User:Sirryan2002

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Introduction

Life on the NSS Cyberiad is far from perfect and sometimes downright awful. Occasionally citizens cannot find work or a crew member was viciously beaten by security and the crew's anger level begins to rise. This is to be expected, NanoTrasen has blessed the crew with the right to peacefully protest. However, from time-to-time, these protestors will turn violent once they realize their message falls on deaf ears. It is up to you to remind them that civil liberties are not a right but actually a privilege that can easily be taken away.

Descalating Conflict

Often, the most effective way to contain a riot is to stop it from happening in the first place. Believe it or not, communicating with the protestors and listening to them prevents bloodshed. If their complaint is reasonable then do what you can to ameliorate the issue. It often helps to call in a mediator such as the IAA, Magistrate, or Captain to facilitate diplomatic conversation. Keep security officers away from the protest until they're needed. An officer's presence is an opportunity for a brawl to break out. Don't do anything to make the protestors feel threatened and do not arrest anyone unless they are directly committing a crime.

Preparing For The Worst

Once it is apparent that the diplomatic option isn't working you should take preventative action. Order officers to equip pepper spray, flashes, stun batons, zip ties, and security holobarrier projectors. Hold a mini-briefing session within the security department in order to share intel, assess the threat, and assemble a plan in case things turn ugly. Once the protestors start throwing firebombs, disrupting traffic, or destroying assets the station should be raised to blue alert. At this point, you are ready to begin moving in. Use the Warden's megaphone to tell the protestors that this is now an "illegal gathering" and that they need to disperse. After a minute, anyone who continues to protest is now considered a rioter.

The Birth and Death of a Riot

Crowd Control

Too often, security will focus on what's in front of them rather than the big picture. Begining cordoning off areas around the protestors, make sure this cordon covers the entrance to departments as well as expensive assets. Always leave the main hallway leading to the center of the station open as a means of escape for rioters. The idea is that when the fight or flight response kicks in they always have an option to choose the latter and avoid a fight. Holobarriers are great for making this cordon as well as the warden's security barriers.

Types and Causes

Employment Riots

A more common provocation for disorder is the inability of unemployed civilians to obtain positions or access due to the absence, incapacitation, or refusal of the Head of Personnel or relevant HR authority. The nature of this bureaucratic backlog inherently gives rise to pissed-off crowds of people with nothing to do but cause trouble. Strong security presence and working to placate the crowd by having someone assign them low-level jobs should prevent violence breaking out. Be prepared to arrest anyone attempting to escalate it or provoke security into retaliating against the crowd as a whole.

Prison Riots

Possibly as a surprise people do not enjoy being locked up. This goes double for prisoners who are locked up with nothing to do. Most prison riots will take place in permanent housing (Perma) and as such it is suggested to use the N2O riot suppression system unless they are species that do not breath. Then use of flashes, flash bangs, and tazers is suggested. After the prisoners are suppressed place them in solitary and it is suggested to keep an officer watching the prisoners until calm.

Keeping the Peace

Crowd Control

There are many situations where numerous individuals will be concentrated in confined areas due to legal orders, physical safety, or otherwise out of necessity. Most often this will be while in the department lounge awaiting the arrival of the NTV Charon, evacuating on the Emergency Shuttle, or during an emergency evacuation to one of the outpost stations. Maintain 100% alertness, uphold all the relevant laws and orders. If there are multiple people attacking crewmen and causing chaos, it is acceptable use flash bangs to subdue them, but to minimum extent necessary, and only as a last resort to save lives.

Preventing Escalation

Don't flash-bang everyone into deafness, you dolt.

Establishing a Perimeter

Areas where windows allow for disabler fire to incapacitate the crowd without closing are ideal. If high security areas are in the vicinity of the riot, have them bolted down. The AI's ability to bolt doors will allow you to block off crowds where needed. Defending areas with Barriers and Portable Flashers can be most easily done in the brig or near the Bridge

Protect Assets; Arrest Later

You are issued HUDs for a reason; breaking formation or opening airlocks to make arrest on-scene is unnecessary. Mark The involved persons "Arrest" with a note that they were rioting, adding additional crime as they commit them, Beepsky will get them later. Remember you're there to disperse the riot with as little force as needed; arresting individual suspects AFTER the riot is broken up is safer for everyone involved.

The Lethal Option

If loss of control appears eminent and valuable crew and assets are in danger, lethal force may be the only remaining tool to curtail the violence short of a shuttle call. This should be applied to the minimum degree necessary to save life and limb and break up the riot, and only then with the permission of the Captain or Central Command. This does not mean field-execute everyone present. That said, if there are armed, organized instigators actively targeting Security or Command, kill their asses dead.