As a
high-ranking officer, your ship and crew are your responsibility.
Your main task is to carry out the orders of GALCOM to the
best of your ability. Your patrol zone is your responsibility and
anything happening in there is directly linked to your record of
service. From time to time, there will be a lull in your
operational service and during this time, and as long as you are
not on active combat duty (assigned patrol zone status), you are
free to pursue other activities which help further promote the
Terran government, the human race, as well as peace &
stability in allied regions.
Exploration
As a
commander, you are free to explore the galaxy and report back to GALCOM
on your findings such as new civilizations, lifeforms, hostile
force concentrations, and most importantly, first-contact
situations.
Trading Operations
Trading is
the primary role of most space-faring ships in the galaxy.
Thousands of light years are spanned each day by trading ships
that go between space starstations and planetary starbases. Due to
the dynamic nature of trading itself and the diverse nature of
items that can be traded, traders are usually the target of
criminals and other hostile castes. By scouting the trading routes
and making your presence known in those areas, hostile castes will
refrain from ambushing trader transports and other diplomatic
ships that use those routes. As a commander, you are allowed to
trade items to distant regions in order to assist in the promotion
of free trade amongst the intelligent inhabitants of the galaxy.
What you buy or sell is the sole property of GALCOM since
you will be operating on behalf of the Terran government.
Fleet Operations
Several
high profile missions require the assembly of a fleet with a
high-ranking officer in command. If you are assigned to a fleet
operation in which you outrank the lead officer, you are to
immediately assume command of that fleet until further orders to
the contrary are received. Subsequently, if you do not outrank the
highest ranking officer you are to follow instructions and
commands as necessary in order to facilitate the smooth &
rapid completion of the assigned mission. If you fail to follow
orders from a high-ranking officer (usually in ACM), you will be
court-martialed. In BCM, you cannot assume command of a
fleet but you can be assigned to one and receive commands from its
leader when carrying out an ACM mission.
Salvage & Rescue Operations
From time
to time, you will come across or receive distress signals from
ships that are in trouble either from hostile attacks or other
conditions which prevent them from operating as normal. You are to
respond to these distress calls and render any and all assistance
to the ships. Frequently, you will need to tow ships back to the
nearest starstation. You will gain experience points for such
actions and in some cases, receive credits for hostile ships that
are delivered.
Diplomacy
You are not
a diplomat. Don’t pretend to be. You are a seasoned commander
and representative of Terran worlds and the human race. You are a
warrior. However, even warriors can ‘play nice’ and as such
you are expected to adhere to common diplomatic protocols when
dealing with other species and castes. If diplomacy fails, you
have one of the most powerful ships in the known galaxy with an
experienced crew. Use them.
Violations and Court Martial
One
day, you’re going to do something wrong and you’re going to
get a violation. You can get violations by attacking friendly
assets, trading weapons or advanced systems to the enemy, trading
in illegal items, and consistently ignoring distress calls within
range of your scanners. Stack up enough of them (10) and you’re
going to be court-martialed. Once you get the order to report for
a court-martial hearing, you are to immediately proceed to
Galactic Command HQ in orbit around Earth for a hearing. If you
are found innocent, you will be returned to active duty. If you
are guilty, you will get a dishonorable discharge from GALCOM and
never get to command another military craft again.