Special Operations

• Back to Star Fleet Command

Special Operations is Star Fleet's special missions office, directly controlling the organization's elite infantry force, the MeSONs (Military Special OperatioNs). Having a heritage through the United Earth Starfleet's MACOs, the MeSONs perform the rapid (and sometimes covert) insertions necessary for whatever mission is deemed essential.

The Special Operations office is commanded by a Commodore (generally hailing from within the MeSONs).

History

Special Operations was formed in 2193 as a response to the Orion Syndicate bioweapon crisis of 2192, which exposed significant vulnerabilities in Star Fleet's ability to counter advanced aggressors.

Organization

Special Operations is broken down into the following hierarchy:

• Meson Group (Echelon IV): A group is comprised of four squadrons (640 operators), usually located within consecutive sectors, if not in the same sector. They are rarely co-located in the same location, both due to operational necessities and force protection concerns. The HQ will often double as a 'rear-area' training site, for squadrons stood-down for post-deployment. They are commanded by Captains.
  • Meson Squadron (Echelon V): A squadron is made up of ten 16-man teams (160 operators), usually either co-located on one planet within a sector, assigned to up to 6 different planets within the sector or deployed on a special Meson-dedicated starship, deployed to where ever the optempo requires. They are commanded by Commanders.
    • Meson Team (Echelon VI): A squadron is comprised of 16 operators, led by a Lieutenant Commander. They may be located with their squadron at the sector command or deployed via a larger capital ship for response availability, if not on any available starship as called upon. They don't always conduct missions as a full team, with some members staying behind to support the active members on a mission.

The basic operational unit of the SpecOps branch is the MeSON team. Meson team types are broken down by their general mission. Within team types there can be further specialization, such as an orbital insertion unit which specializes in parachuting from orbit; or a water team which specializes in beach landings or underwater ops. It should be noted that all Meson team members are first and foremost professional soldiers. They are heavily cross-trained in all team type missions and any team is capable of handling any mission (which they often must, given their wide dispersion through the fleet). The team types merely indicate concentrated training in a particular area in which the team excels. Each team is numbered and named for the mission type (ex: Deamon Team 8). The ten team types are:

Boson

Though their team name is a play on the nautical term 'bosun', Bosons are no less lethal than their fellow Mesons. The team is more generalized than the others, and provides a ready reaction force to any situation that may arise in the shadow of another ongoing event. Additionally, the Bosons will generally be sent down-range with one of the other teams to provide immediate trained back-up and combat support, as necessary.

Covert Rescue

The mission of a Covert Rescue Meson is to recover downed and injured Star Fleet personnel in austere and non-permissive environments. Covert Rescuers provide emergency medical treatment necessary to stabilize and evacuate injured personnel while evading the enemy. Covert Rescuers may, on rare occasions, be called upon to rescue personnel from worlds which have yet to make First Contact, which makes their mission even more sensitive. They may also have to destroy crashed vehicles or equipment —when recovery is not possible— in order to deny the technology to an enemy or to prevent its discovery by developing cultures.

Daemon

Daemon (pronounced 'DEE-mun') teams specialize in attacking enemy databases and information systems, usually through hard-wired taps or from actual enemy terminals. This obviously requires infiltration far behind enemy lines in most cases. Beyond the capacities of the average Federation data warfare tech, Daemons can crack enemy communications, insert false intelligence, inject computer viruses, and even re-appropriate enemy assets. Daemons receive extensive training in Threat computer systems and often work with other types of Meson teams.

DPT

Short for Diplomatic Protection Team, DPTs are special MESON units assigned to command ships and diplomatic parties to provide discrete, personal protection. They operate as body guards or as elements of advance security teams prior to the arrival of a distinguished visitor, even within the Federation. They generally do not wear uniforms, but business attire, which is usually better suited to concealing defensive weaponry.

FACTS

“Forward Aerospace Control and Tactical Support” teams are designed to enter forward combat areas through covert insertion or infiltration methods and accomplish any one of a number of combat control measures, both in space and in planetary environments. They receive concentrated instruction in aerospace traffic control and airfield preparation. Some of the missions FACTS teams undertake include establishing forward aerospace operating bases in minimum time where none existed before, providing remote aerospace traffic control, providing fire control and targeting information for aerospace and/or naval gunfire, or establishing and controlling drop zones and landing zones behind enemy lines.

HEAT

These teams specialize in 'Hostage Extraction and Anti-terrorist Tactics'. They receive specialized medical training, extensive CQB instruction, and are specialists with breaching devices. They are also some of the finest marksman in the two quadrants: they have daily phaser and projectile weapons practice to keep their skills sharp. They are also briefed on terrorist activity throughout their sector, and are called on for both reactive and proactive counter-terrorist strikes.

Omega

Omega is the name given to the Meson units specially trained in covert Special Actions, also known as “Black” or “Shadow” ops. They exist to perform missions which are usually considered politically sensitive but vital to Federation security. Omega units are not normally employed as battlefield resources, however they can be used in that capacity for advanced reconnaissance. These teams may also be used to conduct missions requiring security procedures higher than is normally afforded by other Meson units. Generally, all Omega Team members are recruited from other Meson units, so they are highly trained and experienced operators.

Recon

Reconnaissance units are the core unit type of the Mesons. It is from this essential unit that all the others developed. They are the most numerous, most versatile, and most active Meson unit in Special Operations. Their prime function is to infiltrate forward or foreign areas by any means available and collect information on movements, activities, structure and disposition of enemy military forces. Other missions performed by Recon include small unit direct combat actions, sabotage and force denial missions, sniper support for advancing friendly forces, and security for forward forces and other Meson units.

Special Forces

These units are designed to enter forward embattled areas and teach indigenous peoples how to organize military forces and conduct guerilla operations against an invading force or army of occupation. These units also travel to foreign governments and assist them in developing their own Special Operations groups. Frequently, they stay and assist trained forces in direct-action combat operations. Due to Prime Directive restrictions, specific requests for assistance must come from races already holding, or petitioning for UFP membership before an FA unit may become involved.

Victor Bravo

These teams are rigorously trained in methods to covertly board and capture starships and space stations. They can board, sabotage and leave, or they can hold positions for follow-on boarding parties. They can frequently do this with a minimum of violence and damage to the ship, and are often used to establish bridgeheads for Marine boarding parties against difficult targets. They receive special training in the configuration and operation of hundreds of classes of Federation and Threat vessels and operating systems and are experts in zero-g fighting.

The commander of Special Operations is a named NPC, as are the commanders of Meson Groups.
The commanders of Meson Squadrons and Teams are unnamed.

Groups

• MeSON Group 'Number'
• MeSON Group 'Number'