Build:Threat Assessment/Tracking/Targeting System
9.10 Threat Assessment/Tracking/Targeting System
Cost: Varies (see table)
Power Requirement: Varies (see table)
Known colloquially as the “targeting scanners,” the Threat Assessment / Tracking / Targeting System (TA/T/TS) is a ship’s tactical sensors and computer package. The Tactical Officer relies on the TA/T/TS in combat in much the same way as the Flight Control officer uses the navigational computer—it helps him do his job better. Different classes of TA/T/TS are available; the better ones make the Tactical Officer’s job easier, but take up more space and require more power to operate. The accompanying table lists types, costs, strength, and benefits of different TA/T/TS systems. The listed bonus applies to the Test Results of Crew Skill made to hit a target with weapons, or to cancel out negative modifiers such as those due to size, Tests made to scan a ship for a particular target, and the like. TA/T/TS systems are not cumulative; a ship can only have one in effect.
Ships may have a backup TA/T/TS system if they wish, to take over for the main system if it’s damaged or malfunctions. A backup TA/T/TS occupies 1 SU and provides no Test bonuses.
In addition to using it to target weapons and assess tactical data, a character may use targeting scanners to obtain a transporter lock on a person or object.
Cardassian: Cardassian ships use a targeting system similar in most respects to Star Fleet’s Threat Assessment/Tracking/ Targeting System (TA/T/TS). Their targeting systems have the same SU and Power cost.
However, Cardassian systems enjoy one advantage over their Star Fleet counterparts: they include a sophisticated automatic operation algorithm. During periods when the tactical officer cannot focus on every possible target (i.e., in a large battle), the targeting system can fire some of the ship’s weapons, albeit with somewhat less accuracy than the officer could.
Whenever a Cardassian ship confronts two or more targets, the tactical officer may use an action to activate the semi-autonomous firing system. Once activated, the system checks to determine which target(s) the tactical officer has chosen to fire at, then selects one additional target to fire at by itself. It has an Intellect of 2 and Shipboard Systems (Tactical) of 2 (3). It may fire any weapon on the ship which the tactical officer is not using and which remains capable of firing. The weapon has its normal range, but suffers a +19% Difficulty penalty to its Accuracy to reflect the somewhat inaccurate nature of semi-autonomous targeting. (For example, a weapon with a normal Accuracy of 92 / 83 / 58 / 17 has an Accuracy of 73 / 64 / 39 / 0 when fired by the system.) The system can only fire the weapon once per round and it may not Multifire.
On the other hand, Cardassian targeting systems sometimes lose targeting locks in multiple-launch situations. If a Cardassian ship makes more than two attacks (with any weapons controlled by the tactical systems) in a round, the Narrator rolls 1d100. If he rolls a 01-03, the ship loses all targeting locks; the tactical officers must either target enemy ships manually or spend one full round to re-establish all locks.
Table
| Class | SU | Power | Strength | Bonus | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class Zero | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1995 |
| Class Alpha | 6 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 2086 |
| Class Beta | 9 | 1 | 8 | +10 | 2215 |
| Class Gamma | 12 | 2 | 9 | +19 | 2260 |
| Class Delta | 15 | 4 | 10 | +27 | 2297 |
| Class Epsilon | 18 | 6 | 11 | +27 | 2326 |