Flag Protocol

From Republic

Flag Protocol

Background

The Flag Protocol is a vessel identification standard that was established in -233Y, before the formation of the Republic as a means to streamline interstellar security, mercantile, and space-traffic control procedures. Because of its early inception, the same standard is used throughout most of occupied space, including the Republic, the Kollectiv, Free Tibet, and Germania. The Flag Protocol not only sends I.D. but issues a series of challenges between the sender and receiver to authenticate the identity of both when in contact. It is so-named because the protocol allows for the transmission of a human-readable graphic of the vessel’s nation of registry, among other things.

Use

The Flag Protocol is used primarily by the Ship Identification Transponder, but is also used to communicate additional information from other transmission devices. For example, commercial vessels entering a system will often use there normal communications channels to transmit additional cargo, manifest, itinerary, and customs documentation if the port of entry can use that information to streamline the bureaucratic process.

While the “Flag” graphic is probably a less useful aspect of the protocol, it is the most recognized and visually striking. When receiving a Ship Identification Transponder's transmission, the “Flag” image is usually the default icon and background for all things associated with the identified vessel on displays.

Ship Identification Transponder and the Law

Backgound

The Flag Protocol is the language of the Ship Identification Transponder (SIT) which constantly transmits the owning vessel’s identification. This will usually include a graphic of the nation of registry (a flag), the vehicles identification number, make, model, port handling requirements such as fuel type and ship volume, and so-on.

This device is required on all vessels intending to operate within the boundary of the Republic and is usually installed in a relatively inaccessible part of the bulkhead somewhere. In private and commercial vessels within the Republic, its information is hard-coded and set at the factory and tampering with the device is illegal.

Tactical Implications

By way of transmission, the SIT also announces a ship’s presence and location. This produces an obvious tactical disadvantage when dealing with pirates or enemy vessels. In recognition of this fact-of-life, the SIT has an “off” switch that can be toggled on the captain’s order, but this requires a written explanation whenever done within the Republic. In ships conforming to Republic Codes, deactivation of the SIT will be recorded in the ships Black Box recorder. Some military vessels may be equipped with special SITs can be configured to transmit minimal identification or even bogus ones.

Ship Identification Transponder and Foreign Powers

Any vessel operating within the Republic must have an SIT using the Flag Protocol. The Republic has enforceable international treaties to ensure that SITs issued in Germania, Free Tibet, and the Kollectiv for use in the Republic meet the nation’s standards for authenticity and security.

Vessels wishing to do business within the Republic from nations without a normal trade relationship must go through an additional process. They must find a port within the Republic willing to sponsor it (although it will keep its foriegn registry), purchase an SIT from a vendor authorized to sell to a foreign vessel, and have the SIT installed by a vendor licensed to do so in a foreign vessel.

Non-Use and Illegal Use within the Republic

Any object in space large enough to cause a hazard to traffic that is not transmitting their identification by Flag Protocol are Unidentified Foriegn Objects. Such objects may be dangerous debris posing a navigational hazard, an unauthorized foreign presence, an illegal operation, or even a Bug infestation. The actual response is subject to some discretion depending upon other variables but an armed response by Republic authority is mandatory.

Interestingly, since tranmitting a bogus I.D. generally warrants a lesser mandatory response, pirates will sometimes transmit their "Pirate Flag" rather than going completely silent.