<Document>
# 8. Player vs. Player Combat

Follow escalation and maritime law.

    - Follow escalation guidelines (see Rule 3) before attacking other players' shuttles.
    -- Negotiations must be attempted before boarding actions are started.
    - The crew of non-hostile vessels that surrender cannot be killed, left stranded, or left bankrupt.
    -- The safety of non-hostile merchant vessels is to be guaranteed by all parties.
    -- Only the goods aboard a ship are valid plunder. All players' bank accounts must remain untouched.
    - Hostile forces that are known, declared, and confirmed, may be considered 'belligerent'.
    -- Belligerent ships may be boarded non-conventionally, and have their systems disabled in attempts to bring them to justice.
    - All suspects taken alive must be adequately cared for and unharmed according to Space Law.

</Document>
