Starfleet Personnel

Starfleet Personnel

Federation Service Ethnic Identity | To Serve Is To Be Watched, To Act Is To Represent, To Fail Is To Be Judged

Overview

Starfleet Personnel are citizens of the United Federation of Planets who have completed formal training and taken the Oath of Service, entering Starfleet in roles ranging from command officers to science specialists, engineers, tactical security, medical, or civilian-adjacent contracts.

Though not all Starfleet members are officers, all are held to a higher standard of accountability, both legally and culturally. They are expected to embody Federation ideals, even in combat, covert ops, or frontier chaos.

In Shadows of the Galaxy, Starfleet service is both privilege and burden. You wear the uniform — and the galaxy watches your every step.

Entry Requirements

• Federation Citizenship (with case-by-case exceptions for refugees or provisional candidates)
• Academic Qualification: Acceptance to Starfleet Academy or equivalent military or service-training institution
• Psychological & Ethical Fitness: Must pass baseline ethical judgment testing, cultural empathy simulation, and decision-making analysis
• Species Integration Clause: Non-humanoids and sentient AIs must be evaluated by Sentient Integration Board for rights equivalence and field adaptability

Note: Starfleet Intelligence (Section 31) may override entry restrictions for field assets or black-list operatives.

Training Phases

1. Academy Curriculum (Standard Track)

• 4 years general education in sciences, diplomacy, tactical theory, xenoculture, and Starfleet history
• Practical courses: zero-G navigation, emergency medical, holodeck strategy, warp field engineering, phaser certification
• Emotional Regulation Training: taught by Betazoid and Vulcan specialists

2. Specialty Track (Post-Year 2)

• Focus in Command, Sciences, Tactical, Engineering, Medical, or Support Services
• Field rotations on starships or starbases
• First Contact protocol immersion
• Combat Ethics Simulation (final exam: Kobayashi Maru)

3. Oath and Commission

• Upon graduation: granted rank of Ensign (officer track) or Chief Crewman (non-commissioned track)

Deployment

• Assigned based on aptitude, political considerations, need, and species compatibility
• May serve aboard starships, starbases, diplomatic missions, planetary aid colonies, or clandestine assets
• Initial Term of Service: 4-6 years (extendable)
• Postings may include hostile sectors, diplomatic no-go zones, or classified long-range assignments like the USS Heimdahl

Service Expectations

• Federation Law Above Planetary Law: Starfleet operates under Federation mandate — planetary traditions respected, but not absolute
• Chain of Command: All personnel swear loyalty to commanding officer, not to world of origin
• Uniform Conduct Code: Applies on- and off-duty, including social media, private logs, and holosuite usage
• Non-Combat Priority: Officers are trained to disable before kill, protect civilians first, and de-escalate as primary method

Promotion

• Based on merit, performance, command evaluations, and leadership aptitude
• Promotions not guaranteed — subject to review by Starfleet Command or specific department heads (e.g., Science Directorate, Tactical Council)
• For Command Track: Must complete Bridge Certification and pass Command Aptitude Trial
• Field Commissions possible in combat or emergent scenarios

Rank Progression (Officer Track):

Political & Legal Status

• Combatant Status: Starfleet personnel are recognized as lawful combatants under Federation law, protected under interstellar military accords
• Court-Martial Eligibility: Can be tried by Starfleet Tribunal; appeals may reach the Federation High Council
• Civilian Rights Suspended in Uniform: Certain rights (speech, protest, withdrawal from orders) are suspended during duty
• First Contact Immunity: If protocols followed, officers are protected from criminal charges related to cultural missteps

Legal Codes & Laws

• General Order 1 (Prime Directive): Prohibits interference with developing civilizations
• General Order 12: Tactical alert protocol — approach unknowns with caution
• General Order 24: Emergency authority to destroy a planet — only granted under direct fleet command
• Temporal Protocols: Temporal interference forbidden; officers must report anomalies, not act on them
• Artificial Rights Clause: Officers may not create or modify sentient artificial lifeforms without oversight

The Heimdahl’s operational secrecy often brushes against these orders, especially under black-banner directives.

Benefits

• Universal Housing & Healthcare: All Starfleet personnel receive full medical, counseling, and residential support (shipboard or base)
• Leave & Rotation: Rotational shore leave every 6 months; trauma exemption resets
• Hazard Pay & Legacy Compensation: Family of fallen personnel compensated based on role, risk, and command commendation
• Educational Continuity: Access to all Federation educational networks, including field study, mentorships, and research grants
• Command Legacy Program: Officers with 25+ years may retire into teaching, mentorship, or diplomatic liaison roles
• Reputation & Recognition: Starfleet service is culturally valorized — medals, journals, and posthumous commendations shape interstellar legacies