Government

Every system is owned by someone, or perhaps a group of someones. Sometimes there's a huge mess of bureaucracy where a baker's dozen authorities all want a say in what you're doing and a cut of the proceeds, other times its just one big empire. But, to smooth things over, there are a few near-standards in place to help grease the wheels of commerce.

The Accord

The most powerful star empires got together some time ago to agree on some basic rules, without which it would be very complex and dangerous to play the spacelanes.

Common Carrier

All accorded vessels carrying passengers or cargo in concordance with all Accorded bylaws are considered a Common Carrier. This gives them certain rights, namely:

• The right to charge fare for service rendered per the laws of the vessel's home port and the arbitration of the ship's master or owner, irrespective of local laws.
• The right to "fly over" or "carry through": passengers or cargo that are not offloaded at an Accorded starport are not subject to tariff, search, or seizure by local authority. Note: this does not mean there are not mandatory Accorded facilities and protocols for lawful search and tariff. Similarly, passengers that do not exit an Accorded starport are not required to have a valid visa for entry into the host government's territory.
• All Accorded citizens in good standing are allowed to board any common carrier, and/or are allowed to ship their cargo with any such carrier, at their own discretion, without regard to laws either local or with the ship's home port. Conversely, common carriers are required to abide by "no-fly" lists and to report those with derogatory security standing to Accorded authorities.
• Local authorities are required to issue temporary visas for the delivery of passengers and cargo in situations where such deliveries cannot reasonably take place at the Starport, within reasonable boundaries based on the circumstances. While executing these visas, Accorded personnel who do not otherwise violate the strictures and limitations therein are not considered to have entered the territory, and remain in Accorded Right-of-Way for the duration.

Common Currency

Docking fees, local taxes and tariffs, in-port maintenance, and generally most charges associated with docking at a starport must be payable in one of several standard galactic currencies. In more austere conditions, the local authority must able to prove a good faith effort was made to collect fees in a reasonable currency before attempting any penalties for lack of payment.

Similarly, all Accorded common carriers must accept standard currency from passengers and shippers using their services.

Right of Way

While all starports and habitats are allowed to maintain a certain reasonable security zone, and generally much larger controlled airspace, the vast majority of space is considered Right-of-Way for all Accorded vessels in good standing. In other words, even a fully colonized star system cannot impose arbitrary travel limitations on interplanetary travel outside of each habitat's Littoral Security Zone or controlled airspace. Of course, authorities may conduct lawful arrests and searches where security considerations are valid.

Similarly, Accorded vessels conducting customs inspection, and those participating in the search and seizure of vessels and individuals of derogatory security standing, have the right of way in all Accorded star systems.

Right of Salvage / Duty to Assist

Within the Right-of-Way of Accorded vessels, it is incumbent upon all Accorded vessels to render aid to stricken vessels within reasonable reach, excepting certain extreme situations such as the transit of medical patients, time-sensitive deliveries, or diplomatic business.

Any vessel that can prove they were operating according to their Duty to Assist who comes upon a wrecked ship, having done due diligence to rule out survivorship of any aboard, have the right to salvage useful ship parts, viable cargo, and even whole ships when duly salvagable. All of these rights come with several important caveats:

• Ship parts: unless necessary to ensure safe arrival of your ship in a well-stocked port, ship parts cannot be claimed from a worthy vessel, nor any vessel with a legal next-of-kin, without fair market compensation.
• Viable cargo: cargo duly inspected, taxed, and insured that is still within the window of viability, has not already been written off, etc, can be delivered or trans-shipped by a salvager. This entitles the salvager to claim the delivery fee as originally contracted. This right does not allow the salvager to take possession of the goods, nor to sell them to a non-contracted buyer. In such a case, salvager is required to pay the fair market value of the goods to the original owner, less a Prize Fee based on the circumstances of the salvage. To do otherwise is considered theft.
• Whole ships: if a ship is recoverable in whole, but has a legal next-of-kin, it cannot simply be claimed by a salvager. Instead, salvager may return the ship to an Accorded starport. Upon acknowledgement of secure portage and lawful transfer of ownership to the next-of-kin, the salvager is entitled to a Prize Fee based on the ship's value and other circumstances. If, after a reasonable time, nobody claims the ship, the salvager is entitled to take ownership, or to retrieve a Prize Fee and leave the ship in the hands of the local starport for auction. Certain considerations are made in the rare event that salvage efforts leave a salvager with no viable vessel other than the salvaged one.
• Casualties: salvagers are required to render aid to all survivors of stricken wrecks. In the event the stricken vessel cannot be safely returned to the original crew, the salvagers are required to take all means necessary to return all crew and passengers to a safe starport, even at the expense of capacity needed to salvage cargo, etc. To do otherwise is considered marooning and is a criminal offense. Even the remains of the deceased take precendence over cargo, and must be transported to safety, unless to do so would constitute clear and present danger to the survivors or salvagers. The Accord does provide Samaritan Fees for the rescue of stricken crew and passengers, including their remains, but does not permit ransoming of any kind.

Right to Bear Arms / Duty to Keep the Peace

Within Accorded Right-of-Way, vessels have the right to arm themselves to a reasonable degree. No space lanes are 100% safe, as space is too vast to perfectly patrol. The specifics of what is allowed and where are highly variable, and those who choose to bear arms are required to do their homework on what weapons they can bring and where. It may be necessary to unequip weapon modules prior to entering certain space or starports to remain compliant with local security standards.

For those ships who choose to bear arms, there is an expectation of duty. When, in the course of a vessel's operation, it is feasible to offer assistance in potentially armed conflict, such as with the apprehension of a high-sec individual, or the escort of unarmed vessels, if it is reasonable within your vessel's capability, it is expected that your vessel will perform such duty. There are a variety sufficient reasons to turn down this duty, and/or extenuating circumstances that may relieve it, but one can expect to have to explain one's decisions in court in any particularly egregious event.

Generally speaking, this does not mean a tramp freighter with two laser beams will be asked to hunt down a dangerous pirate with his own flotilla. More likely, such actions more resemble militia action, where all vessels within range of a particular space are asked to muster within a certain time, generally to present an overwhelming--if disorganized force. Sort of an aerospace posse. Escort duty is also typically perfunctory, acting more as a deterrent or psychological safety net than as a last-ditch defense against real danger. Pirates rarely attack armed vessels, even when they are likely to overpower them. It's like the difference between having a guard dog and a locked door, vs. just inviting neighborhood thieves into your home.

Of course, exceptions do occur. At the end of the day, every ship's master must be able to depend on his or her judgment, as the lives of everyone on board are in their hands. Explaining one's cowardice or lack of fitness in combat to a court is unpleasant, but it's better than dying.