Commerce and Piracy. Same thing, really.

Tortle Fleets are generally well-behaved in whatever sea they end up in, on whatever Moon, and where they do they usually make a fair amount of money moving goods from one port to another. The alliance of Captains that operate this merchant’s guild are called The Coin Fleet, for there are none better at moving cargo reliably, and as their name implies they make a tidy sum doing so.

However, where there are profits to be had just floating on the surface like juicy apples in a barrel with no witnesses in sight, there are pirates. And none pirate so well or so ruthlessly as the Tortle Captains who choose a less savoury path towards riches and glory. Since the only thing that can stop a Tortle shellboat is another shellboat, the Coin Fleet makes an even greater amount of money operating as escorts, privateers, and mercenaries. As you might image, knowing exactly which Captain is a member of the Coin Fleet or the Free Admiralty at any point in time, or in who’s sovereign waters is just about impossible – a fact that doesn’t seem to bother the Tortles as much as it bothers everybody else.

There is no clear faction leader of either the Coin Fleet or the Free Admiralty, and decisions are made by democratic votes at secretive convening of Captains whenever such councils are required, from whoever happens to turn up. Despite the fact that only Tortles are Captains of their shellboats, they will often recruit (or press gang) members of any other peoples who happen to be interesting in a life under the waves, whatever the alternative may be.