Standard Operating Procedure

This page is outdated and should no longer be considered canon information.

Standard Operating Procedures are a set of standardized regulations and procedures to be utilized aboard all United Nations Sol Defense Corps vessels. These guidelines are primarily to be utilized when the vessel is functioning nominally, and in cases of emergency the ship's Captain may alter them as they see fit.

Conduct

Personnel should conduct themselves appropriately while deployed on a Sol Defense Corps vessel. While on duty, you represent the SDC as a whole.

• Do not smoke or drink while on duty.
• Keep personal relationships private and outside of the workplace. Public displays of affection are prohibited and fall under the Space Maritime Law's hooliganism charges.
• Off-duty recreational activities such as games and television are prohibited while on-duty in accordance with neglect of duty charges under Space Maritime Law.
• Worn uniforms should be cleaned and unwrinkled. Uniforms stained, creased, or otherwise dirty should be replaced and cleaned.
• All members of the crew must regard fellow crewmembers as equals in regards to race, gender, species, and religious beliefs. Discrimination based on these principles should be punished appropriately under Space Maritime Law.

Alert Procedure

In extraordinary circumstances an emergency may be enacted under the Captain's discretion or if at least two or more Line Officers agree to declare such.

During any such emergency, the following procedure is enacted:

• All department personnel are to report to their superior Officer for instructions.
• The Captain, First Officer, or Critical Line Officer (see below) are permitted during an emergency to call a mandatory Officer briefing in the Meeting Room, the Bridge, or another location.
• Relevant personnel during the emergency are advised to prepare their equipment and/or a hardsuit for better protection.
• All non-essential crew is required to yield to relevant personnel during the emergency, and clear critical traversal routes such as doorways or corridors.
• Extravehicular activity (EVA) is to be suspended and all personnel currently on EVA are required to return inside.
• Transit, unless in an emergency retreat, is to be suspended.

Line of Succession

The Line of Succession is defined as the order of command taken during a relevant department incident. All relevant personnel are to report directly to those listed above them in the line of succession. The Captain, unless incapacitated or disabled, is always the highest-ranking officer, unless an Admiral is onboard and directly assumes command of the situation.

The First Officer is permitted to the position of ROIC (Resident Officer In Charge) in the event of a Captain's absence until they either return or a new one is appointed.

Different lines of succession are outlined in the following alerts.

Critical Line Officer

The Critical Line Officer (CLO) is defined as the third-in-command department officer responsible for overseeing the relevant procedures during an emergency. For example, the Tactical Officer takes precedence during a security emergency.

The third in command, listed after the First Officer in each emergency, is enacted as the Critical Line Officer.

If there is no emergency that warrants a CLO, either the Tactical Officer or Engineering Officer will assume command. Other officers, even those equivalent in rank, are not allowed to assume command if the TO and EO are both active and at least one is willing.

Emergency	Examples	Critical Line Officer
Security	Hostiles, boarders	Tactical Officer
Engineering	Core failure, hull damage	Engineering Officer
Medical	Viral outbreak, large-scale injury	Medical Officer
None	Incapacitated Captain and FO	Tactical or Engineering Officer

Non-officers

Non-commissioned and warrant officers, including enlisted personnel (grades E-1 thru E-9) and warrant officers (W-1 thru W-5) are not allowed to take command of the vessel. ROIC can only be given to commissioned officers of grade O-1 and above.

The Senior Enlisted Advisor holds the position of a senior NCO (non-commissioned officer) and is not allowed to take command of the vessel.

Bridge

If all higher-ranked officers are absent from the Bridge, Bridge Officers such as the Navigator and Communications Officer can take command of the bridge only and limited authority over the crew. This should preferably only be a temporary arrangement.

Planetary Deployment

During field deployments, such as away missions to a planet, only either the Captain or First Officer may deploy at a time. Both officers are not allowed to deploy simultaneously and one must always remain shipside if possible for command eligibility.

At least one department officer ranking O-3 or above must also stay behind to act as the acting First Officer.

Alert Levels

Various alert levels should be used depending on whatever threat the ship faces in the present, such as a Code Red during a major emergency, or Code Green during normal operations with no emergency at all.

Code Green

Standard procedure for operation when there is no threat.

Conditions	Description
Line of Succession	Captain > First Officer > Line Officers > Bridge Officers > NCOs > Enlisted > Other
Security	Security may not have weapons visible. Takedown force restricted to nonlethal or stun.
Engineering	Engineering should remain on maintenance duty or on downtime unless called.
Bridge	Bridge should perform normal duties including navigation and astrography.
Military	Military personnel should be on patrol duty or on standby. Weapons cannot be drawn.

Code Amber

Elevated alert level. Procedure enacted when the ship is threatened or under suspected threat by internal or external means.

Conditions	Description
Line of Succession	Captain > First Officer > Line Officers > Bridge Officers > NCOs > Enlisted > Other
Security	Security may have weapons visible. Arrests may be issued with a warrant.
Bridge	Bridge should be on standby with weapons and shields ready.

Code Red

The emergency procedure, also known as "battle stations" or "general quarters". Used when the ship is entering internal or external combat.

Conditions	Description
Line of Succession	Captain > First Officer > Tactical Officer > Military Officers > Line Officers > Bridge Officers > NCOs > Enlisted > Other
Security	Security may have weapons visible with safety unlocked. Lethal force permitted on armed targets.
Military	Military personnel should coordinate with internal security to deal with relevant threats. Weapons may be drawn, lethal force is authorized against armed targets.
Bridge	All tactical, communication and operation stations should be manned and ready. Weapons free and shields raised.

Code Orange

Major engineering emergency procedure. Enacted when the ship has suffered severe damage.

Conditions	Description
Line of Succession	Captain > First Officer > Engineering Officer > Line Officers > Bridge Officers > NCOs > Enlisted > Other
Engineering	EVA suits are mandatory for engineering personnel. Report to the Engineering Officer for orders.
Bridge	Monitor alarms and co-ordinate with engineering personnel to repair relevant damages.

Code Violet

Medical or research emergency. Used during a confirmed viral outbreak or during a research biohazardous incident.

Conditions	Description
Line of Succession	Captain > First Officer > Medical Officer/Research Director > Line Officers > Bridge Officers > NCOs > Enlisted > Other
Medical	Administer necessary quarantine procedures and wear protective equipment. During a confirmed pathogenic hazard, hardsuit usage is permitted.
Research	Cooperate with medical doctors and/or use necessary containment procedures in the laboratory. All experimentation is to be halted and prioritize the relevant emergency.
Bridge	Announce confirmation of ship-wide quarantine and lockdown; advise any passing ships to not directly dock with the vessel. Shuttle departures and arrivals are prohibited.

First Contact

Given there is a significant probability of many of the Sol Defense Corps' vessels coming into a First Contact situation with a previously undiscovered species, guidelines have been created to ease the process.

Command personnel staffed aboard expeditionary vessels such as those in the Odysseus Fleet are extensively trained to handle such scenarios with care.

• Hostility: Determine if the species or entity is hostile. If so, containment is the preferred course of action. Make every effort not to injure or kill. If containment is impossible, lethal force may be necessary and can be authorized as needed.

• Intelligence: Assuming the species is not hostile, determine how intelligent they are. This can be determined in a number of ways: communication, mathematics, etc.

• Communication: The next step should be communication. It is highly unlikely new species will be able to speak or even understand human speech, or have any ability to translate. Basic pictograms, mathematical concepts such as prime numbers, or physical constants such as atomic makeup may prove useful if vocal communication is impossible.

• Diplomacy: If communication is established, and the new species has some form of government or hierarchy that diplomatic contact can be made with, make every effort to open diplomatic communication with this government.

Wildlife

Local flora (plants) are to be handled with sample collection and minimal interference only. Deforestation, arson, or otherwise damaging the environment of a local ecosystem is prohibited.

Local fauna (animals) to be observed from a distance, with specimen capture up to authorization by the expedition's Pathfinder. If capture is requested, capture should only be done using non-lethal means such as sedatives or netting. Killing local fauna is prohibited unless in self-defense of oneself or another crewmember.

Flag Officer Protocols

Any visiting flag officer (Admiral) of grade O-7 or above reserves special procedures only enacted when they are onboard.

Flag officers reserve the right to relieve of position any personnel aboard the vessel, both officers and enlisted. A person cannot be discharged from the SDC without a valid court-martial. Upon relief of duty, the convicted person will not be allowed back into the Corps.

Flag officers also hold the ability to conduct a court-martial on the Captain themselves upon breach of the law, and are expected to do so during such an offense. They hold judicial power and can serve as the judge during high-profile court-martials.