Space Law

Jurisdiction

Within the Aurora Sector, all vessels inside colony-controlled space or registered under the Aurora Sector Colonial Authority operate under abbreviated Space Law. All crew, passengers, and visitors aboard a Auroran-sanctioned vessel, within Auroran space or in the employ of the colonial government are beholden to this law and expected to follow it. Common sense knowledge should be sufficient to not break the law, the details are of particular importance to Sector Law Enforcement and Station Administration.

You might also want to read Standard Operating Procedures

Basic Rights

When considering legal status for the purposes of interpreting law, a 'citizen' or 'immigrant' is a person who starts their shift with a registered identification badge representing legal registration of their presence in-sector with the Colonial Authority. All persons categorized as a registered citizen or immigrant are subject to both the restrictions and protections of Space Law as defined by the Colonial Authority.

Granted by Space Law to all citizens and immigrants to the Aurora Sector are the following basic rights:

• The Aurora Colonial Authority shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the employees peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Colonial Authority for a redress of grievances.
• The right of the employees to be secure in their persons, vessels, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized.
• Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
• In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed 50,000 Spesos, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved.
• In all capital crime prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial by an arbitration except wherein the accused obstructs the pursuit of justice.

Government Entities

Listed here for their relevance to legal matters.

Colonial Bodies

Groups directly-beholden to the Colony itself and no one else.

Colonial Authority

The government of the colony Aurora, and its surrounding sector of space. Abbreviated commonly to ColAuth.

Colonial Command

The space operations arm of the Colonial Government, a combined military and civilian organization. Abbreviated commonly to ColComm.

Colonial Armed Forces

The multi-faceted military of the colony Aurora, comprised of various purpose-driven branches. These branches include but are not limited to: The Colonial Marine Corps (CMC), Colonial Naval Fleet (CNF), and Colonial Special Operations Command (ColSOC).

Sector Bodies

These groups report directly to Colonial Command and act on the colony's behalf in space.

Sector Command

The combined command staff of all sub-departments, including the Station Representative, the Station Traffic Controller, the Director of Care, the Power Plant Manager, the Mercenary Contracting Officer, and the Commissioner of the SLE.

Sector Law Enforcement

The police force of the Aurora Sector, abbreviated 'SLE'.

The Outpost Staff

Anyone working directly for the Station Representative, from janitors to mail persons.

Sector Medical Team

Doctors, Medics, and Chemists within the Director of Care's direct employ.

Commissioner's Authority

The Commissioner of the Aurora Sector is the premier authority for Space Law across the entire sector (excluding the colony itself and government or military vessels), and answers directly to Colonial Command. The Commissioner is the leader of the Sector Law Enforcement, and is accountable for hiring, firing, demoting or promoting members of the SLE as well as handling their pay.

Bounties

The Commissioner, and in their absence any Station Representative, are able to post criminal bounties which may be pursued by any registered bounty hunters or vigilantes within the sector. Bounties must be posted with the crime they had committed, who the affected parties are, and a reasonable bounty fund which is reasonable to pay by station funding. Fines collected may be used to pay for the bounty, but assets seized may not.

Pardons

The Commissioner, and in their absence any Station Representative, may pardon employees accused or sentenced for crimes if deemed in the best interest of the sector. Only misdemeanor and felony crimes may be pardoned. Colonial Command must be contacted to receive permission to pardon a capital crime. The Commissioner may be held legally responsible for criminal actions committed by those who they pardon. Pardons must be announced via the communications console whenever they are performed.

Captain's Authority

The Captain of an Auroran-registered vessel is the premier authority for Space Law aboard their vessel in the absence of the SLE, although they are held accountable for their actions by their crew and by the SLE. Afforded to them are both the right to execute members of the crew, within just circumstances, as well as the ability to hire, fire, demote, or promote crew members at will.

Execution Privileges

The Captain of a Auroran-registered vessel may perform executions without the need for a trial under certain circumstances. This means they have the authority to personally execute any member of their crew unless they're already in the custody of the SLE. These circumstances would be threats to:

• Authority: Attempting or threatening to undermine the Captain's command, with the capabilities to do so, via illegal means.
• Command: Attempting or threatening to cause bodily harm to the Captain or a member of command while in the Captain's presence, and has the capability to do so.
• Vessel: Attempting or threatening to cause physical damage to the vessel while in the Captain's presence, and has the capability to do so.

When an execution is carried out, the Sector Law Enforcement must be notified of the death via fax, detailing the reason for execution, the time of execution, and all witnesses present for the execution. This must be done in a timely manner, else such death will be declared as murder.

Mutiny

If the Captain is found, by a member or members of their crew, to be in violation of Space Law then they may start a lawful mutiny. A mutiny is defined as a coordinated effort to lawfully depose the Captain of a Auroran-registered vessel for committing unlawful acts. In the event of a mutiny, loyalists are tasked with subduing the mutineers with non-lethal force, and should not resort to lethal measures even if ordered to by the Captain, except in acts of self-preservation. The SLE must be called to take custody of the Captain.

• If the Mutiny is unsuccessful, only the crewmembers who led the mutiny may receive an execution sentencing while all mutineers may be demoted and/or placed in Extended Confinement.
• If the Mutiny is successful, the crewmembers who led the mutiny may select the new Captain. The new Captain would ultimately decide the fate of the old Captain.

When a mutiny begins, the crewmembers starting the mutiny must send a message to admins to notify the admin staff of what is about to occur, although prior authorization is not required. If the mutiny is called into action without a good roleplay reason, participants may risk being banned.

Foreign Relations

Trade and Neutrality Agreement

Under the applicable treaty stipulations officiated between the Auroran Government and each participating faction or organization, the following terms govern their activities within the Aurora Sector. These arrangements safeguard Auroran citizens and allow peaceful trade to continue without drawing the sector into outside conflicts.

Signatories maintain neutral relations with the Auroran Government and recognize the Aurora Sector as a demilitarized zone in ongoing conflicts. Hostilities between signatories and espionage on their behalf are prohibited within Auroran space. Their agents must refrain from action against the Auroran Government, its personnel, and its operations.

In exchange, signatories receive preferred trading status, preferential commercial pricing, and reduced tariffs on taxable goods traded within the sector.

Factional Representatives serve as local points of contact for these arrangements. They are expected to address misconduct by those acting on their organization's behalf and work with sector authorities to resolve disputes before they endanger residents or threaten continued trade and cooperation.

Legal Ethics

A lawyer has a paramount duty to the court. Any statement made by a lawyer cannot knowingly be false, or induce the court into error. If a lawyer becomes aware that a statement made earlier is no longer true, or was never true, then they must inform the court as soon as practicable.

A lawyer has a duty to their client. They must act on the instructions of their client, zealously advocate for their client and they must maintain the confidentiality of anything their client has said, provided that the client hasn't expressly waived that confidentiality. Evidence that is a result of a breach of confidentiality cannot be used in court to convict a person or charge them with an offense. The duty of confidentiality persists even after the lawyer no longer represents the client.

If there is a conflict between a lawyer's duty to the court and to their client, then the lawyer must withdraw from the matter and stop representing that client. An example of this is if a client admits to a crime to the lawyer and then insists on instructing the lawyer to tell the court that the client is innocent. This is because the lawyer would be telling the court that the client did not do the crime when they know that is a false statement. A plea of not guilty does not attract this problem, since a not guilty plea is a statement that guilt cannot be proven beyond reasonable doubt.

Prosecution

Legal Status

Sector Law Enforcement

The Sector Law Enforcement (SLE) is the primary policing organization active within the Aurora Sector.

The SLE hold the capability to detain an individual under suspicion of criminal acts. A person that is reasonably suspected of having committed a crime may be detained. In detainment, the crewman is held on-site or moved to a safer location, may be restrained at officer’s discretion and will remain as such for the time necessary for Security to determine the circumstances of the incident and whether to effect an arrest or not. A detainee may be either released or arrested.

The SLE hold the capability to arrest an individual for criminal acts. An arrest will occur when a detainee is being charged with criminal acts. The charges have to be pressed by any member of the SLE, Security, or citizenry of the sector. Additionally, the Commissioner, or lacking one, the Station Representative, may issue an arrest warrant with probable cause, taking full responsibility for the warrant being lawful. When arrested, the perpetrator is taken to a secure vessel for interrogation and processing.

The SLE holds a class 2 weaponry license and may be authorized to use lethal force to the extent necessary to render opponents combat-ineffective while at a severe tactical disadvantage or under threat to the sector as a whole. The SLE holds the authority to police the space within the Aurora sector and are authorized to engage and subdue any threats against the stations, crews, the sector, or the colony Aurora itself.

Members of the SLE, if given a felony level charge or above, or are found to be acting in a manner unbecoming of an officer of the law, must be removed from service and demoted to a normal citizen of the Aurora Sector.

Synthetics

All synthetic entities, including, but not limited to, robots, cyborgs and drones, issued or constructed by the Aurora Sector are considered property of the Colonial Authority, regardless of their origin or cognitive status. Synthetics created and fabricated on a vessel operated by any Aurora Sector citizens or immigrants will be considered property of the person(s) that created them and they will keep all rights, ownership and responsibility of said synthetic. Damage or destruction of a synthetic will be treated as damage of personal and/or government property and it must be prosecuted accordingly.

The owner of the synthetic unit must maintain, repair and regulate the systems of the synthetics they currently own and they will be liable for any and all damages an improperly maintained unit causes to a person or property. In the case of an unit being lost this must be returned to its lawful owner and if no owner is found then the unit must be sent to a station representative and be reprogrammed.

Companions

All service animals, familiars, and pets, issued or sold by the Colonial Authority, created by Aurora Sector citizens or are included on board a Auroran-registered vessel are considered property of the citizen who purchased or created them, regardless of their origin or cognitive status. To damage or destroy any companions is treated as damage of personal property and persecuted accordingly.

Note: An exception to this exists in the companions known as 'Cappy' and 'Laika'. Given their inherently-higher cognitive qualities, these animals are to be given the full rights of person-hood, and considered legally sophonts.

Contraband

All explosives, including but not limited to chemical, biological, electromagnetic, or thermonuclear, when onboard or docked to an SLE vessel or The Outpost, are illegal for possession by Aurora Sector citizens or immigrants except in cases where they are being held for transfer to secured storage, or in use by security or police personnel for their authorized purpose.

All narcotics, including but not limited to space drugs, desoxyephedrine, stimulants, or any narcotics to the same or similar effect, are illegal for possession by Aurora Sector citizens or immigrants except in cases where they are produced by a licensed chemist, approved by Station Administration, and provided to a patient with a prescription or in the chemist's secure storage. Only the prescription owner or chemist may possess said narcotics.

Classification of Contraband

Class 1 Contraband contains all lethal, less than lethal and non-lethal weapons not otherwise covered by higher classifications. Class 1 Contraband includes but is not limited to gunpowder weapons, cold weapons, laser weapons and magic.

Citizens or immigrants retain a right to purchase, acquire and use Class 1 Contraband for lawful purposes. Any item used to commit a felony or capital crime is classified as Class 1 Contraband. If class 1 contraband is used for a felony or capital offense, the impugned contraband is to be permanently seized.

Class 2 Contraband contains all explosive devices not otherwise covered by higher classifications; objects which can be used to non-destructively or non-invasively gain unauthorized access to Aurora Sector secured areas; exclusively restricted and/or authorized use weapons or equipment, uniforms and EMPs; and, security vessels.

Class 2 contraband may only be used by command and security personnel, an authorized license-holder, or persons with written authorization from the SLE Commissioner. Possession of Class 2 Contraband is otherwise an offense governed by the misdemeanor or felony possession laws.

Class 2 Unregistered Contraband contains: any object, device, or weapon that would normally be considered either Class 1 or Class 2 contraband, but has not been officially registered with the Colonial Authority. IE, lacking licensing or serial numbers.

Class 2-U Contraband may be registered with the SLE via Contraband Exchange procedures.

Class 3 Contraband contains the following items, not limited to the provided examples:

All explosives of the following:

• covert (mine, hot potato, explosive pen);
• timed or activation triggered (C4);
• highly destructive (nuclear bomb & syndicate bomb).

For the sake of comprehension it's assumed if an item is was clearly produced to inflict mass casualties with indiscriminate capabilities, designed to subvert the law or security measures, or is clearly military hardware produced for explicitly military purposes, these items would be considered Class 3 Contraband.

The following is a set of examples and does not exist as a completed list:

• Anti-armor munitions and weapons designed to utilize them (Hristov Anti-Materiel Rifle).
• Anti-personnel weapons with large-capacity magazines (L-6 LMG).
• Weapons designed to launch or propel explosives at high velocities (rocket launchers, grenade launchers, missile launchers).
• Heavily plated armor/ hardsuits (Syndicate Juggernaut Suit).
• Any hardware with a military registration (CAF Hardsuits, weapons, uniforms, or miscellaneous gear).
• Un-prescribed narcotics (meth, stimulants, etc.).

No person or vessel is to make use of Class 3 Contraband at any time. Permitted citizens or immigrants may possess Class 3 Contraband for the express purpose of transportation to the SLE Outpost for exchange or disposal of said items by the Sector Law Enforcement. Possession of Class 3 Contraband is an offense governed by the misdemeanor or felony possession laws. For the purposes of removing a holoparasite, security may kill those in possession of holoparasite contraband by temporary execution, immediately thereafter taking all steps to clone them.

Warrants, Stops, Searches and Seizures

Searches

A stop-search is the investigation of the objects on a citizen or immigrant's person i.e., backpack, hands, coat, belt and pockets. A stop-search may only be made if the officer attempting said search has Reasonable Suspicion, Probable Cause, or a Search Warrant. If any contraband is found during a search the officer may choose to further the search into an arrest or simply confiscate the restricted items. After the search is conducted all legal items are to be returned to the person.

To search a citizen or immigrant's vessel, an officer must have probable cause or an official search warrant.

See further clarification under Reasonable Basis.

The right of the citizens or immigrants to be secure in their persons, vessels, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized. Potential grievances and suspicions of unlawful proceedings and maltreatment are to be directed up the Chain of Command and resolved judicially, enlisting legal counsel, if available.

Warrants

A warrant is a signed document stating police or authorized security personnel may search a specific person or place, and must contain things to be seized. A warrant regarding citizens or immigrants requested by an officer of the law may be approved by the Station Representative, Commissioner, or the Captain of the person being searched. A Captain may give permission for police or security personnel to search their ship, but must sign a warrant if they wish to authorize police or security personnel to search their crewmembers. An authorized person may only sign a warrant if they are satisfied, on the information put before them, that there is a reasonable basis that the execution of the warrant would assist in the investigation of a crime. The authorized person signing the warrant takes full responsibility that the warrant is lawful, and may be subject to demotion or a pecuniary penalty if the power is abused. The process of physically writing a warrant may be disregarded if the appropriate command member accompanies the officers throughout their search.

Reasonable Basis

Police or security personnel have the power to stop and search citizens and immigrants without a warrant if they suspect, on reasonable grounds, that the person is carrying stolen items, class 2 or class 3 contraband, or any item recently used in the commission of a crime. The standard for this is Reasonable Suspicion at-minimum. This power only extends to the search of vessels if the security personnel suspect, on a reasonable basis, that a crime is actively being committed aboard a vessel, otherwise a warrant or alert level is required. The standard for this is Probable Cause at-minimum. (Example: a known pirate ship cannot be stopped on the mere suspicion of carrying goods recently relieved of their prior owners.)

To see further clarification on Reasonable Suspicion and Probable Cause, refer to Standard Operating Procedures under the appropriate sub-heading.

Plain Sight Exemption

If contraband, stolen property, or evidence of a crime is in plain sight of an officer who is lawfully present in the location from which they observe it, no warrant or further probable cause is required to seize the item. "Plain sight" includes visual detection through transparent or open containers, viewports, as well as sensory readings from authorized scanning equipment already in lawful use for another purpose. This exemption does not permit searching beyond what is already in unobstructed view, but the observation itself may establish probable cause for a more extensive search.

Exigent Circumstances

Officers may forcibly enter a space without probable cause, nor warrant under any circumstance in which a reasonable person would believe that entry was necessary to accomplish any of the following goals:

• Prevent the imminent destruction, concealment, or loss of evidence;
• Protect individuals from imminent harm or death;
• Pursue a fleeing suspect in active flight from lawful detention for a serious crime;
• Prevent a significant threat to the safety or security of a vessel, station, or surrounding space.

Exigent searches must be limited in scope to addressing the emergency at hand, and the officer must file a full incident report as soon as possible. Abuse of this exemption is subject to the same disciplinary penalties as the issuance of an unlawful warrant.

Maritime Legal Status

Foreign Vessels

None of the below provisions, or any other provisions of Space Law, apply to vessels under the flag of an organisation at war with the Aurora Sector Colonial Authority, parties that have attacked a Auroran facility, or vessels engaged in blatant criminal activity of a capital degree.

Auroran citizens, immigrants, and government personnel are encouraged to allow non-hostile visitors permission to dock or otherwise come aboard during normal operating conditions. They may be searched upon arrival and escorted at the discretion of the SLE. The visitor may request asylum, which is at a Station Representative's discretion to decide, and they will be given as much or as little access throughout the hosting station or vessel as a Station Representative deems fit, except in the cases of a privately-owned vessel. In the case of a privately-owned vessel, the ship's Captain may grant whatever access they deem fit, but are legally required to report the presence of the non-hostile visitor to the Station Representative or any available members of Sector Command.

All visitors aboard a Auroran-registered vessel are subject to Space Law, and should a visitor break the law and flee aboard their own vessel, The SLE is authorized to board it in pursuit. Aurora Sector citizens and immigrants aboard a foreign vessel are subject to their laws and policy.

If an individual commits a crime aboard an Auroran-operated or registered station and then flees to an unaffiliated party's vessel, the Captain of that vessel is authorized to grant or deny asylum. Foreign vessels' sovereignty must be observed and any decisions of their command to deny or restrict entry are to be respected.

Merchant Vessels

Merchant vessels are defined as those, regardless of origin, that are unarmed and operating in space for the intents and purposes of conducting lawful trade. An unarmed vessel should not be attacked without warning. It can be fired on only if it repeatedly fails to stop when ordered to do so or resists being boarded by an attacking vessel. The attacking vessel may only intend to search for contraband (such as weapons or military materiel, classified contraband, etc.) when stopping a merchant vessel. The ship may be allowed to leave, if not affiliated with enemies of the Aurora Sector Colonial Authority, after removal of any contraband.

However, adequate steps must be taken to ensure the safety of the crew. In cases where a merchant vessel's crew is harmed in an act of boarding, efforts must be made to rescue, resuscitate, and/or clone them. This would usually mean taking the crew on board and transporting them to a safe port, or alternatively calling for the aid of any available medical personnel.

A non-hostile vessel that surrenders in good faith cannot be structurally damaged, left inoperable, stripped of non-contraband assets, or otherwise harmed. The safety of non-hostile merchant vessels is guaranteed by the Aurora Sector Colonial Authority. If a vessel becomes hostile for any reason, it will become considered belligerent.

Military Vessels

Vessels either marked with military insignia or bearing military-class equipment and/or hull-armor, are considered military vessels. If operated by the Colonial Armed Forces or any other entity serving the Colonial Authority, citizens and immigrants are to avoid these vessels. It is assumed that all CAF vessels have an inherent 500m No Fly Zone. Do not approach them or risk being fired upon without warning.

Unless operated by the Colonial Armed Forces, military vessels are to be treated with suspicion and avoided by citizens and immigrants. The Sector Command are compelled to request them to leave the sector. If they fail to comply or otherwise engage in hostile actions, regardless of origin, they will become considered belligerent and their actions may constitute an act of war.

Belligerent Vessels

A belligerent vessel, or one operating under the banner of an enemy of the Aurora Sector Colonial Authority, is not afforded the same protections foreign visitors or merchant vessels. These banners include but are not limited to, pirates, Syndicate Navy, Wizards Federation, or any imminently dangerous alien species, and these vessels would be classified as belligerent if moving through Aurora Sector space and/ or conducting hostile operations.

Anything involving the unlawful assault of Aurora Sector citizens or immigrants, property, or registered vessels will result in a vessel being classified as belligerent, and the SLE are authorized to use full force to stop the vessel as-required.

Note: While the Spinward Syndicate at large is on neutral terms with the Aurora Sector Colonial Authority, any vessels under the banner of the Naval Arm of the Spinward Syndicate operating in Auroran space are considered to be inherently hostile due to violating various border laws and military treaties. These vessels have forfeited their neutrality in the eyes of the law.

Identify Friend or Foe

It is not illegal to fly a vessel without its IFF tag active, except within 200m of the central station. However, Sector Law Enforcement may ask vessels without their IFF active to flash their IFF tag for the sake of identification during the course of an investigation. Failure to comply may result in prosecution.

Trial

Trial Procedure Outline

In criminal prosecution, a trial cannot be requested when only Misdemeanor charges are being pressed. The defendant may request a trial when Felony charges are being pressed but are called to order at the discretion and ability of the potential Judge. If the defendant is accused of a Capital Crime, they are entitled to trial. Legal counsel is not required to stand trial, but members of Sector Command and the SLE are encouraged to assist the accused of seeking legal representation.

The format of the trial is to be an Arbitration court hearing, presided by a Judge that is typically a Station Representative or Commissioner. Should no Aurora Sector Command Staff be available but a trial needs to be held, it is permissible to grant a temporary promotion to the position of Head of Courtroom, with the access and privileges equivalent to the Commissioner role, who shall preside over the trial and shall be granted this duty for the length of time necessary and purpose of holding the trial.

In this hearing, the Judge directly examines the defendant and a representative of the prosecution best familiar with the case to present their case on why the defendant should be cleared or convicted of their charges. The trial is expected to last no longer than 30 minutes, with either party not being allowed longer than 10 minutes to present their case.

Extensions may only be requested with reason and are granted at the discretion of the Judge. Conflicts of Interest may only be applied when the Judge can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt to obtain strictly personal gain from either verdict or when the Prosecutor may be proven such gain from a Not Guilty verdict.

In the event that the defendant is held in contempt of court, the necessity of a trial may be waived and judgement may be passed by the Judge without a hearing.

Trials may also be held for civil disputes, requested by any citizen or immigrant against any other, preferably presided by the Station Representative or Commissioner. In cases where the civil dispute is in regards to a total value of 50,000 Spesos or greater a trial by jury must be utilized.

Pressing Charges

A person may be charged with a crime if and when it can be argued beyond a reasonable doubt to have committed an act in the nature and fashion described by a particular criminal charge.

Multiple counts of one crime can be charged. For illegal actions against the Aurora Sector abroad, each incident separated by a reasonable period of inaction, lawful conduct, or another crime is interpreted as one count. For crimes directly bereaving a person (violent acts, theft of personal property etc.), the same applies in addition to each victim being one count.

Charges that are a direct escalation of one another in nature cannot be simultaneously held against the perpetrator if they pertain to the same incident and the same victim/item (if applicable). Then, only the most severe of these charges apply.

Sentencing

In sentencing a crime, it is recommended to defer to an available Lieutenant or Commissioner. However, any SLE Officer is authorized to pass a sentence. If none of either are available, any Station Representative may pass a sentence.

The precise sentence is determined by the person passing the sentence and is at their discretion, though may be overruled by one higher up the Chain of Command. They are encouraged to use common sense in weighing the punishment against the severity of each charge separately as it is being applied, taking into account the broader circumstances of the crime and the modifiers further below.

• In setting punishment, the charge with the highest minimum punishment is applied first (primary charge) by sentencing brig time anywhere from minimum to maximum of the primary charge, then every other charge sentenced applies at the minimum for each charge. (compounded charge).
• Punishments outside of brig time (mind break, mandatory counsel) cannot be applied partially, save for Demotion. If listed as Minimum, they must be applied, whether primary or compounded. If listed as Maximum, it is applied at discretion.
• If the total brig sentence would exceed 45 minutes, the SLE is fully authorized and recommended to upgrade the sentence to Extended Confinement, regardless of any punishment limits.
• Once the sentence commences, it must be concluded at or before the agreed time. The convict may be held responsible for any crime they commit while serving their sentence.

Sentence Modifiers

When applying charges, certain circumstances can apply, altering the severity of the punishment. In the event such circumstances would result in release or Extended Confinement, the sentencing should be deferred to the ranking member of the SLE if at all possible.

Principals and Accessories to a Crime

All of the following persons may be charged for the commission of a crime. The degree of involvement is a sentencing consideration.

• Principal: Has committed a crime.
• Solicitation: Encouraging, bribing, requesting, or instructing someone to commit a crime, with the intent that the person being solicited commit the crime.
• Accessory: Assisting in the commission of a crime, without participating in the crime itself, knowing that a crime will be, has been, or is being committed.
• Attempts: Attempting to commit a crime, with the intent to carry out that crime.
• Conspiracy: Planning to commit a crime, with the intent to eventually carry out that crime

Self Defense

A person is not guilty of an offense if they reasonably believed that the offending was necessary for the following:

• To protect their life, or the life of others.
• To emancipate themselves, or another person, from unlawful imprisonment.
• To protect their property, or that of another person.
• To prevent criminal trespass onto their vessel.

A person is not entitled to rely on self-defense of property when the criminal charge is murder. If an accused raises self-defense, the prosecution must disprove the elements of self-defense beyond reasonable doubt in order to convict the accused.

If a person honestly believes their acts are necessary for self-defense but the belief is not reasonable in the circumstances as the accused knew them at the time, then it acts as a mitigating factor in sentencing or lowers a murder conviction to a manslaughter conviction.

Necessity

A person is not guilty of an offense if they reasonably believed the offending was necessary in order to avert a greater and imminent peril. This peril must have affected the accused or someone in their charge, they must have honestly believed that their offending was necessary in order to avoid that peril and the offending must not be out of proportion to the peril avoided.

Duress

A person is not guilty of an offense if they were coerced into the commission of the offense, fearing an immediate apprehension of death or serious injury from the person coercing them.

Aggravating Factors

These factors may be used to increase brig time, depending on the actions of the offender.

• Recidivism: To be arrested, charged and convicted for criminal behavior multiple times within one shift.
• Aggravation: To commit a crime with reckless abandon, clear signs of lack of regret or remorse or with particularly severe implications for the community.

Recidivism may be punished by significantly increasing overall brig time. Aggravation warrants more severe punishment on every charge where it applies.

Extenuating Factors

These factors may be used to reduce brig time, depending on the actions of the offender.

• Cooperation: Sharing actionable intelligence with the authorities, turning oneself in, confessing to crime. An early guilty plea entitles an offender to a mandatory 25% reduction to their sentence.
• Good Behavior: Peaceful compliance with the SLE, clear signs of remorse concerning committed crime, peaceful conduct in brig.

Fines

The SLE is fully authorized to post fines for any damages caused to government, citizen, or immigrant owned property. Should a total sentence be 20 minutes or less, a Lieutenant or the Commissioner may authorize a fine to be posted instead with an exchange rate of 2,000 Spesos per 1 minute of sentence. Any sentence exceeding 20 minutes may not used to give a fine. If fines are paid in this manner, no jail time should be utilized. Fines and jail time cannot be split, the sentence must either be a fine or jail time.

Seizure of Assets

The SLE may search and seize property, belongings, papers, objects, assets, and vessels for the purpose of making victims of a crime whole or to pay for an outstanding fine or used to pay bail bonds. The total value of assets seized, if exceeding the amount necessary to make a victim of a crime whole, must be returned to the original owner.

Community Service

At the behest of a Lieutenant or the Commissioner, a prisoner may be granted community service as a replacement for brig time. This community service will be unpaid, overseen by a parole officer, and may only be granted for non-violent offenders.

Treatment Of Prisoners

Prisoners still have certain rights that must be upheld by law enforcement:

• Prisoners must be granted adequate medical care. They should also be offered counseling if available.
• Prisoners must be provided access to the common radio channel so long as it is not abused. Department encryption is not allowed for prisoners to have.
• Prisoners must be granted clothing, food, water, shelter and safety. If the brig is no longer safe, confinement must be established in another location.
• Prisoners may request legal counsel, if available.
• Prisoners should be granted freedom of movement unless there is an undue risk to life and limb. Similarly, any prisoners held in Extended Confinement should not be confined to a solitary cell unless they pose a risk to life and limb.
• Prisoners sentenced to execution via a trial may request the method of execution. These options are limited to spacing, electrocution, firing squad, or lethal injection.

Extended Confinement

Prisoners in Extended Confinement have certain rights but also more firm restrictions that must be upheld by law enforcement:

• Prisoners who repeatedly cause damage to their holding cell, to a degree that makes it unreasonable to hold prisoners and in an attempt to escape, may be executed without trial.
• Prisoners who repeatedly cause significant bodily harm to their fellow inmates may be executed without trial.
• Prisoners may request or may otherwise be given parole or bail without prompt by a Lieutenant or the Commissioner.
• Prisoners are allowed visitors but only one individual can visit them every 20 minutes, a reason must be provided for the visit and the visitor must consent to a search of their belongings.

Criminal Charges

Punishments

Capital Punishments

• Execution: Termination of life. Whenever an execution is performed, regardless of trial or not, a communications console announcement must be made detailing who was executed and why they were executed.
• Exfiltration: Retrieval of a High-Value Target via a Colonial Command dispatched prisoner transport, or storage for later retrieval in Cryogenic holding.
• Decorporealization: Stripping of the convict’s mind off their own body into a more restrictive, less capable form.

Normal Punishments

• Brigging: Confinement in the brig for a period of time.
• Extended Confinement: Confinement until the end of shift.
• Demotion: Revoking or downgrading an individual’s employment contract and revoking access accordingly.
• Fining: To be charged a monetary value, and paid through Spesos or assets seized.
• Community Service: To be forced to work, without pay, by completing assigned tasks at the requirement of Aurora Sector Command Staff.
• Catch & Release: To be taken into SLE Custody, processed, searched, but then released. This is not the same as dropping or clearing charges.

Capital Crimes

Offense	Definition	Minimum Punishment	Maximum Punishment	Notes
Murder	To kill a sapient being with malicious intent and premeditation.	Extended Confinement	Any Capital Punishment	The cold-blooded intent to kill is key.
Grand Theft	To steal a vessel or items valued over 150,000 Spesos.	30m Brig	Any Capital Punishment	Any vessel, regardless of price, is classified as Grand Theft when stolen.
Grand Sabotage	To engage in malicious destructive actions, seriously threatening vessels or stations.	30m Brig	Any Capital Punishment	Bombing, arson, releasing viruses, deliberate spacing, releasing dangerous gasses or electrifying doors.
Terrorism	To engage in maliciously destructive actions which make uninhabitable or inoperable a vessel or its part with intent to cause fear in the sector.	30m Brig	Any Capital Punishment	Focus on the intent and consequences present and/or potential.
Kidnapping	To unlawfully remove or confine an individual against their will.	30m Brig	Any Capital Punishment	Note the unlawful part.
Abandonment	To abandon an employee on salvage, asteroids, planets, stations, or foreign vessels with intent to leave them.	30m Brig	Any Capital Punishment	Focus on the intent to leave them.
Espionage	To be an unauthorized holder of classified information and/or technology, provide it to an unauthorized recipient, or to intentionally misrepresent oneself as being a member of Colonial Command.	30m Brig	Any Capital Punishment	Any proprietary advanced technology sought after by Nanotrasen’s competitors is classified.
Sedition	To act to overthrow or subvert the established Chain of Command without lawful and legitimate cause.	30m Brig	Any Capital Punishment	Note the requirement of lack of legitimate cause.
Sexual Harassment	To harass someone or attempt to force or coerce them into sexual relations.	30m Brig	Any Capital Punishment	((If any kind of Sexual Harassment has occurred IC then it better have been negotiated OOC. If the crime has occurred, then some law enforcement may opt to not deal with it. I'm not going to force officers of the law or courts to deal with vivid descriptions of SA for long periods. If your actions are found out, expect swift and harsh IC consequences.)) If charged, a quiet and minimalist trial will be held regarding any form of SA. If convicted, you will likely be given severe brig time.

Felonies

Offense	Definition	Minimum Punishment	Maximum Punishment	Notes
Unauthorized Decorporealization	To unlawfully strip a being’s mind from their own body.	15m Brig	Decorporealization	Whether the act was authorized and in what way is up to Command. When a part of a criminal sentence, it is always authorized.
Manslaughter	To effect violence upon a person, resulting in their death.	10m Brig	20m Brig	A death of a person that doesn’t qualify as murder and isn’t fully accidental will typically fall here.
Robbery	To take property without consent, with the use of force.	10m Brig	20m Brig	Should scale based on the amount of property stolen, or the amount of force used, often compounds with other crimes.
Sabotage	To engage in malicious actions that hinder the integrity or function of a station or a vessel and/or the function of the crew.	6m Brig	12m Brig	Note the word malicious and the lack of the word “destructive”.
Maiming	To inflict physical injury with the intent to disfigure or impair function.	4m Brig	12m Brig	Intent, including impassioned intent, is key.
Battery	To effect unsolicited or unlawful physical contact with a person or to thusly administer a substance upon them, directly or indirectly.	Catch & Release	12m Brig	Battery can have a great variety of causes with a great variety of severity. Keep that in mind.
Felony Possession	To unlawfully possess class 2 or class 3 contraband, which has been used to commit or perpetuate a felony or capital offence.	5m Brig	12m Brig	This offence accompanies other serious offending.
Black Marketeering	To sell or distribute restricted items or restricted/illicit substances.	Catch & Release	12m Brig	As with Possession, authorizations are determined by Sector Command.
Impersonation	To improperly don the identity of another individual.	5m Brig	15m Brig	This includes the simple act of imitating another person, up to the usage of espionage tools.
Desecration of a Corpse	The improper mishandling of dead bodies.	5m Brig	15m Brig	This includes improper disposal, maiming, harvesting for nutrients/ biomass, or destruction of the body.
Abuse of Authority	To grossly oppress an individual as someone with authority over that individual.	5m Brig	Demotion 12m Brig	Tends to compound. Note that “grossly” implies the authority is being exercised in clear excess.
Conduct Unbecoming	To willfully abandon an obligation that is critical to the sector’s continued operation, or to disrepute Nanotrasen by grossly improper conduct.	Demotion	12m Brig	The disreputable conduct mostly applies to Sector Command and SLE.
Rioting	To engage in a public disturbance which involves damage to property.	Catch & Release	10m Brig	Similar to Battery, the severity of this crime is highly varied.
Resisting Arrest	To intentionally and violently resist arrest or confinement.	10m Brig	20m Brig	Violent being the key word.
Perjury	Willfully and knowingly making a false statement about a material fact while under oath.	5m Brig	10m Brig	This applies to contracts, court testimony, anything which requires an affirmation that all provided information is true.
Obstruction of Justice	To willfully disobey a decree of the court or a warrant or prevent one from service.	5m Brig	10m Brig	Judgements, fines, warrants of all kinds…

Misdemeanors

Offense	Definition	Minimum Punishment	Maximum Punishment	Notes
Assault	To threaten to use physical force, or make offensive contact, against someone while also having the capability and/or intent to carry out that threat.	Catch & Release	10m Brig	Note there’s two conditions to this charge and both have to be true.
Contempt of Court	To conduct oneself disruptively and disrespectfully before the court.	5m Brig	10m Brig Execution	Execution only applies if the perpetrator is the one on trial.
Theft	To take property without consent, without use of force, and in which the value of the property taken is at least 300 spesos.	Catch & Release	8m Brig	Depends on the item taken and compounds easily.
Animal Cruelty	To inflict unnecessary suffering on a non-sapient being with malicious intent.	3m Brig	8m Brig	Note that to do this in line of work may be necessary.
Endangerment	To recklessly put yourself or others in danger through your malpractice, action or inaction.	3m Brig	8m Brig	Notice the malpractice.
Reckless Operation	To recklessly operate machinery, vessels, weapons, or tools in a way that could reasonably cause danger or harm to themselves or another.	Catch & Release	8m Brig	It does not need to cause harm or danger, as long as it reasonably could.
Vandalism	To intentionally deface or superficially damage property.	Catch & Release	5m Brig	Easily compounded, easily upgraded.
Misdemeanor Possession	To unlawfully possess class 2 or class 3 contraband.	Catch & Release	5m Brig	This offence is either the solitary charge or accompanied with misdemeanor offences
Insubordination	To disobey a lawful direct order from one’s superior officer.	Re-education	Demotion	Easily compounded.
Evading arrest	To non-violently escape or avoid arrest.	5m Brig	10m Brig	To prevent SLE from getting you is the main notion. Almost always compounded.
Breaking and Entering	To trespass with the intent to commit crime.	3m Brig	3m Brig	By definition always compounds.
Dock Loitering	To keep a vessel next to a dock or docked for an excessive duration without a waiver from the Station Representative.	Forceful Departure of Vessel	10,000 Speso Fine	Compounds for each 10 minutes over docked.
Trespassing	To enter an area and refuse to leave where one is unauthorized and uninvited.	Catch & Release	5m Brig	Consequentially to B&E’s definition, never compounds.
Failure to Comply	Disregard or dismissal of lawful orders given by Law Enforcement.	Catch & Release	5m Brig	This applies to any lawful order given in the course of policing, that does not reach the standard of Obstruction of Justice.
Hooliganism	To intentionally engage in disruptive conduct.	Catch & Release	Brig until compliant	This is kind of a catch all for malicious disruption that isn’t otherwise chargeable.

Vessel Operation

Vessels operating near, to, and from The Outpost Station, or are within Aurora Sector space are beholden the requirements below, regardless of origin.

Bluespace Anomalies

If the SLE is present at a bluespace event, they may enforce a restricted-fly-zone up to a maximum of 300 meters for the safety of employees operating in the region. This power may only be enforced if the bluespace object is deemed as dangerous, a high value target, or people intend to use the object or contents therein for unlawful purposes.

Dangerous Entities

Artifacts, Xenomorphs, or any dangerous aliens are not permitted on the station without first properly studying them and insuring they will not cause a threat to the station, and must be cleared by the Station Representative. Artifacts must remain in containment boxes at all times when inside the station. Any damage caused by the entity is the direct responsibility of the individual who transported it to the Aurora Sector.

Declared Salvage

Any vessel 300 meters away or further from the station, which has no active crew and is unresponsive on radio signals, may be claimed as legitimate salvage after multiple attempts are made and a period of 20 minutes waiting since the first attempted call. Vessels inside of 300 meters which meet these criteria may be moved out to 300 meters and salvage operation may begin.

Belligerent Vessels

All vessels operating within 500 meters of the station are required to have their IFF enabled. Failure to enable IFF after being ordered to do so may result in being classified as belligerent. Docking to another vessel without first gaining permission from them may be seen as a belligerent action. Failure to comply with the SLE inside a declared restricted or no-fly-zone may be seen as a belligerent action.

Docking Rules

• Ships may not dock in excess of 10 minutes, unless granted an extended stay. A 10,000 Speso fine and/or forcible undocking may be used as punishment.
• Speeds within 200 meters of the station must be kept slow, such as to reduce EVA crews being marooned in space.
• Obstructing ports or safe space travel within 200 meters of the station is strictly forbidden, and may result in a reckless operation charge.

Docking Procedure

When a Space Traffic Controller (STC) is available, the following procedures will be observed by all vessels operating near the station. When contacting the STC, be sure to include the vessel's designation, such as LV-624, in your callout so the STC is aware of who is speaking to them. This communication should be handled over the Traffic Control radio, activated by using :d on your headset.

Out of character, this means typing the precursor :d in your chatbar.

Approach

• Hold position outside of 100 meters from the station and contact the STC for instructions and permission to dock, providing your intentions once aboard the station for docking context.
• Once granted permission, proceed to the dock you have been allotted as instructed by the STC.
• Slowly proceed to the docks, making aware not to strike any other ships or EVA crews and acquire a good docking contact.

Departure

• Declare departure and proceed under own advisement, clearing out to 200 meters from the station.
• OR
• Contact the STC request for departure.
• Proceed on course for the heading the STC gave you, staying clear of any possible collisions, and clearing out to 200 meters from the station.

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Game Mechanics
SLE	Space Law · SLESOP
Medical	MedicSOP
Corporate	CorpoRepSOP
Crime	Smuggling · Pirate Guide