USS NOVA Ship's Book: Difference between revisions

==INTRODUCTION==

Mission specialists and the commander of any independent marine detachment (rump battalion or larger) report directly to the officer-in-tactical command.  Regardless of the CO's actual rank, his position is that of the ship's captain and he is addressed as such.

===Executive Officer ===

The executuve officer (XO, exec) is responsible above all else for the day-to-day operation of the ship. The XO is also the professional development officer and assists department heads in facilitating training of all line officers.  The XO designs and administers all watch officer exams, certifications, and qualifying exams as they relate to the shipboard operations and command.  The XO is also responsible for the ship's routine and for keeping crew discipline.  All department heads report to the XO.  Regardless of his rank, he is senior to all naval officers who are part of the ship's permanent company.

===Command Master Chief===

The senior enlisted man aboard the ship.  He acts as a liason between the crew and the XO.

===Combat Information Department ===

The Combat Information Department works closely with the Operations Department.  It is composed of a single division, one of the largest divisions onboard NOVA.  The primary functions of department is to collect, evaluate, and disseminate information for the Commanding Officer and Battle Group Commanders to fight the ship or protect national interests throughout the world.  All of these tasks are accomplished in the confines of the Combat Information Center(CIC) using various electronic gear and sensor systems.  CIC is considered the "Nerve Center" of Nova where this information is compiled and displayed for possible engagement.  An easy way to explain the job of the CIC is, "Find the good guy's, find the bad guy's."  The department is commanded by the Combat Information Center (CIC) Officer.  Common rating: OS.

===Operations Department===

The operations department is commanded by the operations officer (OPS).  The divisions consists of five divisions.  

====Flight Deck (OF) Division====

The OD Divisivision is responsible for the operations, care and maintenance of the ship's mooring equipment, embarked craft, and all life saving equipment.  Common ratings:  BM, SQ, SE, SL, SA, SM, SC.  

====Communications (OC) Division====

The OC Divisizion is responsible for setting up and maintaining all communications circuits that are used by the Combat Information Center.  The division performs maintenance on all short range interna/external communications systems insuring the operability of those circuits.  The division receives and distributes all incoming messages to appropriate offices throughout the ship and send all outgoing messages pertinent to shipboard situations and occurrences.  They are responsible for maintaining diligent security on all cryptographic equipment and materials.  Its personnel operate and maintain the computer networks that assist in the speed and reliability of information that is vital to proper communications onboard.  The division is led by the Communications Officer.  Common rating: CN, IC.  

====Computer and Sensor (OS) Division====

The OS Div is responsible for maintenance of the computer operating and file systems and for insuring the proper calibration and operation of all sensor systems (navigational, long range, short range).  In general, sensor software is maintained by the operations department while the G and E divisions in engineering maintain the hardware.  Common rating:  OS.  

====Cryptology and Intelligence (OZ) Division====

The OZ Division provides time sensitive intelligence information to the Commanding Officer and Tactical Action Officers.  The division is commanded by the Cryptology Officer.  Common ratings:  CT, IS.

===Engineering Department===

The engineering department is commanded by the chief engineering officer (ENG).  The department is responsible for the repair, maintenance, and functioning of the ship's physical components.  Engineering is broken down into six divisions, four technical (P, A, E, G) and two logistical (R, DC) in nature.  All division officers report to the chief engineering officer.  

====Propulsion (P) Division====

The P Division is responsible for operations of the maneuvering engines, impulse engines, warp drives, and dimensional warp nodes.  Propulsion is the largest of the engineering divisions.  It is subdivided into warp, d-warp, and impulse centers commanded by junior or warrant officers who report to the Propulsion Officer.  Common ratings:  WT, DR, IT.  

====Auxilliary (A) Division====

The A Division is responsivble for the operation and maintenance of the life support systems, recycling systems, heating and refrigeration systems, climate control equipment, replicator systems, and transporters.  It is commanded by the Auxiliaries Officer.  Common ratings:  TT, RT, MM.  

====Electrical (E) Division====

The E Division has a wide range of responsibilities consisting of short range and navigational (electro-magnetic) sensor maintenance, power distribution systems, maintaining and issuing portable electronic tools to the crew, and responsible for all electrical equipment outside of main spaces.  It is headed by the Electrical Officer.  Common ratings:  EM, IM.  

====Gravitics (G) Division====

Gravitic systems encompass many apparently unrelated systems on the ship including long range sensors, subspace communications, tractor beams, shields.  The Gravitics Officer is responsible for the maintenance and operating efficiency of these systems.  Common ratings:  SG, CG.  

====Repair (R) Division====

The R Division has a wide range of responsibilities consisting of certification of all tanks (deuterium storage, oxygen storage, etc) and voids, piping and structural repairs, various machinist work, shipboard engraving, and maintenance of the vacuum, collection, holding, and transfer system.  The Repair Officer commands the Repair Division.  Common rating:  HT.  

====Damage Control (DC) Division====

The DC Division is responsible for training all hands in shipboard damage control and fire fighting, chemical, biological, and radiological defense, hazardous material spill cleanup, and damage control system maintenance.  Common ratings:  DC.

===Combat Systems Department===  

The combat systems department is headed by the chief tactical office (TAC).  TAC is assisted by five division officers who handle key parts of the offensive and defensive ship systems.  

====Electronics (CE) Division====

The CE Division is responsible for the maintenance and repair of Identification Friend of Foe (IFF) systems, tactical sensors, and targetting systems.  The division is commanded by the Electronics Maintenance Officer .  Common rating:  ET.  

====Systems Test (CS) Division====

The CS Division is responsible for the coordination of systems testing, the operation and training of the personnel who man Combat Systems Maintenance Central and maintenance of the technical library.  The CS division is composed of the Systems Test Officer(STO), the Combat Systems Maintenance Manager(CSMM), the Combat Systems Technician and Public Librarian.  The STO is in charge of the Ship's Electronic Readiness Team(SERT) and the Combat System's Training Team(CSTT).  The SERT team coordinates the operation and maintenance of the combat system's to ensure that the different systems in the combat systems suite integrate and operate properly and that the ship's combat systems suite is ready at all times.  CSTT trains the combat watch teams in both tactical and technical aspects of war fighting.  The CSMM insures that combat maintenance personnel are trained in the proper way to bring equipment on and off line, and  emergency procedures for equipment fire and electrical shock.  Common rating:  ET.  

====Electronic Warfare (CW) Division====

The CW Division conducts Command and Control Warfare drills to ensure that the ship's electronic countermeasure capabilities are maintained in high order.  The division is commanded by the Electronic Warfare Officer.  Common rating:  EW.  

====Strike (CT) Division====

The CT division is responsible for the performance and operation of the ship's photon torpedo system, both regular and quantum-flux.  The torpedo crews, who handle loading and launch manually in the event of system failure, report to the Strike Officer.  The Strike Officer is responsible for the training of torpedo crews and for torpedo stores.  Common Ratings:  GM(T), FT.  

====Phaser (CP) Division====

The CP Division is responsible for the performance and operations of the ship's phaser systems, including conventional, cannon, and pulse cannon systems.  Gun crews, who handle local fire control in the event of a system failure, report to the phaser division officer.  The Phaser Officer is responsible for the training of gun crews.  Because of Terran naval tradition, the Phaser Officer is referred to as "Guns" on many ships.  Common Ratings:  GM(P), FT.

===Navigation/Astrogation Department===

The navigation officer (NAV) is responsible for plotting the safest, most efficient course of travel and for coordinating with OPS and TAC to take into account their considerations for plotting approaches to systems, etc.  Moreover, NAV handles stellar cartography and keeps star charts updated.  

====Quartermaster (NX) Division====

This division is responsible for plotting the ship's position and navigating the ship.  The best Quartermasters, known as Master Helmsmen, have gained the Commanding Officer's trust to drive his ship in precarious situations and steer the ship during special evolutions.  The helm officer is responsible for the quartermaster division.  Common rating:  QM.  

====Stellar Cartography (NC) Division====

This division is responsible for maintenance of star charts and for providing navigational information as necessary.  The stellar cartography division officer is responsible for this division.  Common rating:  QM, DP.

===Security Department===

This is a relatively small department.  It is responsible for maintaining crew discipline and enforcing Star Fleet Regulations, investigating any crimes which occur while the ship is under way and recommending incidents for internal discipline or for remanding to JAG, and for small weapons including type I hand phasers, type II heavy hand phasers, type III phaser rifles, and type IV semi-portable phaser cannon and for maintaining the ship's armory.  The division is commanded by the Ordinance Officer.  The department head is often a warrant officer, even on vessels as large as ''Nova''.  On smaller vessels, may be a senior non-commissioned officer (the Chief Master at Arms).  On vessels where the TAC serves as CSO, there is a CMAA who reports directly to the TAC/CSO.  Common ratings:  MA, CI, FI.

===Science Department===

The science department (Sciences) has a dual role aboard a ''Solar''-class ship.  First, and foremost, the science department is tasked with solving problems of a scientific nature brought to it by the command staff.  These problems may be mission-related, or may reflect the challenges of space travel and exploration in a more general sense.  A good chief science officer (SCI) will study the mission briefing material for ways in which the science department may support overall mission goals.  This aspect of the science department's role is most obvious during an operational phase.  

Division officers are assumed to have undergraduate degrees (but no more) in the discipline which they supervise.  'Supervise' is a term used loosely because they are not supervising the content of research, but rather supporting the efforts of ongoing scientific study.  Most of the scientists in their divisions will outrank them considerably (and have advanced degrees); however, they report to the DivO in an administrative sense.  Also, the DivO's are responsible for making the SCI aware of potentially mission relevant research done in their division, as these things occasionally work the other direction as well.  Common ratings:  ST, DP, DS, LS.

===Administrative Department===

The Administrative department, the smallest department on the ship.  Its mission is to support the Commanding Officer, Executive Officer and crew in all official off ship correspondence, maintenance of service records, correction and maintenance of ship's instructions, processing of legal matters, awards, processing of pay documents, training programs, career counseling, religious services, and educational services.  

* Civilian Education Services (education for civilian dependants aboard ship)

* Morale, Welfare and Recreation Office

===Supply Department===

The Supply Department performs many of the logistical functions required to maintain a modern starship in space.  The department provides all of the material and services necessary to enable the ship to operate away from port over extended periods of time.  Supply also accounts for all expenditures on readiness as well as all houskeeping services.  

Ultimate responsibility for all these functions rest with the Supply Officer who is directly responsible to the Commanding Officer.  He is assisted by the Assistant Supply Officer, the Principal Assistant for Logistics, the Principal Assistant for Services, and the other Supply Corps officers assigned who advise, assist and implement his policies in the accomplishment of the department's functions.  

====The Stores Division====

The Stores Division supplies and inventories all parts, replacements, and supply stocks aboard the ship.

====The Food Service Division====

Responsible for operating the mess halls aboard ''Nova''.

====The Sales and Service Division====

Provides the crew with health and confort services such as the barber shop, laundry, and ship's shops.

====The Disbursing Division====

Responsible for the crew's pay.  They account for all payrolls, advance funds and claims to all personnel.

====The Post Office====

Responsible for sending and receiving all personnel packages aboard ship.  

The supply department is also responsible for the supply and operations of the officers' mess, the officers' lounge, the main lounge, the chief petty officers' mess; maintaining the captain's office and quarters; and general housekeeping aboard ship.  Common Ratings:  PC, MS, SD, SK, SR, SH.

===Medical Department ===

The ''Nova'' maintains a 23-bed inpatient facility which includes a state-of-the-art operating room, a three bed intensive care unit, a 16-bed inpatient ward, and four isolation beds.  Ancillary services include a fully capable laboratory, optometry, and preventive medicine divisions.  ''Nova'' is also equipped with facilities suited to limited medical research and experimentation while under way.  

Also part of the medical department is the office of the Ship's Councelor which sees to the mental health of the crew of ''Nova''.  The counselor coordinates with the Administrative Department to assist in career counseling and personnel evaluations.  The counselor is also responsible for research of alien psychology during first contact and other applicable situations.  The Ship's Counselor is assisted by enlisted personnel with the rate of Naval Counselor, NC.

===Marine Detachment===

The commanding officer of the ship's Marine detachment, although not a department head, occupies a somewhat similar position with respect to the administration of the Marines aboard in matters pertaining strictly to the Marine Corps.  

While the security department is responsible for the discipline of the crew, the marines (when they are present on board a ship) are responsible for the ship's safety--garrisoning sensitive areas, repelling boarders, etc. and for protection of away team missions.  They also handle dignitary details, provide color guards for ceremonies, etc.  When marines are providing such services, they report to the XO.  Aboard ''Nova'', Marines also serve as members of gun crews to supplement the combat systems department.  In this capacity, they are responsible to the tactical officer for training conducted under his supervision, and for the care, preservation, and operation of such equipment, supplies, and spaces as are assigned to the Marine detachment by the department head and the Marine commander acts as one of the division officers of the combat systems department.

==GROUPS==

===The Comamnd Group===

The Command group consists of the senior line officers (except OPS) and the Combat Information department.  All of these officers would wear uniforms with red piping.

===Operations Group===

The operataions groups consists of operations, combat systems (tactical), security and protocol.  On USS ''Nova'', all of these people wear mustard as on May 2419.  This group is responsible for the performance of the ship while under way, particularly in combat.  The operations officer is the senior member of this group and is accountable to the XO for the overall readiness during training cycles.  

===The Engineering Group===

The Engineering group, the largest aboard the ship, consists of the Engienering department and all of its divisions.  These officers, responsible for maintainign the hardware of the ship, wear uniforms piped in orange.

Flight Operations is made up of personnel who oversee all incoming and outgoing craft from ''Nova'', including all flight operations and their maintenance.  These personnel wear uniforms piped in dark slate gray.

===The Sciences Group===

Sciences is made up of all of the ship's scientists, science technitians, and science department administrators.  These officers wear uniforms piped in dark blue.

===The Medical Group===

As members of the Medical Corps, officers of this group are not line officers and may not command starships.  This group provides specialized professional services (medicine and counseling) to the ship.  The chief medical officer and ship's counselor report separately to the XO.  Its personnel wear uniforms piped in sky blue.

===The Intelligence Group===

Intelligence officers, often found working in Combat Information or as special liaisons tot he ''Nova,'' wear uniforms piped in white.

===The Marine Group===

Like the medical group, the marines are a member of a Corps, in this case the Star Fleet Marine Corps, and are not Naval line officers.  Uniforms for their corps differ slightly from the norm of the Star Fleet Navy.  Shipboard duty uniforms for the fleet marine force are similar in style to those of the Star Fleet Navy and use green as a group color.

==CONCLUSION==

Respectfully,  

CAPT J. Robert Brooks, jr.<br>

Commanding Officer, USS Nova (NCC-1776-A)<br>

==BIBLIOGRAPHY==