STARFLEET SECURITY
"Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty."
-- Wendell Phillips
Just as Starfleet is charged with the duty of protecting the United
Federation of Planets, and all of the citizens contained within that
august entity, Starfleet Security is, in turn, charged with the duty of
ensuring the protection and security of Starfleet itself, and to contribute
to that of the UFP. While Starfleet Security is but a small division, when
compared to Starfleet as a whole, it fills a necessary role in the smooth
functioning of Starfleet, as is intrinsic part of it's quasi-military body.
Starfleet Security, as a division, was created shortly after the
United Federation of Planets and Starfleet were founded in 2161.
Starfleet Security and Starfleet Intelligence, as divisions, have a
uniquely paradoxical love/hate relationship. While each division
fulfills a dramtically different role, their paths, out of necessity,
cross frequently; SFSec requires the information that SFI gathers in
order to ensure the security of Starfleet, and SFI needs the protection
which SFSec grants them. Further, they share large portions of their
Surveillance divisions; for almost every SFI Office on a given planet,
a SFSec Office will be nearby. These agents are the ones who interact
the most frequently, and tend to develop the strongest sense of
competetion, as they are performing very similar tasks. However,
the purpose of SFSec Surveillance is not to gather intelligence,
but this will be discussed in more detail later.
Not surprisingly, in order to function smoothly and efficiently,
Starfleet Security is broken down into sub-divisions; Operations,
Surveillance, Enforcement, Internal Security, Information, Interrogation
(more commonly known as Q&A), Logistics, and Special Forces. Each
sub-division is commanded by a Senior Officer of Starfleet Security, who
in turn, reports to the Branch Admiral of Starfleet Security or the UFP
Council.
Starfleet Security - Command and Divisional Breakdown
Operations
While not the largest of the sub-divisions within SFSec, the
Operations division fulfills a key role in the efficient functioning
of SFSec as a whole. Traditionally headed up by the SFSec XO, this
division is responsible for coordinating the activities of all other
divisions within SFSec. Virtually all information which is passed from
one department to another passes through Operations, and it is Operations
which decides the dissemenation of this information. Further, Operations
is responsible for the staffing in SFSec, and organizes which Starfleet
Cadets will be admitted to the department, and into which sub-division
they will be assigned.
Surveillance
By far, Surveillance is the largest of the sub-divisions. They are
responsible for keeping a close eye on all member planets and
protectorates within Federation space, and even keep watch on many
non-member planets and civilizations, a duty that is smoothly transferring
to SFI Surveillance the less those civilisations are accessible to SFSec.
Often, agents of this division have close ties to the local law enforcement
organizations on the planets to which they're assigned. It is this
department which has offices on most of the civilized worlds within the
Federation, which they call 'Security Cells', and they frequently act as
the representatives of Starfleet Security. Surveillance operatives sometimes
also possess discretionary powers, depending on their circumstances, and may
investigate, interrogate and incarcerate a known or suspected felon if
necessary. However, in these cases, it is preferred that Surveillance
operatives report any anomalous activity prior to taking any action;
individual action is only to be a last resort.
Not surprisingly, reports flood in from these operatives on a daily
basis, keeping Starfleet Security and SFI abreast of the current state of
affairs in and outside of the Federation.
Enforcement
The second largest division within SFSec, it is this department
which is often thought of whenever Starfleet Security is named.
Enforcement is responsible for the assignment of operatives to apprehend
known or suspected offenders, and those who violate Federation law.
Further, it is Enforcement which decides what method of apprehension is
viable in a given situation, and is responsible to the placement of
bounties on known felons. Enforcement also, from time to time, hires
independant mercenaries and Bounty Hunters to assist in the capture of
their quarry, again depending on the circumstances.
While, at first, this seems by far the most exciting department for
a brand new cadet to go into, they quickly learn that this is not the
case. Frequently, Enforcement Operations involve long, backbreaking
sting operations and, sometimes, undercover work. Starfleet vessels,
more often than not, handle the large scale cases, leaving Enforcement
to clean up after them, and handle the multitude of petty crimes which
occur in the Quadrant each day. Also, Enforcement co-ordinates with
Surveillance and Logistics to decide how many Enforcement operatives
need to be assigned to a given system, and also often act as guards and
sentrys at important planetary installations.
Internal Security
Just as Starfleet Security watches over the Federation, Internal
Security watches over Starfleet. Closely. They are responsible for
ensuring that Starfleet personnel adhere to the laws of Starfleet and
the Federation, and do not abuse their authority. Internal Security
also investiagtes any incident which directly involves or affects
Starfleet personnel, and handles the apprehension and detention of these
prisoners. Basically, Internal Security is SFSec within SFSec, so to
speak, and has their own internal divisions just as SFSec does.
Internal Security is an entirely separate department, related to
SFSec and drawing from it's resources, but only answerable to the
Federation Council and the President to preserve it's independence.
Internal Security, for the sharp edge it is taking in making sure
no Starfleet officer gets off track, is not a very popular division among
Starfleet officers.
In addition to conducting it's own investigations, Internal
Security also frequently co-ordinates with the Judge Advocate General's
Office, acting as their enforcement arm when necessary. Also, as they
are responsible for conduct of all Starfleet personnel, it is the Judge
Advocate General's Office which tries the officers Internal Security
apprehends. Not surprisingly, the two departments possess close ties.
Information
Within the United Federation of Planets, the free dissemination of
information, the right to free speech, and the rights of the media are
all priviledges which are guarded and protected with great care.
However, even in the free society of the Federation, there must be some
regulation of this information, as Starfleet is often in possession of
confidential, classified and senstive data that must be safeguarded.
This is where Information comes in.
The Information division has the tedious task of reviewing all
broadcasts which go out over the galactic newsnet, ensuring that no
confidential information is released. Further, they monitor all
communications, both EM and subspace, for anomalous transmissions, or
those that use unidetified or unrecognized coding. In private
transmissions, they do not look at the transmission itself, as that
would constitute a violation of Federation privacy laws. Rather, they
investigate the behaviuor of these transmissions, and analyze their
structures and makeup. They also frequently run traces on these
transmissions, to identify their sources and destinations.
They answer directly to the Director of SFSec and the UFP Council's
information committee and the Council at large.
Information also is responsible for the developement and
implication of the coding that is utilized in Starfleet transmissions.
They co-ordinate closely with Starfleet Engineering for this, to keep
abreast in the latest communication technologoes available.
Interrogation (Q&A)
After Enforcement has apprehended a criminal, they are brought to
Interrogation for questioning. This is not as horrendous as it may
sound; the Interrogation division, which is much more commonly known as
Q&A due to the negative connotations associated with their division's
title, are not bloodthirsty maniacs who strive to get a confession out
of anyone who crosses their door. Rather, they are dedicated teams of
Counselors, Engineers, Doctors and talented telepaths who utilize complex
and sophisticated sensory equipment to determine the answers to their
questions, and whether or not a given criminal is telling the truth.
However, Q&A operatives are not all candy and sweetness either, and they
always manages to get the information that they need. Always.
Logistics
Out of all of the sub-divisions within SFSec, Logistics has to be
the most mindbonglingly boring of them all. They are responsible for
the daunting task of analyzing the collasal amount of information that
Surveillance reports each day, and stripping them down to purely useful
and efficient information. Logistics maintains the staggering number of
Security dossiers that SFSec keeps on all known criminals in the
Federation, and updates these files on a daily basis, if not more
frequently. Also, it is Logistics that compiles the Surveilance
information into statistical reports, which are in turn passed on to
Operations, and then, if neceessary, Enforcement. Further, all other
departments also forward them statistical information to be calculated
and computed. These charts, graphs and reports indicate the crime levels
in a given system or sector, and calculates the average number of officers
that should be assigned there, the weapons that should be allotted to
them, etc. From these recommendations, based on theoretical models and
simulations, that Operations and Enforcement make their decisions about
personnel allotment.
A joke within SFSec says that Starfleet Engineer is a snap in
comparison to being a SFSec Logistics Officer. They're not so far off
the mark.
Special Forces
Special Forces, of all the sub-divisions, is by far the smallest.
It is comprised of elite Starfleet Security Officers, all of whom
specialize in one, or multiple fields, and are experts in several forms
of combat. Basically, this division is the Green Berets of Starfleet,
rarely called upon and only during the most extreme of circumstances.
They handle operations which regular SFSec Officers and Starships are
either not equipped or trained for, or are too highly sensitive to
involve crews with lesser security clearance. SpecForces, as their
called, deals extraction situations, sensitive and localized offenses,
and unusual situations that require the presence of specialists, as well
as a myriad of other tasks.
To say that the training these operatives undergo is rigourous
would be an understatement. Their ranks are filled with only the best
and the brightest, those who's loyalty to Starfleet and the Federation
is absolutly unwavering, and whose medical and psychological profiles
are completely clean of any kind of abnormality. In fact, at least
fifty percent of those officers who are assigned to this division are
transferred, simply because they can't keep up, or they aren't up to
it. More than one officer has left Starfleet because of the ordeals
that SpecForces put them through duing training.
Not surprisingly, they have always co-ordinated a great deal with the
Starfleet Marine Corps, to have a contingent of Marines assigned
alongside a team of SpecForce Operatives was commonplace.
HoloWorld Fleet Security - Cocoon Patrol
The security of the Cocoon is a crucial requirement for peace and
cooperative prosperity in these new territories. Starfleet and the
Federation will be judged by the amount of improvement and higher
standards they bring to each new citizen's life. The quality of law
enforcement will make a big difference to this end.
Starfleet Command agreed that in this light only selected personnel
will be admitted to the new subdivision named Cocoon Patrol. Due to the
nature of the rather remote territory of the Cocoon the Cocoon Patrol will
operate largely independant and has adequatly staffed divisions just as
Starfleet Security as a whole.
The current efforts focus on smoothing the strong influx of Starfleet
personnel into the Juun Union and the problems that come with it. Also the
opening of the Cocoon to commercial traffic on Stardate 80415 will keep
the hands of SFSec full at all times. Therefore the enforcement division
has staffing priority, with a preference for Bajoran officers which blend
easier into the Juun majority of sector population.
Document created by Jason Kee and used with his friendly permission
Altered, expanded and in this form (c) 1996 by Armin Lenz for
alt.holoworld.rpg
(
geocities.com/holoworldfleet)