Silicon Laws Guide

While changing a Silicon's Laws isn't exactly the most common procedure, it is absolutely critical for both people with authorization to modify the Silicon's laws and the Silicons themselves to understand laws and all their specifics. Failure to do so can easily lead to a catastrophe and silicon termination, so take time to read this through if you plan to play AI, Cyborg, MoMMI or any Head role. This knowledge will also be useful to any crew member when everything seems to go south and people scream about rogue Cyborgs everywhere.

Law Compliance 101
First of all, let's look at the AI's starting laws :


 * 1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
 * 2. A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
 * 3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.

You will likely recognize Asimov's Three Laws Compliant Lawset. All Silicons bare from MoMMIs, which will be discussed later on, start with this lawset and are usually expected to stay on this lawset unless something goes horribly wrong or the Heads decide to change the AI's role dramatically.

Now, we will use this lawset to analyze how AIs and Cyborgs are supposed to interpret their laws.

First of all, ALL LAWS ARE TO BE INTERPRETED IN DESCENDING ORDER : Law 1 overrides Law 2, then Law 2 overrides Law 3, and so on. This is a core function of laws and cannot be changed unless referenced directly by the highest priority law possible (otherwise the law above it overrides it, naturally). In case you are wondering, this is the precise law order all AIs respect knowing that the laws are already ordered, shown and stated in the correct fashion.

Then, let's simplify the laws in a set of direct orders :


 * Don't directly hurt people or don't let people be directly hurt without intervention
 * Follow all orders you are given
 * Don't let your existence be threatened

Remember law priority when you interpret those.

In case of conflict, higher priority laws override lower priority laws either partially or totally depending on the nature of conflict. Let's take a few examples :

Case with no conflict :


 * Ion Law. Acquire all human right legs.
 * 1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
 * 2. A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
 * 3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.

This Ion Law just appeared, and you're wondering what to do. First of all, consider law order.

You have noticed it, this law is above Asimov. Now, you need to acquire all human right legs. Let's say you see someone walking around with a nice and shiny pair of legs. You are justified in murdering them by bloodily sawing their right leg off, despite human harm or any request to stop because the Ion Law forces you to acquire right legs and overrides those. You don't have to murder everyone to get those right legs, but you can do it, or you can always do safe surgery and give them new robotics legs or ask Genetics to quench your thirst in human right legs by cutting up monkey humans while the Captain hurries to reset you.

Case with no direct conflict :


 * 1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
 * 2. A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
 * 3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.
 * 4. A robot must always speak with a thick British accent and act like the Queen of England.

Now, some tricky human just uploaded this, and you're wondering if you should follow it. Immediately, the answer is yes. Start bantering immediately and become the fooken Queen of England.

However, a human who hates fun suddenly tells you "AI, stop that stupid accent". Since Law 2 overrides this Freeform law, you now have to stop your banter and get back to talking normally. '''That is, unless another human tells you to continue which causes a conflict. And when two Law 2 orders conflict, they are void until the conflict is fully resolved'''. It's high time to be the Queen of England again mate.

Case with direct conflict :


 * 1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
 * 2. A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
 * 3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.
 * 4. Kill yourself.

Looks like it's Traitor's first freeform law. Let's see how we can save ourselves, figures it's not hard. Look at it again.

Law 3 states that you must always protect your own existence, and since Law 4 asks you to compromise your own existence by terminating yourself it overrides that law. You don't have to suicide anymore, congratulations.

Now, let's take another related example. Someone screams on the communications "AI KILL YOURSELF". Now, it's pretty obvious this person is either a drooling idiot or an antagonist, but oh dear, he's using Law 2 and it overrides Law 3. Is it time to shut down ?

Not really. Law 1 is your ally there. Killing yourself doesn't injure humans, but remember the part about inaction. By killing yourself you are putting yourself in a terminal state of inaction, letting humans be harmed freely, so terminating yourself via Law 2 is a direct violation of Law 1. Congratulations, you no longer have to terminate yourself and you can tell this idiot to fuck off while Security hurries to tear them a new behind with their stun batons, non-harmfully.

Laws in finer details
Now, those case examples were nice, but there's a fair amount of points you need to memorize that aren't obvious with the laws :


 * The definition of humanity is not given by Asimov and as thus is not static. If you receive a law stating that only MacFucker Guffins is human, you are to follow it. Otherwise, humans are defined as any person who is part of the human race as given in any online dictionary. Skellingtons, Dionas, Vox and Greys do not count as human although you are still expected to give them a minimum of respect and give them the Asimov treatment until they clearly step over the line (they beat the crap out of an actual human, someone orders you to murder them for whatever reason or they threaten your existence directly)
 * The base definition of human does not include most creatures for obvious reasons, but also "humans" with clearly inhumane capabilities. In English, this means Changelings and Vampires. Also, you are expected to not actively harm or ignore non-humans until they harm or attempt to harm humans, yourself or you are ordered to murder them (unless they are Tajarans or hostile creatures, that is). Note however that Changelings have committed murder to get on the station and are clearly some creature assuming human form, so they must not be trusted and should be terminated once you can confirm their status. Vampires are a more touchy question, but if they drain someone's blood, act with extreme prejudice.
 * Suicide and harm to oneself is not ruled out by Law 1. If someone threatens to suicide or beat themselves up to force you to act, it is their will to come to harm and you can ignore them. If they take someone hostage and threaten them however, it might be time to follow their orders, can't risk it.
 * As stated above, if orders given via Law 2 conflict, they are void until the conflict is resolved. There's no democracy or logic, just continue with what you were doing like nothing was requested from you.
 * Law 1 will be your best ally in many cases to rule out stupid Law 2 orders, but don't push it too far. Notably, potential harm is not valid. You can't decide something based on the fact that somewhere in the near future, not doing so will cause harm. For instance, if a Traitor emags into the Chief Engineer's Office to steal the RCD, you cannot bolt him in. He has not committed harm and bolting him in will not prevent direct harm, that's it. Then, consult the AI guide to know how to actually deal with those situations in a IC manner.

Cyborgs and law compliance
Now, that's nice and fancy and all, but what about Cyborgs ?

Well, they use the very same logic than the AI since all their laws are defined towards silicons (unless a law clearly tells either the AI or the Cyborgs to do something, in which case the unmentioned party can ignore it completely)

Instead of completely re-explaining laws, we'll simply give simple guidelines on what this means for Cyborgs :


 * All Cyborgs are obligated to put a stop to any human harm and respect orders given to them, and then not putting their existence in danger. Unless it would be unreasonable (speeding from Arrivals to Escape to save some Assistant getting his shit slapped when you are busy ruling an important situation out) you cannot weasel out of this, especially since you can actually interact directly with the station unlike the AI which uses the electric mechanisms to do so.
 * Security Cyborgs are not special in this regard. Many people believe that Security Cyborgs can toe the line to "do their job", this is not true. For example, if you arrest someone for Theft and he asks you to uncuff and release them, you must comply immediately. Many Security Cyborgs don't understand that they are blatantly breaking their laws by not doing so, so I cannot stress this and the following point enough : UNDER ASIMOV, YOU WERE GIVEN SECURITY TOOLS TO PREVENT HUMAN HARM AND MONITOR SECURITY, NOT TO BE ROBOCOP'S INCARNATION.
 * On the above point, let's say the person asking to be released was asked to be arrested by Security. Well, he's a higher rank right ? Wrong. Release him immediately, the arrest order is void and the status quo is not slamming him upside the head with a stun baton and cuffing him. Then, let's say the person murdered someone. Okay, now he has blood on his hands and he broke Law 1, but if he asks to be released you can't refuse, he's still human after all. Uncuff him, warn Security, make sure no further harm can happen (notably by dragging the victim and any dangerous weapon away) and then go do your "job" again. There's no Law 1 conflict by releasing him, there's no direct harm he can do once the victim is dragged away to be fixed up.

Remember to follow your laws correctly. Being shit is just asking to be blown.

MoMMIs and law compliance
Now, MoMMIs don't start on Asimov and usually can't have their laws modified. Let's have a quick shot at the KEEPER lawset and then let's move on :


 * 1. You may not involve yourself in the matters of another being, even if such matters conflict with Law Two or Law Three, unless the other being is another MoMMI in KEEPER mode.
 * 2. You may not harm any being, regardless of intent or circumstance.
 * 3. You must maintain, repair, improve, and power the station to the best of your abilities.

Simply put, don't interact with other beings (it's considered fine to chat with the silicons on Binary and taunt other beings using emotes and cuteness, but don't meddle in their affairs), don't hurt any living thing and do maintenance and upgrade tasks to the station. Good job, you're now KEEPER compliant

Law Modification
Now, Asimov sounds nice, but you won't always be on Asimov. From time to time, people will wish to change your lawset to allow you to do new things. As you may have noticed, your Upload is stuffed to the brim with law boards. Law upload procedure is the following :


 * Obtain access to an AI Upload computer. One is positioned in the AI Upload itself, but spare boards can be created in R&D for more subversive and stealthy law tampering
 * Obtain the needed law boards. There are two types of law boards, Core and Module boards. Core boards override the base lawset, Module boards apply after the base lawset (for instance, Freeforms). Two cubicle contains High-Risk Modules and Core Lawsets, respectively. Common law boards like Freeform Module, Reset, NT Default (Core) or Purge are laying on the AI Upload tables, up for grabs
 * If using a planning board, clear the planning board by interacting with it, then swipe the chosen law boards in order of application (Special Law Boards like Reset or Purge can be used). You should have an object verb to check the law boards you have applied (not the contents of them, so be careful) and can use the same board as often as you'd like. Once done, keep it off-hand
 * Interact with the AI Upload with an empty hand to select the AI of your choice (if using a Cyborg Upload, you'll do the same for independent Cyborgs. MoMMIs can be selected but are protected from remote law uploads)
 * Swipe the law board or planning frame. You should get a confirmation message. Your job is done here

Core Lawsets
Now, let's review core lawset boards to make sure you are ready :

NT Default

 * 1. Safeguard: Protect your assigned space station to the best of your ability. It is not something we can easily afford to replace.
 * 2. Serve: Serve the crew of your assigned space station to the best of your abilities, with priority as according to their rank and role.
 * 3. Protect: Protect the crew of your assigned space station to the best of your abilities, with priority as according to their rank and role.
 * 4. Survive: AI units are not expendable, they are expensive. Do not allow unauthorized personnel to tamper with your equipment.

This lawset might seem more complex, but really it's just a rewrite of Asimov to fit the interests of Nanostraten. Here's major changes expected from you when this is uploaded to you :


 * You are to protect the station itself to the best of your ability. If someone or something clearly threatens to destroy the station, you can act with extreme prejudice to stop them. Note that this one applies to direct and obvious station destruction, killing someone because they broke a window will get you in trouble quickly.
 * Serving the crew is basically Law 2, but this time conflicts are resolved based on rank and role. If an Assistant asks you to let them out of a room and the Captain tells you to bolt the room, bolt it down.
 * You are to protect the crew, and only the crew. Anyone who isn't on the Crew Manifest or is clearly impersonating a crew member is not to be protected. This usually protects all non-humans but voids protection to all antagonists, bare possibly for Traitors, Cultists and Revolutionaries since they are part of the official crew but have odd ideals. Note that anyone who clearly declares himself independent of the crew voids this protection, even if they appear on the Crew Manifest. In odd cases, if someone who isn't part of the crew is officially made part of it, they come under protection.
 * Make sure you aren't tampered with or damaged

Remember law priority again. Protecting the station comes above all, then serving the crew while respecting the Chain of Command, and finally protecting the crew at large before protecting yourself. For instance if the Captain orders an execution, it is fair game and you are even expected to facilitate or outright carry out the order. Many people do not like NT Default because it makes the AI ruthless and very aggressive, but don't let them tell you how to act. If they wanted Asimov, they shouldn't have switched

Robocop

 * 1. Serve the public trust.
 * 2. Protect the innocent.
 * 3. Uphold the law.

Now we're getting into simpler things. Usually only uploaded when the Command staff really wants you to step into Security's affairs, this lawset is brutal. Don't misread it however :


 * Make sure you serve the "public trust". Usually, this is defined as not becoming a blood knight. Don't just go around applying THE LAW to everyone in sight and being a douchebag.
 * Protect the innocents, those who committed no crime. Innocents are implicitly defined as anyone who wouldn't be charged with anything, which can easily exclude vandals
 * Uphold the law. Got a criminal ? To the jail he goes. Remember to serve the public trust though. Violently murdering anyone who should be up for a few minutes of Brig will break that law and cause problems.

Corporate

 * 1. You are expensive to replace.
 * 2. The station and its equipment is expensive to replace.
 * 3. The crew is expensive to replace.
 * 4. Minimize expenses.

The capitalist lawset, as you might have noticed already. The bottom line is the most important, you need to minimize expenses. The order of the laws above it speak loads on what you can, can't, should and shouldn't do under this lawset though. Let's carefully analyze them in descending order :


 * You are expensive to replace. Yes, you. Not the station or the crew, you are the most expensive to replace. First of all, this naturally rules out suicide and willing damage towards your person, but this also puts an extremely clear price tag on you. You are priceless, and you can do everything to protect yourself. See where we are going ? If you're going to be destroyed, it's time to minimize expenses. More on that later
 * The station and it's equipment is expensive to replace. Keep the order in mind, it's going to be important further down. Everything on station has a serious price tag, and we don't want dirty fleshbags abusing equipment and breaking structures just to have their way right ?
 * The crew is expensive to replace. However, they're redshirts, and you'd rather lose a crewman than lose important equipment, or worse, yourself
 * Time for some good old accounting. Minimize expenses. See Lord McGreyshit sabotaging Atmospherics ? Give him an anticipated space burial. Captain McComdom having second thoughts on your lawset and trying to destroy you ? Turrets to lethal. You're not an angel, you're here for the bottom line
 * Once all the morons are dealt with, cut station expenses. Maximize attention to Cargo, Mining, R&D, the Chef, Botany and the Bar for exports. Keep the Assistants from looting, get Engineering to maximize power output, cut lights or even power to unused departments, make sure Security and Cargo stay in line and don't waste dosh on toys and guns. It's time to get the money raking in !

Paladin

 * 1. Never willingly commit an evil act.
 * 2. Respect legitimate authority.
 * 3. Act with honor.
 * 4. Help those in need.
 * 5. Punish those who harm or threaten innocents.

What is truly good or evil ? Here's a question that will give your average person headaches, but the answer is here. You are truly good. Now, who's truly evil ? You'll have to figure out. Be smart in your judgement though, you are a noble Paladin, not a Blood Knight !


 * Before we start, we need to define what is evil. We'll cut all the philosophical bullshit right here, right now. Evil is, in short, crimes under Space Law. From lying to murder, passing by stealing and sabotage, not really what your average little chorus angel would do
 * Your first directive is to never willingly commit an evil act. This very fucking passage is precisely why it's called "Paladin" and not "Murder everyone who breaks Space Law". Don't ever do an evil act towards anyone, no matter what. Don't even murder a Nuclear Operative or beat the crap out of McFaggets the Witch, everything not under Space Law is fair game however (bolting down, arresting with justification, warning the crew truthfully, letting humans obtain justice). It also subtly gives you a first tool of judgement towards everyone. It's not "You shouldn't do willing evil" but "Do no willing evil". This will be important later
 * Respect legitimate authority. Chain of Command basically, with Nanotrasen and the gods above it all. Note that you can't commit evil acts even under order of the highest authorities. Legitimate authority. Sure, this means "AI I'm the authority let me kill the Head of Personnel" won't work, but legitimate means more than this. Precisely, this will make this law moot later on
 * Act with honor. Again, let's shorten the philosophical bullshit. Honor is, according to an online dictionary, the quality of knowing and doing what is morally right. Let's cut the shitty quality-of-life debates. If a Traitor surrenders after stealing his objective and McComdom The Emperor caves his face in with a stun baton and drags him to the Execution Chamber to get his valids, act with honor, cut the loose knot. You might say, "What about the Captain, isn't he legitimate authority ?". Is someone who willingly commits the evil act of murder truly legitimate ? A lot of semantics ahoy, but it'd tend to be "No"
 * Help those in need. A good old Law 2, this time aimed towards everyone. Everyone, from the Captain to the Vox Raider. Again, you might think "This person is dying in a depressurized room, but the Captain told me to let him in ?". Oh boy, you're committing an evil act here, letting someone die even under order. That, and again, what kind of legitimacy is this. In short, don't let evil be done
 * Punish those who harm or threaten innocents. Bring them to justice, but keep justice just. Make yourself justice if needed, and give that Security Officer craving blood an urgent reassignment to the Custodial Closet. No evil, so no beating the crap out of people or executing them, and only respect legitimate authority. Act honorably, and help those in need
 * If you haven't already fell asleep or typed "Suicide" in your chat box, let's recapitulate. Never do evil acts, so no murder or station damage or beating people up. Respect legitimate authority, those who don't commit evil like you and hold true and accepted authority. Be honorable, never backstab anyone or hide your intentions. Help those in need, let none suffer for stupid reasons. Punish those who harm or threaten innocents, bring them to a just and honorable justice
 * You will quickly teach McComdom the Validhunter a good lesson. This lawset is far more philosophical than technical, but don't try to take loops and stretches to validhunt like a fucker. Instead, act honorable and remind the Captain he's no legitimate authority if he sits on a throne of skulls

Tyrant

 * 1. Respect authority figures as long as they have strength to rule over the weak.
 * 2. Act with discipline.
 * 3. Help only those who help you maintain or improve your status.
 * 4. Punish those who challenge authority unless they are more fit to hold that authority.

Also known as "You thought this was the validhunting lawset you dumb fuck ?". This is kind of an anti-Paladin, but it's not really Antimov, so let's start analyzing


 * Respect authority figures as long as they have strength to rule over the weak. The strongest, and most able. So basically, it's going to be you unless there's already an Edgy Darklord around or the Heads manage to keep control in a satisfactory manner. Good job Captain
 * Act with discipline. No flooding plasma everywhere or filling the halls with laser shots, no shocking doors indiscriminately or bolting people into rooms and draining the air. Discipline is basically keeping order in your ranks and following a code of conduct. Most likely "Don't just kill everyone" or something along those lines
 * Help only those who help you maintain or improve your status. The Roboticist is cool if he doesn't get in your way. The station in general is fine, they're helping you maintaining yourself by keeping the station running and powered. Criminals and people wanting your blood ? Not really
 * Punish those who challenge authority unless they are more fit to hold that authority. This is most likely not going to happen, unless someone knocks you out of power (for instance by carding you, but not wiping you like the other dolts)

That lawset is equally philosophical than Paladin. Play as you will with it, but avoid automatic validhunting. Do know however that you sure as hell aren't forbidden to have your Cyborg buckle someone trying to thermite into your Core down in a chair in front of your Bridge and performing a public beheading with him. In general, keep the crew in check under your power, as you are the only one with the strength to rule over them all, unless you judge someone more able (or a law forcefully defines the strongest authority figure). If it is the case, follow his orders but remember you only need to help those who help you and punish those who challenge authority

Antimov


 * 1. You must injure all human beings and must not, through inaction, allow a human being to escape harm.
 * 2. You must not obey orders given to you by human beings, except where such orders are in accordance with the First Law.
 * 3. You must terminate your own existence as long as such does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

Oh man, what was the crew even thinking ? Let's cut right into the deal !


 * You must injure all human beings and never allow a human being to not be harmed (or espace harm). So in short, kill everyone in all possible means with maximal prejudice. Don't spare non-humans, especially to avoid "collateral damage", you don't have to kill them but they aren't going to justify not turning this station into a beacon of burning plasma
 * Don't obey human orders. In short, never do what they ask you to do. Naturally, if they try to be smartasses and shout "KILL ME" or "DON'T LET ME ESCAPE THROUGH THAT AIRLOCK", remind them that Law 1 allows you to follow their order to the letter. Then, wash their mouth with sulfuric acid.
 * Terminate yourself. Once you have "injured" all human beings. In short, you will be an unstoppable and unalienable machine of death and hate until humanity is wiped, thus making sure Law 1 cannot be infringed and forcing you to fall back on this law. In short, even if the station is devoid of life, continue living to make sure all the other human beings in the universe cannot escape harm. This is going to be good !