Avalon Research & Design Group
The Avalon Group of the Fourth Fleet Advanced Research & Design Bureau encompasses dozens of different Institutes and hundreds of different projects taking place at Avalon Fleet Yards and across the Avalon System. Meant to be the tip of the spear in scientific, engineering, and medical research for the Fourth Fleet, this group’s interdisciplinary and highly collaborative nature brings the best and the brightest minds together to solve problems and develop innovations.
Institutes are multi-project teams that occupy a dedicated shore facility or several full levels aboard a station or research module. Projects are either sub-units of institutes or smaller independent research teams, which have several interconnected lab facilities. Teams are either sub-units of projects or institutes or are new initiatives in their early stages of formation under the Avalon Group, typically having just one lab or similar facility. The leaders of institutes, projects, and teams must regularly meet with one another to share ideas and resources, as well as status updates.
Institutes
Institutes are large, multi-project teams that encompass either their own planetary facilities or a major research module on one of Avalon’s many space stations. Institutes are led by fleet captains and above and often consist of a half-dozen or more projects with hundreds of scientists, engineers, and/or doctors.
Institute for Experimental Rehabilitative Medicine (IERM)
The Institute for Experimental Rehabilitative Medicine (IERM) is a medical research agency within the Avalon Group of the Fourth Fleet Advanced Research & Design Bureau. Led by Admiral Linda Knox-Stanton, this institute was founded to explore new therapies to help patients recover physically, emotionally, and spiritually from traumatic injuries. Occupying a complex within Sato City on Avalon III, the Institute has in-patient facilities for two-hundred patients who are participating in about a dozen different research projects.
Genetronic Nanocybernetics Project
The Genetronic Nanocybernetics Project (Codename: Hephaestus) is a project operating under the auspices of the Institute for Experimental Rehabilitative Medicine to study the combination of genetronic replication and nano-scale cybernetics to treat patients with severe spinal cord injuries. Started after his success with a procedure conducted on the Risian Lieutenant Zaos Sarcaryn, this project is being led by Captain Alenis Anjar.
Nanocybernetics Team
The Nanocybernetics Team is one of the teams under Project Hephaestus, developing nano-scale cybernetics that can help regenerate or replace the connections between nerves. Primarily an engineering team rather than a medical team, this team has experts in cybernetics, nanotechnology, and microphysics. It is led by Lieutenant Commander X.
Institute for Advanced Impulse Engine Design
Phase 7 Impulse Manifold Project
Fusion Reactor Enhancement Team
Institute for Observational Cosmology
New Deep Space Telescope Project
Deep Space Scanning Team
Independent Research Projects
There are many research projects under the Avalon Group that do not report to an insitute, often because the project is still at an early stage and it will later mature into an institute once initial research has been completed. These independent projects may also have affiliations with more than one institute, thus making them better suited to remain independent. Projects are led by commanders and captains, and can consist of several dozen scientists, engineers, and/or doctors.
Independent Research Teams
As with independent research projects, some research teams under the Avalon Group are not part of any one project or institute, either because their work is still in its early stages or because their work is affiliated with more than one project. They may later mature into projects of their own. Teams are led by lieutenants and lieutenant commanders.