When i saw the title of this thread i almost choked on the pedantic legalism of it....
Nevertheless...
This is where admin(s) plural should be stepping in, cos as of now, no one knows whats right - These kind of rule misunderstandings lead to confusion, animosity and maybe sanctions, but no one knows that, because no one knows what the rule is.....
My take - I'm following the rules - and right now it says a cap ship can't pirate, so i wont - period.
But if my mate in a bomber is pirating a trader and a BH cap ship shows up, then im intercepting the BH and helping my little bomber buddy....
Why? because its entirely OORP to NOT help - with all due respect to Jinx, (who i think is a champion) my capship is NOT pirating in anyway, it is defending a friendly vessel. And furthermore - nowhere in the rules does it say i CANNOT do this.
This was black and white to me before i even read this thread.