Bridge Operations

Bridge Operations

Operational authority for the starship rests with the Commanding Officer (usually the captain or duty officer). The Commanding Officer is responsible for execution of Starfleet orders and policy, as well as for interpretation and compliance with Federation law and diplomatic directives. As such, the Commanding Officer is directly answerable to Starfleet Command for the performance of the ship.

The Main Bridge is directly responsible for the supervision of all primary mission functions. Through the Operations Manager, the bridge also monitors all secondary mission functions to provide an optimal operating state. The multimission operational profile of a Federation Starship requires extensive coordination between different departments.

The Main Bridge also serves as a command center during alert and crisis situations. During Multi-Vector Assault Mode, combat operations are managed from the Battle Bridge, while control of the Saucer Section remains with the Main Bridge. In such scenarios, the ship's captain and senior officers will generally command the Battle Section, while a designated junior officer will assume responsibility for the Secondary Section and Tertiary Section.

Bridge Operations during Alert Conditions

• Cruise Mode. This is the normal operating status of the spacecraft. Cruise Mode operating rules require a minimum bridge staff of Commanding Officer (typically the captain), Flight Control Officer, Operations Manager, and at least one other officer available to serve at tactical or other stations as required. Other stations may be attended as specific mission requirements dictate.

• Yellow Alert. During Yellow Alert condition, all active bridge stations are automatically brought to Full Enable Mode. Auto diagnostics (Level 4) are initiated for all primary and tactical systems. Ops is responsible for evaluating all current operations and shipboard activities and suspending any that may interfere with ship's readiness to respond to potential crisis situations.

• Red Alert. During Red Alert condition, all bridge stations are automatically brought to Full Enable Mode. Tactical systems are placed on full alert and, if unoccupied, the duty security chief will occupy the bridge Tactical station.

• Blue Alert. Upon ordering multi-vector assault mode, the ship's computer will begin a ten-second countdown, going to blue alert in preparation for the ship to separate. Separation is performed at sub-light speeds, although it can be accomplished at warp as well. The saucer section is first to detach, deploying two small warp nacelles; one on the dorsal side just behind the bridge, and the other in the same location on the ventral side of the sauces. The secondary hull splits on the X-axis into two parts, each with two nacelles. Following the separation, the three separate sections can be piloted manually, or can be controlled by the ship's computer to perform pre-programmed attack patterns. After attack operations, the ship is capable of re-connecting itself automatically.