Duties and Responsibilities
Chief Science Officer's
duties
The primary
responsibilities of the Chief Science Officer is control
of starship or unit sensor arrays, coordination of
scientific endeavors, and interpretation of sensor data.
Since sensor systems are a shared resource the Chief
Science Officer is usually involved in a number of
scientific projects. Departments such as stellar
cartography often contact the Chief Science Officer for
advice and input. Command decisions are made based on
all available information; this includes scientific
information. The Chief Science Officer is responsible
for the interpretation and dissemination of all
scientific data collected by available sensor systems.
The Chief Science Officer is a liaison between the
Command Staff and the Science Department.
Science Officer's
duties
The primary
responsibilities of the Science Officer is operation and
shared control of starship or unit sensor arrays,
coordination of scientific endeavors, and interpretation
of sensor data. Since sensor systems are a shared
resource the Science Officer is usually involved in a
number of scientific projects. Departments such as
stellar cartography often contact the science officer
for advice and input. Command decisions are made based
on all available information; this includes scientific
information. The Science Officer is responsible for
assisting in the interpretation and dissemination of all
scientific data collected by available sensor systems.
The Science Officer is a liaison between the Science
Department and the Chief Science Officer.
Sensors
The Chief Science
Officer has control of all sensor systems*. Sensors are
vital to starship operations, providing the ability to
detect phenomena at great distances. They have wide
application in scientific, engineering, medical and
defensive endeavors. There is no single all-purpose
sensor on a ship; rather, they tend to be grouped
together in sensor arrays. Most sensors work by
detecting various energy fluctuations, such as
electromagnetic oscillations, spectral wavelengths and
gravimetric distortions, which are then interpreted by
the main computer into usable information.
Starfleet vessels have
three primary sensor types: Long-range, lateral (short-range)
and navigational sensors. The main sensors are located
at the front of the ship, designed to sweep far ahead to
gather navigational and scientific information. The
lateral sensors provide coverage in other directions –
aft, port, starboard and so on. Both are tied into the
science stations and various laboratories on board. The
final group is the navigational sensors, which keep
track of the ship’s position and velocity, and are tied
directly to the Conn’s flight control systems. This
combination provides starship crews with extensive
capability for astronomical observation, planetary
analysis and remote life-form analysis.
Astrometrics Lab
Ships that have these
labs on board, the Science Department has sole control.
Its main function is to correlate all the data collected
through the sensors and represents it in a visual form.
The information is just not limited to the sensors.
Information can be received form the Computer Library,
manual inputs, and from personal/duty logs.
Departmental Support
Medical –
Sciences are used by the Medical Department to help
study new life forms, help cure diseases, and to help
with the general smooth running of the department.
Biologist - Studies
living things from cells to sentient beings and the
processes that occur in living things.
Microbiologist -
Biology concerned with very small and
microscopic-sized, living cells and organisms.
Exobiology - One who
specializes in the study of alien life form physiology.
Zoologist / Vet as
needed - Life scientist concerned with the study of
animals and their evolution, characteristics and
behavior.
Tactical – The
Tactical Department uses the Sciences, but not to the
extent as some of the other departments. When a tactical
situation arises, a hostage situation for example, it
may draw on the resources of the Political Sciences to
get a feel for the volatility of the situation, or the
Geologists to discover a possible hidden base on a
planet.
Operations – When Ops
encounters a new life form and is unable to communicate
with them, linguists will assist Ops with the langue so
a line of communication can be established.
Linguistics - The
study of languages past and present, including
idiosyncrasies, slang and dialects.
Flight Control – With
the aid of the Astrophysicists and the sensor array, the
FCO will be able to plot the ships course and avoid any
stellar matter that the FCO feels might be a threat to
the ship and/or crew.
Engineering
– Even
though the Engineering Department is not to concerned
with Science Department as a whole, they still utilize
members of the Science Department to aid the department
in its daily work and repairs.
Cybernetics
Specialist
Computer Specialist
(hard and soft ware)
Away Team –
Depending on the nature of the Away Team’s mission, a
variety of scientists may accompany the Away Team. Main
mission of the scientists on an Away Team is to study
the environment, culture, and the planet in general.
Science Departments
Physical Sciences
i. Geologist - Concerned with the structure of
planets, their behaviors, and what can be expected
to happen in its future.
ii. Archaeologist -
Study of fossil relics, especially remnants of past
sentient societies.
iii. Oceanographer -
Studies the evolution, characteristics and life
forms that inhabit the oceans of a world. This can
range from mapping the ocean floor to finding new
organisms and communicating with intelligent life
forms.
iv. Chemist - Deals
with the behavior of elements, compounds, mixtures,
and solutions and with the nature of the reactions
that occur among elements.
v. Physicist - One
who teaches, does research in, or does experiments
with the nature and behavior of matter, energy, and
forces in the universe.
vi. Astrophysicist -
Concerned with the behavior of celestial bodies and
the structure and evolution of stars, galaxies, and
the universe in general.
Life Sciences
i. Botanist - The study of plant life
ii. Anthropologist -
Studies the behavior, customs, religious, sciences,
and beliefs of a society.
iii. Political
sciences - Studies governments, their laws and
judiciary systems.
iv. Paleontologist -
Studies ancient life forms based on fossil remains
Computer Access
The most important single operational element of any
starship next to the crew is the computer system.
The computer is directly analogous to the autonomic
nervous system of a living being, and is responsible
in some way for the operation of virtually every
other system of the vehicle
Crew interface for
the main computer is provided by the Library Access
and Retrieval System software, usually abbreviated
as LCARS. LCARS provides both keyboard and verbal
interface ability, incorporating highly
sophisticated artificial intelligence routines and
graphic display organization for maximum crew
ease-of-use.
Research
Research is one of the functions of the Science
department. On larger ships research is accomplished
with the aid if Science Departments working together.
On smaller ships, Science Officers rely more heavily
on the computer to provide answers to questions due
the lack of crew resources. On any size ship, there
are two forms of research conducted by the Science
Officers
i. Practical
Science Officers
use information already gathered by other people
via LCARS to further their own course of study.
Often time’s answers will be readily available due
to the wealth of information stored in the
computer. The Science Officers can input updated
or new information into the computer for other
people to view at a latter time.
ii. Theory
When situations
arise that have not been encountered or recorded
before, Science Officers have to study and examine
the situation. Often times the Science Officers
will ask the computer to if it can provide a
theory about the situation. The computer uses the
information it has and rely the information to the
Science Officers. If the computer is unable to
provide a theory. The Science Officers will have
to begin inputting information into the computer.
Computer Library
One
of the functions of the computer is to store
information for retrieval by the crew. The Computer
Library can be accessed by anyone on a ship. The level
of access is restricted to the person’s security level.
The library has a wealth of information on any topic.
In larger ships where families are authorized to be on
board, school courses and family oriented
entertainment have been included in the library. The
crew also uses the Computer Library in their workday.
Sciences uses the Computer Library heavily since it
would be impractical to have books on all the subjects
on the ship that the Science Department needs to
accomplish their goals.
Data Transfers
Data transmissions may be established between any
standard Starfleet hardware units equipped with radio
frequency or subspace transceiver assembly devices,
either by manual key presses or by vocally commanding
the computer to handle the data transfers. In most
cases, the computer will automatically execute the
desired functions; on occasion, the computer may
request identification key presses for specific pieces
of hardware, usually for verification of device type,
data transmission protocols, or sequencing of multiple
devices. During both voice and data transmissions,
channels may be secured by either manual\el inputs or
vocal request, depending on the respective locations
of the parties or devices involved.
Misc.
Alerts
i. Green
During Green
Alert all sensor information and sensors
resources are shared by all departments.
Operations Manager having final say on whom has
priority if there is a conflict.
ii. Yellow
During Yellow
Alert, all departments cease the use of sensor
resources except for the Bridge Stations and
Engineering. Bridge Stations and Engineering
will still share the resources. At the
discretion of the Captain and/or Operations
Manager, this can be overridden.
iii. Red
During Red Alert,
all departments cease the use of sensor
resources and the sources are no longer shared.
Each Bridge Station will have direct control
over the respective sensor array.
Modes
i. Reduced Power
All departments
cease the use of sensor information and resources
will not be shared, except by the Bridge Stations
and Engineering. All Sensor arrays will be used at
minimal power and hourly power consumption will be
sent to the Commanding Officer or Designee.
ii. External Power
Support
While hard docked
or receiving power from other source, all sensor
arrays will be shut down. All sensor information
will be received from Base or Support Ship. Only
exception will be if in combat or hostile
environment. Then only necessary arrays will be
operational and at reduced power.
Diagnostic
All key operating
systems and subsystems aboard a ship have a
number of pre-programmed diagnostic software and
procedures for use when actual or potential
malfunctions are experienced. These various
diagnostics protocols are generally classified
into five different levels, each offering a
different degree of crew verification of
automated tests. Which type of diagnostic is
used in a given situation will generally depend
upon the criticality of a situation, and upon
the amount of time available for the test
procedures.
i. Level 1
Diagnostic
This refers to
the most comprehensive type of system
diagnostic, which is normally conducted on
ship’s systems. Extensive automated diagnostic
routines are performed, but a Level 1 Diagnostic
requires a team of crew members to physically
verify operation of system mechanisms and to
system readings, rather than depending on the
automated programs, thereby guarding against
possible malfunctions in self-testing hardware
and software. Level 1 Diagnostics on major
systems can take several hours, and in many
cases the subject system must be taken off-line
for all tests to be performed.
ii. Level 2
Diagnostic
This refers to a
comprehensive system diagnostic protocol which,
like a Level 1, involves extensive automated
routines, but requires crew verification of
fewer operational elements. This yields a
somewhat less reliable system analysis, but is a
procedure that can be conducted in less than
half the time of the more complex tests.
iii. Level 3
Diagnostic
This procedure
is similar to Level 1 and 2 Diagnostic but
involves crew verification of only key mechanics
and system readings. Level 3 diagnostics are
intended to be performed in ten minutes or less.
iv. Level 4
Diagnostic
This automated
procedure is intended for use whenever trouble
is suspected with a given system. This protocol
is similar to Level 5, but involves more
sophisticated batteries of automated
diagnostics. For most systems, Level 4
Diagnostics can be performed in under 30
seconds.
v. Level 5
Diagnostic
This automated
procedure is intended for routine use to verify
system performance. Level 5 Diagnostics, which
usually require less than 2.5 seconds. Are
typically performed on most systems on at least
a daily basis, and are also performed during
crises situations when time and systems system
are carefully managed.
Tools
i. Science Stations
Science stations I
and II are the first two aft stations located
directly behind the Tactical station on the upper
level of the Main Bridge (different ship
configurations may place this elsewhere). They are
used by bridge personnel to provide real-time
scientific data to command personnel. These stations
are not assigned full-time technicians, but are
available for use as needed. In ACTD, station one is
frequently manned by the CSO and if the ship has an
SO, to station II.
In some cases, the
science stations are used by personnel attached to
secondary missions including researchers, science
officers, mission specialists, and others who need
to coordinate operations closely with the bridge.
Science I and II are generally configured for
independent operation, but can be linked together
when two researchers wish to work cooperatively. The
aft Science stations have priority links to Conn,
OPS and Tactical. During Alert status, science
stations can have priority access to sensor arrays,
if necessary over ridding ongoing science department
observations and other secondary mission upon
approval of the CSO.
The Science I
station incorporates an isolinear ship matrix panel
that permits specialized mission profile programs to
be loaded as needed, and also permits investigators
to accumulate data for later study.
Primary functions
of Science stations include:
- The ability to
provide access to sensors and interpretative
software for primary mission and command
intelligence requirements and to supplement OPS to
providing real-time scientific data for command
decision making support.
- The ability to
act as a command pst of coordination of activities
of various science laboratories and other
departments, as well as for monitoring of
secondary mission status.
- The ability to
reconfigure and recalibrate sensor systems at a
moment’s notice to specific command intelligence
requirements.
ii. Tricorder
The standard
tricorder is a portable sensing, computing, and
data communications device developed by Starfleet
R&D and issued to starship crew members. It
incorporates miniaturized versions of those
scientific instrument found to be most useful for
both shipboard and away missions, and its
capabilities may be augmented with
mission-specific peripherals. Its many functions
may be accessed by touch-sensitive controls or, if
necessary, voice command
Tricorders are
extremely compact and powerful sensory devices. In
addition to containing a wide range of miniature
electromagnetic, magnetic, audio, chemical and
subspace sensors, tricorders also include
extremely detailed databanks on a wide range of
scientific and historical information. The
computer in the tricorder can rapidly identify
known lifeforms, materials and energy sources by
comparing its sensory reading with its databanks.
Tricorders can also attempt to analyze unknown
lifeforms, materials or energy sources, although
this could take up to an hour, during which the
tricorder may still be used for other tasks.
Tricorders also contain subspace communicators
with ranges like those of personal communicators.
The can send and receive data of all types from a
starship computer or other distant source.
The normal range
a standard tricorder is 2,000 meters for long
range scans, 25 meters for short-range for
short-range scans. All long-range scans are omni
directional, but the user must aim the tricorder
at a specific location to perform a short-range
scan. Various types of ionic and other
interference can greatly reduce the range of a
tricorders scans.
iii. PADD
In its primary
role aboard a starship, the personal access
display device (PADD) is a handheld control and
display terminal. Small, easily managed terminals
and computers are in daily use throughout
Starfleet, as a natural response to crew members’
needs to 1.) execute hardware functions in a
variety of functions, and 2.) manipulate visual
information and communicate that information to
others aboard ship. Access to the ships computer
and other pieces of equipment can be accomplished
through he usual control display and larger
terminal screens, of course, but the PADD has
become a convenient adjunct to those panels.
iv. Deflector Dish
Although the
density of the interstellar medium is extremely
low, significant hazards to navigation exits,
especial for a starship traveling at
relativistic or warp velocities. Among these are
micrometeroid particulates, as well as the much
rare (but more hazardous) larger objects such as
asteroids. Even the extremely tenuous stray
hydrogen atoms of the interstellar medium itself
can be a dangerous source of friction at
sufficient velocities.
The heart of
the navigational deflector system is three
redundant high power graviton polarity source
generators. The flux energy output of these
generators is directed and focused by a series
of powerful subspace field coils. The main dish
is attached to the actual emitter array. The
dish is steerable under automatic computer
control. Subspace filed coils are used to shape
the deflector beam into two primary components.
The first shields the ship two kilometers ahead
of the ship. These low-powered fields are
relatively static and are used to deflect the
stray hydrogen atom as well as any submicron
particles that escaped the deflector beam. The
navigational deflector, also controlled by the
subspace field coils, is a powerful tractor/deflector
that sweeps thousands of kilometers ahead of the
ship, pushing aside larger objects that may
present a collision hazard.
Because the
main deflector dish radiates significant amounts
of both subspace and electromagnetic radiation,
it can have detrimental effects on the
performance of many sensors. Which is why the
LRS array is located behind the main deflector,
allowing sensors to ‘look’ directly through the
axis of the fields.
v. Probes
Automated
sensor platforms propelled by micro fusion
reactors or warp field sustainers, used to
extend starships sensor range and sensitivity,
to perform routine surveys, or to reconnoiter an
area where a threat may exist. Probes can be
retasked and piloted from the mother ship,
although specialized scans typically require
manual replacement of sensor pallets. All probes
are roughly cylindrical and approx. 2 meters
long, about the same size as a photon torpedo
launcher.
There are nine
classes of probes, classified by mission type.
Increase in class number does not necessarily
indicate a corresponding increase in utility,
although it does usually indicate an increase in
speed and range.
Listed probe
ranges indicate the expected distance before the
probe ceases to function. Limiting velocity or
thrust time can usually extend this range.
Probes have no
Power characteristic; they are assumed to have
sufficient internal power to run their systems
until they reach their maximum range or
otherwise cease to function.
|
Type |
Speed |
Range |
Abilities |
|
Class I |
.5c |
200,000 km |
Short-range
astronomical. Capable of analyzing EM radiation,
interstellar chemistry and subspace fields. |
|
Class II |
.65c |
400,000 km |
Short-range
astronomical. Capable of analyzing EM radiation,
interstellar chemistry and subspace fields. |
|
Class III |
.65c |
1,200,000 km |
Designed to
land on planets and return samples, providing a detailed
on-site analysis of the planet. |
|
Class IV |
.6c |
3,500,000 km |
Used to
perform close observations of stars and other
high-energy phenomena. |
|
Class V |
Warp 2, .5c |
430 billion km |
Designed to
land on planets and return samples, providing a detailed
on-site analysis of the planet. |
|
Class VI |
.8c |
430 billion km |
Are
communicator relays and emergency beacons. The beacon
has no warp capability (to limit detection by subspace
sensors) but has a high relativistic velocity. Once the
probe’s fuel is exhausted it coasts at speed,
broadcasting a recovery signal toward Federation space.
The probe has a navigational module to facilitate
recovery and trajectory tracking. |
|
Class VII |
Warp 1.5, .5c |
450,000,000 km |
Designed to
orbit an inhabited planet for up to three months,
gathering data bout the inhabitants and relaying it to a
ship. Designed to be invisible to all sensors used by
pre-stellar civilizations. |
|
Class VIII |
Warp 8/9 |
See Notes |
Long-range
sensor probe that can travel at warp 9 for up to 12
hours. On rare occasions, has been used to ferry a lone
passenger on emergency mission. |
|
Class IX |
Warp 8/9 |
See Notes |
Long-range
sensor probe that can travel at warp 9 for up to 12
hours. On rare occasions, has been used to ferry a lone
passenger on emergency mission. |
|
Notes |
|
1. Class V and Class VII probes are
built with ‘stealth’ technology that makes them harder
to detect with sensors.
2. A class VIII’s range depends upon
which speed it uses. It can use warp 8 to ravel a
distance about 12 light years. At warp 9 it can travel
for a maximum of 6.5 hours. A class Viii probe’s
long-range sensors have a range of 6 light-years.
3. A class IX’s Range depends upon
which speed it uses. It can use warp 8 to ravel a
distance of about 76 light-years. At warp 9, it can
travel for a maximum range of 12 hours. A class IX
probe’s long-range sensors have a range of 12
light-years.
|
|
