Special Exemption

Any Captain (and Captains only) of a Union Fleet vessel regardless of its position in or outside of Union space has the authority do respond and act with all necessary force to threats and acts of violence against the ship, Union assets or to prevent the proliferation of Secrets deemed vital to the Existence of the United Stars. Union Captains act with direct Assembly authority to declare war on behalf of the Union if they are beyond communication range. The  Union Captain  declaring war automatically becomes Commander in Chief of all Union Assets within his or her reach. Once Communication is established or restored, the Assembly will decide what level of war or what actions are to be taken.

Level of War Act of 4993