OPERATIONS LESSON 1: Operations Operations (OPS) Many shipboard operations invovle scheduling resources of hardware (such as power ot the use of sensors) that affect a number of departments. In many such cases, it is common for various operations to present conflicting requirements. It is the resopnsibility of the operations management officers (normally referred to as operations manager or OPS) to coordinate such activities so that mission goals are not jeopardized. Having a crew member in this decision- making loop is of crucial importnace because of the wide range of unpredictable situations with which a starship must deal. The OPS panel presents the operations manager with a continually updated list of current major shipboard activities. This list permits OPS to set priorities and allocate resources among current operations. This is especially critical in cases where two or more requests requirethe use of the same equipment, entail mutually exclusive mission profiles, or involve some unusual safety or tactical considerations. Managing OPS An example might be a situation where the Stellar Physics Department is conducting an experiment using the lateral sensor array to study a nearby binary star. Simultaneously, part of the same array is being time-shared with a long- range cometary population survey. A request from the bridge for a priority scan of a planetary system might jeopardize both studies unless OPS authorizes a minor change in ship's attitude, permitting the Stellar Physics observations to use the upper sensor array. Alternatively, OPS may weigh the option of placing on of the ongoing studies on a lower priority to provide the bridge with immeadiate use of the lateral sensor array. Priority and Resourse Allocation Most routine and shceduling and resource allocation is done automatically by the OPS program. This frees the Operations Manager from routine activity, leaving him/her able to concentrate on decisions beyond the scope of the artificial intelligence software. The level of these decision filter programs can be set by the Operation Manager, and also, varies with the current alert status of the ship. In cases where priorities are ambiguous or where specific OPS approval is required, the panel will display a menu of the most probable options for action. In virtually all cases. the Operations Manager also has the ability to input choices beyond those presented by the action menus. This is important because it is impossible for mission planners to anticipate every possible situation. Action menus may be displayed for any current activity (even those which would normally be handled automatically) upon keyboard request from OPS. During crisis situations and Reduced Power Mode operations, OPS is responsible for supervision of power allocation in coordination with the Engineering Department. Load shedding of nonessential power usage in such situations is based on spacecraft survival factors and mission priorities. BACK LESSON 2: Additional Parameters Responsibilities of OPS The Operations Manager is also responsible for providing general status information to the main computer, which is then made available to all depatments and personnel. OPS routes specific information to specific departments to inform them of anticipated changes and requirements that may affect their operations. An example is a scenario where an away team is to be sent on a mission to a planetary surface. Typical OPS responsibilities might include: 1: Notification of away team personnel with mission objective information. When away team personnel are drawn from operational departments, OPS will sometimes coordinate to provide crosstrained replacement personnel from other departments. 2: Coordination with Mission OPS for assignment of comm relay frequencies and preparations to monitor away team tricorder telemetry. 3: Notification for issuance of tricorders, phasers, environmental gear, and other mission-specific equipment. 4: Assignment of personnel transporter room to handle transport operations, as well as the assignments of a transporter chief to the mission. If available, OPS will also provide transport coordinates to the transporter chief. 5: Notification of Engineering to prepare for power allocation for transporter, as well as deflector shield shutdown if necessary. Such notifications are generally accomplished automatically without the need for active intervention by OPS. However, because preprogrammed functions cannot ne expected to anticipate all possible situations, OPS is responsible for monitoring all such coordination activity and for taking additional action as necessary. Such flexibility is particularlyimportant during alert and crisis scenarios, during which unpredictable and unplanned conditions must frequently be dealt with Mission OPS This station provides additional support to the Operations Manager, and is specifically responsible for monitoring activity relating to secondary missions. In doing so, Mission OPS (MOPS) acts as an assistant to the Operations Manager, relieving him/her of responsibility for lower priority tasks that must be monitored by human operation. MOPS is responsible for assignment of resources and priorities according to guidelines specified by the Operations Manager and by operating protocols. For example, OPS may determine that a particular research project is to have usage of specific sensor elements, subject of priority usage of those same sensors by the bridge. Although the actual minute-to-minute assignments of resources will be automatically handled by the OPS panel software, MOPS will monitor the computer activity to ensure that such computer control does not unduly compromise any mission priorities. This is particularly important during unforseen situations that may not fall within the parameters of preprogrammed decision-making software. Mission OPS is responsible for resolving low-level conflicts, but will refer primary mission conflicts to the Operations Manager. A mission OPS tech generally serves as relief Operations Manager when the duty OPS officer is away from station. Other Mission OPS Duties This station is responsible for monitoring telemetry from primary mission away teams. This includes tricorder data and any other mission specific instrumentation. Mission OPS is also responsible for monitoring the activities of secondary missions to anticipate requirements and possible conflicts. In cases where such conflicts impact on primary missions in progress, Mission OPS is required to notify the Operations Manager. During alert status and crisis situations, Mission OPS also assists the Security Officer, providing information on away teams and secondary mission operations, with emphasis on possible impact on security concerns. BACK