STARFLEET SECURITY

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.

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