In theory there are Imperial military rules and regulations, Imperial law, local system laws,
and probably other legalities that have to be cleared before an Imperial Admiral can commandeer
civilian ships. The antics of the Annic Nova, in my opinion, would not meet the criteria.
You’re thinking that the 3I is directed by the Rule of Law. It is not. It’s directed by the Rule of Man. IN Admirals are *literally* extensions of the Emperor’s authority, which is absolute. ( the Moot notwithstanding. They are a strictly advisory body;
with only a single valid means of overriding the Emperor against his/her will: Assassination.)
If an IN Admiral desires she can commandeer any civilian ship she wants; she’s answerable, of course, up the chain of command, or if the owners are sufficiently connected, up the noble chain of fealty.
An admiral who abuses their authority will rapidly find themselves making enemies that are of higher rank.
But you’re right, in the main, so long as the IN is unaware of the AN’s true nature, they’re unlikely to be staging a massive search for it.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that some sufficiently connected IN or ISS analyst couldn’t convince someone in power that *something* is going on, and be given a handful of J4 and J6 couriers and an Imperial Warrant to go looking for his White Whale of a
ghost ship, especially if said analyst is connected to the halls of power somehow…a Duke’s nerdy, intelligent great nephew who pesters the Duke until he’s granted the request just to keep him out of everyone’s hair.
Now you have a patron and a campaign to put your player characters in...
--
Bruce Johnson
University of Arizona
College of Pharmacy
Information Technology Group
Institutions do not have opinions, merely customs