It is the presence of the honor code that makes Kerren such an interpersonal drama (soap opera). Everyone follows it, to some degree. Only Ryders are held to it.
Honesty :
To self: Since you have to be honest with your self, you find yourself doing and acting on feelings, that other societies would normally suppress (by lying to yourself about their importance)
To everyone: You are supposed to be honest with everyone, yet we we all know how too much honesty can be a problem. This rule is often in conflict with Duty and Cooperation
Co-Operation : Kerren society is built upon the foundation of cooperation. You are bound to help people in need, to do what you can for the wing/ ward/ cluster/ society as a whole. You may hate someone's guts, but when the Zhan are falling, you work with them as a full part of your team. Sometimes people repress honesty to make cooperation possible. Sometimes your need to do what is best for the group, you have to toss personal loyalty out the window.
Duty : Every person has a job to do and they should do it, no matter what. Kerren's cooperative society, everyone does there part. If you have been given a duty, you have to do it... everyone is counting upon you. Some people see this as a need for excellence, however.. the code implies you just need to do the job well... not better.
Loyalty : Loyalty to ones's crew, one's "captain", and one's friends is a very important ideal. However, it creates the conflict when dealing with duty, cooperation, and honest.
"Word" : This is not technically part of the "code". It is a bi-product. It is one's reputation. In a society and as stratified and small as Kerrens, your reputation is how people see you. Since many of the laws and rules are subjective to the Warden (head of the ward), the ward's opinion of you becomes very important. that is why when someone is a bit too honest, duels will often errupt to defend one's word.
Cool little honor system. In theory, a perfect one. Like all honor systems, when you take them a bit farther than they were designed, they can create some strange results.