Editing ESR:Search & Rescue, the Credo, and You

{{Template:Credo|expanded=Policies}} {{ESR}}See [[Policy:Alts_and_the_Credo | Alts and the Credo]] for additional detail on use of alts in Signal Cartel

In Signal Cartel '''first and foremost there is [[the Credo]]'''. 

Everything we do as part of Signal Cartel starts there. The [[ESR:EvE-Scout_Rescue|EvE-Scout Rescue Division]] is no different but often raises unique Credo questions. Sometimes it is not always clear to new and old members what is the “Credo Way” for the various situations Search and Rescue poses. It is hoped to clarify some of those here and provide a foundation for resolving others. All of the following was developed in consultation with Signal Cartel leadership.

First let us define [[ESR:Search And Rescue (SAR) Full Guide | Search and Rescue]]:

*A SAR operation occurs when a Signal Cartel pilot enters a wormhole system in response to an officially logged SAR request and guides the stranded pilot to known space.

There are certain requirements for a SAR Request to be officially accepted:

*Target pilot must be in a wormhole
*Target pilot must be unable to scan themself out of the wormhole
*Target pilot must have submitted an official SAR request

If the above conditions are met, then a SAR Request is officially logged. At this point if a Signal Cartel pilot enters the logged SAR system an alert is sent to the [https://evescoutrescue.com/home/about.php SAR Coordinators] and a rescue operation commences. Sometimes this is immediate as a route to the SAR system is known or the Signal Cartel pilot is in the same system already. A SAR request must still be officially made and entered in those situations.

This is an important Credo issue as our Search and Rescue operations can be perceived as violating our neutrality, and we must always tread carefully to maintain our neutrality. Always logging and recording our Search and Rescue actions helps guide us in this.

When conducting Search and Rescue operations we have a number of '''hard restrictions''' that keep us in line with the Credo:

*For a Signal Cartel pilot to guide a stranded pilot out of a wormhole system '''a formal SAR request must be opened'''.
*Non–Signal Cartel alts must not be involved in any way in a SAR operation.
**Using of out of corp alts for hole sitting is not an accepted practice. 
**'''All pilots involved in an active SAR must be in corp characters'''.
*Signal Cartel pilots may not guide alts of the lost pilot to the lost pilot. '''We are not a wormhole location service''' nor should we risk guiding hostiles to a wormhole system. To this end '''we guide the lost to known space only'''.
**SAR Coordinators can and have overridden this in exceptional circumstances; however, this is very rare and never done without a serious discussion within the SAR Coordinators group.
*Signal Cartel pilots '''may not conduct rescues during active conflict''' in a wormhole system as this would violate our neutrality. If there are survivors once active conflict has ended and those survivors contact us to be located we can consider a SAR operation.
*In cases where lone explorers are being actively hunted when they make a rescue request we will advise the stranded pilot to hide and logoff if possible so we can wait for the hunters to leave.
**If hunters arrive during a rescue then the op shall continue as it has already been started. If the stranded pilot is concerned and would rather just log out, the operation might be postponed until the hunters leave. We leave this to pilot's discretion. Our SAR ships are considered expendable. This also applies to active local corporations who discover a SAR op underway.

All this is informed by the general principle that Signal Cartel pilots may not provide “navigation favours” to third parties – including out-of-corp alts owned by Signal Cartel members – in order to assist them in avoiding conflicts, camps, or other dangers, nor to gain entrance to any wormhole. For all practical purposes, out-of-corp alts are to be treated like any other non-Signal Cartel pilot: as a third party. Aiding third parties to help them avoid danger is a violation of our neutrality. Likewise, such alts should not make such requests of Signal Cartel pilots. If they do, report it to leadership as it will be considered a violation of the Credo by the Signal Cartel member who owns that alt.

When confronted with the decision about how and when to give aid to a stranded capsuleer, these are things we always have to address. The reality is there are many times we have to tell a pilot we are unable to help them and generally those pilots are very understanding. The Credo must always be factored into and serve as the primary guide for our actions. When situations call for actions that may violate the Credo, your decisions as a Signal Cartel member are expected to align 100% with the Credo regardless of the impact on your wallet, your friendships, and your personal feelings in the matter. When in doubt about whether something is okay to do under the Credo, the simple way to avoid a Credo conflict in most cases is to do nothing.

==== Reference ====
Original forum post: [https://forums.eve-scout.com/topic/4974/search-rescue-the-credo-and-you Search & Rescue, the Credo, and You]