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Imperial Code of Justice

Book VII — Military Justice

Enacted by the Imperial Senate pursuant to the Imperial Charter and granted Imperial Assent by His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Draco Tanos.

Book VII establishes the separate body of law governing members of the Imperial Armed Forces. Military justice exists to preserve discipline, loyalty, readiness, good order, combat effectiveness, and the lawful exercise of command while remaining faithful to the Imperial Charter and the rule of law.

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Title I — General Provisions

Article 601 — Scope
This Book applies to:

• Members of the Imperial Army;
• Members of the Imperial Navy;
• Members of the Imperial Starfighter Corps;
• Members of the Imperial Stormtrooper Corps;
• Members of Battlestation Command;
• Members of reserve, auxiliary, or local defense forces while lawfully activated under Imperial authority;
• Such additional military personnel as may be designated by law.

Article 602 — Purpose
Military justice exists to preserve discipline, readiness, loyalty, good order, combat effectiveness, mission accomplishment, and lawful command throughout the Imperial Armed Forces.

Article 603 — Military Courts
Military offenses shall be adjudicated through courts-martial, military tribunals, and other military judicial bodies established by law.

Military courts shall remain separate from the ordinary Judiciary. Appeals shall proceed according to military law and such procedures as may be established by Imperial statute.

Title II — Offenses Against Discipline

Article 604 — Insubordination
A service member commits Insubordination when they knowingly refuse, disregard, undermine, or contemptuously challenge lawful military authority.

This offense shall constitute a Class II, Class III, or Class IV military offense depending upon severity and operational consequence.

Article 605 — Disobedience of Lawful Orders
A service member commits this offense when they knowingly fail or refuse to obey a lawful order issued by competent authority.

This offense shall constitute a Class II, Class III, or Class IV military offense. Where the disobedience occurs during combat or causes grave loss, it may constitute a Class V military felony.

Article 606 — Disrespect Toward a Superior
A service member commits this offense when they knowingly engage in conduct that materially undermines the dignity, authority, or command of a superior officer or non-commissioned officer.

This offense shall constitute a Class I or Class II military offense.

Article 607 — Conduct Prejudicial to Good Order
A service member commits this offense when their conduct materially harms discipline, readiness, morale, cohesion, public confidence, or military effectiveness.

This offense shall constitute a Class I, Class II, or Class III military offense.

Article 608 — Intoxication While on Duty
A service member commits this offense when they become impaired by intoxicants, controlled substances, or other means while assigned to duty or while required to remain fit for immediate service.

This offense shall constitute a Class II or Class III military offense.

Title III — Offenses Against Duty

Article 609 — Dereliction of Duty
A service member commits Dereliction of Duty when they negligently, recklessly, or intentionally fail to perform duties required by law, regulation, lawful order, or assigned responsibility.

This offense shall constitute a Class II, Class III, or Class IV military offense.

Article 610 — Absence Without Leave
A service member commits Absence Without Leave when they fail to report for duty, depart from an assigned post, or remain absent from their unit without lawful authorization.

This offense shall constitute a Class I, Class II, or Class III military offense depending upon duration and consequence.

Article 611 — Abandonment of Post
A service member commits this offense when they abandon an assigned post, watch, station, vessel, or security duty without authorization.

This offense shall constitute a Class III or Class IV military offense.

Article 612 — Sleeping on Duty
A service member commits this offense when they sleep while assigned to guard, watch, security, flight, command, medical, or other critical duty.

This offense shall constitute a Class II or Class III military offense.

Article 613 — Loss or Misuse of Military Property
A service member commits this offense when negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct results in the loss, destruction, compromise, unauthorized transfer, or misuse of military equipment, vessels, weapons, information, or resources.

This offense shall constitute a Class II, Class III, or Class IV military offense.

Title IV — Offenses During War or Combat

Article 614 — Desertion
A service member commits Desertion when they abandon military service with intent to avoid duty, combat, hazardous assignment, or continuing military obligation.

Desertion shall constitute a Class IV or Class V military felony.

Article 615 — Desertion During Wartime
Desertion during a declared war, active campaign, invasion, insurrection, rebellion, or State of Emergency shall constitute a Class V military felony.

Article 616 — Cowardice Before the Enemy
A service member commits this offense when, through fear or unwillingness, they intentionally abandon lawful duties in the presence of hostile forces or refuse necessary action against the enemy.

This offense shall constitute a Class III, Class IV, or Class V military offense depending upon the consequences.

Article 617 — Failure to Support Fellow Service Members
A service member commits this offense when they knowingly abandon, betray, or fail to provide reasonable aid to fellow service members where military duty requires such assistance.

This offense shall constitute a Class III or Class IV military offense.

Article 618 — Unlawful Surrender of Military Assets
A commander commits this offense when they knowingly and unlawfully surrender personnel, vessels, installations, weapons, territory, or strategic resources when continued resistance or orderly withdrawal remained reasonably possible.

This offense shall constitute a Class IV or Class V military felony.

Title V — Offenses Against Loyalty

Article 619 — Mutiny
A service member commits Mutiny when they participate in collective disobedience, revolt, armed resistance, or organized opposition against lawful military authority.

Mutiny shall constitute a Class V military felony.

Article 620 — Incitement to Mutiny
A service member commits this offense when they knowingly encourage, organize, advocate, finance, or facilitate mutinous conduct.

This offense shall constitute a Class IV or Class V military felony.

Article 621 — Aiding the Enemy
A service member commits this offense when they knowingly provide assistance, intelligence, supplies, shelter, access, transportation, or other material support to hostile forces.

This offense shall constitute a Class V military felony.

Article 622 — Military Espionage
A service member who commits espionage involving military plans, operations, fleet movements, defense systems, classified technology, or military intelligence shall be prosecuted under this Book and Book V of the Imperial Code of Justice.

Military Espionage shall constitute a Class V military felony of the highest degree.

Article 623 — Unauthorized Dissemination of Classified Information
A service member commits this offense when they knowingly disclose, transfer, publish, or make available classified or restricted military information to a person not authorized to receive it.

This offense shall constitute a Class III, Class IV, or Class V military offense depending upon the information and resulting harm.

Title VI — Officers and Command

Article 624 — Abuse of Command Authority
A commander commits this offense when they knowingly misuse command authority for unlawful personal gain, punishment, favoritism, coercion, retaliation, exploitation, or another unlawful purpose.

This offense shall constitute a Class III, Class IV, or Class V military felony.

Article 625 — Unlawful Orders
No service member shall be required to obey an order that is manifestly unlawful.

Compliance with a manifestly unlawful order shall not automatically relieve a person of legal responsibility. A service member who reasonably questions the legality of an order shall report the matter through lawful command or Inspectorate channels as circumstances permit.

Article 626 — Responsibility of Command
Commanders bear responsibility for maintaining discipline, protecting personnel, ensuring readiness, preserving lawful conduct, and enforcing military law within their commands.

Failure to discharge these duties may constitute Dereliction of Duty, Abuse of Command Authority, or another offense under this Book.

Article 627 — Failure to Prevent or Report Crimes
A commander or service member who knowingly permits, conceals, or fails to report a serious offense where duty requires intervention may be held accountable under military law.

Title VII — Honor and Service

Article 628 — Conduct Unbecoming
Officers and senior non-commissioned personnel shall conduct themselves in a manner reflecting honor, integrity, professionalism, restraint, and loyalty.

Conduct seriously inconsistent with those standards may constitute an offense.

Article 629 — Duelling and Unlawful Violence Between Service Members
A service member commits this offense when they engage in an unauthorized duel, assault, or violent confrontation with another member of the Imperial Armed Forces.

This offense shall constitute a Class II, Class III, or Class IV military offense depending upon resulting harm.

Article 630 — Honor of Service
Nothing in this Book shall diminish the honor owed to those who faithfully serve the Empire.

Military justice exists not merely to punish wrongdoing, but to preserve the trust, discipline, and effectiveness upon which the defense of civilization depends.

Article 631 — Purpose of Military Justice
The provisions of this Book exist to ensure that the Imperial Armed Forces remain disciplined, loyal, effective, and prepared to defend the Galactic Empire.

Military justice shall preserve the honorable traditions inherited from the Grand Army of the Republic while advancing the principles of Peace, Security, Justice, Order, and Prosperity embodied by the New Order.

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