The Serpentis coporation was started by someone looking for an eye to aid the independent traders and businessmen of the Eve Online universe. Many other people in the universe call such people pirates, but that's obviously just jealousy.
The Brigth of the Serpentis Corporation
The Serpentis corporation did not start out with high ideals. Eve Online players and sometimes governments who purchase their products are not always looking for the most honest path to doing something. Salvador Saparti started the corporation several decades ago with the hopes of marketing to independent traders, less charitable pilots, particularly those who have been on the receiving end of the independent traders who favor their ships call them “pirates.”
Interactions of the Serpentis Corporation with Other NPC Factions
Rumors abound that this corporation stays alive because of its dealings with the Gallente Federation. These dealings do little to endear the people of this NPC corporation to the other major factions, especially the Caldari State Corporation, but the Gallente have proven to be a powerful ally and the Serpentis can operate freely throughout the systems of the Federation. The company's home world, Serpentis prime can be found within the Federation.
Serpentis Ships
Players who endear themselves to the Serpentis faction by running appropriate missions (and there are more than a few missions that decrease a player's standing with Serpentis, so Eve Online pilots should pay attention to factions carefully) are the Vindicator, the Vigilant and the Daredevil, according to the Eve Online wiki.
The Daredevil -- A Serpentis Faction Frigate
This fast moving frigate can be piloted by people who possess the Gallente Frigates III skill or the Minmatar Frigates III skill. The standard Gallente configuration favors lightning fast turret attacks, while the Minmatar configuration for the Daredevil allows Minmatar pilots to get away from enemies faster or make hit and run attacks. The cargo space allows a pirate, that is an independent trader, to get as much loot as possible.
It's a good idea to upgrade the engines as fast as possible because whether it is an NPC ship or PC ship, someone will eventually take quite an interest in removing you from the worlds of Eve Online.