Executive Officer

COMMAND STAFF

Executive Officer

Access: Office, Bridge, all service areas, brig Qualifications: At least 30 years of age, 10 years experience in department-related field and a relevant Bachelors or Masters degree. Employers: The Stellar Corporate Conglomerate Supervisors: Captain Duties: Manage the service department. Administrate stuff. Be a paper-pusher. Watch your pet dog die horribly. Guides: Chain of Command, Guide to Gunnery, Guide to Piloting, Guide to Faxes

The Executive Officer is the head of staff for the Service and Civilian departments, as well as the primary head of staff for Bridge Crewman. Since the Executive Officer is the only command member other than the captain that can edit ID cards, they often work with staff from other departments to ensure proper access is had, extended access with good reason is given, and suspensions are followed through.

It is important to remember that while the Executive Officer has the power to change IDs their position is not a second in command. Executive Officers are not automatically acting captain and must be voted into the position like every other staff member. For more information on chain of command, look here: Chain of Command

Your Own Department

As a Head of Staff, you have your own department to watch out for. You're in charge of coordinating the service personnel on the ship. Usually, you can let the ship's various Bartenders and Librarians run around and take care of themselves. They are technically under your direct command, but their jobs are usually simple and don't need your direct oversight. However, you are the only one besides the Captain that can give them the account number to the civilian account to let them charge for products properly.

Alongside this, and with the context of ship-born operations, you are also tasked with managing the Bridge Crew. Often times this involves giving direction in matters such as destination and gunnery. This also means that Executive Officers are expected to know how to pilot the ship and operate the ship's weapons. While the focus of the bridge crew is always with piloting the ship, they can be given smaller tasks to help command operate smoothly and assist in other departments, assuming their attention is not needed on the bridge.

Human Resources

You are the Executive Officer. While you don't have authority and oversight over every department, you are expected to work with the crew and other Heads of Staff to help personnel complete their jobs and to settle disputes not meant for Security. You help the other departments work with each other to keep smooth operation of the ship. This might mean, for instance, starting a command vote to elevate an interim Head of Staff in absence of one, or expanding access for a crew member if their job would benefit from it. Check up with all of the other department heads frequently to make sure that there aren't any inter-department problems or any major problems between crew members.

The Bank

As Executive Officer you have access to the Account Uplink Terminal. Only you and the Captain start with access to this terminal. It lists the personal account of every crew member and the department accounts.

Each crew member’s individual account belongs to that crew member, and your access to these accounts is for oversight. There are sometimes accusations of fraud, embezzlement, or theft and your ability to go over the transaction histories of every crew member gives you the power to hunt down nefarious accounting. You should never take money out of a crew member’s personal account without permission or proof that they got that money nefariously. You do not need a warrant to check financial accounts yourself since you are the manager of the “bank” for this shift, but the details of a crew member’s account is covered under privacy laws unless you find direct evidence of a crime. That means on green alert Security needs a warrant to get a copy of a crew member’s bank statement.

The Department accounts are the primary focus for you and the other heads of staff. It is part of your and the Captain’s job to make those numbers in the department accounts go up, up, and up!

The Vendor account automatically makes money, so your primary focus is on the Chef and Bartender. The Chef should be selling their food, and their own job page outlines how to do it. They may come to you asking for the department account number to set up their ability to make transactions. Assuming they don't want to use the Idris Ordering Terminal, which is preset to the Service account, you can either provide them the actual Service account details if you trust them, or form a special new account with a certain preset budget (of 500 credits for example) and give them the details to that account instead. Be careful! The money you add to new accounts will be taken from other department accounts, so do not go higher than 1,000 if other departments are planning on using their funds! Be sure you are able to transfer money back and forth if the worst happens. The kitchen may also make cash payments - be sure to swing by and ask for any funds made, just don't take the tips!

Reassignment: Papers Please

Your other job is handling the ID modification program. This is a powerful tool on your laptop and office console that allows you to edit anyone's job and access via their ID. Often times this power comes down to elevating some crew members to interim command positions or suspending troublesome staff. Sometimes, the Chief Medical Officer may ask for expanded access for their Paramedics. Regardless of who is asking for what, make sure a proper form is filled out for the request, then reviewed, signed, and stamped. That way, you can figure out what and why someone is asking for reassignment or expanded access, and can keep records on it all. Do keep in mind that giving yourself all-access is considered an abuse of executive power.

The other function of the ID modification program, reassignment, isn't often used. If a crew member approaches with a reassignment request, make sure to review it thoroughly. Every crew member has been hired into their job position for a reason, and shifting them out of it requires an equally good reason to back it up. This will lead to almost every request being denied. However, if their Head of Staff approves it, they have the skills, and a good reason is given, then there should be no reason to deny the reassignment.

You're Suspended, Get Out

As well as handling ID modifications and reassignments, it's also well within your authority to demote people and take jobs away.

If someone falls asleep on the job or messes something up, you are well within your rights to demote them to a lower position after consulting the appropriate head of staff. Demoting a head of staff, however, is something that should not be done without the Captain's consent or majority decision from all heads of staff.

Occasionally, a head of staff will request that a crew member be demoted for varying reasons. All heads of staff are authorized to demote members of their own departments, so long as the necessary demotion form is filled out for that crew member. An Executive Officer is expected to assist in processing these demotions from other departments without impeding this process - any dispute over the validity of a demotion outside the Executive Officer's own departments should be handled in review after the fact, ideally overseen by a Captain. A head of staff cannot remove a crew member from the ship entirely, and only has the power to demote the crew members in their own department.

Rarely will a crew member be suspended from their position as an employee. Usually a suspension occurs as punishment for breaching certain regulations, or if Command or the Captain agrees that a crew member should be suspended. When a crew member is suspended, they are temporarily "fired": that person is given no job, pay, or privileges for the rest of the shift. After the shift, the issues which caused the suspension are dealt with and the crew member typically returns to their original position on their next shift.

In Case of Emergency, Break Glass

Sometimes people need access to certain departments in an emergency, and the AI isn't up to the task of opening doors for people. Feel free to hand out emergency access to people such as Security Officers if the situation calls for it. Once the crisis has been averted, however, make sure to call them all back so you can revert them to their standard access. A number of people really do not like it when crew members go walking into their department for no real reason just because they have access to it. Handing out unapproved and unjustifiable access is one of the fastest ways to get you demoted.

Command: Forever Busy

Unlike the other Heads of Staff except the Research Director, you are often not drowning in work and issues. Knowing this, it is recommended that you take initiative and work with the rest of command to help them with issues they otherwise cannot focus on. Sometimes it is as simple as filling out a few forms here or there, or writing a fax for Central Command. Other times it can be talking with the crew to work out conflicts that are not under the domain of Security. Regardless what it is, take advantage of your position to help the rest of command out.

Ian

Ian, who starts in your office, is a dog that keeps you company. You can pet him or just pull him around for fun. Please try to be sensible about him.

It is traditional to rescue Ian if the Horizon has to be evacuated.

Roleplaying Tips

• You should have good knowledge of the Chain of Command.
• As an example, you could play as a subservient right-hand man to the Captain, or a devious power-hungry maniac, only serving to further your own career goals. Remember, whatever you choose, try to enjoy it, and try not to ruin the round for other people.
• You may have access to it, but you are not (read NOT) Security. Chasing and arresting criminals should be left to the likes of Security Officers and possibly the Head of Security. Your armor and weapon are for your protection only and do not give you the right to chase after criminals. If you should happen across a crime, pulling your weapon may hinder more than help.
• You can use the Guide to Paperwork if you want to make your own forms.