Independent ships rely on the six great institutions in order to operate, so all captains pledge to an agreed set of terms, sworn by each new crewmember upon boarding.
The ship’s continued independence is contingent upon being seen to uphold these six terms, each ratified by one of the institutions.
We honour our deals - FXT
We respect autonomy - Sovereign
We follow the rules - NCA
We leave peace in our wake - Konkord
We hold all to account - Justice Union
We let none stand alone - Starpath
If a term is not upheld by a ship's behaviour, that institution may lower the ship’s standing or take direct intervention. Sometimes an example must be made of a particular crewmember in order to smooth things over.
A crucial skill for any independent starfarer is operating within these terms even when they fall into conflict with each other, or at least knowing which to prioritise.
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