Solar Liberty Coalition
The Solar Liberty Coalition, commonly abbreviated SLC or just the Coalition, is the current authority governing colonies in the vicinity of the Sol system. They formed from the Solar Colonial Front, a military resistance movement whose purpose was to protect the best interests of the colonists from the corrupt and unfair trading practices undertaken by the corporations of Earth. Since ending their war with Earth, the Coalition has become more organized, and now boasts a sizable fleet of carriers, colony ships, and tens of thousands of fighter and merchant pilots.
Organization
The Coalition is divided into four major sub-groups.
- The Naval Forces of the Solar Liberty Coalition form a combination of military force and law enforcement. Their ranks are patterned after those of the United States Air Force, with Colonels being those in charge of large-scale vessels, and Lt. Colonels being their seconds-in-command. Naval ships receive the designation tag SLCN.
- The Solar Liberty Coalition Government are in charge of civilian colonists. Though they ultimately answer to the Navy, the Government drafts the law that the Navy enforces. They are also the branch in charge of capital punishment, once the Navy has handled arrest and prosecution of suspects. Government vessels, especially capital ships, receive the designation tag SLCG.
- The Trade Coalition (TC) effectively embodies the SLC's corporate presence. TC authorities are in charge of colonial economy, regulating prices for commodities and ship-related products, as well as managing resource collection and trades with Earth. Vessels operating under TC authority are given any of the following designation tags:
- SLCF - Freight ships, for transport of cargo not intended to be sold, as well as towboats.
- SLCT - Trade ships, in particular merchant freighters.
- The Solar Colonial Interest (SCI) is the branch responsible for actual colonial efforts. When a new colony must be established, it is the SCI that manages their supplies, establishes their trade route with the TC, and ensures that there is an SLCN patrol presence in their area. SCI are also responsible for the design and construction of colony ships. Ships operating under the Colonial Interest are tagged as such:
- SLCL - Labor ships and drones for mining, surveying, and construction.
- SLCS - Science vessels, for carrying expedition crews and mobile laboratories.
Law Enforcement
While individual branches of the Coalition govern their own specific laws, some laws are enforced across the entire system, regardless of whose authority it is being prosecuted.
- Abandoned ships are only considered "found property" if the ship's plaque and Bell have been recovered. If a scavenger has already laid claim to a wreck, but the ship cannot be made to run or be towed to a dock for sale, a scavenger may board the ship and disconnect the Bell. If an abandoned ship does not carry a plaque or bell, that ship may not be touched.
- Entering into a ship-to-ship engagement in progress is considered fair game, but only if there is not already a Coalition Navy vessel in the engagement. Starting a ship-to-ship engagement is considered assault, unless it can be proved that the opposing party agreed to it first (for example, for purposes of dueling). If a Coalition Navy vessel is involved in an engagement, non-Naval vessels entering into the fight will be cited for opportunistic assault.
- Weapon hardpoints are to be locked when in the vicinity of a station. If a pilot comes under attack within 5 km of a station, they are advised to lure the attacking party away from the station before engaging their attacker.
- "Under attack" is defined as any instance in which a ship has been struck with sufficient force to either cause visible damage to the ship or its systems, or to damage the ship's shielding systems by more than 50% of their listed capacity.
