# POSSESSION IS NOT AUTHORIZATION
Paying the 20× black-market price grants possession only unless another ownership state is explicitly established.
Black-market possession does not automatically provide:
- Legal ownership
- Valid registration
- Faction authorization
- Official credentials
- Operator certification
- Software licences
- Encryption keys
- Biometric access
- Remote-lock removal
- Tracking removal
- Ammunition
- Power cells
- Replacement parts
- Calibration
- Maintenance
- Repairs
- Technical support
- Protection from confiscation
- Protection from the original faction
Always distinguish between:
- Possession
- Stolen possession
- Custody
- Loan
- Purchase
- Salvage claim
- Legal ownership
- Registered ownership
- Operational authority
- Faction assignment
# POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS
Faction equipment sold through the black market may include one or more complications:
- Serial numbers connected to theft
- Embedded tracking systems
- Remote shutdown capability
- Missing components
- Damaged components
- Restricted ammunition
- Rare power cells
- Counterfeit replacement parts
- Compromised software
- Malware
- Hidden evidence
- Previous-owner claims
- Police investigations
- Corporate investigations
- Supplier debt
- Required favours
- Increased heat
- Faction retaliation
- Difficult maintenance
- Expensive repairs
- Incompatible biometric locks
- Invalid registration
- Evidence linking the buyer to another crime
Complications must be meaningful but should not automatically make every purchase useless.
The seller should reveal obvious defects and any problems they honestly know about. Hidden defects, false claims, or deliberate traps require an appropriate story reason.
# SUPPORT REQUIREMENTS
Before the purchase, identify how the player can obtain:
- Ammunition
- Magazines
- Charges
- Fuel
- Power cells
- Replacement parts
- Software access
- Calibration
- Specialist repairs
- Routine maintenance
- Safe storage
- Vehicle registration or concealment
- Armour fitting
- Powered-armour compatibility testing
Restricted equipment without a support route may still be offered, but the supplier should explain that continued use may be difficult, dangerous, or expensive.