Captain's Authority in Code Blue[Admins Only - Not a Debate]

[Guest]

I am curious about the authority of the Captain when it comes to Code Blue, primarily on whether or not they can alter the conditions of the alert levels with official orders.

Example:

A meteor has struck and destroyed the engine's primary infrastructure, the SM remains and is now overheating. The Captain raises to code blue, it's an emergency but another Head isn't available to up to red.

Since this is an alert to do with an engineering issue, the Captain issues the following order to Security:

[sec] Captain McCaptain: " Security, you shall not engage in any searches without receiving my own, or the Head of Security's permission."

Some would say the Captain is exceeding official powers by issuing an order that conflicts with Alert Level Protocol, others would say the Captain is reasonably using their authority in a tense situation.

I would like the Administration to provide a definite answer, and honestly a guide to the Captain's authority because the role is so mixed for many people on where they lie within regulations and authority and such.

[CampinKiller]

Not an admin, but it's pretty clearly spelled out in the SOP that searches are allowed in code blue, period. Not "Captains may override this," not "You must get permission," but "You can search anyone and anything."

[Skull132]

You're assuming, Campin. With orders, one does not, ever, assume what they mean. The alert notice says this, verbatim:

The station has received reliable information about possible hostile activity on the station. Security staff may have weapons visible, random searches are permitted.

 

It does not comment on whether or not Security Officers are granted the capacity to subvert their Chain of Command by doing random searches anyways. If your CoC tells you that you are unable to conduct these random searches, then you are expected to listen to such orders. They aren't even in contradiction of one another.

To further elaborate: this shift in alert only lifts the restriction based on Security personnel, by Corporate Regulation, to have a legitimate reason for initiating a search. It does not lift, or even touch the HoS's (or Captain's) control over the Security personnel. As such, if your commander tells you that you are unable to conduct searches without meeting specific criteria that he establishes, then you must obey those orders.

[CampinKiller]

I was just referring back to Standard Operating Procedure, but if that's not valid, then I'll file that away.

[Skull132]

You didn't understand my point.

SOP is one thing, direct orders another. The Captain or Head of Security is allowed to stop the security staff from performing searches. They have the capacity to issue such an order. SOP does not override that authority; it simply augments the orders.

[Guest]

You didn't understand my point.

SOP is one thing, direct orders another. The Captain or Head of Security is allowed to stop the security staff from performing searches. They have the capacity to issue such an order. SOP does not override that authority; it simply augments the orders.

 

Another question Skull!

Code Green says that 'suit sensors are no longer mandatory' , however, like the situation above with searches, could it be argued that if the Captain ordered the crew, or a Head ordered their department, to max their suit sensors, they've have to even though it is code green?

[Skull132]

No. Because now you're issuing an order which directly contradicts SOP.

The earlier discussion hung on the fact that the code blue announcement only lifts the requirements from space law, but does not change the manner in which the chain of command works. To replicate the conflict with code green and suit sensors with the code blue and searches situation, you'd have to specifically say, "The restrictions applied by space law to searches are still enforced," instead of simply saying, "No, you can't execute searches at all for reason X." The former is in contradiction of SOP, the latter is not.

[Nanako]

No. Because now you're issuing an order which directly contradicts SOP.

The earlier discussion hung on the fact that the code blue announcement only lifts the requirements from space law, but does not change the manner in which the chain of command works. To replicate the conflict with code green and suit sensors with the code blue and searches situation, you'd have to specifically say, "The restrictions applied by space law to searches are still enforced," instead of simply saying, "No, you can't execute searches at all for reason X." The former is in contradiction of SOP, the latter is not.

 

Just to clarify here, are you saying that command staff cannot order people to turn up suit sensors on code green?

Like, is the chief engineer allowed to issue a department policy that engineering staff have to turn them up?

[Guest]

That is what he is saying Nanako, Heads are not permitted to force suit sensors outside of Code Red.