Department Standard Operating Procedure: Science

These are In-Character Guidelines Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are general guidelines and may be used as justification for administrative action and/or IC punishments, such as being fired from your position. They are not meant to be followed to the letter, because circumstances and context may permit you to break SOP. However, the fact that SOP is malleable is not an excuse to ignore it entirely.

Research Director

1. The Research Director is permitted to carry a telescopic baton and a flash.
2. The Research Director is not permitted to authorize the construction of AI units without the Captain’s approval. An exception is made if the station was not provided with an AI unit, or the previous AI unit had to be destroyed.
3. The Research Director is permitted to change the AI unit’s lawset, provided they receive general approval from the Captain and/or another Head of Staff. If there are no other Heads of Staff available, Captain approval will suffice. The Research Director must order the AI to state their new laws immediately after uploading them.
4. The Research Director must work with Robotics to make sure all Cyborgs remain slaved to the station’s AI unit, except in such a situation where the AI unit has been subverted or is malfunctioning.
5. The Research Director must ensure the proper containment of all hostile Xenobiology lifeforms.
6. The Research Director may be held accountable for any nanites that are released for public use.
7. The Research Director should not place any department restricted equipment in a place with public access.

Scientist

1. Scientists are not permitted to create AI Core Boards without express permission from the Captain and Research Director.
2. Scientists are not permitted to free any Xenobiology lifeforms without formal approval from the Research Director.
3. Scientists may not experiment on crewmembers without their written consent and approval from the Research Director.
4. Scientists are, however, permitted to offer the Slimeperson or other mutations to other crewmembers after they are approved by the Research Director.
5. Scientists are not permitted to create department-restricted equipment outside of their respective department without written consent of the appropriate department head.

Roboticist

1. The Roboticist is not permitted to construct Combat Mechs without express permission from the Captain or Head of Security. This refers to the Durand, Gygax and Phazon. If permitted, the mechs are to be delivered to the Warden.
2. The Roboticist is freely permitted to construct utility mechs, along with any assorted utility equipment. This refers to Ripleys (to be handed to Mining), Firefighting Ripleys (to be handed to Atmospherics) and the Odysseus Medical Mech (to be handed to Medical). The HONK mech is not to be constructed without written approval by the Research Director and Captain.
3. The Roboticist is freely permitted to construct Cyborgs and all assorted equipment.
4. The Roboticist is not permitted to debrain crewmembers or turn them into Cyborgs without express written consent from the crewmember in question. The consent form should be kept safe.
5. The Roboticist is not permitted to construct AI units without express consent from the Captain and Research Director.
6. The Roboticist must place a tracking beacon on all constructed mechs.
7. The Roboticist must work together with the Research Director to make sure all Cyborgs remain slaved to the station’s AI Unit, except in such a situation where the AI Unit has been subverted or is malfunctioning.
8. The Roboticist must DNA-Lock all parked mechs prior to delivery. DNA-Lock must be removed when the mech is delivered to its final destination.

Exploration Crew

1. The Exploration Crew are permitted to carry UNMODIFIED Multi-Purpose Energy Guns, and knives. They are additionally permitted to store breaching charges and detonators on the exploration shuttle.
2. The Exploration Crew are not permitted to carry and/or use obtained contraband items for purposes other than handing them in to Security.
3. The Exploration Crew is not to build any non-exploratory equipment on the exploration shuttle. Structural modifications to the shuttle fine.
   1. This means an entire medbay with chemistry should not be constructed.
   2. This also applies for other similar constructions that make reliance on an entire department unnecessary. This is due to internal licensing agreements between Nanotrasen subsidiaries.
4. Security should send a detail to accompany the exploration team on VIP or assassination missions.
5. The Exploration Crew is expected to pursue their assigned goal, though they should prioritize their own well-being over accomplishing their goals.