"Freeze! Star Law!" by Kim Eastland (Dragon Magazine #87) Part 2
We know that Star Law Headquarters is located in the city of Port Loren on the planetGran Quivera ("The Hub of the Frontier Sector") in the Prengular system. We also know there is a Star Law base on Morgaine's World in the same system. Beyond this, we can create some "basic facts" as a foundation for Star Law.
1. A Star Law base exists on every civilized world of any size in the Frontier Sector. These bases range from large complexes to one-man offices, depending upon that world's needs.
2. Star Law itself does not own a great fleet of ships or an army of combat vehicles. Each base would probably have an array of fast, light armed vehicles for planetary and interplanetary transportation, such as flit-boards, rocket bikes, skimmers, etc.
3. Star Law would not have vast armies of combat personnel because the UPF and individual planetary governments would not want a powerful Star Law undermining their own powers and authority. Instead, Star Law would have numerous agents with-ranging authority who would not pose a threat to city or regional police forces or planetary armies.
4. Star Law personnel would have the power to call the UPF's attention to major transgressions by city or planetary governments, though they try to avoid matters arising from local politics. They can get military assistance from Spacefleet or other authorities if deemed necessary by the UPF Security Council. An individual Star Law agent's firepower would be impressive since he must often uphold the law when working with few allies. An average Star Law Mission team would include 2-6 members.
5. Any ventures beyond the Frontier "on the Rim" (as the unexplored and possibly dangerous systems are called) or into alien space (neutral or enemy) would be officially undertaken by Star Law. Any unofficial ventures would be made by mercenaries, bounty hunters, etc.
6. Residents of the Frontier Sector who are not of the four main races but who have clean records and initiative might also be Star Law officers. Indeed, when dealing with the Rim, they might be more desirable as agents than one of the major races.
7. All investigations of known hostile races (Sathar, Mechanons, Zuraqqor, etc.) would be made under the authority of Star Law. A Star Law agent's authority level would be very great in this area.
8. Investigations dealing with possible crimes committed by Star Law personnel would be handled by a special branch of Star Law Internal Affairs that answers only to the UPF Security Council.
9. All investigations of established security forces (Spacefleet, world armies, etc.) or interplanetary governing bodies (such as the United Planetary Federation) would be handled by special investigation committees appointed by the Star Law Captain-General.
10. Under article 15 of the Securities Act, a Star Lawman of Ranger rank or above may commandeer any ship, private or UPF-owned, not engaged in an active defense of UPF space for the purposes of pursuing enemy agents in or out of the Frontier.
11. Under article 12 of the Securities Act, a Star Lawman or any rank can impose Stellar Law in a city, county, or continent if he deems it necessary to maintain civil obedience.
12. Under article 13 of the Securities Act, a Star Lawman of Rangers rank or above may also impose Stellar Law on an entire planet if he deems it necessary to maintain civil obedience.
13. Under article 14 of the Securities Act, the Star Law Captain-General may impose Stellar Law on an entire system if he deems it necessary to maintain civil obedience or UPF security. Only the UPF Security Council can declare Stellar Law on the entire Frontier.
14. Star Law retains its authorities during both peacetime and wartime.
"Freeze! Star Law!" by Kim Eastland (Dragon Magazine #87) Part 3
Star Law Ranking
Although there are many different positions with Star Law and Various grades within those positions, there are only a few that Star Frontiers players or referees need concern themselves with. The titels and definitions of those positions are:
1. Star Law Deputiy Officer (DO): A Star Law DO is a rookie officer, fresh out of the academy. He or she is in effect a lower-grade City Officer and is assigned to assist someone of a higher rank, usually a full City Officer. After a period of time, usually one of three years, the Deputy Officer is evaluated and may be promoted to a higher grade. On rare occasions, a DO might be promoted into positions as high as Chief Agent, depending upon his background, skills, and abilities. A Star Law DO cannot be immediately promoted to Range status, however.
2. Star Law City Officer (CO): A Star Law Co may have many Deputy Officers below him. Usually a CO is a Star Lawman who has authority only over a particular city. COs work only in major cities on highly advanced planets.
3. Star Law Planetary Officers (PO): A Planetary Officer may have many Deputy Officers below him; on major civilized planets, he may command some COs as well. A Planetary Officer cannot exercise his authority on another planet unless ordered to do so by his Commanding Officer at Port Loren.
4. Star Law Deputy Agent (DA): Star Law DAs may command numbers of Deputy Officers, POs, and COs. A Deputy Agent governs investigations that assist other law enforcement and security forces. DAs can command POs and COs in their planetary system only.
5. Star Law Chief Agent (CA): A Chief Agent is one rank above the DA and can command all officers below his rank. he has the power to override the authority of the security forces within his planetary system when dealing with investigations there. A CA is extremely powerful within his system.
6. Star Law Ranger: Rangers are a sort of cross between DAs and CAs in authority, except they can exercise their power in any system within the Frontier Sector. They operate one level above CAs in the Star Law chain of command, but usually work with other security forces rather than commanding them. Rangers are usually called in when hostile alien intrigue is suspected (Sathar plots in particular).
7. Star Law Marshals: This unusual position is usually awarded to Rangers whoes jurisdiction extend into the Rim systems. Some Marshals patrol the Rim Exclusively. They have authority over other Star Law Rangers and all lower ranks. Their numbers are few and turnover is high. They usually work alone.
8. Star Law Commanders: A Star Law Commander is a Marshal empowered to venture into alien space. He has complete authority to operate in the UPFs best interests there. In the Frontier and Rim, he can command all of the above levels of Star Lawmen. Commanders are the only persons in Star Law who can legally kill an intelligent lifeform without any evidence buth their own word. Only a handful of Commanders exist, and they report to the UPF Security Council along with the Star Law Captain-General.
WIP