancillary medical equipment 
  as stretchers and portable hospital beds, 
  immobilization devices, supports, crutches, 
  etc. Buyers will be medical retailers, 
  hospitals, and organizations with major 
  medical activities. Seller will be 
  manufacturers. 
   
  Explosives 
  Used in mining, in some construction, and 
  in the production of ordinance. Buyers will 
  be Alliance military agencies, or 
  corporations or other organizations with 
  permission to own explosives, not retailers. 
  Suppliers will be explosive manufacturers, 
  which are rather rare. Transport of 
  Explosives may require special inspections, 
  permits, licenses, etc, and when arriving at a 
  port, local authorities usually like to be told 
  if you have a hold full of the stuff. 
  Special Instructions: Handle with extreme 
  care, avoid excess heat and/or oxygen at all 
  costs. 
   
  Expendable Filter Elements 
  Screens, fillers, and other filter materials 
  that are used and then discarded. A very 
  important delivery for colonies needing 
  sophisticated life support. Suppliers are 
  Manufacturers, purchasers are spaceships, 
  agencies that see to the purification if water 
  and air, industries, and some retailers. 
   
  Extracts 
  Related to the Spice industry, but with a few 
  key differences. Extracts are more likely to 
  prepared in factories, not picked and dried 
  or otherwise simply obtained. Thus they are 
  less speculative and more like an industrial 
  good. Buyers are generally food processors, 
  retailers or organizations doing a lot of food 
  processing. Also, less likely to be effected by 
  harvests. 
    
  Farm Machinery/Non-Self propelled 
  
   
   
  Farm Machinery. 
  The general Farm machinery category 
  covers tractors, combines, harvesters, and 
  implements that are vehicles in their own 
  right. The Non-Self propelled category 
  includes trailer mounted devices, as well as 
  equipment that is typically immobile, such 
  as milking machines. All are shipped in half 
  container or full container units, and are 
  considered vehicle cargos. Buyers will be 
  farms and farm co-ops and dealers, sellers 
  will be specialized manufacturers. This 
  machinery is often very specialized, and 
  therefore a speculative trader is advised to 
  know his machinery well and seek out 
  specific information on the agricultural 
  processes at his intended market. It does no 
  good to show up with harvesters for grain 
  when the local market is full of fruit 
  orchards. 
   
  Fertile Eggs 
  Birds and reptiles have been kind enough to 
  provide humanity with easily transportable 
  embryos in convenient carrying cases. This 
  makes establishing populations of Chickens, 
  Turkeys, Emus, and Alligators on distant 
  worlds fairly easy. The one hitch is the fact 
  that the eggs do not halt their development, 
  and so when fertile eggs are shipped, 
  especially to distant worlds, eggs do not 
  arrive, small birds do. The problem is neatly 
  solved by shipping the eggs in special 
  incubator pallets, which will also 
  automatically raise the young birds or 
  lizards after they are born. The incubator 
  pallet gives a range of 70 days to the delivery 
  of the stock - beyond that and the incubator 
  will no longer be able to support them. 
  Fertile eggs are bought by farms and farm 
  co-ops looking to establish, expand, or 
  improve flocks. The eggs are obtained from 
  farms and farm co-ops, which typically want 
  their incubator pallets back. They will 
  charge for them if the tip is just one-way, but 
  often, the colony farms will buy them, as 
  they are handy to have around as incubators 
  to breed further stock. 
  Special Instructions: Live and Fragile 
  cargo. 
   
  Fertilizer and Soil Treatments 
  Surprisingly, for a bulk product, this is not 
  one of those "regularly shipped" products. 
  Farmers find their needs going up and 
  down, and will often buy an available cargo 
  and store it, if the price is good. Still, in 
  terms of mass to money ratio, it's not one of 
  the better ones. Sometimes, to boost 
  agricultural output, local governments and 
  farm oriented organizations might subsidize 
  shipment. Sell to farms and farm co-ops. 
  Buy from Fertilizer plants. Use a bit of 
  caution - some fertilizer is explosive. 
  Special Instructions: In some cases, 
  explosive. Handle with due care. 
   
  Finished Textiles 
  Typically moved by bulk carriers, but small 
  traders often run across examples of 
  specialty cloth the big shippers overlook (or 
  don't have the time to go looking for) and 
  the fashion market is always on the prowl 
  for the interesting and exotic. These finds 
  often lead to long term demands - or at least, 
  long term until fads change again, at which 
  point the big regular shippers come in and 
  steal the trade from the little guys, who go 
  off in search of the next big thing. Buyers are 
  manufacturers that use textiles (which goes 
  beyond just clothing factories to include 
  makers of upholstered furniture, vehicles, 
  etc) and suppliers are a variety of textile 
  producers, everything from silk spinners to 
  synthetic textile plants to old fashioned mills 
  turning out wool and cotton. Some of the 
  high tech fabrics are engineered to be 
  expendable, and disposable, working on the 
  theory that no one wants to keep an article 
  of clothing after its been worn a few times. 
  This serves to bump up demand. 
  Special Instructions: Many fabrics are 
  damaged by exposure to vacuum or 
  environmental extremes. 
   
  Finished Stone 
  Uncommon, but now and then people will 
  have a taste for dressed (usually honed) 
  surfaces made with the stone of another 
  planet. Common when trying to replicate a 
  certain architectural style in true authentic 
  form. Some of the more exotic, decorative 
  finished stone makes a good speculative 
  cargo. Honed stone is normally shipped 
  between stars in thin sheets which are then 
  bonded to locally available material, 
  although exceptions are made for special 
  shapes. Buyers are builders and retailers 
  serving the building trade. Occasionally, 
  organizations and individuals sponsoring an 
  exceptional construction project Sellers are 
  quarries and stone mills. Bear in mind that 
  
   
   
  not all construction stone can take on an 
  attractive, exotic finish. 
  Special Instructions: Vulnerable to 
  cracking and chipping. 
   
  Fire Fighting Equipment 
  Devices, machines, and systems for the 
  detection, control, and extinguishing of fires 
  excluding vehicles and expendable supplies. 
  Includes such things as man portable fire 
  extinguishers and fixed fire extinguishers, 
  sprinkler systems, etc. Not exactly a 
  standard commodity, but of importance, an 
  developers, as well as shipbuilders will be 
  buyers. Organizations of all sorts will also 
  acquire equipment, as will some retailers. 
  Special Instructions: Bleed and clear all 
  pressurized systems before exposure to 
  vacuum 
   
  Fire Fighting Vehicles 
  Ground Vehicles specific to the role of 
  firefighting. Generally acquired by the 
  Alliance as a special purchase, sometimes by 
  corporations that have to provide their own 
  fire fighting services. Sellers are 
  Manufacturers. 
  Special Instructions: Be sure all pressurized 
  systems are bled and left open prior to 
  exposure to vacuum. 
   
  Fire retardant foams/Anti Kinetic 
  Foams 
  The former is a class of chemicals that 
  expands into foam and smothers fire. The 
  latter is a liquid that forms a foam with an 
  energy absorbing structure (typically by 
  forming millions of tiny bubbles, each of 
  which absorbs kinetic energy in breaking) 
  used in emergency anti-collision, anti-blast, 
  and bomb disposal applications. Shipped as 
  a liquid, and used from pressurized tanks, 
  but typically not pressurized during 
  transport. Even so, a rupture of a tank can 
  have serious effects in a hold. Buyers of fire 
  fighting foams will be companies that 
  recharge fire fighting foam apparatus, and 
  major firefighting users such as spaceports, 
  airports, and sea ports. Demand will spike 
  markedly higher after a major fire, as fire 
  fighting apparatus will have to be recharged. 
  Larger users will insist on container sized 
  loads. Buyers of anti-kinetic foams include 
  vehicle manufacturers and major operators, 
  and security and rescue oriented agencies. 
  Special Instructions: Liquid Cargo, under 
  pressure, foams upon contact with air. 
   
  Flavoring, Syrup and Concentrates 
  A liquid cargo, consisting of various food 
  ingredients (and some sold as is in their 
  final form, like maple syrup) that are 
  strongly distilled. Also includes soft drink 
  syrups and other reductions. Buyers will be 
  retailers or food processors. Sellers will be 
  farms, farm co-ops, and food processors. 
  Sold in drums stacked on pallets. Retailers 
  will usually re-package for local distribution. 
  Special Instructions: Liquid Cargo. A real 
  mess to clean up if it spills. DO not expose to 
  environmental extremes. 
   
  Foils and Laminates 
  Generally shipped in large rolls, 4 to a pallet. 
  Foils and Laminates are sold to factories of 
  all kinds, both as stock for that factory's 
  production and as packaging material. In 
  the case of the latter, they are frequently 
  pre-printed in a design for the product to be 
  eventually enclosed within. From time to 
  time, a run of foils or laminates printed in 
  such a manner will be excess, and will be 
  sold off for whatever minimal price the seller 
  can get. Foils and laminates can also be sold 
  to retailers who will repackage them in 
  convenient sizes for general use. 
  Contemporary foils are very thin and strong, 
  and can be transparent, or have mirror 
  finished surfaces, or surfaces in any other 
  color. Sellers will be manufacturers and 
  dealers. One odd risk of transporting foils is 
  the habit of the layers of foil to weld 
  themselves together when exposed to 
  vacuum. this results in a large and useless 
  cylindrical mass where a roll of foil existed 
  before. 
  Special instruction: Should not be exposed 
  to vacuum, water, or environmental 
  extremes 
   
  Food Processing Equipment 
  Machinery used in the large scale food 
  preparation. Includes the large items of 
  equipment found in food processing plants, 
  mixers, cookers, slicers, and devices of all 
  sorts, as well as equipment for large 
  professional kitchens as may be required in 
  professional kitchens, large restaurants, 
  hotels and institutions. Sellers are 
  manufacturers. 
   
  Frozen Dairy Desserts 
  
   
   
  Miscellaneous frozen Dairy dessert (and 
  imitation dairy) products moved in 
  refrigerated containers. Includes imitation 
  dairy such as Tofu. Buyers are typically retail 
  markets, and institutions (Alliance military, 
  educational, large hotel/restaurant chains, 
  etc) that do a lot of feeding. Sellers are food 
  processing plants. 
  Special Instructions: Refrigerated Cargo 
   
  Fruit Juice Concentrate 
  A staple agricultural commodity, 
  transported generally in container sized 
  tanks but also available in pallets for smaller 
  users. Sometimes a workable speculative 
  cargo, especially high grade or exotic juices. 
  Buyers are retailers, and institutions 
  (Alliance military, educational, large 
  hotel/restaurant chains, etc) that do a lot of 
  feeding, and food processing plants. Fruit 
  Juice Concentrate will usually be sterilized 
  by irradiation, but will also be refrigerated 
  to prevent chemical decomposition of the 
  product. 
   
  Furs 
  A fairly good speculative cargo, especially if 
  the product is exotic. Furs are usually 
  bought from farms or wholesalers- don't 
  waste time tracking down individual 
  trappers unless they have something truly 
  exotic to offer. Buyers are clothing 
  manufacturers, furriers, and fur dealers, 
  especially where the weather is cold and the 
  population reasonably wealthy. Fur, being a 
  natural product, takes a good eye to 
  determine the quality. If you go into the fur 
  trade, have someone along who knows his 
  furs. 
  Special Instructions: Avoid environmental 
  extremes, keep packaging sealed. 
   
  Gambling and Gaming Equipment 
  Largish devices, frequently electronic but 
  not necessarily so, designed for commercial 
  level gambling and amusement. Non-
  gambling devices within this category 
  includes such things as sports simulators. 
  Makes for an unusual speculative cargo from 
  the trader with real chutzpah. Typical buyers 
  are hotels, casinos, and entertainment 
  centers. More urbanized worlds may have 
  retailers dealing in this equipment. Sources 
  are manufacturers, which are uncommon. 
   
  Games, Toys, and Children's Vehicles 
  A noteworthy speculative cargo. Traders can 
  get quite wealthy with this one, If they 
  successfully predict in advance what the 
  little tykes want most. Sellers are 
  manufacturers. Buyers are retailers (which 
  can get quite desperate for stock around 
  certain gift giving occasions) and 
  sometimes, but rarely, other organizations 
  which provide for a lot of children, such as 
  educational institutions or humanitarian 
  agencies. 
   
  General Clothing 
  Despite the apparent universal nature of the 
  product, the trader who engages in 
  speculative trade with this common 
  commodity is advised to be knowledgeable 
  and careful. Styles and preferences change 
  capaciously, and if the seller is offering too 
  low a price, it could be because the product 
  isn't very marketable. Sellers tend to be 
  manufacturers and wholesalers. Buyers are 
  almost always retailers. Quality and price 
  vary considerably, the high end of general 
  clothing, while only a fraction of the 
  demand, can bring large profits. 
   
  General Livestock 
  Livestock is often transported in embryo 
  form, but this requires female animals on 
  the other end to bear the embryos to term. 
  When new herds are being established, or 
  old ones enlarged, livestock have to be 
  shipped as, well, live stock. These animals 
  include cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs. 
  Livestock is not shipped over interplanetary 
  distances just for slaughter. Livestock are 
  usually shipped young, when possible, 
  primarily because the young animals take up 
  less room. 
  Special Instructions: Live Cargo. 
   
  General Parcels 
  General Parcels are the every day packages 
  sent by individuals and businesses to other 
  individuals and businesses, too small to be 
  shipped individually. They may be 
  documents, gifts, proposals, records, "care 
  packages" whatever - the shipper usually 
  doesn't get to know, anyway. Parcels are 
  gathered together and put into a common 
  pallet for shipping to the destination. There 
  are several different policies out there 
  pertaining to parcels, and players may not 
  always be able to move them. Core planets 
  insist that only Alliance courier ships carry 
  
   
   
  the general parcel trade. Border and Rim 
  worlds grant a civilian company a charter to 
  carry the parcels along a certain route - this 
  may be hotly contested, and the local 
  government will look at cost, speed and 
  reliability as the key factors in granting a 
  charter. Many Rim worlds will just send 
  their parcels on "next available ship", as long 
  as it meets speed and reliability criteria, and 
  agrees to the standard rate structure for that 
  route. Finally, some routes are covered by 
  multiple competing parcel carriers. 
   
  General Service Autonomous Robotic 
  Devices 
  Also includes parts. Self propelled, 
  internally powered computerized devices of 
  general service use, including domestic 
  robots, utility robots, yard and house care 
  robots, inter-office transport robots, etc. 
  More universal in scope than the other robot 
  categories, these are good for the speculative 
  trader. Buyers are usually organizations and 
  dealers. Sellers are manufacturers. 
   
  Geophysical survey and mapping 
  equipment 
  Sensor and survey equipment designed to 
  image and survey terrain. Buyers will be 
  organizations devoted to exploration, or the 
  Alliance itself, especially the Alliance 
  military. Demand is somewhat more skewed 
  to the frontier worlds than other products. 
  Occasionally, buyers will ask that delivery of 
  certain instruments include delivery to their 
  final deployed locations. 
   
  Gymnasium, Exercise, and 
  Playground Equipment 
  Largish fixed devices for health and 
  amusement. Supplied by manufacturers, 
  and bought by organizations of various 
  kinds and sometimes retailers. Much of this 
  class is sold on a special order only basis, 
  and manufacturers are appreciative of 
  traders who bring back orders for them. 
   
  Hair Care Products and treatments 
  In use everywhere, but the market is fickle 
  and brand loyalty undependable. The 
  speculative trader is advised to read the 
  fashion magazines and be alert for trends. 
  Purchased by retailers, and sold by 
  manufacturers. 
  Special Instructions: many articles will 
  burst if exposed to vacuum. 
   
  Handicrafts 
  Usually "low tech" style manufactures in 
  some traditional ethnic style. People have a 
  desire to "connect" with other places and 
  cultures, so these items, when authentic and 
  of high quality, can be excellent speculative 
  cargos, although the demand will not be 
  large. Some are designed to be useful, 
  practical objects, simple tools and table ware 
  being popular. Others are purely decorative. 
  Frequently, they are manufactured by 
  individuals or very small companies, so 
  obtaining them can be time consuming. 
  Sometimes, producers will be represented 
  by a dealer, or a co-op. Buyers are generally 
  retailers. Loads can easily be broken down 
  into portions of pallets. 
   
  Hardwood Lumber 
  Wood is shipped as interstellar freight only 
  as a luxury and finish product. Structural 
  lumber typically isn't worth the effort. High 
  quality lumber is used in the furniture and 
  cabinet industries, as veneer paneling, in the 
  manufacture of house wares, and other 
  industries. It will generally not be retailed, 
  but there are exceptions. It is sold mostly to 
  developers and factories, and purchased 
  from wholesalers or directly from forestry 
  companies. Woods of this kind, at least from 
  the Earth species people know about, are 
  high quality hardwoods such as Oak, 
  Walnut, Cherry, and tropical hardwoods 
  such as Mahogany and Ironwood. High 
  quality wood can work as a speculative 
  cargo. 
  Special Instructions: Do not expose to 
  vacuum or environmental extremes. 
  Flammable. 
   
  Hardware 
  Bolts, nuts, screws, clamps, basic parts and 
  small tools, and other simple metal or 
  synthetic units, an industrial basic that 
  holds civilization together. Universal need 
  makes for a good speculative cargo. 
  Expendable nature of much hardware 
  means return trips. Suppliers are 
  manufacturers and wholesalers. Buyers are 
  retailers, or corporations/agencies such as 
  developers and the Alliance military and real 
  estate management firms, with a lot of 
  property to take care of. Buyers can also be 
  factories that use hardware in their 
  manufactures. 
  
   
   
   
  Hazardous Environment Clothing 
  Garments made for survival in extremely 
  unsafe places. Includes pressure suits, 
  fireproof suits, deep sea diving suits, and 
  chemical protective suits. Selling pressure 
  suits is a lot tougher than some traders 
  might thing, but with a little reflection the 
  reason is obvious: of all the possible cargos, 
  this is one just about every spaceship 
  captain knows well. As a result, the 
  competition can be fierce. 
   
  Heavy Weapons 
  Including such things as missile launchers 
  and artillery, these are large pieces of 
  firepower generally possessed only by the 
  Alliance military. Civilian shippers will often 
  be hired to move them, though, either from 
  the manufacturer to the receiving Alliance 
  military unit or from one Alliance military 
  depot to another. In any event, the shipper is 
  usually chosen with care. In certain 
  situations, Alliance military passengers may 
  accompany a cargo of weapons. Heavy 
  weapons may either be palletized or shipped 
  as vehicle cargos- container equivalents. 
  When the latter is the case, this represents 
  larger pieces. 
   
  Horses 
  Somewhat more difficult to move than most 
  livestock, as Horses are of much higher 
  individual value and require greater care. 
  Some livestock including horses can be 
  moved as frozen embryos. That is a different 
  cargo type. This requires two things, though: 
  mature female livestock on the far end that 
  can bring the embryos to term, and the time 
  to wait. Often, especially when a herd is 
  being established or expanded, these aren't 
  available. Horses need to be around adult 
  horses when growing up (to learn how to be 
  horses) and so are not moved as young. 
  Horses must be cared for by grooms during 
  the voyage. Experienced shippers will send 
  pregnant mares when possible, thus moving 
  two horses at once. Horses are obtained 
  from Horse farms, and are sold to dealers, 
  horse farms, farms, and organizations that 
  desire them, as well as private individuals. 
  Special Instructions: Very challenging 
  cargo, see notes above. 
   
  Human Organs/Cybernetics 
  A great many human parts can be replaced 
  by artificial version or with donor/harvested 
  organs. This category includes both 
  prosthetic such as artificial legs, and internal 
  replacement organs such as hearts, bones, 
  and kidneys. Suppliers are very specialized 
  manufacturers, donor organizations and 
  harvesters, and buyers are organizations 
  with large hospitals. 
   
  Industrial Acids 
  Sulfuric Acid, Sulphonitric Acid, 
  Hydrofluoric Acid, Phosphoric Acid and 
  other chemicals. Despite the fact that actual 
  accidents are rare, there is something about 
  the shipment of large containers of Acid that 
  makes the typical ship owner shudder. Acids 
  are shipped in large, ceramic lined tanks. 
  They are acquired from chemical plants, and 
  delivered to a variety of industries. These 
  same statistics work for Industrial Solvents, 
  and the same warnings apply as well. 
   
  Industrial Gasses 
  Used in welding and in a variety of 
  Industrial processes, Inert Gasses, which 
  include Argon, Helium, and others, are 
  transported in liquid form in tanks. Leaks in 
  tanks become evident quickly as frost builds 
  up around the leak. Rupture of a tank is 
  extremely dangerous. Sellers are 
  manufacturers, buyers are factories, and 
  retailers supporting small factories and 
  construction or repair operations. 
   
  Industrial Process Robotics 
  Also includes parts. Robotic devices that 
  may be self propelled, but are generally not 
  internally powered. These robots are 
  typically installed in a factory, but may be 
  located in other places such as vehicle 
  service centers. Buyers are typically the 
  organizations and corporations that will use 
  them. Sellers are manufacturers. 
   
  Insulating Foam/Structural Foam 
  These materials are transported and stored 
  in liquid state, under pressure. On contact 
  with air they quickly form a rigid foam. They 
  are similar in most properties, except that 
  insulating foam is optimized for its 
  resistance to the passage of heat, ands 
  structural foam for great strength. 
  Developers and some retailers are the main 
  buyers, 
  Special Instructions, Liquid Cargo. Leakage 
  from ruptured tanks can rapidly fill 
  
   
   
  compartments. 
   
  Irradiation Devices 
  Used primarily in food processing, medicine, 
  and science for sterilization, and in some 
  industries for quality control. Bought from 
  manufacturers, and sold to specialized 
  industries, and institutions with scientific 
  and medical functions. Also used by 
  companies that prepare shipments for 
  export. Fairly specialized equipment, but 
  crops up in all sorts of places so it's got a 
  pretty strong market. 
  Special Instructions: Delicate Cargo 
   
  Jewelry 
  Ranks up there with gems in terms of value 
  per unit weight/volume, in fact, more so. A 
  Jewelry tray is mostly armor and packing 
  material and 50 trays will stack onto a pallet. 
  Single trays are generally traded, and when 
  moved, they are often not even in the cargo 
  area. Traders will keep them in a ship's 
  vault, or among personal possessions, or in 
  another special place. If a trader is being 
  paid to move jewelry as freight, the owner 
  will usually be very interested in the security 
  procedures and overall reputation, and will 
  take steps to make certain that nothing goes 
  missing. 
   
  Laser systems 
  Not weapons! (Lasers as weapons should be 
  treated as "Heavy Weapons") Lasers are 
  tools with myriads of functions from power 
  transmission to communications to sensing 
  to industrial work. They are used so widely 
  that basic laser devices are standardized 
  commodities. Buyers are retailers and many 
  organizations, including industries, Alliance 
  and private agencies that make use of laser 
  tools and devices. Communications utility 
  companies buy many types of laser 
  equipment. Sellers are distributors and 
  manufacturers. 
  Special Instructions: Delicate cargo. Keep 
  shielded. Lasers can be damaged by 
  exposure to high energy radiation. 
   
  Lead stock 
  Widely used in industry, for shielding and 
  other purposes exploiting the properties of 
  this very dense, soft metal. Some is used in 
  building because it easy to form into shapes 
  in the field and is very corrosion resistant. 
  Provided by smelters and dealers, and 
  shipped to factories and developers. 
   
  Leather, Fur, and Hide Apparel 
  On the average, of higher value than general 
  clothing, and transported in lower 
  quantities. In addition to the details as 
  noted in with General Clothing, note that the 
  sources here tend to be more specialized, 
  and the demand is affected by weather and 
  environmental conditions. This cargo also 
  makes a better speculative cargo, especially 
  when made from materials of novel origin. 
   
  Lingerie, Loungewear and Nightwear 
  A highly specialized line of clothing, 
  generally available in smaller amounts, 
  being of higher value per unit volume, but 
  finding lower demand. Unlike other forms of 
  clothing, this will never be of interest to 
  organizations and institutions, the only 
  buyers are retailers. Sources are specialized 
  manufacturers. 
   
  Live Plants 
  Plants are easy to transport as seeds, and 
  modern genetic science can shorten the 
  maturation times of some kinds of crop 
  plants, but sometimes, farmers want to push 
  the schedule up a few years, especially when 
  establishing things like orchards and 
  vineyards. Ornamental plants, too, cannot 
  wait, and sometimes new genetically 
  engineered plants need to be shipped whole 
  and live for planting. Then, there are those 
  plants that don't grow well from seeds. 
  These are among the circumstances that will 
  lead to the shipping of live plants, in special 
  nursery containers designed to maintain 
  them alive during a journey. It's not easy 
  getting a plant to hibernate. Deciduous trees 
  do it, but plants that don't naturally possess 
  the technique just don't take well to it. A 
  Plant nursery container can't just be 
  dropped into a hold, it needs a modest 
  connection to a cargo ship's power supply. 
  Routine maintenance from a trained 
  technician will keep a plant nursery 
  container going indefinitely- limited, of 
  course, by the size the plants will obtain. 
  Sometimes, the whole plant nursery 
  container itself will be the object of desire, at 
  space and orbital habitats requiring small 
  hydroponics gardens. It's not unheard of for 
  large cargo ships to keep one container on as 
  a permanent fixture. The plants themselves 
  can range in value. It is possible for a 
  
   
   
  container of old, hand raised ornamental 
  Bonsai trees to be the most valuable cargo 
  on a ship. Suppliers are some farms, and 
  plant nurseries- very rare ones used to 
  preparing plants for space flight. Suppliers 
  may also include botanical research stations. 
  Buyers are nurseries, farms, agricultural 
  research stations, and other organizations 
  desiring plants. Some traders have been 
  known to keep a number of containers with 
  rare ornamental plants, selling individual 
  plants to buyers from the containers, and 
  sometimes giving them as gifts. 
   
  Livestock Embryos 
  This is a common way of sending livestock 
  to a world that already has females in 
  sufficient numbers. It is used not so much 
  when establishing a herd or expanding a 
  herd, but when improving a herd. Suppliers 
  will be specialized dealers, buyers will be 
  farms and dealers. 
  Special Instructions: Refrigerated Cargo 
   
  LTA Aircraft 
  Lighter than air aircraft or "Zeps" as they are 
  known are disassembled for transport. The 
  gas cells are deflated, the skeleton collapsed, 
  and the engine, steering, and gondola 
  sections packed. A typical LTA aircraft, 
  packed for shipping, is 3 containers, but they 
  vary between 2 and 6 containers. Suppliers 
  are manufacturers, purchasers are air 
  shipping companies, the Alliance military, 
  and other organizations using them. Not a 
  typical or effective speculative cargo. 
  Although it is a vehicular cargo, LTA's 
  cannot be driven in and out of holds and are 
  quite difficult to handle. 
   
  Lubricants 
  Petroleum and non-petroleum based 
  compounds that make things slippery. Some 
  more advanced lubricants are near-
  frictionless and work with extremely small 
  amounts, therefore, extreme care should be 
  taken if packaging leaks. Lubricants are sold 
  to retailers and industries, and 
  organizations with a lot of machinery and/or 
  vehicles. Suppliers are manufacturers. 
  Special Instructions: Cleanup is a real 
  hassle. 
   
  Luggage 
  This is a standard in the "speculative cargo" 
  trade, as it's universally used and very 
  portable- heck, it's made to be portable. 
  Buyers are generally retailers, but other 
  organizations buy the stuff from time to 
  time, such as corporations providing people 
  with company attaché cases with logos. The 
  Alliance military buys lots of specialized 
  packs, holders, and cases that fall into the 
  broad luggage category. Sellers are 
  manufacturers. As with clothing, fashions 
  and styles change, and the speculative trader 
  should be alert to shifts in the market, and 
  the latest innovations of the market. 
   
  Magnesium stock 
  Includes Magnesium alloys. Light weight 
  and used in many applications, Magnesium 
  is also well known as an element which, for a 
  metal, is disturbingly flammable. There are 
  only two things to do with a magnesium fire, 
  remove it from any source of oxygen (under 
  water won't do the trick, it will keep 
  burning) or jettison it. Don't let magnesium 
  catch fire. Magnesium is sold to industries, 
  and bought from refineries. 
   
  Meat/Meat, Frozen 
  A popular item, but the speculative trader is 
  advised to consider the tastes and cuisine 
  styles of his intended market. Sources are 
  wholesalers, meat packing plants, and farm 
  coops. Buyers are generally retailers, or 
  other organizations that do a lot of feeding, 
  such as hotels and the Alliance military, or 
  food processing plants that use meat as an 
  ingredient. As with many agricultural goods, 
  local officials might insist on the right to 
  inspect and certify cargos for healthfulness. 
  Unfrozen meat will be smoked, dried, 
  preserved, or carefully aged. (The cleverest 
  of traders will arrange voyages so their cargo 
  of beef arrives aged to perfection). Unfrozen 
  meat is usually of higher quality, but it 
  requires refrigeration nonetheless, and is 
  harder to move. 
  Special Instructions: Refrigerated Cargo. 
   
  Medical and scientific instruments 
  Instruments made to produce precise, 
  controllable effects or take precise 
  measurements. Scientific instruments are 
  often custom made. In either case, these are 
  relatively rare and valuable shipments. 
  Buyers will be organizations with a scientific 
  or medical purpose. Suppliers will be 
  specialized manufacturers. 
  Special Instructions: Delicate Cargo 
  
   
   
   
  Medical Devices 
  Includes surgical and veterinary 
  instruments, hypodermics, syringes, 
  catheters, ophthalmologic instruments, 
  resuscitation and breathing apparatuses, 
  mechano-therapy equipment, and pre-
  packaged medical kits such as first aid kits. 
  Sources are manufacturers. Buyers are 
  retailers, hospitals, and organizations with 
  extensive medical functions. 
   
  Medical Diagnostic Imaging Systems 
  Largish contraptions designed to provide in 
  depth information about the workings of a 
  living body. Not really useful for a 
  speculative cargo. Like many very 
  specialized pieces of machinery, this will be 
  ordered by buyers as needed. Buyers are 
  hospitals and other organizations with 
  major medical capabilities. Suppliers are 
  manufacturers. Also as with other very 
  specialized products, the manufacturers do 
  appreciate it when traders act as salesmen 
  and field reps and bring in orders. A trader 
  should have a good knowledge of the 
  equipment to do this. 
  Special Instructions: Delicate Cargo 
   
  Medical/Scientific Sterile 
  Expendables 
  Includes bandages, swabs, sample vials, 
  gloves, and other such materials designed to 
  be disposed of after a single use. Sources are 
  manufacturers. Buyers are retailers, 
  hospitals, universities, and organizations 
  with extensive medical and/or scientific 
  functions. 
   
  Metal Working Machinery 
  Equipment for processing metal, including 
  rollers, stamps, drills, forges, etc. As with 
  many highly specialized types of equipment, 
  generally ordered, and a poor speculative 
  cargo. Manufacturers appreciate any help 
  the trader provides in rounding up orders, 
  though. 
   
  Metal or Synthetic working tools, dies, 
  etc./Industrial Molds 
  Buyers of either cargo type are factories, 
  sellers are factories that make stuff for 
  factories. As such, this is almost never 
  suitable for speculative cargo- it's usually 
  something ordered for a specific need or 
  plan. Metal working tool manufacturers, 
  however, will frequently look to small 
  shippers to augment sales by aggressively 
  seeking orders as they make their rounds 
   
  Memory media, unrecorded 
  Black, unrecorded data discs, typically. 
  Demand will be from companies and 
  organizations that buy them in bulk and 
  then record onto them, as well as retailers, 
  and many organizations. Supply will be from 
  specialized manufacturers. 
   
  Memory media, pre-recorded 
  Same as unrecorded memory media, but this 
  time there is stuff recorded on it. This can be 
  a very valuable speculative cargo if the 
  trader can predict accurately just what kind 
  of stuff the general public will want to buy. 
  Typically, it is entertainment programming, 
  but simply data that is best left off the open 
  cortex such as retail software. Buyers of this 
  product are retailers, and Suppliers are 
  recording facilities. Pre-recorded memory 
  media typically contains security features to 
  prevent unauthorized copying. Doing so is 
  illegal and incurs the wrath of the 
  entertainment industry. 
   
  Meters and Sensors 
  Includes magnetic and electric meters, gas 
  and liquid flow meters, scales, counting 
  devices, speed indicators, etc. Not an easy 
  speculative cargo, as demand, although 
  broad, is specialized. Sources are 
  manufacturers, buyers will be industries 
  (sensors used in a wide variety of automated 
  process controls, as well as being 
  incorporated in many devices), utility 
  companies, Alliance military organizations 
  (which have frequent need of sensors of 
  specialized military purpose) scientific 
  organizations, environmentally oriented 
  organizations, and retailers. 
   
  Millwork, Marquetry, and Carvings 
  Ornamentation for architectural work, 
  furniture, and other purposes. Often made 
  of wood, but can include synthetics, resins, 
  lacquers, and natural materials of many 
  sorts including shells, bone, etc. Like many 
  products whose value is derived from its 
  esthetic qualities, the trader can use this as a 
  successful speculative cargo but should first 
  be very familiar with the product. Having 
  contacts who are architects and developers, 
  and knowing about the varieties of wood, or 
  
   
   
  the history of oriental lacquer ware can help. 
  There is also a definite market for items of 
  exotic and alien origin which a good trader 
  can tap. Sellers will be manufacturers, and 
  these can range from large plants to 
  independent artists and art co-ops. Buyers 
  are developers, dealers, retailers, and 
  manufacturers of furniture. 
  Special Instructions: Product can be ruined 
  with exposure to vacuum or environmental 
  extremes. 
   
  Mining Machinery 
  A Vehicular Cargo. Machines that dig and 
  remove mineral from mines. Similar to 
  many constriction machines, but optimized 
  for digging, and for working in very confined 
  spaces. Suppliers are specialized 
  manufacturers. Buyers are mining 
  companies, and sometimes dealers. 
   
  Miscellaneous Office machines 
  Only a handful survived the computer age. 
  Among them, the postage meter, or 
  "franking device" as it is known in some 
  parts, (which survived more because of 
  computers than in spite of them) and the 
  Photocopier, all of which are now integral 
  with faxes and act as general purpose 
  printers as well. Buyers are retailers and all 
  sorts of organizations, institutions, and 
  agencies. Sellers are distributors and 
  manufacturers. 
   
  Miscellaneous Office Supplies 
  The computer and its peripherals have 
  largely displaced a wide range of office 
  hardware, but the need for office supplies 
  hasn't faded. Buyers are retailers and all 
  sorts of organizations, institutions, and 
  agencies. Sellers are distributors and 
  manufacturers. 
   
  Mobile Food Service Units, Non-Self 
  Propelled 
  Typically, trailer mounted or pushcart 
  mobile kitchens, barbecues, freezers, or 
  grills or other such portable food 
  preparation devices. Popular with small 
  scale entrepreneurs in urban areas- the 
  ubiquitous food carts. Occasionally these 
  will be ordered by Alliance military, or 
  foundations, corporations, and agencies that 
  have to regularly feed a work force in a 
  remote area. Suppliers are rare and 
  specialized, and purchases also uncommon. 
  There is a gray area between these items and 
  some of the more "heavy duty" residential 
  outdoor cooking equipment. Sellers would 
  be dealers and manufacturers. 
   
  Mobile Food Service Units, Self 
  Propelled and trailer mounted 
  Exactly like non-self propelled units, but 
  typically truck-mobile. Includes catering 
  trucks and military field kitchens, and all 
  vehicles of that ilk. This is a uncommon 
  piece of equipment, with only a few 
  suppliers, and only occasional purchases. 
  Special Instructions: Vehicular Cargo 
   
  Motorcycles 
  Includes Motor Scooters and other 2 
  wheeled motorized vehicles. Generally 
  shipped partly un-assembled in pallets. A 
  good speculative cargo. Motorcycles are 
  bought by dealers and organizations (such 
  as Alliance military and police) that 
  maintain fleets of motorcycles. Sources are 
  manufacturers. 
   
  Munitions 
  Ammunition and Alliance military 
  expendable ordnance items other small 
  arms rounds. Lots of big things that explode 
  are filed here, and this is not a cargo that 
  makes a spaceship captain sleep soundly. 
  Civilian shippers will often be hired to move 
  them, though, either from the manufacturer 
  to the receiving Alliance military unit or 
  from one Alliance military depot to another. 
  In any event, the shipper is usually chosen 
  with care. In certain situations, Alliance 
  military passengers may accompany a cargo 
  of munitions. 
  Special Instructions: Yes, lots of Special 
  Instructions. Follow all of them. 
   
  Museum Artifacts 
  On rare occasion, a museum will see fit to 
  loan an exhibit to another museum, or send 
  it permanently, or send it on a "tour" of 
  several museums. Or, a collector in the field 
  will assemble artifacts for delivery to a 
  museum. Under these circumstances, the 
  museum will contract with a courier to move 
  the cargo. It is available as speculations 
  cargo only under the most bizarre of 
  circumstances - but it has happened. When 
  shipping, the museums usually pay well, but 
  they are notoriously fussy about the ships 
  they choose. The ship must have an excellent 
  
   
   
  reputation, good security and safety, and 
  insurance. Originator of the cargo will 
  generally be a museum or similar 
  institution, or it may be a private collector or 
  field team of a museum or foundation. 
  Destination will be a museum, or sometimes 
  another facility being used for a temporary 
  exhibit. 
  Special Instructions: Rare and Delicate 
  Cargo 
   
  Musical Instruments 
  Covers a wide range of devices. This is a 
  fairly rare cargo- in small amounts, the 
  instruments will be shipped via the "general 
  parcel" class. Generally, the only times 
  someone will buy in the pallet load is when 
  they intend to retail, or are equipping a 
  band, or are acquiring large instruments 
  such as Pianos. Sellers will be dealers and 
  the rare, select manufacturers. Buyers are 
  typically dealers, or some particular 
  organizations. 
  Special Instructions: Wood instruments 
  must avoid all environmental extremes, 
  exposure to vacuum can destroy them. 
  Delicate Cargo 
   
  Natural Gums 
  Includes materials such as balata, gutta-
  percha, gum-Arabica, and chicle. Natural 
  botanical derived bulk materials used in 
  industry. Like many industrial raw 
  materials, buyers will often want regular 
  dependable deliveries, making this a 
  difficult commodity for the small trader. 
  Sources are usually plantations, and buyers 
  are manufacturers. 
  Special Instructions- Liquid Cargo. 
  Exposure to air ruins the product. Keep 
  sealed. 
   
  Non Perishable Prepared Foods 
  Standard output of food processing plants, 
  non perishable goods are in high demand 
  everywhere and as such make a good 
  speculative cargo even if the income per unit 
  volume will not be high. 
  Special Instructions; Non perishable foods 
  are usually placed in airtight packaging, 
  and then in pallets or containers. If the 
  pallet or container is exposed to vacuum 
  and is breached, the vacuum will usually 
  make the packages burst, often with messy 
  results. 
   
  Non-powered Hand Tools 
  Various work implements that have basic, 
  non powered functions, such as shovels, 
  screwdrivers, socket wrenches and 
  hammers. A staple commodity with wider 
  demand than power tools, even if not as 
  profitable. The market is fairly universal, 
  and if a trader can offer good prices, these 
  make a good speculative cargo. Sellers are 
  manufacturers and wholesalers. Buyers are 
  retailers, sometimes other dealers, and 
  sometimes developers, or agencies that need 
  to keep a lot of workmen supplied. 
   
  Novelties, Collectibles, Souvenirs, 
  And Curios 
  Trinkets, tchotchkes, gift items, and other 
  such items, typically small, whose function 
  is generally to sit on a shelf and announce 
  their existence. Frequently, such items are 
  connected to a place, event, or company and 
  are very specific. One simply will not find 
  much market for a pallet of Snow-globes 
  away from the place represented inside the 
  Snow-globe. Specific items make poor 
  speculative cargo, while non-specific items 
  in this class are effective if the trader is 
  persuasive. People certainly buy them, but 
  this is the least useful cargo of them all and 
  can be a tricky one to find buyers for. Of 
  course, if the trader times things right, and 
  arrives with a load of commemorative gift 
  items in time to catch a brief wave of 
  demand, a lot of money can be made. These 
  things are sold to retailers, and 
  organizations that will sell or often give 
  them away, and obtained from a variety of 
  manufacturers, usually opportunistic small 
  businesses. This class isn't all junk- some 
  little trinkets can be made from crystal, 
  porcelain, or other high value materials. 
  Some become collector's items. 
   
  Nuclear Fuel Elements 
  This also includes nuclear materials for 
  medical and scientific purposes. Nuclear 
  Elements come packed in their heavily 
  armored pallets and the wise trader makes 
  sure they stay there. Transport of Nuclear 
  Fuel Elements may require special 
  inspections, permits, licenses, etc, and when 
  arriving at a port, local authorities usually 
  like to be told if you have a hold full of the 
  stuff. Rarely a speculative cargo, most 
  frequently obtained from specialized 
  manufacturers, and transported to power 
  
   
   
  agencies, energy producers, labs, and 
  hospitals. Labs and Hospitals will never take 
  more than 1 pallet at a time, but often a 
  special agency will handle all the material 
  being used in one area and concentrate the 
  demand. People looking to transport this 
  stuff will look hard at a freighter's 
  reputation, abilities, and insurance. 
  Special Instructions: Keep cargo in 
  packaging at all times. Cargo is 
  radioactive. Some authorities will require 
  special permits or notification 
   
  Nuts 
  A good hefty food crop, more valuable by 
  weight and volume than grain, with good 
  storage and handling characteristics. Nuts 
  are sold to food marketers or food 
  processing companies, and in lesser 
  amounts to the same buyers as produce and 
  are bought from wholesalers or more 
  directly, nut farms (not the same nut farm 
  where you recruit crew members). 
   
  Paint 
  Paint and Coatings used in industry, in 
  construction, and in the home. Although 
  manufactured and sold in bulk, paint is 
  transported and stored in cans, 50 of which 
  stack on a Pallet, to prevent settling or 
  curing of the product. Because it is not in 
  large tanks, it is not subject to some of the 
  problems associated with typical liquid 
  cargos. However, many paints emit 
  dangerous fumes, or are flammable, so a 
  massive spill is still a serious problem. 
  Paints are bought by retailers and a wide 
  variety of organizations, including 
  developers. 
  Special Instructions: Toxic, difficult to clean 
  up. 
   
  Passenger Cars 
  These are the everyday, privately owned 
  vehicles used by millions for their daily 
  transport needs. Their near-universal use 
  and regular demand makes them a workable 
  speculative cargo. Next to a home, this is the 
  largest thing the average person owns, so 
  passenger cars make up a large portion of 
  cargo transport. Buyers are retailers, or 
  organizations maintaining fleets of cars. 
  Sellers are dealers and manufacturers. 
   
  Paydirt 
  This is the name given to super-rich soil, 
  which has been overstocked with worms and 
  beneficial nematodes and nitrogen fixers 
  and all the other crawly little things that 
  actually make plants prosper. Basically it's 
  dirt, but dirt of such high value that the 
  Alliance and various farm co-ops will often 
  subsidize its shipment, looking at it as an 
  investment. It is usually only needed on 
  newer rim worlds where agriculture is being 
  expanded. The Paydirt is actually shipped 
  chilled, for the benefit of all those living 
  things in it - wouldn't want them to die in 
  transit, then you'd really have just dirt. 
  Special Instructions: Refrigerated Cargo. 
  Technically, Live cargo. 
   
  Pesticides and Vermicides 
  Chemicals designed to bring about the 
  abrupt demise of insects and other small 
  vermin. Not quite the toxic evil of centuries 
  past, the modern pesticide is usually 
  biological in origin, and very narrowly 
  focused. Even so, the amounts moved in 
  pallets and tanks (containers) make it very 
  dangerous if a container were to rupture. 
  Pesticides are bought by farms, retailers 
  serving farms, and also by organizations 
  fighting mass insect infestations. They are 
  sold by manufacturers. (Vermicides are 
  chemicals designed to kill small pest 
  animals, pesticides primarily target insects 
  and similar tiny critters) 
  Special Instructions; Liquid Cargo, Toxic. 
   
  Pharmaceutical Plants 
  Plants with real or traditionally supposed 
  health effects, but excluding drugs and 
  poisons, this class includes Ginseng, Ginger, 
  Anise, and Sassafras root, Licorice, as well as 
  an assortment of oriental mushrooms. 
  Buyers are retailers, food processors (they 
  are often used as additives and flavorings) , 
  distillers, and brewers. These plants are 
  usually shipped in raw, unprocessed form. 
  Sellers are Farms and Farm Co-ops, and 
  some dealers. Demand tends to be very 
  culturally dependent, and subject to fads. 
  The speculative trader who stays on top of 
  this can bring in a nice bit of change, but the 
  market is never big. 
  Special Instructions: cargo is generally 
  ruined if exposed to vacuum or extreme 
  environments. 
   
  Pickles/Jams, Jellies, and Fruit 
  Preserves 
  
   
   
  Pickles in this designation are of the Eastern 
  European concept- that is, any pickled 
  vegetables, not just cucumbers. Pickles are 
  weighty, but tend to have a decent value to 
  volume ratio for a food product, and can be 
  stored nearly indefinitely. Universal (well, 
  fairly universal) demand plus a wide variety 
  makes pickles a workable speculative cargo. 
  Jams, Jellies and fruit preserves tend to 
  have a higher value and more variety, but 
  are otherwise a very similar cargo. In both 
  cases, the trader should think about the 
  cultural factor in the market. Both products 
  are obtained from food processing 
  companies, and sometimes (especially on 
  the high end of the product lines) individual 
  farms and farm co-ops. Buyers are retailers, 
  and organizations that buy wholesale food. 
   
  Police Equipment 
  This category includes equipment and tools, 
  other than vehicles, unique to security, law 
  enforcement, and police work to include 
  restraint devices and non-lethal weapons, 
  riot control gear, batons, and other 
  equipment. Buyers will almost always be 
  security services, public and private, and 
  they will generally order their supplies. 
  Suppliers will be specialized manufacturers. 
  Security services are well known amongst 
  small traders as good places in which to 
  acquire a few friends, and the astute trader 
  knows that if he is delivering this class of 
  cargo, it gets highest priority, including 
  personal delivery to the buyer (never pass up 
  such an opportunity). Sometimes, 
  transporting this class of equipment 
  requires a license. 
   
  Portable Drilling Rig/Pile Drivers 
  Mobile Drilling Rigs are hauled out to 
  worlds where prospectors need deep 
  samples, or where water must be obtained 
  from the depths. This is a vehicle cargo, and 
  consists of a prime mover/support vehicle 
  and a large towed rig trailer. They will be in 
  demand in areas where water is in need, and 
  is underground, or where they are needed to 
  support mining operations, otherwise they 
  are brought in on an as need basis by 
  prospectors. Pile drivers are essentially giant 
  hammers designed to knock big solid poles 
  into the ground to stabilize constructions. 
  They are similar, from the cargo master's 
  point of view. Sources of both are specialized 
  manufacturers. Pile drivers are sold to 
  developers, drill rigs to prospectors, drilling 
  companies, mining companies, and 
  occasionally farms. 
  Special Instructions: Vehicle Cargo 
   
  Power Cable 
  Insulated cable used for the transmission of 
  power. Used by developers, utility 
  companies, manufacturers, and other 
  organizations that use power cable. Some is 
  sold to retailers. 
   
  Power Driven Hand Tools 
  All kinds of small devices real men 
  everywhere salivate over. The market is 
  fairly universal, and if a trader can offer 
  good prices, these make a good speculative 
  cargo. Sellers are manufacturers and 
  wholesalers. Buyers are retailers, sometimes 
  other dealers, and sometimes developers, or 
  agencies that need to keep a lot of workmen 
  supplied. 
   
  Precious metals: 
  Silver/Platinum/Gold 
  The traditional precious metals are still very 
  much in demand for a variety of purposes. 
  Buyers include precious metals dealers, 
  Manufacturers who consume precious 
  metals in their processes, currency mints, 
  precious metals dealers, jewelers and others. 
  Sellers are smelters and precious metals 
  dealers. As in most metals, ore is almost 
  never shipped: the metal is refined into 
  blocks or ingots before shipping. 
   
  Prefabricated Collapsible Structures 
  Generally metal or synthetic (or mixed) 
  structures that unfold to form the shells of 
  buildings only, without interior partitioning, 
  finishes, or utilities. Widely used to erect 
  quick dwellings, and even more commonly 
  to set up warehouses, storage facilities, 
  barns, garages, workshops, and other 
  structures that do not need much interior 
  comfort. 
   
  Prefabricated Modular Buildings 
  This is an oddity- as border and rim worlds 
  became more independent, the demand for 
  prefabricated modular buildings from the 
  core went down, not up. They are still in 
  limited demand, however. Prefabricated 
  Modular Buildings are fully equipped 
  buildings with utilities already built in (but 
  they are unfurnished) ready for immediate 
  
   
   
  occupancy and use. Some are residences, 
  some are offices, others are dedicated 
  workspaces of all kinds. Buyers are dealers 
  and organizations of all sorts. Sellers are 
  manufacturers. 
   
  Preservative and Fire retardant 
  Chemicals 
  Chemicals designed to treat materials, 
  typically wood or organic textiles, so as to 
  render them less vulnerable to rot, mold, 
  fire, etc. Sellers will be manufacturers, 
  particularly chemical plants. Buyers will be 
  companies that need to treat products to 
  make them more resistant to something. 
  This is common among textile 
  manufacturers, and building supply firms. 
  Special Instructions: Liquid Cargo. 
  Environmental Contaminant 
   
  Primary Plastic Resins 
  This class includes manufacture of plastics 
  in primary forms, such as polymers of 
  ethylene, of polypropylene or of other 
  olefins, of styrene, of vinyl chloride or other 
  halogenated olefins, of vinyl acetate or of 
  other vinyl esters, other vinyl polymers; 
  polyacetals, polycarbonates, alkyd resins, 
  polyallyl esters and other polyesters; etc. etc. 
  etc. All are moved in liquid form in large 
  tanks. All are produced by chemical plants 
  and are bought mostly by manufacturers, 
  although some developers have equipment 
  that can make direct use of plastic resins. As 
  a basic industrial material it is usually left to 
  the bigger haulers. 
   
  Printed Materials 
  Books and magazines are considered quaint 
  on core worlds, but still in demand 
  somewhat on border and rim worlds. 
  Printed Materials are produced by 
  Publishers, and are sold by Publishers and 
  Wholesalers to Retailers, or agencies and 
  institutions, especially educational 
  institutions and libraries. 
   
  Private Household Goods 
  This represents private property being 
  shipped, often in conjunction with the 
  relocation and resettlement of the owner 
  (who may or may not also be traveling as a 
  passenger) . As such it is never a speculative 
  cargo. The trader will simply be hired to 
  move it from place to place. Individuals 
  rarely contact ships directly. These 
  shipments are generally arranged through 
  transport services, freight forwarders, 
  agencies, and organizations. 
  Special Instructions: Often Packed By 
  Amateurs. Check packaging, just to be sure. 
   
  Produce, General 
  Freshness is a virtue with produce, and 
  many shippers will use the smaller ships for 
  their runs, as they don't want the goods 
  hanging around waiting for the big carrier to 
  show up. A farm will typically provide 
  containers of assorted produce. Buyers are 
  typically produce markets, and institutions 
  (Alliance military, educational, large 
  hotel/restaurant chains, etc) that do a lot of 
  feeding, and food processing plants. 
  Containers will be controlled environment 
  containers, maintaining an atmosphere 
  inside that retards spoilage. Or, they will be 
  flash frozen. Frozen goods need to be 
  shipped in refrigerated hold, or in 
  refrigerated containers. 
  Special Instructions: Rough handling can 
  damage produce 
    
  PseudoLiquids 
  This bizarre class of chemicals are created 
  from molecules that are straight and rigid, 
  do not bond laterally but bond well 
  longitudinally, and orient themselves in the 
  same direction. The result is a substance 
  that has the properties of a solid along one 
  axis and those of liquids along parallel axis. 
  Used in a number of industrial applications, 
  to make variable-viscosity seals, and other 
  chemical wonders. Purchased from chemical 
  plants and sold to manufacturers. 
  Special Instructions: Leaked Pseudo liquids 
  can do strange things. One of the odder 
  ones, in zero gravity, is to flow evenly and 
  quickly over all surfaces save those they 
  "don't like" and then form a rigid shell. 
  Another is to form large hollow spheres. 
   
  Pumps and Compressors 
  Rather heavy pieces of equipment designed 
  to move fluids, either liquid or gas. Heavy 
  duty pumps are at the heart of water supply 
  systems in every civilized place. These 
  devices are usually specific in design so they 
  make poor speculative cargos. There are a 
  steady flow of orders from customers, who 
  include agencies and corporations, 
  especially industries and utilities, to 
  suppliers, who are manufacturers. Pumps 
  
   
   
  and compressors are very variable in size. 
  They are ordered for a specific project, and 
  when one has to be replaced, the 
  replacement unit is bound to be a high 
  priority cargo. Pumps and compressors are 
  hefty chunks of metal (but hollow and thus 
  low in density). 
   
  Pyrotechnics 
  Used in the Alliance military, by others in 
  limited amounts for emergency signaling, 
  and in festival displays. Sellers will be very 
  rare Pyrotechnics factories. Buyers will be 
  retailers only where public possession is 
  legal, otherwise Alliance agencies, and 
  organizations or companies sponsoring 
  festive displays, or other organizations or 
  companies having a need. Festival 
  Pyrotechnics are a rare but interesting 
  speculative cargo- the fact that they are 
  available at all raises the interest of potential 
  buyers, especially at times of year when such 
  displays would be especially appropriate. 
  Special Instructions: Handle with extreme 
  care, avoid excess heat and/or oxygen at all 
  costs. 
   
  Rail transport systems 
  A large and awkward cargo, not the sort of 
  thing that's of any use to the speculator, but 
  one where a knowledgeable trader, as go 
  between for manufacturers and buyers, can 
  reap a reasonable profit. Locomotives 
  presuppose a rail system, or at least an 
  intent to start one, on a planet, and no 
  locomotives or other rail equipment will be 
  in demand if there is not. When locomotives 
  and other rail cars are ordered, the game 
  master should select which types. Urban 
  light systems, trolleys, and urban transit 
  cars (all of which provide their own motive 
  power) will only be requested where there 
  are substantial cities. Locomotives and 
  rolling stock may be conventional, or of the 
  Mag-Lev or airfilm type depending on the 
  Gamemaster's designs. Note that with Mag-
  Lev's and Airfilms, the locomotive is 
  essentially the same weight and size as a 
  passenger car, although it contains 
  additional control equipment. Conventional 
  rail systems use a very heavy locomotive. 
  Freight cars are built as either flatbeds, or 
  with some sort of cargo container. 
   
  Rare Earths 
  Ingots of the less common metal elements, 
  many of which have broad applications in 
  manufacturing, especially the higher tech 
  industries. This may include Ytterbium and 
  the other "iums" of the "rarely consulted" 
  portion of the periodic table. You know. 
  Down there in the bottom, but not as far 
  down as the radioactives, where it all starts 
  getting interesting again. Buyers are 
  manufacturers, sellers are dealers and 
  refineries. Sources should be placed by the 
  game master, as production of the rare 
  earths is, well, rare. 
   
  Reaction fuel 
  A cargo which worries many shippers, which 
  is surprising in that it is regularly carried by 
  spaceships. Not the placid hydrogen of 
  general use, but much more energetic 
  chemical fuel designed for application where 
  high specific impulse from a low fuel mass is 
  needed. Reaction fuel is purchased by 
  companies that service spacecraft, or owners 
  of fleets, and supplied by special plants. It is 
  transported in tanks. 
  Special Instructions: Liquid Cargo. 
  Hazardous. 
   
  Recreational Vehicles, 
  Wheeled/Recreational Vehicles, 
  Hover 
  These are vehicles that provide mobile living 
  space, and include those built without 
  recreational intent. It differs from the pre-
  fab category in that these mobile living 
  spaces are self propelled. This is a relatively 
  rare cargo. Sources are Manufacturers. 
  Buyers are dealers, and sometimes 
  organizations that have a need to maintain 
  highly mobile living space. Scientific 
  organizations are common. Vehicular cargo 
   
  Refrigerants 
  Chemicals used in cooling systems. 
  Produced by Chemical plants and purchased 
  by retailers, and organizations owning 
  cooling systems of significant size (industrial 
  plants, food processing plants and food 
  storage warehouses, transport companies 
  with refrigerated containers and facilities, 
  housing complexes, etc). Although 
  technically a "safe" chemical, Refrigerants 
  vaporize so quickly on uncontrolled 
  exposure to air or vacuum that the reaction 
  is explosive. If refrigerant is splashed on a 
  surface, the heat absorbed through 
  vaporization of the refrigerant will rapidly 
  
   
   
  chill that surface. This can cause frost 
  injuries. 
  Special Instructions: Liquid Cargo 
  Vaporizes rapidly on contact with air or 
  vacuum. 
   
  Repellants 
  Chemicals designed to be odious and 
  repulsive to insects or specific animals, 
  without actually being toxic. Insect 
  repellants are commonplace, and on many 
  worlds, special repellants are designed to 
  keep insects and animals from intruding 
  into areas where they are not wanted, like 
  farms. Buyers are often farms or farm co-
  ops, or retailers. Suppliers are chemical 
  manufacturers. When shipped by the tank 
  full, repellants should be treated as toxic 
  because of the sheer dosage such a load 
  presents. 
  Special Instructions; Liquid Cargo, Toxic 
   
  Robotic Vehicles 
  Also includes parts. Robotic vehicles 
  typically perform light duty cargo transport 
  along simple routes, for example, between 
  sites in a plant. Some operate as local postal 
  carriers. Most can be tele-operated instead 
  of being computer controlled. They are a 
  vehicular cargo. Buyers are typically the 
  organizations and corporations that will use 
  them. Sellers are manufacturers. 
   
  Rope, Cordage and Twine 
  A basic product of near universal use. Pallets 
  of rope, cordage and twine will be bought by 
  retailers and all manner of organizations 
  including businesses of many types. 
  Producers are manufacturers and retailers. 
  This class covers a wide range from simple 
  organic twines to very advanced synthetic 
  cordage with great strength. Also covers 
  Bungee cords and similar straps, ties, and 
  lines. Most buyers will not want "used" 
  material. The trader who unreels cable to tie 
  down cargo will have a hard time passing it 
  off as new again. Some largish ropes are sold 
  in multiple pallet units. 
   
  Salvage 
  This cargo consists of machinery or 
  equipment in various states of disrepair 
  returned from a site of abandonment. 
  Salvage from an abandoned spacecraft may 
  be in quite good repair, salvage from a long 
  underwater wreck may be corroded and 
  covered in sea life. The source of salvage is 
  generally the company or organization that 
  has recovered it. It may be shipped to 
  specialized reclamation companies, or 
  companies dealing in used equipment if still 
  in good repair, or groups looking to 
  cannibalize the salvage for spare parts. Note 
  that if salvaged goods consist of undamaged 
  cargo of another type, it should be 
  considered to be of that type. Occasionally, 
  salvage may be material beyond use or 
  repair, but some organization will want it 
  transported for some other purpose; 
  historical or scientific. 
   
  Satellites 
  Complete unmanned orbital devices. Most 
  commonly used for communications, but 
  there are sensor satellites, defense satellites, 
  navigational satellites, and others of various 
  less common purposes. There are very few 
  retailers, so satellites are typically sold by 
  the manufacturer, and bought by the 
  organizations that will use them. Buyers will 
  often ask the shipper to place the satellites 
  directly into their permanent orbits. 
   
  Seafood 
  Flash frozen at the source, a valuable food 
  commodity. Good speculative value, if the 
  local culture has an affinity towards seafood. 
  Sources are fishing co-ops, processors, and 
  distributors on worlds with a fishing (or 
  aquaculture) industry. Buyers are retailers, 
  and institutions (Alliance military, 
  educational, large hotel/restaurant chains, 
  etc) that do a lot of feeding, and food 
  processing plants. Many buyers are quite 
  particular about the type and quality of their 
  seafood, especially some retailers and 
  restaurants, and to serve this market the 
  trader is advised to gain some knowledge 
  about seafood. 
  Special Instructions: Refrigerated Cargo. 
  Cargo will be destroyed rapidly if 
  refrigeration is lost. 
   
  Seasonal and Holiday Decorations 
  Another one of those odd cargos which the 
  astute speculative trader can convert into 
  solid cash with good instincts and good 
  timing. Sold to retailers, and sometimes to 
  institutions, and bought from 
  manufacturers. Be sure to get the 
  season/holiday right, or you will be stuck 
  with a cargo that is very hard to sell. 
  
   
   
   
  Secured Valuables 
  This class includes personal or business 
  documents, archives, cash, private heirloom 
  possessions, or other such items of extreme 
  value necessitating special care and security. 
  This will not be a speculative cargo for 
  obvious reasons, and is generally 
  transported in heavily armored and secure 
  containers. The owner will be looking for a 
  ship with a very good reputation, and speed, 
  security, and insurance coverage. As in 
  many high value cargo types, the owner will 
  often demand a "chain of custody", that is, 
  the shipper has them under personal care 
  until delivered. The quantity is typically 
  small and will be transported in document 
  cases, 40 of which fit onto a standard pallet. 
  Traders will often keep them in a ship's 
  vault, or among personal possessions, or in 
  another special place. 
   
  Sensitive Alliance Cargo 
  Sensitive cargo, when not moved on an 
  Alliance courier, is shipped on the most 
  trusted of ships, whenever possible on one 
  contracted exclusively for Alliance work. 
  Such cargo usually consists of documents 
  and belongings being shipped from one 
  governmental post to another. It is usually 
  off limits to searches and inspections, and is 
  sealed with an official closure of some sort 
  that is difficult to open. Sometimes, an 
  Alliance agent or an agent of the Parliament 
  will accompany the cargo, usually openly as 
  a courier. An independent shipper will only 
  be approached if reliability is beyond doubt, 
  loyalty is assured, (or can be assured 
  through placement of an agent) and need is 
  great. Such cargo will always travel from one 
  official, secured facility to another. A courier 
  who has a reputation as reliable for this job 
  will often be called upon in the future. 
  Handling of sensitive cargo can often put the 
  trader in touch with people who will offer 
  interesting side jobs. Generally, when an 
  unusually large amount of cargo is being 
  moved, it is considered very bad form to 
  discuss it. 
   
  Signage 
  Generally, sophisticated displays. Simple 
  affairs of painted wood, metal, synthetic, 
  and other materials are typically locally 
  produced. High tech signs are like very large 
  display screens, with strong, vivid color for 
  visibility outdoors in daylight, from a 
  distance. Even though the displays can be 
  varied as needed, most display signage 
  systems produced are custom manufactured 
  for a specific customer. Like in many 
  industries, signage manufacturers think 
  highly of traders who bring them orders for 
  this kind of custom work. Buyers are 
  corporations and organizations of every sort, 
  including the Alliance. On border worlds 
  highway signs may be purchased by Alliance 
  agencies or developers with contracts. 
  Suppliers are specialized manufacturers. 
  Special Instructions: Delicate Cargo 
   
  Small Animals 
  Rabbits and other small animals are raised 
  on certain worlds as manageable meat 
  and/or fur sources. They are easier to ship 
  than larger animals. Also, losses through 
  transport attrition are not as costly as losses 
  to larger livestock. Despite their popularity 
  in some frontier areas, small mammals are 
  not moved often. They are moved to 
  establish new breeding groups or to improve 
  old ones, but once a population is 
  established it can be expanded rapidly. This 
  can be a good speculative cargo if the trader 
  can obtain a new, better line than what is 
  standard on the frontier. 
  Special Instructions: Live cargo, needs 
  atmosphere, gravity, care during voyage 
   
  Small Arms 
  Pistols, rifles, and weapons of similar size 
  and scope. Local governments may insist 
  that traders moving this cargo- and 
  especially speculative traders- acquire 
  special licenses and fill out all sorts of 
  documentation to track the movement of 
  weapons. Suppliers are manufacturers and 
  dealers. Buyers are security organizations 
  including the Alliance military, and where 
  they are permitted, retailers. 
   
  Small Arms Ammunition 
  Rounds for small arms. Some cargos will be 
  Alliance military, some civilian. Dealing with 
  this cargo in either version sometimes 
  requires special approvals. At the very least, 
  local officials like to know when a load of 
  ammunition is arriving at their location. 
  Except in unusual circumstances the 
  Alliance military, law enforcement and 
  security forces use the bulk of smalls arms 
  ammunition. Sellers are manufacturers, an 
  
   
   
  buyers will be Alliance military or security 
  agencies, or retailers. Alternatively, ships 
  may be hired to move ammunition from one 
  Alliance military site to another. 
  Special Instructions: Avoid heat 
   
  Small utility vehicles 
  This class includes things like All Terrain 
  Vehicles, Golf Carts, and other little utility 
  vehicles. They are inexpensive, easy to 
  transport, and helpful on frontier worlds. 
  This broad class also includes very small 
  hovercraft designed for amphibious work, 
  small "over-snow" vehicles and other 
  assorted pieces of machinery. Sources are 
  manufacturers and dealers. Buyers are 
  dealers, and organizations with a need for 
  mobility, like Alliance military 
  organizations, exploration oriented 
  agencies, and the like. Oh, and Golf Resorts. 
   
  Small Watercraft, 
  Powered/Unpowered. 
  Very small boats and watercraft, generally 
  for recreational purposes. Some are 
  powered, some are paddled, some are 
  sailboats. Generally bought by dealers who 
  will sell them to private individuals, and 
  occasionally bought by owners of large 
  vessels who will use them as lifeboats. 
  Sellers are manufacturers. 
   
  Soap and Detergent 
  A fairly stable, general commodity. Sold to 
  retailers, and to some organizations that do 
  a lot of cleaning, such as industries. Bought 
  from manufacturers. This does not represent 
  soap and cleaners packaged for retail- 
  rather, it is bulk supplies in cartons and 
  drums that will be broken down and 
  repackaged by the distributor. Consumer 
  packaged goods are listed separately. Soap 
  and detergent is available as a solid or a 
  liquid, and the demand is split 50-50. 
  Special Instructions: 50% is a liquid cargo. 
   
  Solar Electric Panels 
  A standard source of energy, especially in 
  place. As border world populations grow, 
  more and more are exported to the frontier 
  markers. Even after installation, they are 
  vulnerable to damage, so there is a steady 
  flow of new panels from the factories. 
  Universal utility makes them a workable 
  speculative cargo. Buy from Manufacturers, 
  Sell to Retailers, Corporations, and Alliance. 
  Special Instructions: Fragile. 
   
  Space Habitat Modules 
  These items are component pieces of orbital 
  habitats and space stations, as well as 
  outposts on low gravity airless worlds. They 
  are structurally similar to spaceships, in fact, 
  they are almost identical to spaceship 
  components, the chief difference being that 
  they have no pulse drive. Without a pulse 
  drive, it is necessary for a spaceship to haul 
  then from point of manufacture to their final 
  destination. As a typical cargo ship's life 
  support systems are not designed to be 
  extended to the attached modules, they 
  cannot be used during the voyage unless 
  special adaptations are made beforehand. 
  Modules are of many types, including living, 
  workspace, utility, research, hangar, storage, 
  and even agricultural modules. 100 tons per 
  module is typical. 
   
  Spacecraft/Alliance military 
  Spacecraft 
  Spacecraft with interplanetary range are 
  typically bought from the manufacturer and 
  flown to the buyer, but spacecraft without 
  such range will have to be shipped. This 
  category includes small transfer vehicles, 
  interface vehicles, orbital defense craft, and 
  others. Alliance military Spacecraft will be 
  shipped only from and to very specific places 
  designated on a case by case basis by the 
  gamemaster. 
   
  Spacecraft Parts 
  Component items specific to spacecraft and 
  orbital habitats. In demand wherever 
  spacecraft operate, and bought by very 
  specialized retailers but generally directly by 
  the organizations operating the spacecraft 
  and/or habitats. Produced by 
  manufacturers. 
   
  Special Decorative Lighting fixtures 
  Non-Standard fixtures generally designed 
  and commissioned as custom projects 
  incorporating exotic materials and high 
  levels of workmanship. Buyers will be 
  institutions, wealthy individuals, special 
  businesses such as theatres or hotels, etc. As 
  these items are not stocked, construction 
  supply houses will not buy them. Not a good 
  speculative item, but a trader may do well 
  collecting orders for delivery on future runs. 
  Shippers will seek transports with a good 
  
   
   
  reputation, and adequate insurance. 
  Damaged Goods will be a mortal blow to 
  reputation. Handle with care 
  Special Instructions: Delicate and very 
  valuable 
   
  Special Prepared Food 
  Prepared Foods designed to satisfy 
  particular nutrition, vitamin supplement, or 
  dietary needs. Sold by specialized food 
  processing manufacturers, bought mostly by 
  retailers, occasionally by Alliance military, 
  medical, or other organizations. Demand 
  tends to fluctuate considerably. 
   
  Specialty Grains 
  Just a big, bulk commodity, so stay out of 
  this one, right? Well, right, most of the time. 
  You'll find, if you dig, that a number of 
  buyers - restaurants, bakeries, brewers, 
  gourmet food stores, will be interested in 
  specialty grain products, especially types 
  normally unavailable to them. It's rarely a 
  high earner, but it can a good part of diverse 
  product range and should not be overlooked, 
  especially as it helps serve the food industry, 
  where its always helpful to have good 
  contacts. 
  Special Instructions: Make sure the cargo 
  stays in sealed, vacuum packed plastic 
  sacks. Avoid sparks. Free floating Grain 
  Dust in air is explosive. 
   
  Specialized Autonomous Robotic 
  Devices 
  Also includes parts. Self propelled 
  autonomous computer and/or tele-operated 
  devices of specialized function, including 
  pipeline inspection and repair robots, 
  explosives handling robots, and scientific 
  robots. Buyers are typically organizations, 
  agencies, and corporations. Sellers are 
  manufacturers. These robots are typically 
  too specialized to be effective speculative 
  cargos. 
   
  Spices 
  Buyers are retailers, and institutions 
  (Alliance military, educational, large 
  hotel/restaurant chains, etc) that do a lot of 
  feeding, and food processing plants. Sellers 
  will be dealers, and sometimes farms or 
  farm coops. Exotic spices can be an effective 
  speculative cargo, as they have a high value 
  to volume ration and demand tends to be 
  strong on the more populous planets. Spice 
  availability will vary with recent harvests. 
  Special Instructions: In zero gravity, dust 
  can be dangerous. Not only flammable, but 
  an irritant if the concentrated dust of 
  certain spices is inhaled. 
   
  Sporting Goods 
  Devices, tools, and specialized garb for 
  sports, excluding things like weapons and 
  power equipment. Class includes things like 
  skis, basketballs, and tennis rackets. High 
  end sports gear will be very valuables in 
  terms of money per ton. Buyers are retailers, 
  and sometimes organizations sponsoring 
  athletics. Suppliers are manufacturers. 
  Speculative traders should take time to learn 
  the peculiarities of the market, as they will 
  find their buyers to be, very often, fanatically 
  knowledgeable. 
   
  Synthetic Blood Plasma 
  Less of a demand as surgical procedures 
  have improved. Also, many hospital level 
  facilities can now synthesize their own blood 
  replacements on an as-needed basis, but 
  synthetic blood plasma is easier and cheaper 
  to mass produce, then sent to individual 
  hospitals where it can be tailored to patients. 
  Not an effective speculative cargo for 
  obvious reasons. 
  Special Instructions: Avoid rough handling 
   
  Tea Prepared, packaged Tea 
  A Major sustainer of life throughout the 
  'verse. An adequate speculative cargo where 
  demand is good, and demand is nearly 
  universal. Shipments are frequently made in 
  whole container amounts where quantities 
  justify. Sellers are generally coffee 
  plantations. Buyers are typically retail 
  markets, wholesalers, food processing 
  plants, and institutions (Alliance military, 
  educational, large hotel/restaurant chains, 
  etc) that do a lot of feeding. 
   
  Textile Related Machinery 
  Machines that spin, card, weave, sew, trim, 
  cut, etc, etc, etc. Bought mostly by the 
  clothing industry, and supplied by the 
  industrial machinery factories. As with 
  many highly specialized types of equipment, 
  generally ordered, and a poor speculative 
  cargo. Manufacturers appreciate any help 
  the trader provides in rounding up orders, 
  though. Small numbers of pallets represent 
  parts or attachments or accessories. 
  
   
   
   
  Tires: Aviation Tires/Alliance 
  military/Heavy Tires. 
  Where wheeled vehicles exist, there will be a 
  steady flow of new rubber and synthetic 
  rubber tires. Tires are shipped by the 
  container load, from manufacturers. Buyers 
  include vehicle factories and service centers, 
  retailers, Alliance military organizations, 
  transport companies (ground and air) and 
  other organizations with large fleets of 
  wheeled vehicles and/or wheeled aircraft 
  they maintain themselves. Aviation and 
  Alliance military tires are typically more 
  specialized and more expensive. Tires for 
  interface craft (a subcategory of aviation 
  tires) are the most expensive of all. 
   
  Titanium stock 
  Includes alloys of Titanium. A basic metal 
  with widespread industrial applications, 
  titanium is rarer than the base metals and 
  more valuable. It may be precious enough to 
  work as a speculative cargo, since many 
  industries that can use it will be making do 
  with other materials in its absence. 
  Suppliers are smelters and dealers. Buyers 
  are factories, and sometimes developers. 
   
  Trucks, semi-trailer/Trucks, van 
  Standard wheeled heavy cargo transports. 
  Semi-trailer consists of tractor/trailer 
  combinations. Trailers are normally 
  collapsed and stacked. The van truck does 
  not have a detachable trailer section, and 
  carries much less cargo (less than half a 
  container) and is typically used as a local 
  delivery truck, or as a tactical truck in law 
  enforcement use. Buyers are dealers, and 
  organizations that handle a lot of road 
  transport. Sellers are manufacturers and 
  dealers. 
   
  Underwater Utility Robots 
  These are tele-operated or autonomous 
  robots designed to carry out work 
  underwater. They are extremely valuable on 
  planets with open water, and pointless 
  everywhere else. Purchasers will be 
  engineering firms, developers, Alliance 
  military and transport agencies, research 
  organizations, and other organizations 
  needing to do work underwater as well as 
  dealers. Vendors will be dealers and 
  manufacturers. Can be a lucrative 
  speculative cargo if needs can be 
  anticipated- such as if a colony is about to 
  begin a project with underwater work 
  required. 
  Special Instructions: Underwater Utility 
  Robots contain a number of pressurized 
  systems. Inspect each robot individually 
  and make sure all pressurized systems are 
  bled off prior to transport. 
   
  Vegetable Oils Liquid Cargo 
  Bulk vegetable oils are best left to the big 
  carriers- they will be going from big 
  producers to big users, and clockwork 
  deliveries of massive cargos are expected. 
  The small carrier, though, can find adequate 
  profit in the high end of the market, moving 
  smaller amounts of things like olive oil, 
  various nut oils, and other more refined 
  vegetable oils. Generally, the more exotic, 
  the better. Buyers of bulk goods will be food 
  processors and some retailers. Buyers of 
  specialized oils will be food processors, 
  retailers, restaurant chains, and institutions 
  and organizations that prepare a lot of food. 
  Bulk product will generally be moved in 
  entire container tank loads, high end oils in 
  pallets. Specialty oils can make an effective 
  speculative cargo. 
  Special Instructions: Liquid Cargo 
   
  Vehicle Parts 
  The industry knows full well this is where 
  the real money is- sell the vehicles, then for 
  years later, less the parts. Vehicle parts are 
  bought by retailers, and every organization 
  that maintains its own vehicles. They are 
  supplied by manufacturers. 
   
  Vitamins 
  In some areas, locally grown food will be 
  capable of providing most human needs, but 
  certain nutrients will be lacking. In other 
  areas, people often want to 
  supplement/alter their vitamin intake for 
  health reasons with a cheap alternative to 
  fancy core foodstuffs. Some vitamin intake is 
  a result of culture, and some of health fad. 
  Vitamins, therefore, tend to vary greatly in 
  demand, with each locality having its own 
  peculiar needs. Vitamins make a workable 
  speculative cargo, except for those in the 
  first category. These, buyers will wish to 
  arrange long term, reliable supplies, and the 
  priority is so high that the Alliance will at 
  least pretend to oversee it. Small amounts of 
  vitamins, as are frequently ordered, will be 
  
   
   
  moved in general parcel class. Buyers will be 
  Retailers, and some organizations with 
  health functions. Sellers will be specialized 
  manufacturers. 
   
  Wall Coverings 
  These are made of plastic, thin laminates, 
  fabric, felt, or any of a variety of materials. 
  They range from the commonplace to the 
  exotic, and include some with advanced 
  capabilities such as the luminous types, fire 
  suppressant types, anti-blast or shock types, 
  or the flat high definition display types 
  which can make a wall, effectively, a window 
  to anywhere. There are even types with 
  variable-adhesive surfaces, in which the 
  adhesive property can be turned on and off 
  with a touch. Wall coverings are primarily 
  used by developers, and are also bought by 
  retailers. They are sold by manufacturers. 
   
  Waxes and Polishes 
  Includes natural waxes and synthetic. Not 
  exactly a major mover, but a useful cargo for 
  the trader if only because of a "widely used, 
  but generally overlooked" situation. Buyers 
  include retailers, certain industries (candle 
  makers, for one), and organizations that do 
  a lot of waxing and polishing. Alliance 
  military organizations are known as 
  notorious consumers of wax. 
  Special Instructions. Avoid heat. You don't 
  want a ruptured container and hot wax 
  flowing all over the place. 
   
  Windows and Doors/Ornamental and 
  Architectural castings, stampings, etc. 
  Sellers will be Manufacturers. Buyers will be 
  developers, and large retailers specializing 
  in building supplies. Windows and doors 
  made for exotic environments, or the homes 
  of the wealthy, or other particular 
  institutions will be much more valuable than 
  the run of the mill type, but will tend to be 
  custom ordered. Architectural ornaments 
  also covers a broad range of quality. 
  Windows and Doors make a better 
  speculative cargo, as they have greater 
  demand and universal use. 
   
  Wine/Distilled Spirits 
  An effective Speculative Cargo, especially 
  when the trader understand the market well. 
  Typically, distilled spirits are more valuable 
  than wine, but both have similar markets. 
  Wine originates from wineries and the 
  spirits from distilleries, but both may be 
  purchased from dealers. Retailers do the 
  bulk of the buying, although restaurants and 
  hotels, and sometimes passenger carrying 
  spaceships, may be interested customers. 
  Understanding wine can be a skill in itself, 
  and the wise trader cultivates knowledge in 
  this area before plunging into this trade. 
  Sometimes, simple wines are carried in large 
  container sized tanks, and when so 
  transported are liquid cargos. This is a 
  different sort of product- bulk wine is 
  popular in some cultures, and is not instead 
  of the individually packaged wine and spirit 
  pallets. 
  Special Instructions: Wine in tanks is a 
  liquid Cargo. 
   
  Work Clothing 
  Outwardly similar to the General Clothing 
  category, but with key differences. First, 
  buyers will often be organizations, 
  corporations, and agencies that provide 
  uniforms to their employees, in addition to 
  retailers. Second, the speculative trader 
  need not be as fashion conscious, as work 
  clothing styles do not change as quickly, nor 
  will high end, high fashion products bring 
  large amounts of money. 
   
  Zinc stock 
  Includes Zinc Alloys. A soft, commonly used 
  metal, valuable for its electrolytic 
  (galvanizing) properties among other things. 
  Used by industry and by developers. 
  Purchased from smelters and dealers. 
   
   
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Cortex System/Cortex - Accessory - Serenity - Fan Made - Cargo Jobs List.pdf