Talk:StarBase 118 Station Operations Department

The Node = StarBase 118 Command Center? --Wolf /^{talk page} 15:57, 6 September 2008 (EDT)

I believe they are different; as it was explained to me, the Node is located in the main structure of the base itself, whereas the Hub is in the Command Tower. The Node is not a command post for the Starbase; instead is is manned by officers who basically have the task of making sure that the massive structure runs efficiently, leaving those up in the Hub to deal with matters on a grander scale. --Quinn /^{talk page} 16:41, 6 September 2008 (EDT)

That doesn't really jive, to me -- at least, that's not how we've seen it set up previously. The command center is the central hub for all the main departments, and is the location where the Ops crew would come together for strategy and so-forth. Some departments then have their own headquarters elsewhere in the base. For example, Fleet Operations would have their own, large "office" area in the Administration Section of the base. Similarly, Medical has a command station in the SB118 Command Center, but then also has the hospital on the base. Security has a command station in the CC, but also has a main security operations center elsewhere in the base, with numerous security substations. Flight Control has a command station in the CC, but has their main operations within the drydock where they can monitor and control incoming/outgoing vessels.

In short: it doesn't make sense to have both the "Command Center" and then "The Node" -- that's redundant. However, things like "turbolift priorities, scheduling dockings and managing utility use within and without the station" mentioned in the article sound more like Station Operations. (However, "scheduling dockings" is actually the responsibility of Flight Control, and would take place in the Flight Control office.) If "The Node" is what the office for the Station Operations department is, that's fine, but that needs to be made more clear within the article. As of right now, it reads like a duplicate Command Center. Moreover, Operations would actually have their office in the Administrative Section, and not in the drydock. --Wolf /^{talk page} 00:42, 8 September 2008 (EDT)

Hub/ Node

Obviously the senior Operations Officers would have stations within the command hub. Remember, the command hub is not like the bridge of a Starship. It spans three decks within the command tower and every department has a section of it at units around the central area (from which the command staff for the base can address everyone). A good few officers could and would man each departmental area.

Beyond this, the rest of the command tower contains offices for the department heads of each department. So, whilst the CMO might treat patients in sickbay, she would also coordinate major medical activities (e.g. getting vaccines to a plagued planet/ coordinating emergency rescues) from her section of the command tower. There would, therefore, be an Operations Department command office within the command tower (in addition to her units within the hub [command centre within the tower]. Presumably, however, that is not what you are calling the node?

In all of this, remember that the Starbase is a massive facility. It is a big city in space. I thought there was a picture of new york and SB118 sizes being compared but I can't find it anywhere. For that reason, all departments give command direction from within the command tower… rather than being spread out throughout the base.

Anyway, whilst the Operations Officers would dictate policy from within the command tower the node would ensures that those policies are carried out. Hence, lower ranked officers and non-com officers doing more menial tasks… i.e. turbolift priorities, assisting other departments and managing utilities within and without the station, etc. Thus, the node is presumably more like a harbour master’s office/house. Whether there is just one or several around the base I dunno… up to you.

Remember, scheduling dockings, and generally managing the traffic to and from/ in and out of the Starbase would not be managed by SB-Ops (Starbase Operations) but by Fly-Con (Flight Control). This would also be coordinated with Flt-Ops (Fleet Operations) and External Communications (Ext-Com). Hence the need for their command offices to be located near each other. Moreover, remember a large part of SB-Ops’ duties is coordinating different departments and coordinating/allocating resources fairly across departments [eg so that everyone gets a fair share of the sensors etc].

That said, we don’t currently have a Chief Helm Officer [Fly-Con], a Strategic Operations officer [Flt-Ops] or a Chief Communications officer [Ext-Com] so I’m happy for Ops to sim taking care of those duties until such positions are filled.

"Fleet Captain Rocar Drawoh | Talk" 04:24, 8 September 2008 (EDT)

I disagree slightly just with your thinking on the location of the offices. I don't think that, say, Chief Medical Officer would have an office in the command tower. I think his or her office would be in the hospital. Similarly, the Chief Operations Officer would have their office in the Operations Office (or whatever technical term you want for it). Reason being: there's no logical purpose for separating the Chief Medical Officer, or the Chief Operations Officer (and so-on) from their crew for the majority of the time. I'd assume the CMO would still participate, just as they would on a starship, in surgeries and medical emergencies, and as such, you wouldn't want them to have to take a turbolift to get down to the hospital when crisis arises.

I think the Command Center does operate, in a sense, like the bridge of a starship as it is the central nervous system for the base. The departments coordinate at this location and plan strategy in emergencies. But beyond that, each department has a much more decentralized set of locations than you would have on a ship.

In all, it seems to me like "the Node" is simply the Operations office. If you want to call it that, fine by me  :) As long as we recognize what it is. I'd suggest the page be moved to a more specifically named page, and then "The Node" point to that page.

BTW, that NYC/SB118 comparison is here. Seems it was removed from the SB118 pages, but I'm not sure why. --Wolf /^{talk page} 19:48, 8 September 2008 (EDT)