General Orders: Difference between revisions

General orders are the highest level of regulation governing the actions of Star Fleet personnel. Any violation of a general order is automatically investigated by the Judge Advocate General Corps, though not all investigations result in charges. Regulations relate to the specific duties aboard ship and are generally enforced by department heads or the commanding officer. Guidelines are, simply, general rules of operations that should be followed under normal circumstances. They are intended to ensure the safety of Star Fleet personnel. Directives are standard operating procedures established by fleet command.

Upon sighting a warship within Federation space and identifying it as belonging to a foreign power, the commander of the Star Fleet vessel shall determine the reason(s) for that craft's presence in the vicinity. If there is conclusive evidence that the vessel has hostile intentions, the Federation vessel may take appropriate action to safeguard the lives and property of Federation members. In such cases, the commander may use his discretion in deciding whether to use force to disable the hostile vessel. However, care should be taken to avoid unnecessary loss of sentient life.

Star Fleet vessel and starbase captains are to consider the lives of their crew members as sacred. In any potentially hostile situation, the captain will place the lives of his crew above the fate of their ship or base.

No Star Fleet personnel, either officer or enlisted, may offer his services to an independent foreign government without the express authorization of the Federation Assembly except in cases of an emergency. Starship captains and Star Fleet Flag officers unable to contact the Federation Assembly are considered to be acting representatives of the Federation Assembly however can be called to account for actions taken in this capacity by the Federation judiciary and the Federation Assembly.

No member of Star Fleet shall be required by the assignment of standard duties and responsibilities to undergo extended separation from his family if family members can be reasonably provided for aboard ship or as a part of an existing Star Fleet installation.

The primary responsibility of the commander of any Star Fleet vessel or installation is the welfare and safety of his crew, including any civilian members. No action may be taken that creates an unwarranted threat to the safety of those individuals under the officer's charge, except in the line of duty and when otherwise unavoidable.