LESSON 1: Tactical Overview
Introduction to Course
The Main Bridge station dedicated to defensive systems control and starship internal security is Tactical. While the length of the control/display panel can accomodate two officers, most scenarios will see the Security Officer conducting operations alone. Even during crisis situations, when action levels are highest, a single tactical officer will respond in the least ambiguous manner, with a minimum number of significant order confirmations and command interrogatives.
Shipboard Security Functions
The first tier of security coverage involves a benign, low-level approach, watching over crew safety. The second tier occurs during diplomaticand cultural missions, providing security for ambassadorial personnel or other VIPs. Security teams can be directed from Tactical via voicecommand or keyed instructions by the Security Officer or authorized deputy. Armory inventories, Security team personnel assignments, and detailed directives are but a few of the items handled with panel inputs.
Starship Defense Functions
A wide variety of systems are available to the Security Officer from the Tactical station, including the ship's defensive shields, phaser banks, and photon torpedoes, all first - line defenses. Tactical coordinates with the Flight Control Officer and Flight OPS positions in al situations involving external hazards. Guidance and navigation information, targeting data, and external communications are networked through all three stations, providing expanded options for dealing with unknowns as they present themselves. Other systems that may be commanded by Tactical includes long and short range sensor arrays, sensor probes, message buoys, and tractor beam devices.
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LESSON 2: Tactical Policies
Rules of Engagement
Starfleet teaches it's people to use every means at thier disposal to anticipate and difuse potential conflict before the need for force arises. This, according to Federation mandate, is Starfleet's primary mode of conflict resolution. Starfleet'd Rule of Engagement are firmly based on these principles. A starship captain often has broad discretionary powers in interpreting applicable Federation and Starfleet policies. A starship is regarded as an instrument of policy for the United Federation of Planets and its member nations. As such, its officers and crew are expected to exhaust every option before resorting to the use of force in conflict resolution. More important, Federation policy requires constant vigilance to anticipate potential conflicts and to take steps to avert them, long before they escalate into armed combat.
First Contact
Starfleet requires cultural and technologic assessment during all First Contact scenarios, even those that occur during combat situations in deep space. Rules of Egagement further require that adequate precaution be taken to avoid exposure of the ship and crew or Federation interests to unnecessary risk, even when a potential Threat Force has not specifically demonstrated a hostile intent. There are, however, specific dlpomatic conditions under which the starship will be considered expendable. In general starships are not allowed to fire first against any Threat Force, and any response to provocation must be measured and in proportion to such provocation. Here again, Starfleet requires adequate precaution be taken to avoid excessive risk to the ship or other Federation interests.
Security
The very survival of a starship will often rest in the hands of the Security Officer, in his or her performance. All of you, at one point or another, will be faced with that task. A Security Officer's duties include operations in hazardous situations including, but not limited to, internal ship protection, providing security for ambassadorial personnel, or other impotant visitors , and counter intelligence measures. The Security Officer is also more likely than not to be the ship's Tactical Officer. And in being the Tactical Officer has the responsibility of ship's external defenses as well. He/she has access to ship's shields, phaser banks, and photon torpedoes, all first -line devices. Other systems that also may be commanded by tactical are long and short-range sensor arrays, sensor probes, message buoys and tractor beam devices.
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