Pirating Demand (I know another one)

[BaconSoda]

Alright, folks, I have a bit of a conundrum. When pirating, the notion of a demand has always been quite sketchy for me. Upon review of the rules, this is what it says about pirating:

6.19 Pirates and terrorists have a right to deal as much damage as they see fit before or after demanding money from a trader ship, but killing trader ship before demanding money or cargo is not allowed. Attacking traders or demanding cargo is not allowed for cruisers and battleships, unless cruisers and battleship belong to Terrorist ID or Phantom ID owner.

Now, if you demand a trader to stop, and he does not, at which point you open fire on them, is the demand to stop not considered a demand in itself? If that demand is not met, should a pirate have the right to destroy a trader?

If in the above said situation, if a trader decides to attack a pirate, does that count as self defense for the pirate because he was interrupted while in the process of pirating, or would it be classified as self defense for the trader, as he is the one under attack from the pirate? This is the rule on self defense:

5.2 If a player is attacked*, he has a right to defend himself regardless of who is attacking. There are no restrictions for self-defense.

*For purposes of these Rules, an attack is draining shields to 50% or lower, or hull damage, or when a Cruise Disruptor is fired. Intentional ramming of any large ship is also considered an attack.

It seems now that the trader would be the one acting in self defense, but only if a CD was fired or if the shields were substantially damaged (in the case of a SN/Inferno). Would it be a pirate's right to destroy a target in self defense if he were in a fighter and be thusly unable to substantially drain the shields of a transport in a short enough period of time? Or is the interruption of the act of piracy in itself self defense?

I'm rather confused at this and could use some answers, thanks to anyone who replies!

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[8:32:45 PM] Dusty Lens: Oh no, let me get that. Hello? Oh it's my grandma. She says to be roleplay.
[12:49:19 AM] Elgatodiablo: You know its nice that you have all that proof and all, Bacon... but I just don't believe you.