Space Law
What is Space Law?
Space Law is a collection of rules and regulations enacted by Nanotrasen which has oversight through CentCom and is enforced by the Security Officers on the Space Station. That is to say, these are in-character rules.
However, repeated, bad-faith violations of Space Law will likely result in job-bans.
Space Law applies to all ranks and positions on station, from the lowliest Assistant to the highest Captain, all are equal under the eyes of the Law and ultimately answer to her.
MXX - Modifier | 0XX - Infraction | 1XX - Minor | 2XX - Moderate | 3XX - Major | 4XX - Capital | CXX - Corporate | SXX - Security | |
250cr fine | 5-10 minutes Jail | 10-15 minutes Jail | 20-25 minutes Jail | Permabrig/Execute | Demotion/5-10 minutes | Demotion/10-15 minutes | ||
01 | Aiding/Abetting | Battery | Assault | Assault with a Deadly Weapon | Assault of Command | Murder | Disrespecting Senior Officer | Excessive Force |
02 | Compliance | Public Nuisance | Moderate B&E/Trespass | Major B&E/Trespass | Severe B&E/Trespass | Mutiny | Unlicensed Magic Use | Privacy Violation |
03 | Self-Defense | Defacing | Negligence | Gross Negligence | Abuse of Authority | Station Destruction | Wrongthink | False Arrest |
04 | Good Samaritan | Loitering | Larceny | Major Theft/Sabotage | Grand Theft/Sabotage | Escaping Permabrig | Dereliction | Favoritism |
05 | Deconversion/Re-Education | Rubbernecking | Vandalism | Animal Cruelty | False Proceedings | Enemy of the Corporation | Embezzlement | Improper Handling |
06 | Escaping Confinement | Public Indecency | Distribution | Kidnapping | Possession of Major Contraband | Biological Terror | Provoking CENTCOM | Accepting a Bribe |
07 | Refusal to Identify | Unauthorized Piloting | Manslaughter | Impersonation | ||||
08 | Stalking | Vigilantism | Insubordination | Unauthorized Channels | ||||
09 | Harassment | Silicon Tampering | ||||||
10 | Death Mongering | Possession of Moderate Contraband | ||||||
11 | Possession of Stolen Goods | |||||||
12 | Fine Evasion |
The rules and regulations herein are not absolutes, instead they exist to serve mainly as guidelines for the law and order of the dynamic situations that exist for stations on the frontiers of space, as such some leeway is permitted.
Sentencing
When sentencing for a crime, only pick the most severe offense committed by a criminal. Use the timer next to each brig cell to assign the appropriate time.
The arresting Security Officer (or Warden) can approve alternative punishments (such as Interrogation) as they see fit.
An arrested person's timer begins as soon as they enter the brig, the timer does not stop if the prisoner requires medical treatment.
In the case of a conflict, the Head of Security has final say over security matters and sentencing.
However, security is allowed to arrest the Head of Security if it is clear that they are being abusive, or dangerous to the station's well-being.
Other command staff are not in charge of security unless they are acting captain without an existing Head of Security. Additionally, it is the responsibility of the Head of Security to properly handle abusive security. A Head of Security that is enabling Security to violate procedure or encouraging them to do so can be charged with aiding and abetting in security crimes.
Crime-Stacking
Crimes do not stack, they are only the most egregious committed and do not increase for repeat offenses.
MXX - Modifiers
0XX - Infractions
Low issue crimes, typically related to behavior issues or comments.
Choose One:
Fine, no more than 250 cr
Community Service, no more than 5min
Referral to Counseling
1XX - Minor Crimes
Crimes that can potentially cause issues for the station.
Choose One:
Jail, 5-10 minutes
Community service, no more than 10min
Referral to Counseling
2XX - Moderate Crimes
Crimes that will or have already caused issues for the station.
Choose One:
Jail, 10-15 minutes
3XX - Major Crimes
Crimes that severely disrupt station function.
Choose One:
Jail, 20-25 minutes
4XX - Capital Crimes
Crimes that destroy, or have destroyed the station and/or its crew.
Choose One:
Permabrig
Exile via Gateway
Trial (for Execution)
CXX - Corporate
Actions that actively support agendas that do not agree with the station, or NanoTrasen as a company. These laws apply only to Crew on the Manifest, not to non-crew.
Choose One:
Immediate Demotion
5-10 minutes in brig
SXX - Security Crimes
Crimes that can be charged to members of the Security department, department guards, or Heads of Staff that deal with the Security department. This includes Blueshields and deputized crew, though to a lesser extent.
In the case that these laws are violated, the victim is to be compensated a fine of 1000 credits, and released without punishment. Funds are expected to be paid from the offending officer, then the Head of Security's account, then the defense budget, in that order.
Choose One:
10-15 minute brig time,
Immediate demotion
Guide to Security
Rules of Engagement
Security is required to talk first first and inform a suspect of their charges, before asking them to come quietly before performing a non-lethal takedown...
with significant caveats:
If the suspect is:
- Armed, dangerous, or accused with valid reasoning of a capital crime.
- Seemingly likely to immediately resist arrest, particularly if they have already done so, or their records indicate they will be uncooperative.
- Committing a crime in the presence of an officer. An officer doesn’t have to talk first if they see you commit a crime.
- You are the only security member/Head of Staff,
Security should use non-lethal means (such as the provided stunbaton) where possible, except for in exceptional circumstances, such as:
- Hostile environments and extreme situations (such as Red Alert)
- Criminals fleeing and attacking into/from space or Lavaland, during a trial, revolutions, being mobbed by a group.
- Armory: Anyone breaking into, out of, stealing from, or having stolen from it.
- When your life is in danger, or will be in danger if you get close to someone.
- Nonlethals and/or containment ineffective– when it is not possible (or unreasonably difficult) to contain a suspect or enemy. This is less applicable if they are cooperating, obviously.
Your job is to Protect the Crew and Preserve Order. Just because you are allowed to use lethal force or arrest someone, does not mean every situation demands it. You should not play Security to kill people. Security is allowed, and in many cases, encouraged to deviate from Space Law, but you should have at least a somewhat defensible reason to do so, and you are responsible if your reasoning doesn't hold up. If no one presses charges on an infraction, you shouldn't arrest them for it.
Security are not allowed to hold and/or conceal lethal weapons "just in case" outside of Amber or Red Alert.
Weapons should generally be worn on the belt or in some other visible way, even on Amber/Red Alert. If Amber alert is reached and then lowered from, all weapons should be returned to the armory in good time. Failing to properly turn in lethal weapons below Amber alert can result in a charge for S05 - Improper Handling.
A department's guard is considered part of that department, and answers to that department's head of staff, who may demote them for misconduct as they see fit.
Alert Standards
Green Alert
Security are not allowed to carry weapons beyond their issued weapons. They must respect privacy laws and inform suspects before they make an arrest. Generally used for shifts where there are no projected threats.
Blue Alert
Same as Green Alert, except with enhanced readiness from Security. Usually raised to when suspicious activity is suspected but not proven, or lowered to when the threat seems to have passed.
Amber Alert
Typically raised to when there is a confirmed threat or crisis of any sort on or near the station. Security are allowed to carry, but not necessarily to use, lethals, and should respond to the threat or crisis in good time. Random searches are now permitted.
Violet Alert
Much like Amber alert, except the emergency involves Medical. Should be raised to in times of serious biohazards, crew death, etc.
Orange Alert
Like Amber alert, but for an Engineering emergency. Should be raised to in cases such as a loose Tesla, or serious gas leak.
Red Alert
Typically raised to when the situation is dire, Red Alert is the moment a Call to Action is no longer sufficient, and all hands are needed on deck immediately.
Command and Security are to begin to conscript non-essential staff and unlock the armory if it has not already been, and are allowed to perform executions with proper respect to the Captain and/or Head of Security given first, though they need not respond.
At this alert, enforcing the law generally takes a backseat to protecting the station. Hopefully you will never need to reach this. (But you will)
Delta Alert
The situation is likely beyond recovery, and there is an immediate, significant threat to the station. The captain, or a sufficient surrogate, should request the nuclear codes and deliver the authentication disk to the vault, before triggering the explosive, as soon as possible. Ignoring orders from Heads of Staff is punishable by immediate execution.
Executions
This should be the last resort where possible. Unnecessary executions are considered Murder, see 401.
In situations where Capital Crimes are committed, and other methods of discipline are inappropriate or ineffective, an execution may be deemed necessary. Executions are only for crew and foreign agents. The Head of Security and Captain must both be notified, if they are alive, and allowed to veto a potential execution.
If these roles are unavailable, the task falls to the Warden, then finally, a group vote by the Security team.
A trial should be performed to allow the criminal to seek clemency wherever possible. However, this can be skipped if reasonable to do so, such as on Red Alert or higher. A prisoner due for execution is allowed to request a type of execution and other accommodations, such as access to a Chaplain; these should be provided for where reasonable to do so.
If an execution is permitted, it should be carried out by the Head of Security or Warden, otherwise the task falls to the most available surrogate.
Legal Representation
Prisoners are entitled to request legal representation and protection, and cannot be punished for doing so. However, security is not obligated to provide.
Give the lawyer a job, especially in ambiguous cases, where time permits, but don’t bend over backwards for obviously obnoxious criminals/lawyers.
Disruptive lawyers may have their access or radio stripped by the Head of Security. Wardens are allowed to ban lawyers from the brig with valid reasoning.
Conducting A Trial
A trial involves the Head of Personnel as magistrate (or, lacking one, the next in the Chain of Command that is not the Head of Security), the Head of Security (or a proper stand-in) as Prosecutor, and a Lawyer serving the Defense. If there is no Lawyer, one will have to be provided for the defendant. Ideally, a jury will be present, but this is not necessary. In a Jury trial, the Jury must unanimously rule. Otherwise, the Judge decides.
Both sides present evidence and witnesses a la Ace Attorney.