|
|
|
Star Law
|
Star Law was founded in FY 6, five years after the close of the First Sathar War. The organization had been conceptualized long before, but disagreements about the size, scope, and authority of the organization delayed its founding. Earth was particularly reluctant to see Star Law's charter ratified. As the strongest member of the United Planetary Federation after the war, extending the provisional police powers of the Armada - which was overwhelmingly composed of Earth vessels - was the primary goal of the Solar Commonwealth.
|
|
For additional information on Star Law, check out Kim Eastland's Freeze! Star Law! in Dragon Magainze #87, p. 71 and Matt Bandy's Star Law Returns in Dragon Magainze #104, p. 71.
- Lord Irish
|
For a while the Solar Commonwealth was able to capitalize on anti-Sathar sentiment and maintain control of the Armada, but in time the Vrusk, Yazirians, and Dralasites demanded that the Star Law Charter be ratified.
For good measure, they also demanded the relocation of the main organs of the Federation from Tranquility City on Luna to planet Discourse in the Epsilon Eridani star system. Ratification of the Star Law Charter was thus the first official action of the Federation government at its capital.
Star Law has changed considerably in size, power, and prestige over the years. At present, every Star Law officer has three primary responsibilities:
- Enforce the Federation Security Act, engaging in counterintelligence against the Sathar and hostile Cults and Cadres and their espionage networks.
- Enforce the Free Commerce and Galactic Standards Act, keeping the spacelanes clear of pirates and open for legal, regulated trade.
- Enforce the Corporate Responsibility Act, keeping corporate warfare in the boardroom whenever possible.
Ever since the Third Treaty of K'Kar was signed with the Rim Coalition, it has become the responsibility of Star Law to uphold these laws in both UPF and RC territory. To that end, all Star Lawmen have the following powers under the law to facilitate its enforcement:
- The discretionary authority to detain, pursue, warn, or arrest anyone within their jurisdiction who breaks Federation or Coalition law, or a planetary/international law of a Federation or Coalition member world. Star Lawmen generally do not concern themselves with the enforcement of purely "local" laws
- The authority to commandeer any vehicle and pilot it (or order it to be piloted) in violation of normal legal regulations while in the course of fulfilling his or her duties as an officer.
- The authority to request a warrant for the search and seizure of property from any Federation or Coalition judge or magistrate, or any planetary or local equivalent. In the event that the officer is in hot pursuit of a criminal or lawbreaker, or is a witness to a criminal act, the Star Lawmen may legally engage in search and seizure without benefit of a warrant.
- The authority to close down any business or operation, or revoke any and all licenses or permits, being used by any individual or organization to break Federation or Coalition law, or a planetary/international law of a Federation or Coalition member world.
- The authority to use lethal force in self-defense or the preservation of sentient life.
|
Currently, Star Law is having a hard time meeting its mandates. During the long interlude of peace between the First and Second Sathar Wars, Star Law was frequently attacked by isolationists, nationalists, and corporate interests in the Assembly and Senate from all four races. Star Law had been reduced in funding and personnel to bare-bones before the war, took heavy losses in terms of both manpower and equipment during the conflict, and has recently had its jurisdiction increased by nearly 40%.
|
|
For detailed information on running a Star Law-based campaign, check out Alex Curylo's Careers in Star Law in Dragon Magazine, #91, pg. 80.
- Lord Irish
|
In the aftermath of the Second Sathar War, the organization is enjoying a surge in popular support. Moreover, the current Prime Minister was once one of Star Law's finest. Anti-Sathar sentiment is working in the agency's favor, as is increased piracy, black marketeering, proliferation of high-tech personal and shipboard weaponry, and an upsurge in corporate warfare throughout the Frontier.
|
