The Black Hats are not your everyday pirate gang; they're more vicious, cruel, and violent than any other gang in the skies. In Crimson Skies, they are allied with "security firm" Sacred Trust Incorporated. The collusion between Sacred Trust and the Black Hats was proved by Nathan Zachary's Fortune Hunters and Paladin Blake's Blake Aviation Security in a series of raids throughout Manhattan. Sacred Trust was exposed by the discovery of a Sacred Trust-owned warehouse full of stolen loot, and several cargo zeppelins smugglings goods out of the city.