Strategic Operations Officer (StratOps, or SOO)
The role of a Strategic Operations Officer is a relatively new hybrid function assigned to oversee and safeguard the local system and Fleet movements in a designated Sector. Its scope can differ due to the unique circumstances of the posting, but follows duties common to all. Specific to Katra Station, the responsibilities consist of:
Chief Tactical Officer (CTacO)Regardless of the efforts made by Starfleet throughout its history to mitigate hostile action through dialogue, inevitably there will be times where the ship or station must vigorously defend itself, or innocent life, from external threats using the large and potent array of defensive armaments at its disposal. These weapons are used sparingly, and with all due consideration to either possible fatalities or diplomatic fallout, but with the unflinching objective of ensuring the safety of all life under their protection.
For these unfortunate occasions, the Chief Tactical Officer is responsible for the following actions, and only- due to the repercussions such actions create - when authorised to do so by the CO or XO:
Strategic AuthorityWhile Commanding Officers are expected to have experience in ship-to-ship or station-to-ship combat, it often falls to the Chief Tactical Officer to develop and enact strategies for engagement, freeing the Commanding and First Officers to oversee the myriad other duties that such hostile actions generate.
These strategies, where applicable, also encompass the incorporation of additional defence options as the CTacO deems appropriate for the developing situation - ranging from embarked fighter squadrons, auxiliary craft (for example, armed shuttles, or Runabouts), and - specific to Katra Station - the Kir'Shara surface outpost on Meridian. While individual leads are responsible for the management of their specific post, they report to the Chief Tactical Officer as their temporary Department Head until such time as to the Alert Condition is stepped down.
Where the potential risk is identified, the CTecO co-ordinates with the Chief of Security on repulse strategies in the event of hostile boarding action to ensure external and internal cohesion.
Tactical AuthorityThe Chief Tactical Officer is one of just three officers (the other two being the Commanding, and First, Officers) fully sanctioned for the active and passive defences of USS Healy, and Katra Station and its surrounding environment, including instructing and deploying all other tactical assets within the Meridian sphere during Alert Status conditions. However, at times where the situation requires flexibility, the task may be delegated to a junior member of the Tactical Department to enable focus of other immediate tactical tasks.
During Alert Conditions, and unless superseded by senior officer instruction, the Chief Tactical Officer has priority on the Operation Manager's budgetary energy allocation to defence systems ensuring that regardless of the current mission parameters, the ship or station has the sufficient power with which to undertake its dire duty.
Also during Alert Conditions, and unless superseded by senior officer instruction, the Chief Tactical Officer may request a variety of immediate modifications to tactical subsystems, from novel shield nutation solutions to overcharged nadion compression, above general protocols, in order to effect a more bespoke and efficient success against variable threats.
Ordnance supervisionTorpedo warheads, even with the many safety functions built into the arming systems, remain weapons of mass destruction that require due care and attention in their handling. It is the Chief Tactical Officer's role, often delegated to the Tactical Department teams but reporting to the CTacO, to ensure these projectile weapons are properly stored in the secure magazines, and that every warhead and propulsion casing is accounted for against the inventory log. Any issues are brought to the attention of the Chief Engineer.
Threat AssessmentWhen Threat Forces are encountered, it is the role of the Chief Tactical Officer to assess these threats and advise the Commanding Officer of their risk to infrastructure or personnel. Powerful analytical software, drawing upon a vast, routinely updated, library of tactical specifications can aid the CTacO in these assessments, but it is expected that at times of high activity, systems failure, or confronting the unknown that some measure of usable advice can be provided through experience or study.
Impounding of vesselsThere are many reasons why a vessel must be expropriated, from enforcing a station-wide quarantine, curbing or investigating extra-legal activity, to preventing threatened hostile action upon local traffic. While the detainment and mitigation of disembarked crew are the responsibility of the Security Department, the Tactical Department - led by the Chief Tactical Officer - is equally responsible for securing spaceflight hardware until such time the specific circumstances surrounding the seizure can be resolved; this is achieved by either physical docking clamps or tractor beam emitters.
In instances where a physical search of an impounded vessel is necessary to ascertain factors - such as evidence or further confiscation - the Security Department has the authority to board and undertake said searches, but must be accompanied by a member of the Tactical Department to ensure lag-free updates to the Chief Tactical Officer.
Intelligence Officer (IO)A key strategic role aboard the USS Healy and Katra Station, the StratOps undertakes the compilation, assessment and notification of known and emerging Threat activities within the Gamma Quadrant, as well as advising the Commanding and First Officer on important Threat developments across the Federation that may impact operations within the Gamma Quadrant. Sources may include formal and informal channels, for threats ranging from sovereign to individual, and notifying Security Department Heads where appropriate.
Sector Fleet CoordinatorThe Strategic Operations Officer is responsible for tracking and authorising Starfleet operations within the Trialus Sector and collating Mission Reports from all Fleet assets to develop a wider strategic response to changing political climates and territorial reshaping, while sharing intelligence and coordinating activities with Strategic Operations Officers peers across the Fleet.
Fleet LiaisonThe SOO also acts as a representative for Katra Station during Fleet-wide/Combined Allied actions, co-ordinating Katra assets to short- to medium- term wider strategic goals. Additionally, they act as an initial focal point for Fleet/Allied requests during visitation of Friendly Forces under Alert Conditions.