def parse_numeric_code(self, force_hex=False):
        """
        Parses and returns the numeric code as an integer.

        The numeric code can be either base 10 or base 16, depending on
        where the message came from.

        :param force_hex: force the numeric code to be processed as base 16.
        :type force_hex: boolean

        :raises: ValueError
        """
        code = None
        got_error = False

        if not force_hex:
            try:
                code = int(self.numeric_code)
            except ValueError:
                got_error = True

        if force_hex or got_error:
            try:
                code = int(self.numeric_code, 16)
            except ValueError:
                raise

        return code
Parses and returns the numeric code as an integer.

        The numeric code can be either base 10 or base 16, depending on
        where the message came from.

        :param force_hex: force the numeric code to be processed as base 16.
        :type force_hex: boolean

        :raises: ValueError