First Officer
| First Officer |
|---|
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| Department: Command |
| Rooms: Bridge, Command Room |
| Guides: Guide to Starship Command, Guide to Roleplay |
| Ranks: Commander (O-5), Lieutenant Commander (O-4) |
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The First Officer (FO), also known as the Executive Officer (XO) on military occasions, is the second-in-command of the ship and the right-hand commander to the Captain. They are ranked usually as a Commander (O-5) or Lieutenant Commander (O-4) in the Sol Defense Corps.
As the First Officer, your job is to act as the Captain's advisor and assistant, and are expected to carry out their orders around the ship while the Captain is on the Bridge. You, in addition, can act as the acting Captain in the regular Captain's absence.
Playing the First Officer
The First Officer's job is to manage and supervise all enlisted personnel. You are, essentially, the advisor and second superior to all crewmembers under a department, and your job is to let them know of the standard procedures as well as assist the department Officers in coaching their personnel. You act as second-in-command to the Captain and are capable of taking command if the captain is disabled or unfit for duty. If you're involved as acting Captain remember that you can only be designated as such until another captain arrives.
The FO's main job while the Captain is present is to be in charge of staffing, including moving, transferring, hiring and firing personnel as seen fit by either their department's superior, yourself, or the Captain. The FO also should update employment records and general records of any affected crewmember who may be MIA or KIA.
Head of Staff
The FO serves also as the superior officer of the Service department, taking charge of all crewmen and other servicemen who might be looking for someone to teach them how to do things. You also take charge of any department personnel who do not have a superior of their own, such as Engineering when there is no Engineering Officer. The First Officer can act as a representative of the Captain, in this case, taking charge of whatever needs management.
Essentially the FO functions as the head of all personnel, in charge of training and supervising departmental and service crewmen with the assistance of their department officer. You are responsible and have the ability to conduct both basic and advanced training procedures for personnel with the Captain's permission.
Bridge
While on the Bridge the First Officer acts as the navigational and administrative advisor to the Captain. They supervise the Captain and give recommendations while also being able to issue orders of their own autonomy for the ship's sake. The Captain has permission to relieve the FO of bridge duty if the FO is being particularly stubborn or insubordinate.
Quarters
The First Officer resides in their very own First Officer's Quarters, a room across from the Officer's Quarters and adjacent to the Meeting Room. While smaller than the Captain's Quarters, it features similar amenities such as a bed, bathroom, and office.
The FO can use these quarters to converse with personnel or hold more intimate conversations with staff or visitors.
In the event of the Captain's absence, the First Officer is given access to the Captain's Quarters for usage while their initial quarters are vacated.
Roleplay Standards
See also the Guide to Roleplay.
The standards for the First Officer are just as high as the standards of the Captain themselves -- as it is such a powerful role, players of the First Officer are generally recommended to use proper grammar, punctuation and sentence structure.
Note that it is possible for you to come under scrutiny by players if found to be immature or casual in RP as the First Officer.
Ranking
The First Officer onboard the Emissary is, by default, a Commander (O-5), though they can also be a Lieutenant Commander (O-4) if the current ranking ROIC / Captain is a Commander, or if they are simply in a junior position.
Keep in mind that if you are a Lieutenant Commander you are placed at equal rank as senior departmental Line Officers. As you are in a command position, however, you still exhibit greater authority than them and are placed as their superior, though by position only.
Notes
- You are not the Captain. Don't parade around as if you were Captain Jr. and expect everyone to love you for it.
- Your job is to oversee the crew and act as an advisor on the Bridge.
- You are, by default, the head of staff for any department lacking a superior Officer.
- You may be trained in firearms, but don't try to run around catching criminals yourself. That's the job of your Security and Marines.
- You are the second most valuable person on the ship after the Captain and are expected to take charge if your Captain is killed, missing, or otherwise unfit for duty.
- Train, supervise, and command.
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