Bravo Fleet
Difference between pages "Starship and Space Station Positions" and "Avalon Research & Design Group"

Difference between pages "Starship and Space Station Positions" and "Avalon Research & Design Group"

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{{TOC limit|3}}Starships and starbases have multiple positions for officers and crew. This article gives several of the most common positions, listed by department. The word 'unit' is used as short-hand to refer to either a starship or space station. While there are similarities across all units, individual commanding officers have wide latitude in developing a command structure that best suits their particular unit, so individual differences are common.
{{Organisation
| name = Avalon Group
| image = [[File:AvalonRDGroupSeal.png]]
| founded =
| affiliation = *[[United Federation of Planets]]
*[[Starfleet]]
*[[Fourth Fleet]]
*[[Fourth Fleet Advanced Research & Design Bureau]]
| headquarters = [[Avalon Fleet Yards]]
| primary mission = Research & Development
| location = [[Avalon System]]
| leadership =
| flagship =
| motto = ''macte virtute sic itur ad astra''
| status = Active
}}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.  


== Command Division ==
== Leadership ==
[[File:R-blank.png|alt=The division color for command: red.|thumb|The division color for command: red.]]
The Avalon Group is led formally by the Commander of Avalon Fleet Yards, though their day-to-day oversight of the group is minimal. Day-to-day decisions are made by individual institute, project, and team leaders. The leaders of institutes and independent projects meet regularly as the Avalon Group Board to share status updates and make collective decisions about allocating space and resources to each of their projects. The Avalon Group Board is chaired by either the Commander or Deputy Commander of Avalon Fleet Yards. In turn the Avalon Group reports to the [[Fourth Fleet Advanced Research and Design Bureau]], with individual institutes and projects also reporting to the appropriate Starfleet Science, Starfleet Engineering, and/or Starfleet Medical Bureaus.
The Command Division is denoted by the color red, and includes the unit-level departments of Command, Flight Control, and Strategic Operations. Other more specialized departments also included within this category and listed later in this article include the Judge-Advocate General's Corps and Diplomatic Services, but are far less common.


===Command Department===
== Organization ==
The Command Department includes both the senior-most officers of the unit, as well as administrative support personnel. On the largest units (such as starbases) there can be dozens of people in the command department, while on smaller units it may just be the senior officers and a yeoman or two. Smaller units also often combine command-related departments such as Strategic Operations, Intelligence or Diplomacy, if officers in those specialties are present.  
The Avalon Group is divided into institutes, projects, and teams, all of which are interdisciplinary research and development units. 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.


==== Standard Command Positions ====
===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.


===== Commanding Officer =====
====Institute for Experimental Rehabilitative Medicine (IERM)====
[[File:JLPicard.jpg|thumb|[[ma:Jean-Luc Picard|Captain Jean-Luc Picard]] in the 2360s, who was one of the most decorated commanding officers of not only the 24th century, but also across Starfleet history.]]
The Institute for Experimental Rehabilitative Medicine (IERM) is a medical research agency. Led by Rear 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 System#Avalon III|Avalon III]], the Institute has in-patient facilities for forty patients who are participating in about a dozen different research projects.
The Commanding Officer is the senior-most officer in charge of a unit. They have ultimate responsibility for the safety of their crew and for carrying out Starfleet's instructions. Aboard a starship, the commanding officer is always addressed as 'captain' even if they have a lower rank, but this custom does not apply to space stations. Starship commanding officers range in rank from lieutenant commander (for the smallest frigates and escorts) to fleet captain (for very senior captains aboard the largest ships), while for stations some of the smallest outposts (such as subspace relay stations) might be commanded by a lieutenant junior grade ranging to a full admiral commanding Starfleet's most important fleet yards.


Starships are rarely commanded directly by flag officers more senior than commodores. For the flagships of more senior officers, it is very common for the ship to have its own captain, who handles the day-to-day running of the ship. Historically, this officer would be called a flag captain, but the use of this term varies based on officers' preferences. Typically, a flag captain is relatively junior in seniority, given that they are closely supervised by their flag officer.
=====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.


The captain of a starship has significant powers deriving from the difficulty of real-time contact with Starfleet, including the power to negotiate treaties and trade agreements when out of touch with Command. They also have authority over lesser vessels (such as tankers, freighters, passenger ships, etc.) during emergency situations. Similarly, commanding officers of starbases are often the senior-most officer in their sector with corresponding authority over starships in that sector.
======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.


===== Executive Officer / First Officer =====
====Institute for Advanced Impulse Engine Design====
[[File:Spock.jpg|thumb|[[ma:Spock|Commander Spock]], one of the most famous first officers in history. Note that he is wearing sciences blue because he was also the science officer aboard the ''Enterprise.'']]
The Institute for Advanced Impulse Engine Design (IAIED) is an engineering research agency studying advancements in sublight propulsion technologies. While the basic design of Federation impulse engines has remained fundamentally the same since the twenty-second century, this institute is focusing on small scale improvements to their general functioning. This institute occupies the entirety of Research Module A on [[Tucker Station]].
The Executive Officer of a unit is second-in-command, responsible for assisting the commanding officer in carrying out their duties and taking command in their absence. Some of the XO's primary responsibilities are determining the duty schedule, performing crew evaluations, and ensuring that proper training has occurred for everyone aboard the ship. They are the interface between the CO and the crew, often serving as disciplinarian, career counselor, and supervisor to everyone on the ship or station. On a starship, the XO typically leads all away missions. XO's can range in rank from lieutenant to captain depending on the size of the unit. Whether they are called the Executive Officer or First Officer comes down to the CO's preference.  


First officers have important responsibilities in several emergency and contingency protocols, including needing to concur with the commanding officer's decision to self-destruct the ship or station in most circumstances, and needing to concur with the opinion of both the ship's counselor and the chief medical officer in circumstances where the commanding officer must be relieved of duty.  
=====Phase 7 Impulse Manifold Project=====
One of the projects under the Institute for Advanced Impulse Engine Design, the Phase 7 Impulse Manifold Project is studying enhancements to the current standard of Starfleet impulse manifolds (so-called Phase 6), which are the component of an impulse engine assembly that direct energized drive plasma from multiple fusion reactors through to the subspace driver coils and ultimately the engine exhaust. This team includes engineers and physicists hoping to make this system more efficient. This project works out of the IAEID space on [[Tucker Station]].


On larger commands, this role is most often separate, but on smaller vessels (and historically in Starfleet) it is often a dual-role for one of the department heads. In this case, they wear the color of the department that they also head.
======Fusion Reactor Enhancement Team======
Working under the Phase 7 Impulse Manifold Project, the Fusion Reactor Enhancement Team is a team of engineers and physicists looking to improve the efficiency and power generation potential of Starfleet's fusion reactors. In particular, this team's focus is on the type of reactor currently in use on the fleet's [[Reliant Class|''Reliant''-class frigates]], many of which are built at Avalon Fleet Yards. This team works out of the IAEID space on [[Tucker Station]].


===== Second Officer =====
====Institute for Observational Cosmology====
[[File:Tuvok.jpg|thumb|[[ma:Tuvok|Lieutenant Commander Tuvok]] was the second officer aboard the starship ''Voyager'' during her return from the Delta Quadrant to Sol. Note that he is wearing operations gold, and not command red, because of his dual role as Chief Security/Tactical Officer.]]
The Institute for Observational Cosmology (IOC) is a scientific research agency studying the nature of the universe through observable means. In particular, they are developing new deep space scanning protocols to be used across Fourth Fleet ships. This project has obvious intelligence and tactical implications, but it is being led exclusively by scientists and engineers. This institute occupies the entirety of Research Module B on [[Tucker Station]].
The Second Officer of a unit is third-in-command after the Executive Officer. This role is almost always a secondary duty for a department head, and generally does not carry any administrative burden on its own, but rather is a title for the officer designated to take over, should the CO and XO both be absent. Traditionally, the second officer also accompanies away teams. Second officers wear the color of the department they head. Often, but not always, they are the department head with the highest rank who is also bridge-qualified. For example, a second officer might hold the rank of lieutenant even if a the chief medical officer is a lieutenant commander, if the CMO were not bridge qualified. In the case of Lieutenant Commander Data, he was out-ranked by both Counselor Troi and Doctor Crusher, but was Second Officer because of his experience and capabilities as a bridge officer.


The very largest commands such as major starbases might have a dedicated second officer within the command department, but this is uncommon.  
=====New Deep Space Telescope Project=====
The New Deep Space Telescope Project is a design group under the Institute for Observational Cosmology focused on developing the next generation of subspace telescopes for the direct observation of the universe. One telescope being developed and built by this project is the [[Overwatch Station#Daren Subspace Radio Telescope Array|Darren Array]] at [[Overwatch Station]] in the Alpha Quadrant, and another is slated for construction closer to Avalon Fleet Yards. This project works out of the IOC space on [[Tucker Station]].


===== Yeoman =====
======Deep Space Scanning Team======
[[File:JaniceRand.jpg|thumb|[[ma:Janice Rand|Yeoman Janice Rand]], aboard the ''Enterprise'' in the 2260s.]]
The Deep Space Scanning Team is part of the New Deep Space Telescope project and is working on enhancing computer algorithms for processing deep space sensor sweeps. This team is composed of engineers and scientists and works out of the IOC space on [[Tucker Station]].
A yeoman is an administrative aid to a senior officer, or more generally a gopher and support staff member who helps with minor tasks (such as retrieving objects, sending messages, updating records, etc.). This position can be held by an enlisted member of Starfleet (i.e. a proper yeoman) or by a junior officer, such as an ensign or junior lieutenant wanting to learn more about command. Their usage is up to the officer they serve under, and ranges from all the way from handling clerical tasks to being a confidante and sounding board. The smallest units might not have any yeomen at all, but the largest might have dozens. Yeomen can also be found in other departments, handling similar tasks. Yeomen wear operations gold, rather than command red, to signify their support role.


==== Additional Command Positions ====
==== Institute for the History of Starfleet Warfare ====
The Institute for the History of Starfleet Warfare (IHSW) is a historical research agency led by Commodore Magnus Blackwood. This institute was founded to further research and analysis of the history of Starfleet conflicts, dating back to the period immediately before the Federation’s founding. The IHSW occupies a complex north of Sato City, where it conducts and manages archival and archaeological research, historical analysis, and museology. Its projects each take an interdisciplinary approach to assigned eras of history, with teams providing expertise in their respective disciplines. The IHSW studies historical Starfleet conflicts to understand how to avoid potential future ones, considering strategy, tactics, and technology, but also the role of Starfleet's organisational policy, psychology, and culture.


===== Records Officer =====
===== Cardassian Wars Project =====
[[File:BenjaminFinney.jpg|thumb|[[ma:Benjamin Finney|Lieutenant Commander Benjamin Finney]], erstwhile Records Officer aboard the ''Enterprise.'']]
The Cardassian Wars Project is a historical research project operating under the Institute of the History for Starfleet Warfare to gather and maintain records and conduct analysis of the Federation-Cardassian conflicts of the mid-24th century. Officially, they are responsible for analysing any engagements and conflicts dating back to first contact with the Cardassian Union until the signing of the 2370 armistice, with its aftermath considered formally part of the events leading up to the Dominion War. As much of this conflict occurred within living memory, the project’s work includes gathering records from multiple governments and organisations and recording survivors' lived experiences. The project is led by Commander Edmund Locke and works out of the IHSW complex.
A unit's records officer is responsible for the accuracy of all logs, reports, and mission materials, and as such generally must have clearance nearly as high as the commanding officer's. They must ensure that everything that goes into the ship's log matches with other logs, and that the proper personnel and offices receive any reports filed. This was once a position found on all starships, but thanks to advancement in automation it is now often omitted. Due to the sensitivity of the information they deal with, this role is sometimes combined with that of the intelligence officer, should one be present.


===== Officer of the Watch =====
====== Archival Collections and Research Team ======
It is standard practice to have bridge-qualified department heads take the conn (i.e. command the bridge or operations center) when the captain, first officer, or second officer are otherwise occupied. Some starships have additional command department personnel who routinely stand watch on the bridge; most often this is a dedicated night-shift officer of the watch, but the largest ships might have up to six or seven officers between the rank of lieutenant junior grade and commander who are assigned to specific watches. This is more common aboard stations.
The Archival Collections and Research Team is part of the Cardassian Wars Project. It is responsible for all archival research undertaken by the project, including acquisitions for the IHSW's libraries, establishing access to archives beyond Avalon, and the study of records in these collections. It is headed by Lieutenant Commander T'Falith.


===== Command Master Chief =====
===Independent Research Projects===
The Command Master Chief is the senior-most enlisted member of a unit, and might have additional responsibilities related to meeting the needs of the unit's enlisted population. This responsibility overlaps with the executive officer's responsibility for crew readiness and the counselor's responsibility to help address crew needs, and so it is rarely used in Starfleet, but some commanding officers employ it. As suggested by the name, this is generally a master chief petty officer, but lower enlisted grades could hold a modified title (Command Senior Chief, Command Chief, etc.) if necessary.
There are many research projects under the Avalon Group that do not report to an institute, 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.


==== The Command Department In-Play ====
==== We Are Starfleet Project ====
At the dawn of the 25th century, the We Are Starfleet project applies the frameworks of practical philosophy to ask moral, legal and political questions about the suitability of Starfleet's role in the Federation.  Following the research team's critical evaluation of the prime directive, the scope of the project was expanded to consider Starfleet's overarching missions, general orders, and day-to-day culture.  The project has taken up laboratories in the social sciences wing of Brahms Station.  In the wake of Starfleet's recent isolationist period and Frontier Day, the project has begun to ask new questions.  Is Starfleet serving the purpose it intends?  Where will Starfleet's vision need to evolve so that it can persevere into the next century?


* This is both the most important and the smallest major department aboard any ship or base.
===Independent Research Teams===
* Only very large ships or stations would have many people in this department beyond the CO and XO.
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.
* The position 'Command Master Chief' is included here because of the extensive history it has in Star Trek RPGs, but given established screen canon, it is both redundant and indicative of a military hierarchy of enlisted v. officer that is much less important by the 24th century. The position of 'Chief of the Boat' used by some organizations is incorrect, if the intent is to parallel the modern US Navy, as that term is only applicable to submarines, given that any starship would have a much larger complement than such a vessel. Command Master Chief, Command Senior Chief, or Command Chief would be the appropriate title, if one insists on using it in this genre.  


=== Flight Control Department ===
== The Avalon Group In-Play ==
The Flight Control department combines the duties of piloting a starship, navigation, and/or handling docking procedures, as is appropriate to a particular unit. Large starships with shuttle bays will have all three of these duties represented, while space stations will only have to deal with docking procedures. This department is considered adjacent to command, and many officers move from this department into command just by virtue of their inherently greater experience with bridge operations than those in other departments. The vast majorities of roles in this department are positions that can only be filled by officers.


==== Standard Flight Control Positions ====
* The Avalon Group was created as a way of allowing members to write higher ranking characters with important research assignments that might not fit into either [[Starbase Bravo]] or into their personal commands. Indeed, it's not particularly logical for characters higher than fleet captain to be regularly assigned to field operations, so these characters need a home for when those members are no longer on staff. The purpose of this component of Avalon Fleet Yards is thus to allow you to write content that deals with politics, bureaucracy, and higher-level concepts, rather than the slice-of-life theme on Starbase Bravo.
 
* An example of this work in canon is Vice Admiral and then [[ma:Owen Paris|Admiral Owen Paris's]] leadership of the Pathfinder Project and Operation Watson, during which he was also presumably the leader of the [[ma:Communications Research Center|Starfleet Communications Research Center]], which is akin to the institutes here.
===== Chief Flight Control Officer =====
* As explained in the [[Guide:Avalon Fleet Yards|Avalon Fleet Yards Guide]], you are allowed to write up to your fleet rank in the Avalon Group, with larger teams becoming available to you at the ranks of lieutenant, commander, and fleet captain. For instance, as a fleet captain you can have your own "Institute" while at lieutenant you can have your own "team."
[[File:TomParis.png.jpg|thumb|[[ma:Tom Paris|Lieutenant JG Tom Paris]], Chief Flight Control Officer aboard ''Voyager''.]]
* Teams fit into projects which fit into Institutes, but Teams and Institutes can also be independent. You can grow your team into a project and then into an institute as you increase in rank. You can also speak to the members who have institutes to see if it would be OK with them to add your team or project to their institute. Many folks would be happy to have you!
The Chief Flight Control Officer is responsible for the safe navigation and piloting of a starship, and/or coordinating the flight paths and docking needs of other vessels in the vicinity of a station or starship. The CFCO is a department head and generally has the helm personally for at least one shift per day, being the senior-most pilot aboard. The CFCO is also responsible for working with the ship's computer, stellar cartography section, and/or navigation section to ensure that courses are plotted efficiently and safely.
* The Institute for Advanced Impulse Engine Design and the Institute for Observable Cosmology are available for you to add projects, teams, or team members onto, as they are not run by any one member.
 
* Most of the research facilities are located either on Avalon III or one of the Avalon Fleet Yards stations in orbit. Generally speaking, researchers will live either on Brahms Station or on Sato City and commute via shuttle or transporter, so members of the Avalon Group will have plenty of opportunities to socialize even if their workplaces are spread out.
===== Assistant Chief Flight Control Officer =====
* There are always reasons to work with researchers in other teams, projects, and institutes, as science is inherently collaborative. Maybe you have a friendly rivalry with someone else in a similar discipline and you're competing for resources. Maybe they have a piece of equipment that's hard for you to acquire and you need to convince them to share. Maybe they have expertise that you lack. The possibilities are many.
The Assistant Chief Flight Control Officer is the second-most-senior pilot or flight controller in a particular unit. As assistant department head, they help their department head determine a duty roster in coordination with the unit's executive officer. Otherwise, they have the same responsibilities of other flight control officers to take the helm for a shift on the bridge each day.
 
===== Flight Control Officer =====
Flight Control Officers are those officers who have a regular shift on the bridge or in station operations handling flight control duties. They can also be assigned to pilot small craft as necessary.
 
===== Relief Flight Control Officer =====
Relief Flight Control Officers are the most junior members of the flight control department qualified to pilot the ship or handle docking duties on a station. They are on-call for a particular shift, usually waiting in a room adjacent to the bridge or station operations, where they can quickly take over for a more senior officer at their station, should that officer be called away for some reason. They may occasionally also be given the helm for an entire shift, such as the night shift, and this is considered a training role, where they can accumulate enough hours of flight time to be considered fully-qualified.
 
===== Shuttle Bay Manager =====
The Shuttle Bay Manager is responsible for operations within the shuttle bay, specializing in moving small craft for storage and refueling, operating the landing tractor beams, and other tasks related to getting shuttles and shuttle pods ready to fly. On most ships, maintenance tasks are performed by crew from the Engineering department and landing control itself is performed by an on-duty flight control officer, or by a dedicated Landing Signals Officer, while the SBM is responsible for things like moving shuttles within the bay, and coordinating refueling. On starships with multiple bays, there are multiple shuttle bay managers. This position might also be found within the Operations department rather than the Flight Control department, and in either case wears operations gold.
 
==== Additional Flight Control Positions ====
 
===== Navigation Officer =====
[[File:PavelChekov.jpg|thumb|[[ma:Pavel Chekov|Commander Pavel Chekov]] was the navigator aboard the ''Enterprise''-A, when Navigation was a department head position. Note that he is wearing the sciences division color for the era: grey.]]
Navigation officers are found on many but not all starships, and are specialists in plotting courses for starships, especially in situations that require complex calculations and careful auditing of the main computer's suggestions. These officers must have training in astrophysics and stellar cartography, and generally report to one of those departments when not needed to plot a course. Collectively with any navigation specialists, they form the Navigation Section. On ships with more than one navigation officer, they may follow the structure of Chief, Assistant Chief, etc. They wear sciences blue.
 
===== Navigation Specialist =====
Navigation specialists are enlisted navigators who assist navigation officers, with extensive training in the calculations necessary to navigate a starship.
 
===== Landing Signals Officer =====
Landing Signals Officers are specialist flight control officers who operate a starship or space station's hanger control rooms, guiding small craft in for a landing, either by remote control, tractor beam, or instructions over the comm. They are generally also assigned occasionally to operate the helm on the bridge, but their duty station during an alert status is in their shuttle bay's control room. There may be multiple LSOs on large ships or stations, generally one per shuttle bay.
 
===== Flight Deck Specialist =====
Flight deck specialists are enlisted specialists who assist the shuttle bay manager in getting small craft ready to fly, when it comes to positioning, refueling, and scheduling, not in terms of maintenance or piloting. On smaller ships, there may be no dedicated flight deck specialists, with enlisted members of the engineering or operations departments pulling double duty.
 
===== Small Craft Pilot / Fighter Pilot =====
Larger starships and most stations have dedicated small craft pilots, especially when there are more shuttles aboard than there are generalist flight control officers, which allows them all to be used at once. On some ships, they are assigned to a particular shuttle or runabout, but most of the time they're assigned to flight tasks based on mission needs and availability. Fighter pilots also fall into this category, on ships that carry them. Sometimes they are organized like a department of their own.
 
===== Navigator's Mate =====
The navigator's mate is the senior enlisted member of any flight control department, either coming from the navigation specialist track or the flight deck specialist track. They assist the CFCO in developing a roster, and help mentor other enlisted members of their department. This role is not present on smaller units, especially in departments with small or no enlisted contingents.
 
==== Flight Control Department In-Play ====
 
* As of the 2360s by the latest, Starfleet combined the role of Helm and Navigation into Flight Control, likely due to advances in computer technology. FOs both plot the ship's course and pilot it. This means that any FO would need to be trained in astrophysics, stellar cartography, and starship operations, even with computer assistance.
* Some FOs would have regular watches, while others would be on-call to take over at any moment; the latter are what we've seen on the show itself, when an away team is called and seconds later both the FO and Ops officer have replacements who emerge from the turbolifts.
* Fighter piloting and starship piloting are not separate skills in Star Trek, because a fighter is a small starship. In the current military, helming a naval vessel and flying a fighter are very different tasks, and that is why they have wildly different tracks required of the officers doing these tasks. A ship might have a fighter squadron, but there's no reason that wouldn't be under the Chief Flight Control Officer, or that normal FOs couldn't also pilot fighters.
 
=== Strategic Operations Department ===
The Strategic Operations Department is found on most starbases but only on large starships with sector-wide command responsibilities. The purpose of this department is to help the officers in the Command Department remain aware of the position of other assets in relation to their unit, such as other starships in the sector, both allied and enemy, to help make strategic decisions. On starships, this department may only have one officer in it, but on major starbases, it could have a staff of dozens. This department is often found aboard flag officers' flagships, but reports to the flag officer and not to the ship's captain. On ships and bases without command responsibilities over other ships or bases, there would be little use for this department.
 
==== Standard Strategic Operations Positions ====
 
===== Chief Strategic Operations Officer =====
[[File:Worf.jpg|thumb|[[ma:Worf|Lieutenant Commander Worf]] was the Strategic Operations Officer aboard Deep Space 9 during the Dominion War.]]
The Chief Strategic Operations Officer is the senior strategic operations officer, and is responsible for collating reports from within their unit's area of influence, making recommendations to the commanding officer or flag officer on how to best accomplish their mission with the strategic resources available to them. An example of this would be suggesting that a starship change position to accomplish a new mission objective, or recommending that one ship replace another on a mission because it is better suited or better positioned to handle it. Some departments may only have one Strategic Operations Officer, and in those cases this position is just called by that title. Generally, officers in this role must have spent some time in Operations, Tactical, or Command first, and so generally aren't under the rank of Lieutenant or Lieutenant Commander.
 
===== Assistant Chief Strategic Operations Officer =====
Assistant Chief Strategic Operations Officers assist their department head in their duties and in creating a duty roster, in conjunction with their unit's executive officer. As with the department head, they have typically had experience in Operations, Tactical, or Command, and usually are in the lieutenant ranks at least.
 
===== Strategic Operations Officer =====
On units with many strategic operations officers, there can be several in more junior ranks who are in training to head strategic operations of their own. Like with the more senior roles, they generally have some experience in other departments, but recent Ensigns who studied Interstellar Relations, Small Group Tactics, or Political Science are sometimes assigned to these larger departments.
 
==== Additional Strategic Operations Positions ====
 
===== Strategy Specialist =====
A Strategy Specialist is an enlisted specialist who has been trained to assist strategic operations officers in their duties. Generally speaking, their role is very similar to that of a yeoman, but the work inherently requires a higher clearance level. They are generally only found in very large strategic operations departments, as the skills required to be an effective strategist generally require an academy education.
 
===== Strategist's Mate =====
The Strategist's Mate is the senior enlisted specialist in the Strategic Operations departments, responsible for mentoring and training more junior specialists. This is a relatively rare position, given the same reasons that most units do not have any enlisted strategy specialists, but can be found when a strategic operations officer wants an enlisted perspective to help them formulate their advice to their commanding officer.
 
==== Strategic Operations In-Play ====
 
* This department almost got moved down to the 'Other Departments' section, but given that it is one of the departments referenced by name on screen, it's remained here, along with its history in the hobby.
* Most starships won't have a Strategic Operations Officer let alone a Strategic Operations Officer, unless they're flagships. Many starbases would have this position, though.
* If you're not hosting a flag officer or giving orders to other starships, you don't need a Strategic Operations Officer.
 
== Operations Division ==
[[File:Y-blank.png|alt=The color of the operations division: gold.|thumb|The color of the operations division: gold.]]
The Operations Division is denoted by the color gold, and includes a wide variety of departments related to the safe operation of Starfleet's many assets, and at the unit level departments in this division include Operations, Engineering, Security, Tactical, Intelligence, and Communications. On starships, Communications is often subsumed to Operations, and Security and Tactical are combined into a single department. Intelligence likewise might be represented by only a single officer, housed under the umbrella of command.
 
=== Operations Department ===
Operations is the department responsible both for managing resources for their unit and for the maintenance and operation of non-structural, non-propulsive systems, such as transporters, replicators, computers, communications arrays (on units without a communications department), holodecks, sensors, life support and environmental systems, and waste management. The largest units have multiple sections under this department for each of these areas, while the smallest units must share crew members between this department and engineering.  
 
On some bases, especially smaller ones, this department replaces engineering entirely, the example being ''Deep Space 9''.
 
==== Standard Operations Department Positions ====
 
===== Chief Operations Officer =====
[[File:Data.jpg|thumb|[[ma:Data|Lieutenant Commander Data]] was Chief Operations Officer aboard the ''Enterprise''-D and ''Enterprise''-E.]]
The Chief Operations Officer is the senior-most officer in the operations department, with responsibility over the allocation of resources (especially power) and the use of shipboard equipment (such as sensors and computers) between departments, so that mission priorities are completed effectively. Efficiency is this officer's primary concern. They serve as Operations Manager (which is a bridge role, not a formal position) at least one shift per day. This role is quite crucial and has a lot of power, but officers of all ranks can hold this role, notably Lieutenant Commander Data being Chief Operations Officer and Second Officer aboard the fifth ''Enterprise'' and Ensign Harry Kim being Chief Operations Officer and also the junior-most bridge officer aboard ''Voyager''.
 
===== Assistant Chief Operations Officer =====
The Assistant Chief Operations Officer is second-in-command of the operations department, assisting their department head in their duties and coordinating with the executive officer to form duty rosters. Like the department head, they typically work on the bridge or station operations as operations manager, but also work with any section chiefs under them and other operations officers to perform other duties around the ship.
 
===== Operations Officer =====
Most units have a few generalist operations officers, who server as operations manager for a particular shift. On larger ships, this is a role generally reserved for officers at the rank of at least lieutenant junior grade (though as seen with Harry Kim above, this isn't a rule for smaller ships) as operations manager is a critical bridge role. Operations officers on smaller ships will also rotate through the responsibilities section chiefs would have on larger ships (waste management, logistics, communications, environmental control, etc.).
 
===== Relief Operations Officer =====
Relief Operations Officers are generally ensigns still in training to be entrusted with being operations managers for an entire shift. They are on-call for a particular shift, usually waiting in a room adjacent to the bridge or station operations, where they can quickly take over for a more senior officer at their station, should that officer be called away for some reason. They may occasionally also serve as operations manager for an entire shift, such as the night shift, and this is considered a training role, where they can accumulate enough hours of bridge time to be considered fully-qualified.
 
===== Transporter Chief =====
[[File:OBrien.jpg|thumb|[[ma:Miles O'Brien|Chief Miles O'Brien]] was the transporter chief aboard the ''Enterprise''-D before he was Chief of Operations on DS9.]]
Transporter Chief is both a position and title, the title going to any Chief Petty Officer or above who runs a transporter room and the position going to the senior-most transporter chief for a unit. For example, Chief Miles O'Brien was both generally a transporter chief and ''the'' transporter chief aboard the ''Enterprise''. They are experienced operations specialists who are highly specialized in their understanding of transporter systems, capable of trouble-shooting any problem and ensuring the safe transportation of personnel and cargo.
 
==== Additional Operations Department Positions ====
Not every ship will have an officer or chief running all of these sections, but they are representative of the types of sections which might be found under the Operations Department. On ships without a dedicated Communications Department, a Communications Section would work like the sections described here do.
 
===== Supply Operations Officer (Quartermaster) =====
Supply Operations Officers (informally known as quartermasters) are responsible for the fabrication, storage, and maintenance of hand-held equipment (such as tricorders) and other supplies, as well as for overseeing the ship's food and industrial replicators. They lead the Supply Section. Generally, they are junior officers, but a Chief Petty Officer could lead this section as Chief of Supply Operations.
 
===== Cargo Operations Officer =====
Cargo Operations Officers are responsible for the storage, safety, and transport of cargo aboard a starship or station, which includes making sure that containers are safely stowed, both in the right environmental conditions and secured in a way that they can't come loose and cause damage to the ship or station. They lead the Cargo Operations. Generally, they are junior officers, but a Chief Petty Officer could lead this section as Chief of Cargo Operations.
 
===== Environmental Operations Officer =====
Environmental Operations Officers are responsible for ensuring that the environmental control systems are maintained and operated within regulation. Generally speaking, these systems are highly redundant and difficult to damage because of how critical they are, so officers in this section serve as a safeguard to verify that automated processes are proceeding correctly. They would also be needed when any being with unusual environmental needs comes aboard. Generally, they are junior officers, but a Chief Petty Officer could lead this section as Chief of Environmental Operations.
 
===== Computer Operations Officer =====
Computer Operations Officers are responsible for the operation and routine maintenance of the ship's computer systems, especially when it comes to user access rights, data integrity, and software updates. Secondary functions include cybersecurity and portable hardware maintenance. Generally, they are junior officers, but a Chief Petty Officer could lead this section as Chief of Computer Operations.
 
===== Holography Operations Officer =====
Holography Operations Officers are responsible for the operation and maintenance of the holodecks, as well as hologrids in other locations on stations and starships that are so equipped. By 2399, this is an extremely important system, due to the omnipresence of emergency and assistive holoprograms, such as the EMH, LMH, ECH, etc. Generally, they are junior officers, but a Chief Petty Officer could lead this section as Chief of Holography Operations.
 
===== Waste Management Operations Officer =====
Waste Management Officers deal with processing waste and recycling it into the appropriate systems, which ranges from sanitation to breaking down unused equipment. It is not a popular position. Generally, they are junior officers, but a Chief Petty Officer could lead this section as Chief of Holography Operations.
 
===== Special Services Officer =====
[[File:SpecialServices.jpg|thumb|Special services personnel serving as waiters in the 2290s, when that role had its own division color, evident on the uniforms in this image at the collar and shoulders.]]
Special Services Officers deal with coordinating the staffing of mess halls, lounges, bars, and other such spaces on their ship or station, especially when it comes to making sure that events like formal dinners and banquets are adequately staffed. Until the 2350s, this was its own division represented by the color cyan. Some waiters, bartenders, hairdressers, and other service staff are either civilians or holograms by 2399, but any of them who are part of Starfleet would report to this office. Generally, they are junior officers, but a Chief Petty Officer could lead this section as Chief of Special Services.
 
===== Operations Specialist (Yeoman) =====
Operations Specialists are members of Starfleet in the enlisted grades assigned to the Operations Department. There are many generalist Operations Specialists on any large command, as well as specialists within each section, who would take their position title from that section. (e.g. Computer Operations Specialist, Waste Management Operations Specialist, etc.). Generalists would normally be those personnel ranked as Crewmen, while specialists would have the rank of Petty Officer Third Class and above. Generalists are sometimes known in short-hand as yeomen, and are often who is called when things need to be moved from room to room, or other low-level logistics tasks.
 
===== Boatswain =====
Pronounced "bosun," the boatswain is the senior-most enlisted member of the operations department, who is responsible for the training of other enlisted members of the department. According to naval tradition, the boatswain should be present to great anyone arriving aboard the starship, but this is normally dispensed with and the duty of piping aboard dignitaries (with a whistle or other instrument) is left to a yeoman, or even to the ship's computer. Not all units, especially small units, have an individual with this title, but Operations Departments generally have a large number of enlisted members, so this position is the most common of all of the special titles for senior enlisted members.
 
==== Operations Department In-Play ====
 
* Engineering makes the ship move, but Operations makes it run. Resources are allocated, power is shunted, and transporters are run from here.
* Enlisted members of this department do a lot of the menial labor on the ship, such as moving cargo from one bay to another.
* The sections outlined in the above section would all need to be accounted for on any unit, but only medium-large ships and stations would have an officer in every role. Being an ops officer means pulling double-duties to keep the clock ticking smoothly.

Revision as of 17:31, 29 January 2024

AvalonRDGroupSeal.png
Avalon Group
Affiliation
Headquarters

Avalon Fleet Yards

Primary Mission

Research & Development

Location

Avalon System

Motto

macte virtute sic itur ad astra

Status

Active

Template:Organisation

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.

Leadership

The Avalon Group is led formally by the Commander of Avalon Fleet Yards, though their day-to-day oversight of the group is minimal. Day-to-day decisions are made by individual institute, project, and team leaders. The leaders of institutes and independent projects meet regularly as the Avalon Group Board to share status updates and make collective decisions about allocating space and resources to each of their projects. The Avalon Group Board is chaired by either the Commander or Deputy Commander of Avalon Fleet Yards. In turn the Avalon Group reports to the Fourth Fleet Advanced Research and Design Bureau, with individual institutes and projects also reporting to the appropriate Starfleet Science, Starfleet Engineering, and/or Starfleet Medical Bureaus.

Organization

The Avalon Group is divided into institutes, projects, and teams, all of which are interdisciplinary research and development units. 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. Led by Rear 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 forty 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.

Institute for Advanced Impulse Engine Design

The Institute for Advanced Impulse Engine Design (IAIED) is an engineering research agency studying advancements in sublight propulsion technologies. While the basic design of Federation impulse engines has remained fundamentally the same since the twenty-second century, this institute is focusing on small scale improvements to their general functioning. This institute occupies the entirety of Research Module A on Tucker Station.

Phase 7 Impulse Manifold Project

One of the projects under the Institute for Advanced Impulse Engine Design, the Phase 7 Impulse Manifold Project is studying enhancements to the current standard of Starfleet impulse manifolds (so-called Phase 6), which are the component of an impulse engine assembly that direct energized drive plasma from multiple fusion reactors through to the subspace driver coils and ultimately the engine exhaust. This team includes engineers and physicists hoping to make this system more efficient. This project works out of the IAEID space on Tucker Station.

Fusion Reactor Enhancement Team

Working under the Phase 7 Impulse Manifold Project, the Fusion Reactor Enhancement Team is a team of engineers and physicists looking to improve the efficiency and power generation potential of Starfleet's fusion reactors. In particular, this team's focus is on the type of reactor currently in use on the fleet's Reliant-class frigates, many of which are built at Avalon Fleet Yards. This team works out of the IAEID space on Tucker Station.

Institute for Observational Cosmology

The Institute for Observational Cosmology (IOC) is a scientific research agency studying the nature of the universe through observable means. In particular, they are developing new deep space scanning protocols to be used across Fourth Fleet ships. This project has obvious intelligence and tactical implications, but it is being led exclusively by scientists and engineers. This institute occupies the entirety of Research Module B on Tucker Station.

New Deep Space Telescope Project

The New Deep Space Telescope Project is a design group under the Institute for Observational Cosmology focused on developing the next generation of subspace telescopes for the direct observation of the universe. One telescope being developed and built by this project is the Darren Array at Overwatch Station in the Alpha Quadrant, and another is slated for construction closer to Avalon Fleet Yards. This project works out of the IOC space on Tucker Station.

Deep Space Scanning Team

The Deep Space Scanning Team is part of the New Deep Space Telescope project and is working on enhancing computer algorithms for processing deep space sensor sweeps. This team is composed of engineers and scientists and works out of the IOC space on Tucker Station.

Institute for the History of Starfleet Warfare

The Institute for the History of Starfleet Warfare (IHSW) is a historical research agency led by Commodore Magnus Blackwood. This institute was founded to further research and analysis of the history of Starfleet conflicts, dating back to the period immediately before the Federation’s founding. The IHSW occupies a complex north of Sato City, where it conducts and manages archival and archaeological research, historical analysis, and museology. Its projects each take an interdisciplinary approach to assigned eras of history, with teams providing expertise in their respective disciplines. The IHSW studies historical Starfleet conflicts to understand how to avoid potential future ones, considering strategy, tactics, and technology, but also the role of Starfleet's organisational policy, psychology, and culture.

Cardassian Wars Project

The Cardassian Wars Project is a historical research project operating under the Institute of the History for Starfleet Warfare to gather and maintain records and conduct analysis of the Federation-Cardassian conflicts of the mid-24th century. Officially, they are responsible for analysing any engagements and conflicts dating back to first contact with the Cardassian Union until the signing of the 2370 armistice, with its aftermath considered formally part of the events leading up to the Dominion War. As much of this conflict occurred within living memory, the project’s work includes gathering records from multiple governments and organisations and recording survivors' lived experiences. The project is led by Commander Edmund Locke and works out of the IHSW complex.

Archival Collections and Research Team

The Archival Collections and Research Team is part of the Cardassian Wars Project. It is responsible for all archival research undertaken by the project, including acquisitions for the IHSW's libraries, establishing access to archives beyond Avalon, and the study of records in these collections. It is headed by Lieutenant Commander T'Falith.

Independent Research Projects

There are many research projects under the Avalon Group that do not report to an institute, 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.

We Are Starfleet Project

At the dawn of the 25th century, the We Are Starfleet project applies the frameworks of practical philosophy to ask moral, legal and political questions about the suitability of Starfleet's role in the Federation.  Following the research team's critical evaluation of the prime directive, the scope of the project was expanded to consider Starfleet's overarching missions, general orders, and day-to-day culture.  The project has taken up laboratories in the social sciences wing of Brahms Station. In the wake of Starfleet's recent isolationist period and Frontier Day, the project has begun to ask new questions.  Is Starfleet serving the purpose it intends?  Where will Starfleet's vision need to evolve so that it can persevere into the next century?

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.

The Avalon Group In-Play

  • The Avalon Group was created as a way of allowing members to write higher ranking characters with important research assignments that might not fit into either Starbase Bravo or into their personal commands. Indeed, it's not particularly logical for characters higher than fleet captain to be regularly assigned to field operations, so these characters need a home for when those members are no longer on staff. The purpose of this component of Avalon Fleet Yards is thus to allow you to write content that deals with politics, bureaucracy, and higher-level concepts, rather than the slice-of-life theme on Starbase Bravo.
  • An example of this work in canon is Vice Admiral and then Admiral Owen Paris's leadership of the Pathfinder Project and Operation Watson, during which he was also presumably the leader of the Starfleet Communications Research Center, which is akin to the institutes here.
  • As explained in the Avalon Fleet Yards Guide, you are allowed to write up to your fleet rank in the Avalon Group, with larger teams becoming available to you at the ranks of lieutenant, commander, and fleet captain. For instance, as a fleet captain you can have your own "Institute" while at lieutenant you can have your own "team."
  • Teams fit into projects which fit into Institutes, but Teams and Institutes can also be independent. You can grow your team into a project and then into an institute as you increase in rank. You can also speak to the members who have institutes to see if it would be OK with them to add your team or project to their institute. Many folks would be happy to have you!
  • The Institute for Advanced Impulse Engine Design and the Institute for Observable Cosmology are available for you to add projects, teams, or team members onto, as they are not run by any one member.
  • Most of the research facilities are located either on Avalon III or one of the Avalon Fleet Yards stations in orbit. Generally speaking, researchers will live either on Brahms Station or on Sato City and commute via shuttle or transporter, so members of the Avalon Group will have plenty of opportunities to socialize even if their workplaces are spread out.
  • There are always reasons to work with researchers in other teams, projects, and institutes, as science is inherently collaborative. Maybe you have a friendly rivalry with someone else in a similar discipline and you're competing for resources. Maybe they have a piece of equipment that's hard for you to acquire and you need to convince them to share. Maybe they have expertise that you lack. The possibilities are many.
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