The doors of the inner Council chamber flew open. The Council had been in session for many weeks, labouring over a matter important to every citizen of the empire. The work of representatives from the Omega Pirates Guild, Benitez Family and indipendant Corsair groups was about to be realised.
As the dust settled, torchlight revealed the figure of an averagely sized man, middle aged with slightly greying hair, dressed in a pilots uniform beneath an Elder's robes. He stormed down a long corridor as the doors to the Council Chamber swung on their hinges, towards a nearby room. Bookshelves covered the walls, surrounding a number of computer terminals, and, more to the interest of the man, an ornately carved lectern with a glass case.
The elder gently lifted the glass covering, and unrolled a piece of freshly inscribed parchment onto the pedestal. The glass was replaced, and the Elder returned to the chamber.
Meanwhile, on the landing pad of one of Crete's larger settlements, the cockpit of a Titan lit up. Nearby pilots turned as a rough voice emanated from it's comm system.
"Laws of the Corsair Empire, draft 2, has been submitted to the Library of the Council of Elders for review. All true and rightful Elders of the Empire are invited to view the historic document and pass judgement, criticism or offer suggestions, before enforcement of the directives therein come into force.
Message Terminated."
Agreed upon by the honourable Council of Corsair Elders, the following legislature is essential reading for all Corsairs and must be adhered to by all who are privileged to wear Corsair uniforms and fly Corsair ships. These laws are in place to promote the advancement of the Corsair Nation and promote prosperity of it's people.
The laws herein apply to all Corsair territory and beyond, and are enforced by the combined forces of all factions and pilots loyal to the Council of Elders, including but not limited to the Omega Pirates Guild, Benitez Family and _______________.
Offenders who breech the laws herein will be subject to trial by the Council of Elders. The Council reserves the right, upon conviction, to punish offenders with sanctions which include but are not limited to;
Financial penalties.
Punitive destruction of property and ships
Punitive confiscation of property and ships
Incarceration
Execution
Deportation to the custody of allies
Exile from Corsair territory.
The Council of Elders reserves the right to utilise the services of allies and mercenaries to hunt down fugitives.
In this document, terms "must", "must not" and "forbidden" are used to highlight sections of these guidelines which are enforced by law.
_____________________________ General Rules for Pilots
2) Corsairs must not commit acts of treason against the Empire. Acts of treason include, but are not limited to;
Fraternising with known enemies of the Empire. (does not include official negotiations)
Flying alongside enemies of the Empire. (with the exception of when in battle against a greater threat or common enemy)
Providing goods or services to enemies of the Empire.
Disclosing classified information to enemies of the Empire. Such information includes the co-ordinates of hidden bases, ship blueprints, Corsair technology schematics and more.
Threatening the liberty of the Corsair people through acts of terrorism.
Plotting or conspiring to overthrow the democratic Council of Elders. (does not include bids to win political power through legitimate processes)
3) Corsairs must not attack other Corsairs unless;
An order has been issued by a Corsair Council Elder.
The target is in violation of Corsair law AND is a threat to other pilots.
A warrant for the execution of the target has been issued by the Council of Elders.
The target has failed to comply with a sanction issued by the Council of Elders.
4) Corsairs must not attack allied ships unless;
An order has been issued by a Corsair Council Elder.
The target is a threat to other Corsair or allied pilots.
5) Corsairs must comply with bylaws of individual territories or colonies within the Corsair empire as long as these bylaws do not contravene Corsair Laws.
6) Corsairs should try to, when possible, follow instructions of experienced pilots and commanders, in particular Elders of the Council.
_________________________________ Rules for Piracy and Trade
7) Trafficking or possession of the drug Cardimine and Liquid Cardimine is forbidden. Those in possession of cardimine should be made to drop every unit or be executed. Confiscated cardimine should be destroyed immediately.
8) Transport of Tourists, VIPs, Passengers, Refugees or Vacationers to Corsair bases (especially Planet Crete) is forbidden. Transports found bringing these cargoes should be stopped, and sent out of Corsair territory or to offload their cargo on a nearby freeport. If the pilot refuses, Corsairs are authorised to destroy the offender, his ship and cargo.
9) Transport of Food Rations, Luxury Food, Synth Paste, Fertilizers and Pharmaceuticals to Corsair bases (especially Planet Crete) is to be encouraged.
Corsairs must not pirate transports bringing these goods to Corsair bases.
10) Transport of Alien Artefacts throughout Sirius space is to be encouraged. Corsairs must not pirate vessels carrying a majority cargo of Alien Artefacts.
11) Transport of useful materials to Corsair bases is to be encouraged. Piracy or taxation of these goods should be reasonable and non-prohibitive if these materials are being carried to Corsair bases.
"Useful materials" includes raw metals, fuel, ship components, weapons or weapon components etc.
12) Piracy of Corsair, Hogosha, Farmers Alliance, Gaian or Order vessels is forbidden.
__________________________________ Rules for Warship Captains
[i]Here the term "Warship" is used to refer to ships of Destroyer, Cruiser, Battle-cruiser, Battleship, Dreadnought and Carrier class.
13) Behaviour of a warship captain must be befitting of such a vessel. Appropriate behaviour for a warship captain excludes;
14) Warship captains must be responsible guardians of the Empire's asset that is in their keeping. Responsible guardianship excludes;
Unnecessarily placing their ship and crew in danger.
Entering battles that will almost certainly lead to their ships destruction unless the safety of Planet Crete is at stake.
15) Warship captains must not take their ship outside core Corsair territory* unless;
They are accompanied by a balanced fleet, with at least as many fighters and bombers as there are warships. ......or....
Their operation has received the approval of a Council Elder or one of their deputies.
16) Warship captains must not waste fuel on unworthy endeavours, such as chasing individual enemy fighters, or other tasks that could be done by a smaller craft. Warships should only be deployed when necessary.
[color=green]*Here, "core corsair territory" refers to the regions of Omicron Gamma, Omicron Theta, Omicron Kappa, Omicron Delta, Omicron Minor, Omicron 91, Omicron 93, Omicron 94, Omicron 96, Omega 41 and Omega 5.