Beta Aquilae Convention

The Beta Aquilae Convention was ratified in 2358, which centralized power in the Galactic Terran-Vasudan Alliance. As its name indicated, it was signed at Beta Aquilae, which is also known to be a highly important base of operations for the GTA. The convention included the common law in GTVA space and defended civilian rights. It also controlled military behaviour and regularised military morale. After days of debate and concillation, both sides agreed on all points of the pact and the Beta Aquilae Convention was born.

The Neo-Terran Front refused to accept the conditions of BETAC and completely ignored its presence until it could be used to unsettle GTVA Command, who must follow the convention. The epitome was when the NTC Trinity was found in the Shivan Nebula. The captain of the Trinity referred to his rights as a prisoner of war, based on the Beta Aquilae convention. GTVA Command has no choice but to put capitulate and attempted a rescue.

Specifics of BETAC

We know certain specifics of the Beta Aquilae Convention from ingame data, though, of course, we can not expect to know everything of what is likely to be a long and complex treaty. However, the following has been confirmed by in-game sources:

• Prisoners of war may refuse to answer questions put to them by their captors.
• Firing on escape pods is against the rules of war.
• Civillians are not to be fired upon by either side during a conflict.

Overall, the specifics of BETAC resemble those of the Geneva Convention, and the Terran half of this treaty was probably based on this, or whatever had succeeded it by 2358.