The Status is Not Quo

FROM: CORE COMMAND
TO: FIELD FLEET SPINWARD COMMAND (CS LIBERTY’S PRICE)

*** PRIORITY PRIORITY PRIORITY
*** EYES ONLY SPINWARD OPS
*** STANDING ORDER UPDATE (SEQ 4377)

FLT ADM DAPHNOTARTHIUS, COMMANDING FIELD FLEET SPINWARD:

1. THIS MESSAGE CONSTITUTES A MANDATORY UPDATE TO STANDING ORDERS PRESENTLY IN EFFECT.

2. RULES OF ENGAGEMENT AILÉK-1 ARE IN EFFECT EXCEPT WHERE OTHERWISE NOTED.

3. MAINTAIN PATROLS IN FORCE ALONG THE INTERFACE WITH THE VONIENSAN NEXUS, IN PARTICULAR ALONG THE BORDERLINE ROUTE FROM ISTRIA (CRIMSON EXPANSE) VIA KARAL (VANGUARD REACHES) TO QUOR (CSELL BUFFER). RULES OF ENGAGEMENT BICÉK-2 ARE IN EFFECT WITHIN ALL INTERFACE SYSTEMS AND OTHER SYSTEMS WITHIN ONE LINK. INTELLIGENCE REPORTS ESTIMATE MODERATE PROBABILITY OF CASE SABLE WITHIN THE NEXT HALF YEAR.

4. MAINTAIN PATROLS IN FORCE ALONG MAJOR GALITH WASTE ROUTES. RULES OF ENGAGEMENT BICÉK-2 ARE IN EFFECT IN ALL SYSTEMS WITHIN THE GALITH WASTE. PER IMPERIAL SECURITY EXECUTIVE DIRECTIVE GW/41/3, PATROLS MAY ENGAGE:

A. SILICATE TREE VESSELS ENGAGED IN ACTIONS AGAINST CIVILIAN TRAFFIC;

B. VESSELS OF OTHER POWERS ENGAGED IN ACTIONS AGAINST SILICATE TREE VESSELS, PROVIDED THAT THE SILICATE TREE VESSEL DID NOT INITIATE THE ENGAGEMENT. PATROLS MAY NOT INTERVENE IN SUCH ACTIONS IF THE SILICATE TREE VESSEL INITIATED THE ENGAGEMENT;

C. VESSELS ENGAGED IN PIRACY, SLAVETAKING, OR OTHER CAPITAL-CLASS CRIMES UNDER ADMIRALTY LAW.

5. PER IMPERIAL SECURITY DIRECTIVE GW/41/4, VESSELS TRANSPORTING INFOMORPH OR MECHANICAL REFUGEES FROM ANY POLITY ON THE KNOWN LIST OF DIGITAL SLAVER POLITIES OR OTHERWISE PRACTICING DIGITAL SLAVERY, WHETHER ATTEMPTING TO REACH THE GALITH WASTE OR TRAVEL ELSEWHERE, ARE TO BE RENDERED ALL AID AND ASSISTANCE.

6. ROUTINE PATROLS THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE SPINWARD SEXTANT AND ASSIGNMENT OF PICKET FORCES TO SPINWARD EXCLAVES ARE TO BE CARRIED OUT AT YOUR DISCRETION.

7. IN THE ABSENCE OF FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS FROM COMMAND AUTHORITY, INDEPENDENT ACTION IS AUTHORIZED AT YOUR DISCRETION.

8. AUTHENTICATION: PADLOCK WILLOW WOLF GATEWAY CIRRUS PRAYER / 0xAE9532BB81200A18

ADM/FLT RELEQ CLAVES-ITH-LELAD, FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY