Loners are a subset of Outlaws on the Dark Side of VOI 700 D, known for their rejection of societal structures and independence from organized factions like the Jane Mendoza Gang. Operating as solitary wanderers, they live by a personal code, making them highly unpredictable yet guided by a certain honor.

Loners emerged after the signing of the Peace Treaty when many individuals rejected the Federal Confederation's rigid rules. These individuals, unwilling or unable to integrate into structured communities or outlaw gangs, chose a solitary path. Their numbers have grown steadily, with an estimated 30 Loners scattered across the Dark Side.

Their disconnection from any larger faction has often placed them in precarious situations, but their self-sufficiency and survival skills have allowed them to thrive in a hostile environment.

• Anarchist Ideals: Loners embrace anarchist principles, valuing personal freedom above all else. They reject any form of collective authority, preferring to “mind their own business” and avoid alliances unless survival necessitates cooperation.

• Nomadic Existence: Loners are perpetually on the move, following the mantra, “Never stay longer than it takes to recover and have a nice dream.” They travel light, carrying only essential items in their saddlebags, often crafted from stolen or scavenged materials.

• Code of Honor: Despite their solitary lifestyle, Loners adhere to a personal code:

• Mind Your Business: Focus solely on personal survival and avoid meddling in others’ affairs. Respect Territorial Boundaries: Never intrude on another Loner’s domain.

• No Betrayal: Trust, when given, is sacred and never broken.

• No Harm to Children: Children are off-limits, both as targets and participants in criminal activities.

Loners typically reside along the Trade Route and its surrounding infrastructure, such as the Halfway Inn, where they survive through robberies and occasional contract jobs for the larger outlaw gangs. Most Loners reject the structure of human society and prefer self-sufficiency.

Loners do not believe in collaboration or organized human communities. They embrace anarchist ideals, focusing on personal freedom and independence. Unlike gangs, which rely on group dynamics, Loners prefer to “mind their own business” and avoid forming alliances unless absolutely necessary for survival.

Despite their anarchist nature, Loners live by a code of honor that includes four main rules:

1. Mind Your Business: Each Loner focuses solely on their own affairs, without interfering in others' matters.

2. Respect Territorial Boundaries: Loners defend their territory and never intrude on others' space.

3. No Betrayal: Trust is sacred, and breaking it is unforgivable.

4. No Harm to Children: Children must never be harmed or involved in criminal activities.

There are an estimated 30 Loners scattered across the Dark Side. They rely on theft, particularly from Federal Courier Service merchant caravans, and small contracts for other gangs. They are highly territorial, and their law of the strongest ensures that only the most cunning and capable can survive in their world.

• Nikita Smirnow (Former Free State Courier Rider): Nikita Smirnow