An Introduction to the Outlaw Empire
By Erin Tarn, excerpted from her book Traversing Our Modern World (c. 100 P.A., Lazlo Publishing)
"To someone just passing through, the Empire would indeed seem to be a hot, inhospitable wilderness inhabited by scattered groups of wild cutthroats, most of them small in number. Even the typical towns and villages rarely exceed 500, and many have less than half that number. However, there are far more of these tiny communities and nomadic tribes and bands than I had originally believed. There are also several groups that number into the thousands, and a few budding kingdoms and tribes that also number into the thousands. The nomadic nature of these varied people makes it impossible, at least for me, to accurately estimate their numbers. There could easily be two to ten times more people here than we originally believed.
"I have learned that while the official Pecos Empire is the southern third of the State, and is the region with the greatest number of permanent settlements, bandit bases, and large tribes, eastern Texas is also effectively the domain of bandits, non-humans and lawlessness. Nomadic Indians, D-bees and Pecos Bandits are as likely to be found in this region as anywhere in the Pecos Empire. I find it amusing to note that the CS refuses to use the word "empire" and refers to the territory only as the "Pecos Badlands." These nomads and bandits have a much wider range of activity in the surrounding lands than we originally believed, and may travel as far as the Old Canadian Empire and the Magic Zone. They also raid Arkansas and the western Coalition States.
"Never in my life have I seen such a diverse collection of cultures, societies and people. Virtually every group, whether they be bandits, Indians, or D-bees — tribe, clan, town or gang — each and every one seems to have a different culture, with a different set of laws, morals, and leadership. Of course, many are similar, but even many of the smallest bands represent an independent organization. I have also found many of the non-bandit groups to be more self-sufficient, civilized and friendly than I had originally imagined. Most are extremely low-tech, mainly peasant farmers and raisers of cattle or other livestock. Others are nomadic hunters and gatherers with some farming thrown in for good measure. Only the bandits and tribes or clans who survive by raiding others, and some of the D-bee communities, are truly barbaric and deadly. Some of the Psi-Stalker and Simvan tribes are among the most feral, aggressive and violent I have encountered; much more so than their cousins east of the Mississippi. Generally speaking, the highest levels of technology are found among the bandits, particularly when it comes to vehicles, weapons and combat.
"The fact that most people east of the Mississippi believe that the so-called 'Pecos Empire' is nothing more than an insignificant band of barbarians forced to live in the Badlands of Lone Star by the CS military is testament to the Coalition propaganda machine at Chi-Town. From what I have seen, the Pecos Empire is composed of dozens, perhaps hundreds of savage and barbaric tribes and clans of Native American Indians, Psi-Stalkers, Simvan and other mixed communities of D-bees and humans, as well as gangs of human outlaws, Mexican Banditos, and Gunslingers. True cities or kingdoms/nations as we think of them in the East, are a rarity, although some of the tribes and a few of the gangs can number into the thousands. Instead, the Pecos Empire is dotted with tiny towns, villages and temporary camps of nomadic tribes, typically ranging from fifty to a few hundred. Still, from what I have seen and heard, the Coalition States has virtually no influence or control over these people. Nor does the CS have any military presence in the Badlands, other than occasional ground patrols and SAMAS or Sky-Cycle fly-bys.
"Although pre-Cataclysm books and films would suggest otherwise, I found the Indians to be the most peaceful and "civilized" members of the Pecos Empire. Most other bands of people reminded me of stories I've read about the ancient barbarians of Europe. They are savage, cruel and wild. Their bases of operation seem to be small farms and sheep raising areas. They have no industry that I saw, and subsist with low technology, perhaps equal to the American 18th or 19th Century. Those who engage in banditry, which is the majority I am told, steal what they want or need, plundering neighboring communities, travelers, and even the Coalition Military. The Pecos Empire will attack as a mass army, but more typically sends out much smaller raiding bands of 10-60 members. The raiders are a wide mix of mutants, monsters, D-bees, and humans (less than 40% are human). Juicers, Crazies, Headhunters, rogue Dog Boys, Psi-Stalkers, and brutes of all races ride among those of the Pecos Empire. The overall empire has been estimated at over a million people, but only about a third are barbarian raiders. Pecos Raiders have been known to travel as far north as Iowa, as far east as Alabama, and as far west as Nevada. They seldom travel beyond the Rio Grande River because there is nothing to steal and it is the domain of vampires.
"The Coalition States may have claimed all of Texas for itself - renaming it the 'Coalition State of Lonestar' - but it has yet been able to rout the Pecos bandits..."