Special Operations
Special Operations is Starfleet'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. [additional mission descriptions to follow]
The Special Operations office is commanded by a Commodore (generally hailing from within the MeSONs).
Special Operations is broken down into the following hierarchy:
- Meson Group (Echelon IV): A group is comprised of four squadrons (384 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 reasons. 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 six 16-man teams (96 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.
- Meson Squadron (Echelon V): A squadron is made up of six 16-man teams (96 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.
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.