Building an independent IIBC island state

What would the Imperial Iron Brewing Company need to become an independent local power in Pirates of the Burning Sea?

It would need to seize and hold several islands, then use profitable plantations to finance the infrastructure and industry required for independence.

In the Pirates of the Burning Sea scenario, the Imperial Iron Brewing Company would first need to seize several islands and keep control of them. Territorial control alone would be insufficient. The islands would need infrastructure, industry, and a reliable source of income. Profitably run plantations are offered as the economic base that could make independence workable. Those foundations determine whether the group can become a durable local power within the game world.