Difference between pages "USS Columbia" and "Starfleet Admiralty Boards"

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{{TOC limit|4}}''<small>For information on joining the USS Colimbia sandbox, consult the [[Guide:USS Columbia|USS Columbia Guide]].</small>''
{{Workinprogress}}
{{Starship
| name = Columbia
| prefix = USS
| image = [[file:ColumbiaGalaxy.jpeg]]
| registry = NCC-76991
| class = Galaxy
| type = Explorer
| affiliation = Starfleet
| status = Active
| commission = 2373
| decommission =
| destroyed =
| unit = Fourth Fleet Expeditionary Group
| taskforce =
| taskgroup =
| squadron =
| mothership =
| homeport =[[Starbase Bravo]]
| role =
| co = Captain Romen Corbin
| xo = Commander Elizabeth Nelson
| dedication = [[file:ColumbiaPlaque.png]]
}}
{{quote|Audentes fortuna juvat - Fortune favors the bold.|'''Vergil- ''Ship's Dedication Quote'''''}}
'''USS ''Columbia'' (NCC-76991)''' is a [[Galaxy Class|''Galaxy-''class]] explorer assigned to the [[Fourth Fleet]]. The ''Columbia'' has had a long, illustrious career serving Starfleet and is deemed one of the finest postings to be assigned.


==Design and Layout==
{{icons|bfc|fed}}
As one of the original six ''Galaxy''-class ships that Starfleet ordered to be built, the  ''Columbia'' retains some of its original appearance. Being one of Starfleet’s premier explorers, the ''Columbia'' has done well after almost three decades of service to keep up with the other newer explorers.
{{Organisation
|name=Starfleet Admiralty Boards
|image=[[File:Sfc.png|300px]]
|founded=
|affiliation=[[United Federation of Planets]]
|headquarters=
|primary mission=Oversight and Administration
|location=
|leadership=
|flagship=
|motto=
|status=Active
}}'''Starfleet Admiralty Boards''' are standing committees of both active duty and retired flag officers that provide effective oversight for Starfleet’s departments in conjunction with the commanders of fleets, directors of Starfleet bureaus, and other leaders.  


===Shipboard Life===
== Overview ==
====Shift Duty====
While some aspects of Starfleet, such as its concept of the chain of command, derive from governmental, exploratory, and paramilitary antecedents, the concept of the admiralty board derives from the academic concepts of shared governance and peer review, which means that decisions about the validity of any course of action should be decided by both experts and stakeholders rather than unilaterally. For instance, the Chief of Starfleet Science has the authority to make snap decisions about Starfleet’s scientific operations, but those decisions are subject to the advice and consent of the Starfleet Science Board before they can become standing fleet-wide policies. This provides a measure of check-and-balance within the structure of Starfleet, though all Admiralty Boards are ultimately subject to the authority of both the Commander, Starfleet and the President of the United Federation of Planets.
The ''Columbia'' runs on a four-shift rotation across a twenty-four-hour day. Alpha Shift ran from 0800 hours to 1400 hrs. Beta Shift ran from 1400hrs to 2000hrs. Gamma Shift starts at 2000 to 0100 hours, while Delta Shift commences at 0100 hours and finishes at 0800 hours.  
=====Shift Duty In Play=====
* It is improbable that your character would be on the Alpha Shift (this is the one most of the senior staff operate).
* While on duty (be it Beta, Gamma or Delta), your shift supervisor may be one of the Senior Staff or another higher-ranking officer.  


====Bridge, Deck One====
Each board has a chair and a vice chair; for department boards and yard boards, the chair and vice chair are the chief and deputy chief or commander and deputy commander of their respective department or yard. Flag officers tend to each serve on a handful of boards at any given time. The less important their day job is, the more boards they will serve on. Retired flag officers are often given several board assignments as well, if they want them. When necessary, fleet captains and captains may serve on admiralty boards, but this is considered unusual.
[[File:Columbia-bridge.jpg|300px|thumb|right|USS ''Columbia's'' bridge in 2400]] Through the years, the ''Columbia'' has received significant improvements through refits and maintenance; one area that has changed is its bridge. All stations are equipped with holographic interface technology to assist the crewmembers operating them if needed.


In the centre of the bridge is the command pit, where the chair for the captain, first officer and another senior officer are located. The command pit is surrounded by a long wooden handrail that houses the security and tactical stations. The operations and helm consoles are right before the command pit.  From starboard to port along the aft bulkhead, include the consoles for Mission Ops I, the MSD and Mission Ops II. The science stations are located on the starboard side of the bridge, while the opposite side is designated for communications and engineering.
Purely operational units, such as numbered fleets, task forces, task groups, and squadrons do not have admiralty boards attached to them, as they rely solely on the chain of command for decision-making. This is to ensure that a starship captain, a squadron commander, a task group commander, a task force commander, and a fleet commander each have one ultimate boss. However, each of these groups is part of a complex web of oversight originating from the department, shipyard, and class boards.


The aft alcove to the port side of the bridge includes two doors. One is used for turbolift access, while the other is access to bathroom facilities. In the aft alcove to the starboard side is a door leading down the corridor towards the observation lounge and another for the second turbolift. In the forward starboard alcove, one entry gives access to the emergency turbolift to the battle bridge, while on the opposite side, it gives access to the captain’s ready room.
== Types of Admiralty Boards ==
=====The Bridge In Play=====
* The bridge will be a place only when an ensign needs to cover a station as part of the Beta, Delta and Gamma Shifts.


====Observation Lounge, Deck One====
=== Department Boards ===
[[File:Columbia-observation lounge conference.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Observation Lounge in 2400]] The observation lounge is situated at the back of the main bridge and is typically utilised as a conference room. Its noteworthy feature is the sizable windows that face aft, providing a breathtaking view of the ''Columbia'' from behind. Along the main wall are glass cabinets showcasing models of previous starships named ''Columbia'' made of gold. The middle of the bulkhead is where the computer terminals are located, which present data and information during briefings. The conference table, with seating for ten people, is the room's focal point. There are two doors at either end of the room and replicators.
Each Starfleet department has a board, e.g. the Starfleet Medical Board, the Starfleet Communications Board, and the Starfleet Intelligence Board. These boards are primarily composed of former Chiefs and Deputy Chiefs of those departments, often three, four, or five-star admirals. These boards provide advice and consent for policy decisions related to these departments, alongside each department’s Joint Staff, meaning the leaders of its subordinate bureaus and offices.
=====The Observation Lounge In Play=====
* As an ensign, you would not be invited to a senior staff briefing; however, your department head may call you and others in your division to join them for a briefing (be it for a mission or a regular update).
* You may also receive orders to help clean the Observation Lounge.


====The Ready Room, Deck One====
=== Shipyard Boards ===
[[File:Columbia-ready-room.jpg|200px|thumb|right|The Captain's Ready Room]] The Captain’s Ready Room is where the commanding officer works in private or holds meetings with a few crew members. They keep a few personal items here, but it can also be used by other senior officers in charge of the bridge in his absence.  
[[File:Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards.jpg|alt=Every shipyard is a massive installation that requires significant oversight.|thumb|Every shipyard is a massive installation that requires significant oversight.]]
=====The Ready Room In Play=====
Each Starfleet shipyard has a board, including Avalon Fleet Yards. These boards are composed of a mix of flag officers from all disciplines, who provide oversight of the shipyard’s construction, repair, and maintenance programs. Because it is impossible for a yard’s commander to oversee hundreds of projects simultaneously, each board member typically will be assigned a portfolio that includes several construction projects, repair projects, or other miscellaneous projects. The actual leaders of those projects will then provide regular updates to the board member, which allows the board to have a holistic understanding of the yard’s capabilities.
* This is the captain’s sanctum, so unless you are being spoken to directly by them (or another senior staff member), you will unlikely step foot in here.


====Main Engineering, Deck Thirty-Six====
=== Starship Boards ===
[[File:Columbia Main Engineering.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Main Engineering, c.2400]]Main Engineering is the heart of the ship. This is where most of the systems are maintained and is the home to the warp core. Most command functions are accessed in the centre of Engineering via the ‘pool table’. Holographic projectors are used in this room to show the status of a variety of the ship’s systems.
[[File:AdmiraltyBoard.jpg|alt=The California-class Admiralty Board in 2382.|thumb|The ''California''-class Admiralty Board in 2382.]]
=====Main Engineering In Play=====
Each Starfleet starship class in service or in the design phase has a board, which is responsible for determining the policies for that class, ranging from maintenance manuals to training practices. They also have oversight of the captains of vessels of their class alongside their operational commanders. For instance, while the Director of Fourth Fleet Operations may appoint captains within the Fourth Fleet, these assignments could be countermanded by the relevant admiralty board. Admiralty boards also frequently inspect vessels under their purview. These boards are sometimes known as "fleet boards," as each class of ship could be considered to be a "fleet," though that is a different use of the term than is found in numbered fleets, like the Fourth Fleet. Each of these boards has a "fleet captain," who is a senior captain with experience commanding that ship class who provides administrative support to the board and insight—often, they also hold the ''rank'' of fleet captain.
* If you are an engineer, then this is where you may work for most of your shift. If the Chief Engineer is off duty, then one of the shift supervisors will be in charge.  
* While on duty in Main Engineering, you may be required to oversee or repair a system's diagnostic.


====Transporter Rooms====
=== Academy Boards ===
[[File:Columbia transporter room.jpg|300px|thumb|right|The standard layout of all transporter rooms]]
[[File:Picard Uniform 2401.png|alt=Admiral Jean Luc-Picard (retired) serving as the Chancellor of Starfleet Academy.|thumb|Admiral Jean Luc-Picard (retired) serving as the Chancellor of Starfleet Academy.]]
One of the main forms of transport to and from the ship. The transporter rooms are usually where an away mission starts. Here away, teams will find equipment lockers outfitted with the latest devices, tools and resources needed to complete their objectives. The ''Columbia'' has at least twenty transporter rooms.
Starfleet Academy has its own oversight board, and so does each of its subsidiary campuses. These boards function similar to a Board of Regents, Governors, or Trustees for civilian universities, providing guidance for the Academy's superintendent and serving as the final step for any sort of appeal by a cadet or instructor. The chair and vice chair of the Starfleet Academy Board—which has direct oversight of the San Francisco Campus—are known as the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor of Starfleet Academy. The boards of smaller campuses simply call their leaders chairs and vice chairs.
=====The Transporter Room In Play=====
* Ensigns going on away missions will meet here and be beamed down by whoever is on duty in the transporter room.
* If you are an engineer, you may have a shift in one of the transporter rooms. What transporter disasters may you witness?


====Sickbay, Deck 12 ====
{{Clear}}
[[File:Columbia Sickbay.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Sickbay, c.2400]]
''Columbia’s'' medical facilities are vast. Though the sickbay is large, this does not include the numerous wards and labs available to the ship’s doctors. The vessel has a suite of EMHs that can be used across the ship at any time during a crisis.
=====Sickbay In Play=====
* Ensigns working in the medical department, whether an assistant, nurse, or doctor-in-training, will find themselves here when on duty. Characters will encounter illnesses and injuries and participate in many treatment procedures. You may find yourself with patients who come back more than once.
* As the ship has several EMHs (not Mark Is), what type of personalities might you encounter as one of the medical staff?
====Ten Forward, Deck 10 ====
[[File:ColumbiaTenForward.png|300px|thumb|right|Ten Forward, c.2400]] Ten Forward is the main area for socialising with other crewmembers. This is where most of the crew relax and unwind off duty. Ten Forward is operated by a Lanthanite woman named Marlagretta. She is always mixing new drinks for anyone to try and is happy to give anyone some wisdom.


=====Ten Forward In Play=====
== Admiralty Boards Relevant to the Fourth Fleet ==
* Crewmembers can interact with others here over a drink or something to eat.
* Ten Forward normally hosts a weekly social event, be it a musical performance, a themed evening or where a diplomatic event may take place.
* Marlagretta is the Guinan of the ''Columbia''. 


====Lower Decks Social Space====
* [[Avalon Fleet Yards Board]] - provides oversight of Avalon Fleet Yards and supervision of its construction, maintenance, and research programs.  
[[File:Columbia-LD-Bar.jpg|300px|thumb|right|The Lower Decks Bar]]Though Ten Forward is open to all staff, there is a large social space and bar primarily set aside for the lower deck crewmembers of the ship. This space acts as the primary cantina for the lower-ranked crew and a social area with a bar.
* [[Fourth Fleet Academy Board]] - provides oversight of the Fourth Fleet Academy.  
=====Lower Decks Social Space In Play=====
* Within here, players will find multiple replicators and a bar manned by a bartender who serves beverages from across the Federation and beyond.
* Based on the bar and social space seen in Lower Decks, the crew will often relax and enjoy company with their friends.
* Though primarily visited by ensigns and other low-level crew, it is common for more senior crew members to sometimes be present.


====Arboretum, Hydroponics and Labs====
== Admiralty Boards In-Play ==
[[File:ColumbiaArboretum1.png|300px|thumb|right|The Arboretum]] Primarily used by the crew for relaxation and as an escape from the endless corridors of the ship, it is where people often feel like they can forget they are on board a Starship. The arboretum contains trees and plants from multiple planets access the federation along with a set of pathways that meander between them and the small streams and ponds. 


The main arboretum is three decks high to allow for the growth of large trees. The lower deck provides entrance to the main level and walking pathways while the second level provides access to the Terrace  which encircles the arboretum.  The three floor, at which is at canopy level, has a small lounge with comfortable chairs and sofas and café facilities for crew and passengers to relax. There is a small staircase within the arboretum that connects each level. The head arborist oversees these facilities.
* Admiralty Boards are the many unseen groups of flag officers that sit in board rooms all around the Federation reading reports and scrutinizing the decisions of their peers and starship captains. Sending a report "to Starfleet" means sending it to a department or office back on Earth, which will also have a board to review it.
 
* We saw what seemed like an Admiralty Board in the season three finale of ''Lower Decks''.
Associated with the arboretum is a large hydroponics complex which produces a significant amount of fruit and vegetables from all over the Federation that is used onboard the ship to give a slight taste of home. 
* There is one playable Admiralty Board in Bravo Fleet, the Avalon Fleet Yards Board. This group of officers provides general oversight for the yards and specific oversight for individual projects.
 
The ship's primary botany labs are located next to these facilities used to study alien plant life.
=====Arboretum and Hydroponics In Play=====
* Rarely ever empty as crew, passengers and civilians alike often wander along its pathways.
 
====Cetacean Ops - Deck 13 and 14====
The primary cetacean ops facilities and cetacean lifeboats are located on deck 13, with the primary navigation labs linked to them extending to deck 14. These facilities and associated crew are responsible for the ship's navigation. The facility contains a large aquarium spanning the two decks. The main aquariums are linked by large connecting tunnels, which provide access to critical systems. Lessons were learned in the 2380' following the incident with the ''Cerritos'' which meant all access panels within Cetacean ops are accessible by the cetaceans.
 
Several Bottlenose dolphins and Beluga whales operate the facility.
=====Cetacean Ops In Play=====
* Few facilities are above the water to allow non-aquatic crew access to key systems.
* The facility contains several drive suits and rebreathers to allow non-aquatic crew access to the submerged tunnels and passways.
* You may also receive orders to help clean Cetacean Ops; hands are helpful.
 
==== Security Office and Brig ====
[[File:Columbia-brig.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Brig]]
Located on deck 21, the security office contains the office of the Chief of Security and is a station to allow the ship's security personnel to monitor internal sensors. Linked to the facility is the ship's brig, which has six separate cells, as well as the vessel’s main armoury
 
Upon entry, visitors will encounter the main security desk, manned around the clock, along with several other security personnel throughout the office.
=====Security Office and Brig In Play=====
* As a security ensign, you will most likely be operating the security desk, which is the main point of contact for any security-related issues.
* If visiting, you will not be able to gain access to anything beyond the front desk unless you have direct orders or are meeting someone.
 
====Crew Quarters====
[[File:ColumbiaQuarters1.jpg|150px|thumb|right|Junior Officer's Quarters Layout 1]]
[[File:ColumbiaQuarters2.jpg|150px|thumb|right|Junior Officer's Quarters Layout 2]]
[[File:ColumbiaQuarters3.jpg|150px|thumb|right|Shared Junior Officer's Quarters Layout 3]]
[[File:Columbia-LDBunkHallway.jpg|150px|thumb|right|Lower Deck Bunk Hallway]]
The ship’s living quarters come in various sizes for those with a higher rank above lieutenant commander (most of them are on the ship's edge). Those ranked Ensign have access to smaller standard-size quarters that rarely have a window. They come with a bed, a replicator, a bathroom, and a small living space. Some ensigns and other junior members share rooms too.
 
Alongside this, the ''Columbia'' has several bunkroom corridors for those junior officers new to the ship. During the Dominion War, these hallways were used to transport troops to and from the frontlines.  
 
=====Quarters In Play=====
* As an ensign who has served on the ship for some time, you may have your own small standard-size quarters, or you may have to share with another ensign.
* The larger quarters with big windows and loads of living space are reserved solely for VIPs or other senior members of the crew. Unless you are supporting a VIP, an Ensign will not use them.
* The Lower Deck style bunkroom hallways allow for closer interaction between characters, especially those who are brand new ensigns to the ship.
 
==== Gymnasium and Pool ====
The ''Columbia'' contains several gymnasiums and recreational facilities. One of the largest is located near the lower deck bunk halls and quarters. Officers and passengers are often found around the clock in these facilities blowing off steam and working to maintain their shape. The facility itself contains a large (mixed) changing room with lockers. From here officers and crew have access to the aquatic facilities, gymnasium,  and sonic showers (think ST-LD S2E2).  
 
The gym, off to the right of the changing room, contains a variety of workout machines, free-weights, several open training rooms and sparring rings. The idea is that officers and crew can have access to whatever they need to when on site. A large replicator can be used to create items that are not already present with the understanding that they be recycled once used. Several officers  run classes such as yoga, boxing, etc on their own time here.
 
The pool, off to the left of the changing room, contains a large pool about 2 meters deep for lane swimming. Adjacent to this and connected directly to the gym is a set of jacuzzi tubes, ice baths and a large sauna. The on wall of the pool is covered with exterior windows giving swimmers a view space beyond.
 
===== Gymnasium and Pool In Play =====
 
* These facilities offer players a chance to interact with others outside of the work setting as well as to give them a place for self reflection.
 
*
 
== History ==
The ''Columbia'' was one of the six ''Galaxy''-class spaceframes constructed but not fully assembled during the initial production run of the class, held in reserve for either a time of great need or to replace one of the original six production units. ''Columbia'' ended up doing both, as her completion and fitting out were ordered following the destruction of the USS ''Odyssey''. By the time the Dominion War broke out, her core systems such as engines and weapons were ready, but she was launched without the vast majority of her labs and crew support systems. After serving as a battleship for the duration of the war, ''Columbia'' returned to dock in 2376 and was brought up to current exploratory standards.
 
As of 2400, ''Columbia'' has been refit twice and remains a preeminent Starfleet exploratory platform.
 
===Current Crew===
See [[USS Columbia Command Crew|USS ''Columbia'' Command Crew]] for more details.  
 
====Notable Crew====
=====Former Commanding Officers=====
*2400 - 2400: [[bfms_char:44744|Captain Noah Armstrong]]
 
{{clear}}

Latest revision as of 17:19, 20 September 2023

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This article is official Bravo Fleet canon.

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Starfleet Admiralty Boards
Affiliation

United Federation of Planets

Primary Mission

Oversight and Administration

Status

Active

Template:Organisation

Starfleet Admiralty Boards are standing committees of both active duty and retired flag officers that provide effective oversight for Starfleet’s departments in conjunction with the commanders of fleets, directors of Starfleet bureaus, and other leaders.

Overview

While some aspects of Starfleet, such as its concept of the chain of command, derive from governmental, exploratory, and paramilitary antecedents, the concept of the admiralty board derives from the academic concepts of shared governance and peer review, which means that decisions about the validity of any course of action should be decided by both experts and stakeholders rather than unilaterally. For instance, the Chief of Starfleet Science has the authority to make snap decisions about Starfleet’s scientific operations, but those decisions are subject to the advice and consent of the Starfleet Science Board before they can become standing fleet-wide policies. This provides a measure of check-and-balance within the structure of Starfleet, though all Admiralty Boards are ultimately subject to the authority of both the Commander, Starfleet and the President of the United Federation of Planets.

Each board has a chair and a vice chair; for department boards and yard boards, the chair and vice chair are the chief and deputy chief or commander and deputy commander of their respective department or yard. Flag officers tend to each serve on a handful of boards at any given time. The less important their day job is, the more boards they will serve on. Retired flag officers are often given several board assignments as well, if they want them. When necessary, fleet captains and captains may serve on admiralty boards, but this is considered unusual.

Purely operational units, such as numbered fleets, task forces, task groups, and squadrons do not have admiralty boards attached to them, as they rely solely on the chain of command for decision-making. This is to ensure that a starship captain, a squadron commander, a task group commander, a task force commander, and a fleet commander each have one ultimate boss. However, each of these groups is part of a complex web of oversight originating from the department, shipyard, and class boards.

Types of Admiralty Boards

Department Boards

Each Starfleet department has a board, e.g. the Starfleet Medical Board, the Starfleet Communications Board, and the Starfleet Intelligence Board. These boards are primarily composed of former Chiefs and Deputy Chiefs of those departments, often three, four, or five-star admirals. These boards provide advice and consent for policy decisions related to these departments, alongside each department’s Joint Staff, meaning the leaders of its subordinate bureaus and offices.

Shipyard Boards

Every shipyard is a massive installation that requires significant oversight.
Every shipyard is a massive installation that requires significant oversight.

Each Starfleet shipyard has a board, including Avalon Fleet Yards. These boards are composed of a mix of flag officers from all disciplines, who provide oversight of the shipyard’s construction, repair, and maintenance programs. Because it is impossible for a yard’s commander to oversee hundreds of projects simultaneously, each board member typically will be assigned a portfolio that includes several construction projects, repair projects, or other miscellaneous projects. The actual leaders of those projects will then provide regular updates to the board member, which allows the board to have a holistic understanding of the yard’s capabilities.

Starship Boards

The California-class Admiralty Board in 2382.
The California-class Admiralty Board in 2382.

Each Starfleet starship class in service or in the design phase has a board, which is responsible for determining the policies for that class, ranging from maintenance manuals to training practices. They also have oversight of the captains of vessels of their class alongside their operational commanders. For instance, while the Director of Fourth Fleet Operations may appoint captains within the Fourth Fleet, these assignments could be countermanded by the relevant admiralty board. Admiralty boards also frequently inspect vessels under their purview. These boards are sometimes known as "fleet boards," as each class of ship could be considered to be a "fleet," though that is a different use of the term than is found in numbered fleets, like the Fourth Fleet. Each of these boards has a "fleet captain," who is a senior captain with experience commanding that ship class who provides administrative support to the board and insight—often, they also hold the rank of fleet captain.

Academy Boards

Admiral Jean Luc-Picard (retired) serving as the Chancellor of Starfleet Academy.
Admiral Jean Luc-Picard (retired) serving as the Chancellor of Starfleet Academy.

Starfleet Academy has its own oversight board, and so does each of its subsidiary campuses. These boards function similar to a Board of Regents, Governors, or Trustees for civilian universities, providing guidance for the Academy's superintendent and serving as the final step for any sort of appeal by a cadet or instructor. The chair and vice chair of the Starfleet Academy Board—which has direct oversight of the San Francisco Campus—are known as the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor of Starfleet Academy. The boards of smaller campuses simply call their leaders chairs and vice chairs.


Admiralty Boards Relevant to the Fourth Fleet

Admiralty Boards In-Play

  • Admiralty Boards are the many unseen groups of flag officers that sit in board rooms all around the Federation reading reports and scrutinizing the decisions of their peers and starship captains. Sending a report "to Starfleet" means sending it to a department or office back on Earth, which will also have a board to review it.
  • We saw what seemed like an Admiralty Board in the season three finale of Lower Decks.
  • There is one playable Admiralty Board in Bravo Fleet, the Avalon Fleet Yards Board. This group of officers provides general oversight for the yards and specific oversight for individual projects.