Space Law

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Note:This is the new official space law. All hail.




Space Law is the name given to the set of corporate regulations approved by the NanoTrasen Board of Directors for use on their Space Stations.

They may be modified depending on the station they are being applied to.

This set applies to the NSS Cyberiad.

They apply for all NT employees and authorized visitors of the station. Anyone aboard the station legally is both protected by, and expected to follow, Space Law. This means that any individuals that forcefully board the station are not protected by Space Law.

In addition, authorized sentient Xenobiological organisms and Golems are also protected by, and are expected to follow, Space Law. Unauthorized Xenobiological organisms and Golems are to be terminated.

Central Command can authorize pardons for crimes as they see fit.

Great cases of RP may excuse certain crimes. Adminhelp if you wish to intentionally break a law. Just remember, you will get fired for it if you can't cover it up. The threat of a ban still applies.


Interpretation of the Law

A good working knowledge of Space Law is important for any person on the station, in order to ensure stability of the workplace. More in-depth knowledge and interpretative capability of Space Law is required for such positions as the Magistrate, Internal Affairs Agent, Warden, and the Head of Security.

For certain crimes, the intention of the accused is important. The difference between First and Second Degree Murder can be very hard to ascertain, and, when in doubt, you should default to the less serious crime.

An important concept is "stacking". "Stacking" refers to the act of sentencing an individual for the same crime more than once, or sentencing an individual with similar crimes simultaneously (such as Petty Theft and Theft, or Assault and Aggravated Assault). This is expressly forbidden. Only non-similar crimes can be applied in the same sentencing, and the same crime cannot be counted more than once in the same sentence. As such, even if someone steals every single multitool in the station, that is still just Petty Theft. When two similar crimes are present, sentence only the more severe one.

Knowingly aiding a criminal makes you an accomplice. You can, and will, be charged with the same crime(s) as the person you aided.


Brig Procedures

See Legal Standard Operating Procedure.

Special precautions are to be taken aside from Standard Brigging Procedures:

  • Always ask Vox or Plasmamen prisoners where their Internals Tank is located, if it cannot be found. Do not remove this tank, as it will kill them. In such a case as their clothes have to be changed, expedience is mandatory. Get their internal on as fast as possible.
  • All Contraband is to be confiscated and placed in Evidence Storage. The same goes for any tools used to hack station property. These are not to be returned.
  • Always check on the Permabrig, Solitary or Labor Camp if they happen to be occupied. They are notorious for being unsafe.

Legal Representation and Trials

See Legal Standard Operating Procedure.

Prisoners are permitted to seek legal representation. However, Security is under no obligation to provide or allow it.

Internal Affairs Agents, and by extension the Magistrate, exist to serve as a guiding hand and the voice of reason within the judicial process. However, Internal Affairs Agents have zero authority over the Brig, Security personnel, prisoners, or sentencing. Internal Affairs Agents deliberately ignoring this and attempting to throw their weight around can, and should be, duly ignored, if their points are not valid.

If the Internal Affairs Agent continuously acts as a disruptive influence, Security personnel are fully permitted to confiscate their access, remove them from the Brig and bar their future access to it.

In instances where a conflict of opinion arises over the sentence of a prisoner, the following chain should be followed, in order of authority: Magistrate > Captain > Head of Security > Warden > Sec Officer / Detective.

Use of Deadly Force

As a member of the Station's Security force, you are one of the best armed and protected people on the station, equipped with the almost latest in non-lethal detainment technology and weaponry.

It is for this reason that the situations that warrant the use of Deadly Force are few and far between. In the vast majority of cases, you will be expected to use your stun tools, which indeed are many times more effective than lethal options, to diffuse a situation.

However there are certain circumstances where deadly force is permissible:

  • Non-Lethal Weapons Ineffective - certain targets are impervious to Non-Lethal Weapons, such as Exosuits, Xenomorphs, Cyborgs, and Hulks. Lethal force may be used against these targets if they prove hostile.
  • Severe Personal Risk - sometimes, getting close enough to a target to cuff them will create significant personal risk to the Officer in question. Deadly force from a range is recommended to subdue Wizards and actively hostile Changelings. Criminals in hostile environments such as space, fire, or plasma leaks also fall into this category, as do criminals believed to be in possession of active high explosives. Ranged lethal force is the only reasonable option in these conditions.
  • Armed and Dangerous - if a suspect is in possession of weapons, including stun weapons, and you have reasonable suspicion that they will use these against you, lethal force is permitted. However, in the majority of cases, it is still preferable to attempt to detain them non-lethally. Unauthorised personnel in the Armory are considered by default to be Armed and Dangerous. Maximum force is permitted to subdue such targets.
  • Multiple Hostiles - it can be extremely difficult to detain multiple hostiles. As a last resort, if you are being mobbed, you may deploy your baton in a harmful manner to thin the crowd. Generally, however, it is better to use a flashbang, retreat and regroup than to stand your ground and use lethal force in these circumstances.

In general, if it is possible to capture personnel non-lethally, you should. If you do not, expect to have to justify yourself to Internal Affairs to not get fired, and Administrators to not be Jobbanned.

Additional Clarifications

Executions can be done only by Electric Chair, Firing squad, or Lethal injection. Other means of Execution are illegal unless the prisoner requests them. Cyborgification is also a viable option, and should be used if prisoners behave, or if they appeal. See Legal Standard Operating Procedure for more information regarding Executions.

In cases where the final sentence is equal to, or greater than, 60 minutes, it is to be changed to a Permanent Imprisonment sentence.

The greater good of the station should be considered when sentencing. If someone breaks into the AI Core in order to destroy it when it is Malfunctioning, there is no need to charge them. The intent of Space Law is to protect the station and the crew.

Enemies of the Corporation

Occasionally, you will encounter personnal that are proven to be working for an enemy of NanoTrasen (such as the Syndicate) and/or are working to undermine NanoTrasen's operations. Depending on the status of the person in question, the response given can vary wildly.

Current enemies of NanoTrasen include but are not limited to: The Syndicate (through secret agents, boarding parties, and brainwashing specialists), the Space Wizards Federation, the Changeling Hivemind, Shadowlings, Vampires and other intelligent hostile forms of life that seek to cause major damage to the station and or crew.

If the Enemy of the Corporation has not committed any Major or Capital Crimes (see below), they are to be placed in Permanent Imprisonment (Permabrig/Solitary/Labor Camp). Otherwise, Execution is permitted, at the discretion of the Captain or Magistrate. Possession of Contraband alone is not enough to warrant an execution

Hatched Shadowlings are to be killed on sight. Changelings, if Executed, are to be cremated or Borged. Powered Vampires, or any other Enemies of the Corporation that cannot be contained safely in the Brig, are to be executed or exiled. Head Revolutionaries are to be executed or exiled as soon as they are positively identified.

Any other Enemies of the Corporation that willingly turn themselves into Security of their own accord are to be kept in Permanent Imprisonment. Such defectors are to be transported to CentComm for debriefing and relocation. Until CentComm can ascertain their sincerity, they are to be treated as dangerous enemies, but also protected from possible retribution.

Parole can be offered to Enemies of the Corporation, at the discretion of the Captain or Magistrate. This should only happen in emergencies, where extra hands are desperately needed. Paroled Enemies of the Corporation are to be stripped of all their belongings and given basic Civilian access.


Minor Crimes

All of these crimes carry a sentence that can vary between a simple warning and 5 minutes in the Brig, at the discretion of Security.

Code Crime Description Notes
101 File:Resisting Arrest.PNG Resisting Arrest To not cooperate with an officer who attempts a proper arrest. Follow proper arrest procedure and have a legitimate cause to arrest in the first place before you brig a suspect for this. Suspects who scream bloody murder while being arrested are not cooperating.
102 File:Battery.png Battery To use minor physical force against someone without the apparent intent to seriously injure them. The following are examples of Battery: multiple instances of Disarming (1-3 instances of Disarming do not even qualify for Battery. Doing so to steal items from someone should be considered Robbery) or throwing personnel on tables, non-lethal chokeholds, minor punching (one to three punches), smashing bottles on heads, as well as using Flashes,Taser/Disabler, or other non-lethal rounds for no legal reason.
104 File:Smoking dank kush.png Drug Possession To possess space drugs, mindbreaker, ambrosia,krokodil, crank, meth, Aranesp, bath salts, THC, or other narcotics, by unauthorized personnel. Botanists and MedSci staff are authorized to possess drugs for purposes of their jobs and are not subject to this law so long as they are not distributing or using them for profit or recreation.
106 File:Indecent exposure.png Indecent Exposure To be intentionally and publicly unclothed. Running around the station naked. The mutual degradation of chasing a naked man down while he screams rape is only worth it on slow shifts.
107 File:Vandalism.PNG Vandalism To deliberately damage the station or station property without malicious intent. Sentence depends on quantity of property damaged. All Departmental Pets (such as Ian and Runtime) count as station property, as do any other non-hostile animals acquired by any other means.
109 File:Trespassing.png Trespass To be in an area which a person does not have access to. This counts for general areas of the ship, and trespass in restricted areas is a more serious crime. Remember that people can either break in, sneak in, or be let in. Always check that the suspect wasn't let in to do a job by someone with access, or were given access on their ID. Trespassing and theft are often committed together; both sentences should be applied.



Medium Crimes

All of these crimes carry a sentence that can vary between 5 and 10 minutes in the Brig, at the discretion of Security.

Code Crime Description Notes
201 File:Assault.png Assault To use excessive physical force against someone without the apparent intent to kill them. Depending on the amount and kind of force used, severe instances should be elevated to manslaughter or even murder. Assaults with deadly weapons are a higher crime.
202 File:Pickpocketing.png Robbery To steal items from another's person. Remember to take the stolen items from the person and arrange for their return to the owner. Stealing an ID is the most common and most serious form of robbery. If the victim was SSD, ahelp it - this isn't allowed.
203 File:Narcotics Distribution.PNG Narcotics Distribution To distribute narcotics and other controlled substances. This includes ambrosia, mindbreaker, and space drugs. It is not illegal for them to be grown - distribution is the crime here. Forcing or tricking someone to consume substances such as space drugs is assault.
204 File:Deadly Weapon.PNG Possession of a Weapon To be in possession of a dangerous item that is not part of their job role. Items capable of a high level of damage, such as saws, axes, spears, stunprods, and hatchets fit into this category. Do remember that if it is an item that is part of their job they are permitted to carry it.
205 File:Kidnapping.png Kidnapping To hold a crewmember under duress, against their will. Physical harm need not be done for this law to apply: the crewmember must either be forcefully kept in their workspace against their will, or forcefully relocated to another location against their will and being prevented from leaving. Cuffing/Restraining any personnel against their will, outside of legal arrests, qualifies as Kidnapping. Anything else does not fall under this law.
206 File:Rioting.PNG Rioting To partake in an unauthorized and disruptive assembly of crewmen that refuse to disperse. It is required to order the crowd to disperse, failure to disperse is the crime, not the assembly. Any crimes committed during the riot are considered separate offences.
207 File:Workplace Hazard.PNG Creating a Workplace Hazard To endanger the crew or station through negligent or irresponsible, but not deliberately malicious, actions. Good examples of this crime involves accidentally causing a plasma leak, slipping hazard, accidently electrifying doors, breaking windows to space, or Security personnel not keeping their equipment secure. A banana peel in the corridor is not a hazard. A banana peel in front of the singularity is.
208 File:Petty theft.png Petty Theft To take items from areas one does not have authority to access or to take items belonging to others or the station as a whole. Keeping items which are in short supply where they belong is what is important here. A doctor who takes all the surgical tools and hides them still commits theft, even though he had access.
210 File:BandE.PNG Breaking and Entry Forced entry to areas where the subject does not have access to. This counts for general areas, and breaking into restricted areas is a more serious crime. Crew can still be charged with breaking & entry even if they do not enter the area themselves.
211 File:Abuse of confiscated equipment.png Abuse of Confiscated Equipment To take and use equipment confiscated as evidence. Security shouldn't be using evidence for anything but evidence. Anything used in a crime is considered evidence, this includes syndicate items such as emags



Major Crimes

All of these crimes carry a sentence that can vary between 10 and 15 minutes in the Brig, at the discretion of Security.

Code Crime Description Notes
300 File:Possession of contraband.png Possession of Contraband To be in the possession of contraband items. Being in the possession of two or more contraband items, or any restricted Syndicate gadget or weapon, makes you an Enemy of the Corporation (see above). In addition, being caught committing a Major Crime or higher with any of these items makes you an Enemy of the Corporation as well. Personnel turning in these items to Security of their own volition are exempt from this law. For information on what items are considered, or not, contraband, see Contraband. In addition, any non-sanctioned items recovered from the Gateway or Asteroid (such as weaponry or cultist items) are subject to this law. Found cultist items are to be turned in immediately. Failure to do so will lead to a Holy Water Test, and sentencing with this law if the person found with the items is not a cultist. Finally, Adrenaline and Freedom Implants produced by Science are subject to this law unless sanctioned by the Head of Security or Captain. Multiple instances of the same item are to be counted as a single item (E.g, 2 emags or a million c4 charges.). This includes a gun and its respective ammunition, which are counted as a single item.
301 File:Kidnapping an officer.png Kidnapping of an Officer To hold a member of Command, Security or any Central Command VIP under duress, against their will. Physical harm need not be done for this law to apply: the crewmember must either be forcefully kept in their workspace against their will, or forcefully relocated to another location against their will and being prevented from leaving. Cuffing/Restraining any personnel against their will, outside of legal arrests, qualifies as Kidnapping. Anything else does not fall under this law.
302 File:Assaulting an officer.PNG Assault of an Officer To use excessive physical force against a Department Head, Magistrate, NT Rep, or member of Security without the apparent intent to kill them. Criminals who attempt to disarm or grab officers while fleeing from a crime are guilty of this, even if bare handed. Officers should refrain from using lethal means to subdue the criminal where possible.
303 File:Aggravated assault.png Aggravated Assault To assault someone with enough force to cause severe bodily damage (severe external bleeding, severe limb damage, broken bones, internal bleeding, organ damage, disfigurement), but not resulting in their immediate death. If the victim of aggravated assault eventually dies of their wounds, the crime should be deliberated between Manslaughter and Murder.
304 File:Lethal Weapon.PNG Possession of a Restricted Weapon To be in possession of a restricted weapon without prior authorization, such as: Guns, Batons, etc. Any item that can cause severe bodily harm. The following personnel have unrestricted license to carry weapons and firearms: Captain, HoP, all Security Personnel.
The Barman is permitted his double barrel shotgun loaded with beanbag rounds.
Only the Captain and Head of Security can issue weapon permits.
305 File:Possession Explosives.PNG Possession of Explosives To be in possession of an explosive device. Scientists and Miners are permitted to possess explosives only whilst transporting them to the mining asteroid, otherwise their experimental bombs must remain within the Science department. This includes offensive grenades, explosive or smoke based.
306 File:Inciting Riot.PNG Inciting a Riot To attempt to stir the crew into a riot. Additionally to the brig time the offender will also have restrictions placed on their radio traffic and be implanted with a tracking implant. For second offences or outright instigating violent uprisings consider charging with Mutiny.
307 File:Disrupting power.png Sabotage To hinder the work of the crew or station through malicious actions. Deliberately releasing N2O, bolting doors, disabling the power network, and constructing barricades are but some of many means of sabotage. For more violent forms, see Grand Sabotage.
308 File:Theft.PNG Theft To steal restricted or dangerous items. Weapons fall into this category, as do valuable items that are in limited supply such as spacesuits, and jetpacks.
Note that Cargo breaking open crates to illegally arm and armor themselves are guilty of theft.
309 File:Major Trespass.PNG Major Trespass Being in a restricted area without prior authorization. This includes any Security Area, Command area (including EVA), the Engine Room, Atmos, or Toxins Research. Being in a very high security area, such as the armoury or the Captain's Quarters, is a more serious crime, and warrants a time of 15 minutes with a possible permabrigging if intent is believed to be malicious.

This does not stack with B&E of a Restricted Area

310 File:BE Restricted.PNG B&E of a Restricted Area This is breaking into any Security area, Command area (Bridge, EVA, Captains Quarters, Teleporter, etc), the Engine Room, Atmos, or Toxins research. For a major crime, sentences start at 15 minutes, but can be extended if security believes the break-in was for attempted Grand Theft or attempted Grand Sabotage (yellow gloves don't count as grand theft!).

This does not stack with Major Trespassing.



Capital Crimes

These crimes can result in Execution, Permanent Prison Time, Permanent Labor Camp Time, or Cyborgization.

Only the Magistrate, Captain, Head of Security, and Warden can authorize a Permanent Sentence.

Only the Magistrate or Captain can authorize an Execution or Forced Cyborgization.

If the prisoner requests an Execution or Cyborgization, they may be given one.

Any personnel that escape Permanent Imprisonment under are to be executed when captured. Any personnel escaping from an Execution sentence are to be killed on sight.

Code Crime Description Notes
401 Murder.PNG Murder To assault someone with enough force as to cause their death, with premeditated, deliberate intent to murder them. Careful deliberation should be done when considering someone for this law. The divide between “intentional” and “accidental” can be very thin, and it is important to review all available evidence to come to an appropriate conclusion. Any effort to prevent the resuscitation or cloning of the victim is to be considered proof of Murder.Unauthorised executions are classed as Murder.
402 File:Manslaughter.PNG Manslaughter To assault someone with enough force as to cause their death, without apparent, premeditated intent to murder them. Careful deliberation should be done when considering someone for this law. The divide between “intentional” and “accidental” can be very thin, and it is important to review all available evidence to come to an appropriate conclusion. Any effort to prevent the resuscitation or cloning of the victim raises this to Murder. If in doubt as to whether it was premeditated, it is to be assumed so and the Murder charge applied.

Personnel that fall under this law may not be executed, and must be kept in Permanent Imprisonment.

406 File:Mutiny.PNG Mutiny To act individually, or as a group, to overthrow or subvert the established Chain of Command without lawful and legitimate cause. Mutiny is not as clear cut as it may seem, there may be a legitimate reason for their actions, such as their head of staff being utterly incompetent. This is one of the few crimes where it is recommended to always seek a third party opinion. If their actions are determined to be for the betterment of Nanotrasen consider a timed sentence or even a full pardon and/or promotion.
407 Compromising Station Integrity.PNG Grand Sabotage To engage in maliciously destructive actions, seriously threatening crew or station. Bombing, arson, releasing viruses, deliberately exposing areas to space, hotwiring the grid so APCs shock people, destroying the AI, physically destroying machinery or electrifying doors all count as Grand Sabotage.
408 File:High value target theft.png Grand Theft To steal items of high value or sensitive nature. Syndicate agents frequently attempt to steal cutting-edge technology, intelligence or research samples, including: Hand Teleporter, the Captain/Head of Security's Antique Laser, Captain or HoP's ID cards, or Mechs.



Modifiers & Special Situations

Situation Description Modification
Hostile Brainwashing To be under the mind control of either the Cult of Nar-Sie, a Shadowling, or any such mind-altering circumstances. All Cultists of Nar-Sie and Shadowling Thralls are to be detained non-lethally and deconverted or dethralled, via the use of Holy Water or Surgery, respectively. Lethal force is not authorized unless there is a clear and present danger to the integrity of the station and crew at large (such as large amounts of Shadowling Thralls, or actively hostile cultists leading hostile incursions). Otherwise, they are to be detained, deconverted/dethralled, pardoned of their crimes, and released. The same applies for (non-Head) Revolutionaries, who are to be given a Mindshield Implant and released. Any instances of brainwashing are to be handled non-lethally, fixed, and the victim released with a full pardon. Any contraband on their persons at the time of deconversion is to be confiscated and they are not to be punished for possession of it.
Surrender Coming to the brig, confessing what you've done and taking the punishment. Getting arrested without a fuss is not surrender. For this, you have to actually come to the Brig yourself. -25%, and should be taken into account when the choice between Permanent Imprisonment, Execution, and Cyborgization is made.
Repeat Offender To repeatedly commit crimes and receive brig time for them. This Modifier does not apply unless the person in question has already been caught and brigged at least twice. On the third brigging, the prisoner's sentence is increased by 10 minutes. Each successive brigging will add another ten minutes. Can bring sentences to Permabrig status if the 60 minute mark is reached.

Example: Person A is brigged for Assault, for 10 minutes. Person A then gets brigged for Vandalism, for 5 minutes. Person A then gets brigged for Assault and Possession of a Weapon, for 30 minutes (10 for Assault, 10 for Possession of a Weapon, 10 due to Repeat Offender). Person A then gets brigged for Assault on an Officer, for 35 minutes (15+20). Person A then gets brigged for Possession of a Restricted Weapon and Assault on an Officer, for 60 minutes (15 for Possession of a Restricted Weapon, 15 for Assault on an Officer, 30 due to Repeat Offender), bringing the sentence to Permabrig Status.

Parole To be released, under parole, before the allotted sentence for a crime is up. Prisoners may technically be paroled for any crime. However, for Capital Crimes, see Enemy of the Corporation above. For non-Capital Crimes, Parole may be offered at the discretion of the Warden, Head of Security, Captain or Magistrate. Personnel under parole are to be kept under surveillance and, if they commit another crime, are to be sentenced for that crime, in addition to the sentence that they were paroled from. Any personnel breaking Parole are disqualified from future Parole. Any personnel breaking Parole from Capital Crimes are to be executed upon capture.
Cooperation with prosecution or security Being helpful to the members of security, revealing things during questioning or providing names of head revolutionaries. -25%; in the case of revealing a head revolutionary, immediate release.
Immediate threat to the prisoner The singularity eats something near the brig, an explosion goes off, etc. Officer must relocate the prisoner(s) to a safe location; otherwise, immediate release.
Medical reasons Prisoners are entitled to medical attention if sick or injured. Medical personnel can be called, or the prisoner can be escorted to the Medbay. The timer continues to run during this time.
Self Defense Self Defense is defined as "The protection of oneself, the protection of thy colleagues, and the protection of thine workplace".
Do note however that persons intentionally getting involved in fights which occur in a department that isn't theirs is an act of vigilantism, this is not permitted. Generally this is disarming/pushing. Hitting someone on the ground is generally NEVER self defence.
Immediate release.
Escape from Brig If a prisoner flees confinement for any reason other than to escape impending lethal danger (fire, hull breach, murder), reset their timer to their full original punishment. Reset timer
Aiding and Abetting Knowingly assisting a criminal is a crime. This includes but is not limited to: Interfering with an arrest, stealing a prisoner in transit, breaking a prisoner out of the brig/prison, hiding a fugitive, providing medical care (unless paired with a large dose of sleep toxins). The same sentence as the original criminal.
Refusal to Cooperate When already detained inside the Brig, either in Processing or Temporary Detainment and pending a sentence, refusing to cooperate with Security and instead attempting to break free from their cuffs and/or buckling in such a way that the attending Officers must spend more time preventing their escape than they do actually processing the prisoner. +25% to original sentence. Can bring sentences up to Permanent Imprisonment if the 60 minute threshold is crossed because of it.
Repeat Offender To be repeatedly brigged for the same offense multiple times in a single shift (minimum of three times. Applies on the third brigging). Much like crime stacking, these offenses cannot occur during the same incident. Does not apply to Resisting Arrest. For each successive Repeated Incidence, an extra five minutes is added to the sentence. If the added time exceeds the original sentence, the crime should be considered one Level above (ie, Medium Crimes become Major Crimes), and the sentence adjusted. Major Crimes with 15 extra minutes added via this modifier should be considered Capital Crimes, but not punishable by Execution or forced Cyborgization.



Crime Codes Quick Reference

Use this to quickly find the Crime Code Numbers.

Crime codes are made up of a Category Code (_xx), which are a collection of similar crimes on a line for ease of use, prefixed by the Severity Number (X__).

Code 1XX - Minor 2XX - Medium 3XX - Major 4XX - Capital
00 Possession of Contraband
01 Resisting Arrest Assault Kidnapping of an Officer Murder
02 Battery Robbery Assault of an Officer Manslaughter
03 Drug Distribution Aggravated Assault
04 Drug Possession Possession of a Weapon Possession of a Restricted Weapon
05 Kidnapping Possession of Explosives
06 Indecent Exposure Rioting Inciting a Riot Mutiny
07 Vandalism Workplace Hazard Sabotage Grand Sabotage
08 Petty Theft Theft Grand Theft
09 Trespass Abuse of Confiscated Equipment Major Trespass
10 Breaking and Entry B&E of a Restricted Area


(Courtesy of TG space law, with modifications by Neca, Dave, Hyperion, FreeStylaLT and TullyBBurnalot)