SCORPION / SCORPION

‘Herein lies your first endeavor,
this mission that will win your flesh.
Sail till your armor’s tipped with fire,
to the darkness’ final quest.
Find the light that terrifies men,
when your engine’s burning red,
steady your soul into and then,
bring the starlight’s path of dread.’

1. Every Man Shall obey civil Command; the Captain shall have one full Share and a half of all Prizes; the Chief, Lieutenant, Gunner and Runner shall have one Share and quarter.
2. If any Man shall offer to run away, or keep any Secret from the Company, he shall be marooned with one Box of Ammo, one Bottle of Water, and one small Arm.
3. If any Man shall steal any Thing in the Company, or Game, to the Value of a Piece of Eight, he shall be marooned or shot.
4. If any time we shall meet another Freelancer that Man shall sign his Articles without the Consent of our Company, shall suffer such Punishment as the Captain and Company shall think fit.
5. That Man that shall strike another whilst these Articles are in force, shall receive Scorpion’s Law (that is, 40 Stripes lacking one) on the bare Back.
6. That Man that shall fire his Arms, smoke Tobacco in the Hold, without a Restrictor on his Pipe, or carry an Open Flame, shall suffer the same Punishment as in the former Article.
7. That Man shall not keep his Arms clean, fit for an Engagement, or neglect his Business, shall be cut off from his Share, and suffer such other Punishment as the Captain and the Company shall think fit.
8. If any Man shall lose a Joint in time of an Engagement, shall have 400 Pieces of Eight; if a Limb, 800.
9. If at any time you meet with a prudent Woman, that Man that offers to meddle with her, without her Consent, shall suffer present Death.