Foreword: The Captain
The Captain of a vessel holds certain privileges as outlined in Marine Law. Additionally, they may reasonably alter General Regulations within Standard Operating Procedure so long as these alterations do not contradict Marine Law. Should there be concerns about the exercise of this privilege, any officer or MP may contact High Command to inquire about the legitimacy of such changes and request they be overturned. This privilege is not extended to anyone taking up command in the Captains absence.
General Regulations
Rules of Engagement
The following are the standard rules of engagement. They may be modified by Command as necessary in accordance to AO developments.
- Any potentially useful equipment found in the AO such as weapons or tools may be requisitioned for military use.
- Buildings and obstacles within the AO may be constructed or deconstructed in accordance with strategic or tactical directives. Use of plastic explosives is authorized for demolitions.
- Wildlife is not to be needlessly hunted if passive. Any hostile wildlife or wildlife that approaches the perimeter of FOBs, supply lines or compromises the personal space of marines or their formation may be shot on sight.
- Humans that are not overtly hostiles are to be halted and their intentions uncovered. Survivors are to be debriefed, and recovered if possible. Other military or paramilitary entities may be allowed to continue their operations if they prove beneficial or indifferent to USCM interests. Use of force is authorized to disable non-compliant personnel. Hostile personnel may be killed on sight.
Equipment
Standard issue equipment
Standard issue equipment is defined as any military uniform, armor, weapon or accessory personnel may find in their crew locker, as well as those they emerge from cryosleep with and any equipment normally available for issue by the Requisitions Department.
Additionally, the Commanding Officer may issue special equipment on a case by case basis, such as special headsets for ease of communications or special weaponry for certain marines or squads so long as it does not contradict Marine Law. Alcohol may be stored in the Officer’s Mess, Commanding Officer’s Mess and Commanding Officer’s Quarters.
Uniform Regulations
USCM and USCM-affiliated personnel are required to be wearing appropriate clothing during operations. Deploying marines and MPs should be wearing their uniform, boots, and armor at a minimum. Other crew must wear their uniform and assigned footwear. Headwear, if any is worn, must be your properly assigned headgear or one of the standard issue USCM headgear.
Equipment Handling Procedure
Aboard the ship, weapons must remain holstered when not in use. Under normal circumstances, weapons may only be fired in the firing range. Weaponry may not be left unattended unless it is properly secured in spaces intended for it (weapon racks, gun cabinets, etc.). Medicines may not be left out in the open. All pills must be contained within properly labeled pill bottles, and syringes, autoinjectors, surgery tools and other medical devices must be placed within their designated containers (surgery trays, medical bags etc.)
Authorised Weapons
- Code Green - Authorized Weapons may be carried by deploying marines (any standard issue weapon or weapon ordered from requisitions), security (non-lethals and sidearms only) and commissioned officers and Cargo Technicians (sidearms).
- Code Blue - All crew are authorized pistols. Military Police may carry any lethal weapons.
- Code Red - No Weapon Restrictions
- Code Delta - Normally happens when one of the Dropships crashes on the Almayer. You are authorized to use ANY kind of weaponry. The acting Commanding Officer may order a general Evacuation, Self Destruction of the ship, or hold the Almayer.
Exception: Firearm use and possession is allowed if you or someone you are responsible for are in immediate, life-threatening danger and the appropriate code-level has not been set.
Ship modifications
Under normal circumstances, the ship may only be modified either on the CO’s order or with the permission of the Chief Engineer, Executive Officer, and if the modification affects a department, the head of the department in question. Should the ship come under attack, all personnel are authorized to make emergency defensive modifications regardless of permissions granted.
Department SOP
Medical
The Chief Medical Officer has final say over the medbay and medical procedures on board the Almayer, except when overridden by the Commanding Officer or Executive Officer. They may authorize or prohibit experiments at their discretion, set medbay procedure and fire or hire civilians working in their department. When in medbay all combat marines are required to listen to and obey the orders of the CMO.
During Delta Emergency Alerts, any medical personnel is to either get to the escape pods and evacuate the ship, or hold in safe locations with marines, to provide medical support for the wounded troops.
Requisitions
The Requisitions Officer has control over the requisitions bay and the right to decline service to any member of the crew, including other officers. No equipment may be taken from the Requisitions Bay by non-requisitions personnel without the RO’s approval. His decisions on such matters may only be overridden by the Commanding Officer or Executive Officer.
During Delta Emergency Alerts, the Requisitions Department are to follow the Command orders. All Requisitions personnel are to join standard marines in either holding the Almayer or Evacuate the ship as well as getting Civilian personnel into safety, depending on the orders given by the Command Staff.
Security
The Commanding Officer has final say on law enforcement in his operational area as outlined in Marine Law. It is the duty of the Chief MP to ensure procedure is observed and the law is carried out in a just manner. Should the Chief MP believe the Commanding Officer is abusing his position, he must contact High Command for permission to relieve him.
MPs have a duty to enforce Marine Law and ensure order is maintained, and breaking Marine Law would incur in neglect of duty charges. To this end, other members of crew may not interfere with their actions when enforcing the law, such as barring them from entering an area if they have reason to be there. However, when ordered to, MPs must leave sensitive areas such as Operation Theatres unless performing an arrest. Additionally, MPs have a duty to keep the ship and shipside crew safe. In such matters, they must obey the orders of officers in accordance to their position within the ship.
Third Party Personnel
Marines are encouraged to peacefully recover any third party personnel found in an area of operations and offer them refuge within their ship. All personnel recovered from a combat zone must be searched on arrival and their weapons and unauthorized items secured within the Brig. They may keep their clothes and tools, provided they are not used for criminal purposes. They must also be provided with adequate medical care and sustenance. Civilian personnel recovered may be given a temporary junior position in a department should their qualifications allow for it as outlined in Employment procedure, but may not be conscripted into the USCM on-site.
Third Party Military or Paramilitary forces may be allowed to keep their weaponry, provided their presence is beneficial to the operation.
Employment Regulations
Demotion and Termination Procedure
For crimes with the punishment of demotion or termination, or at the CO’s behest under the General Article provision, USCM affiliated personnel may be demoted to a more junior position within their department (or into the Operations department in the XO’s case). Should that position not exist, or the crime committed allow for termination, that person’s employment with the USCM may be terminated instead, allowing them access only to the common areas of the ship.
Employment Procedure
Personnel recovered from the Area of Operations may be temporarily employed in the Requisitions, Engineering or Medical department according to their skills. Employed personnel must be given an ID identifying them as department civilian workers and given access to their work area. Employed personnel are given a junior position and must obey the orders of all Almayer personnel assigned to that department.
Restricted Areas and Access Modification
Personnel may only legally access areas their ID grants them passage to, unless someone responsible for the area allows them entry. The Commanding Officer may restrict anyone from accessing any area of the ship. Heads of Staff may evict anyone from their departments except the CO and the XO.
The Commanding Officer may modify the access afforded to any person’s ID card at will. The Executive Officer may modify access to the non-departmental areas of the ship and the CIC, but must confirm with the Head of the respective department in order to grant a third person access to that department. All-access should not be handled outside of exceptional circumstances. During emergencies, officers may modify their own access if required.