THE BRIDGE COMMAND SPECIALIST SCHOOL

UNITED FEDERATED PLANETS

STARFLEET COMMAND ACADEMY

BRIDGE COMMAND SPECIALIST SCHOOL EXAM

The Starfleet Command Academy Bridge Command Specialist School is designed to prepare the Starfleet Command Officer for a new challenging career as a bridge officer. Starfleet Command has extensively modified its traditional training of bridge personnel to respond to the need for specialists who can handle more than one area of responsibility in an emergency. The result is the elimination of the traditional Helm, Navigation and Communication positions aboard ships of Class V and above. Instead, Bridge crews are now composed of Bridge Command Specialists, who are cross-trained in the areas of Helm, Navigation, Weapons, Communications and Engineering. In an emergency, a Bridge Command Specialist can assume the duties of any Bridge position, avoiding the loss of precious time that would be needed to summon an off-duty, single-task crew member.

This training takes place aboard the Galaxy Class XVI Exploration Cruiser, USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D, due to its unique design and ability to separate the saucer section from the engineering section and perform emergency planet side landings.

The Bridge Command Specialist School will provide training on helm, navigation, communications, weapons, sensors, flight control, operations management and a myriad of other topics. The textbook consists of 44 pages of text that deals with the Galaxy Class Enterprise-D starship systems. This vessel was selected since it was the first starship with saucer separation capabilities and has since been used as the training module for all Starfleet Command Officers of the United Federated Planets Starfleet Command.

Please place your name, rank and UFP serial number in the top right hand corner Of this exam sheet.

Bridge Command Specialist School Textbook

If you are taking it on-line I suggest that you print off the exam so you have a copy to work from since all materials are on the web site, mark the answers on the printed copy and the go back to the on-line exam, copy it and paste it on your e-mail screen, put in the answers beside the A= and then send it in that way to mikeferg1@yahoo.com with the header of Bridge Command Specialist Exam. GOOD LUCK!

1. What are the mission-critical systems aboard a galaxy-class starship?

2. What is the primary warp propulsion aboard the Enterprise provided by?

3. What does each main RCS engine consists of?

4. Science and navigation systems are essential to the fulfillment of primary mission duties, including what?

5. Although the density of the interstellar medium is extremely low, significant hazards to navigation exist, especially for a starship traveling at relativistic or warp velocities. Among these are what?

6. What is the heart of the navigational deflector system?

7. Because the main deflector dish radiates significant amounts of both subspace and electromagnetic radition, it can have detrimental effects on the performance of many sensors. For this reason, the long-range sensor array is located where?

8. Why is the long-range sensor array a key element of the navigational deflector system?

9. At normal impulse speeds (up to 0.25c), navigational deflector output can usually be kept at about 27 MW (with momentary surge reserve of 52 MW). Warp velocities up to Warp 8 require up to 80% of normal output with surge reserve of 675,000 MW. Velocities exceeding Warp Factor 8 require the use of two deflector generators operating in phase sync, and velocities greater than Warp 9.2 require all three deflector generators in order to do what?

10. Starfleet missions sometimes require direct manipulation of relatively large objects in proximity to a starship. Such operations can take the form of towing another ship, modifying the speed or trajectory of a small asteroid, or holding a piece of instrumentation at a fixed position relative to the ship. The execution of such missions generally requires the use of what?

11. The main tractor beam emitters are built around two variable phase 16 MW graviton polarity sources, each feeding two what?

12. A set of fifteen partially redundant sensor clusters located in the lateral, upper, and lower sensor arrays, these devices determine transporter coordinates, including bearing, range, and relative velocity to remote transport destinations. These scanners also provide environmental information on the target site. Transport coordinates can also be determined using navigational, tactical, and communications scanners. For site-to-site intraship beaming, coordinates can be derived from interior sensors. ship's personnel can be located for transport using communicators. What are these called?

13. Tactical systems refer to starship what?

14. What are phasers?

15. The USS Enterprise consists of two spacecraft systems integrated to form a single functional vessel. Under specific emergency conditions, the two vehicle elements may perform a separation maneuver and continue independent operation. The two elements are?

16. In the event the Saucer Module is disabled near a planetary body and cannot maintain a stable orbit, landing the saucer is the final option. This is to be attempted only when?

17. A second major facility for starship operational control is what?

18. Two main variants of the Galaxy class Battle Bridge have been installed on the USS Enterprise since the starship was constructed. Each has been designed as a replaceable module; swapout is accomplished through a series of what?

19. The Primary Hull, or Saucer Module, is one of two what?

20. Common to both current Bridge types are the stations for what?

21. Standard complement of shuttlecraft includes what?

22. The Galaxy class USS Enterprise has how many major facilities intended for the support of auxiliary shuttlecraft operations from the ship.

23. An integrated system governing control of all manufacturing, repair, and operational structural reference points exists for the USS Enterprise and all other Starfleet vessels. The system utilizes a standard three-dimensional vertex and vector measuring scheme, with centimeters as its operative value. The three axes are labeled X, Y, and Z. The X axis runs port-starboard, with +X to starboard. The Y axis runs dorsal-ventral, with +Y to dorsal. The Z axis runs fore-to-aft, with +Z to aft. Note that this is opposite in sign to translational maneuvers, which consider +Z to be in the direction of flight. What is it called?

24. The mechanical integrity of the physical spaceframe is augmented by the structural integrity field (SIF) system. This system provides a network of forcefield segments that compensate for propulsive and other structural load factors that otherwise exceed the design limits of the spaceframe. The SIF applies forcefield energy directly to field conductive elements within the spaceframe and increases the load-bearing capacity of the structure. Field generation for the SIF is provided by how many field generators?

25. Operating in parallel with the structural integrity field (SIF) system is the inertial damping field system (IDF). This system generates a controlled series of variable-symmetry forcefields that serve to absorb the inertial forces of spaceflight which would otherwise cause fatal injury to the crew. The IDF is generated separately from the SIF, but is fed by a parallel series of waveguides that are then conducted through synthetic gravity plates. The IDF is operated by maintaining a low-level forcefield throughout the habitable volume of the spacecraft. This field averages what?

26. Failure of the structural integrity field (SIF) or the inertial damping field (IDF) can have potentially catastrophic consequences to the starship and to its crew. For this reason, multiple redundancy has been built into these systems, and emergency protocols have been devised to anticipate the possibility of failure of one or more of these units.

The Enterprise is dependent upon its structural integrity field to maintain the spaceframe during the tremendous accelerations encountered during impulse flight as well as the differential subspace field stresses experienced during warp flight. The inertial damping field also provides vital cushioning to the fragile crew during such maneuvers. Without such protection, the spacecraft and crew are what?

27. In the event of failure of three or four field generators, regardless of the availability of backup units, what must happen?

28. The failure of all five field generators requires an immediate Red Alert status. The Commanding Officer is first required to stabilize the situation, take steps to minimize potential risk, and then to begin deceleration maneuvers. Severe operational limits are imposed on vehicle maneuvers. Immediate downwarping to sublight must be performed, except during active combat situations. Such downwarping must be a what?

29. The central area of the Main Bridge provides seating and information displays for the commander and two other officers. Directly fore of the command area are the what?

30. Directly aft of the command area is an elevated platform on which is located the tactical control station. Also located on the platform are five workstations, nominally configured as what?

31. The Flight Control console, often referred to as Conn, is responsible for the actual piloting and navigation of the spacecraft. Although these are heavily automated functions, their criticality demands a human officer to oversee these operations at all times. The Flight Control Officer (also referred to as Conn) receives instructions directly from the Commanding Officer. Manual flight operations. The actual execution of flight instructions is generally left to computer control, but Conn has the option of exercising what?

32. Warp flight operating rules require Conn to monitor subspace field geometry in parallel with the Engineering department. During warp flight, the Flight Control console continually updates long-range sensor data and makes what?

33. Because of the criticality of Flight Control in spacecraft operations, particularly during crisis situations, Conn is connected to a dedicated backup flight operations subprocessor to provide for manual flight control. This equipment package includes what?

34. What are the five major areas of responsibility for the Flight Control Officer:

35. Bearings are flight vectors specified as an azimuth/elevation measured relative to what?

36. Headings can be measured relative to the center of the galaxy. This is analogous to a directional system used on Earth that is based on angular differences to a reference point located at the northern rotational axis. In both cases, a heading of 000 from any point in the galaxy (or the planet's surface) represents what?

37. There are five standard input modes available for specification of spacecraft flight paths. Any of these options may be entered either by keyboard or by vocal command. In each case, Flight Control software will automatically determine an optimal flight path conforming to Starfleet flight and safety rules. Conn then has the option of executing this flight plan or modifying any parameters to meet specific mission needs. Normal input modes include: (list the five names).

A=.

38. Many shipboard operations involve scheduling resources or hardware (such as power or the use of sensors) that affect a number of departments. In many such cases, it is common for various operations to present conflicting requirements. It is the responsibility of who to coordinate such activities so that mission goals are not jeopardized?

39. During crisis situations and Reduced Power Mode operations, Ops is responsible for what?

40. Operations aboard the USS Enterprise are divided into three general categories: (list them).

41. Match the following mission types with their descriptions:

A. Deep-space exploration.

B. Ongoing scientific investigations.

C. Contact with alien lifeforms.

D. Federation policy and diplomacy.

E. Tactical and defense.

F. Emergency and rescue.

____ The Enterprise is equipped for long-range stellar survey and mapping missions, as well as a wide range of planetary exploration

____ Typical tactical and defensive missions might include patrol of the Romulan Neutral Zone, or protection of Federation interests in planetary or interstellar conflicts.

____ The Enterprise is frequently the sole Federation envoy during deep-space operations.

____ Pursuant to the Starfleet Life Contact Policy Directive, facilities to support such missions include a full exobiology and cultural sociology staff, as well as a highly sophisticated complement of universal translation software.

____ The Enterprise has support capability for a number of ongoing scientific research projects. Many such projects are classified as secondary missions.

____ Typical rescue scenarios include rescue of Starfleet and non-Starfleet spacecraft in distress. Planetary rescue scenarios include medium-scale evacuation from planetary surfaces of humanoid and non-humanoid populations. Large-scale evacuation of planetary populations is not feasible.

42. Normal flight and mission operations of the Galaxy class starship are conducted in accordance with a variety of operating rules, determined by the current operating mode of the vehicle. These operating modes are specified by the Commanding Officer, although in certain cases the computer can initiate Alert status upon detection of a potentially critical situation. List the major operating modes by name, not description.

43. This is a state of reduced activity that exists when the ship is docked at a starbase or other support facility. During External Support Mode, the ship will typically receive what?

44. Any time the two major components of the total starship must undock and perform different flight tasks, what is initiated?

45. The entire philosophy behind the integrated systems design of the Galaxy class starship is one of maximizing crew safety during all mission profiles and in all emergency situations. Starfleet has a long tradition of placing the safety of its people first. The extraordinary lengths to which Starfleet has gone in insuring crew safety in the design and operation of its ships is a persuasive demonstration of Starfleet's commitment to this tradition and philosophy.

The principle of automatic computer monitoring of ship operations to detect and correct system anomalies long before they become problems has long been a means of optimizing both crew safety and operational effectiveness. This process alone deals with what?

46. Since photon torpedoes are classified as semi-autonomous weapons, initial firing direction is not a major concern. Most firings involve direct fore or aft vectors, within ten degrees of the vehicle centerline. When required, rapid trajectory changes may be executed following launch to achieve what?

47. Photon torpedoes, being general energy release devices, have found their way into many other specialized applications. Reinforced torpedo casings are able to penetrate geologic formations for deep explosive modifications in terraforming and planetary engineering projects. Torpedoes are detonated as long-range sensor calibrators at both warp and sublight speeds. They are often used to what?

48. The tactical deflector system is the primary defensive system of the Galaxy class starship. It is a series of powerful deflector shields that do what?

49. Science stations I and II are the first two aft stations located directly behind the Tactical station on the upper level of the Main Bridge. They are used by bridge personnel to what?

50. The detailed examination of many objects and phenomena in the Milky Way galaxy can be handled routinely by the ship's onboard sensor arrays, up to the resolution limits of the individual instruments and to the limits of available data extraction algorithms used in extrapolating values from combinations of instrument readings. Greater proportions of high-resolution data of selected sites can be gathered using what?

51. The small probes are divided into nine classes, arranged according to what?

52. Describe the Class VII Remote Culture Study Probe Modified Class V.

53. There are three primary sensor systems aboard the Enterprise. Name them.

54. The most powerful scientific instruments aboard the USS Enterprise are probably those located in the what?

55. The standard Starfleet science sensor complement consists of a series of six pallets, what is contained on Pallet #3?

56. A terrestrial bird, a living organism, is aware of its surroundings and uses its senses to find its way from one point to another, frequently guided by stars in the night sky. The comparison of the USS Enterprise to the bird here is an apt one. In much the same way, the Enterprise system constantly processes incoming sensor data and routinely performs billions of calculations each second, in an effort to mimic the biological solution to the problem of what?

57. Sensors provide the input; the navigational processors within the main computers reduce the incessant stream of impulses into usable position and velocity data. The specific navigational sensors being polled at any instant will depend on the what?

58. The navigational system within the main computers accepts sensor input at adaptive data rates, mainly tied to the ship's true velocity within the galaxy. The subspace fields within the computers, which maintain faster-than-light (FTL) processing, attempt to provide at least 30% higher proportional energies than those required to drive the spacecraft, in order to maintain a safe collision-avoidance margin. If the FTL processing power drops below 20% over propulsion, general mission rules dictate what?

59. Sensor input processing algorithms take two distinct forms, what are they?

60. The baseline code consists of the latest version of 3D and 4D position and flight motion software, as installed during starbase overhauls. This code resides within the protected archival computer core segments and allows the starship to perform what?

61. The rewritable code can take the form of multiple revisions and translations of the baseline code into symbolic language to fit new scenarios and allow the main computers to create what?

62. Sensor pallets dedicated to navigation, as with certain tactical and propulsion systems, undergo preventative maintenance (PM) and swapout on a more frequent schedule than other science-related equipment, owing to what?

63. The third aft station is Mission Ops. This station provides additional support to the Operations Manager, and is specifically responsible for monitoring what?

64. Communications aboard the USS Enterprise take two basic forms, what are they?

65. The sheer mass of adaptable links radiating outward from the main computers virtually assures that all information within the spacecraft will be rapidly transmitted to the correct destination, and will be received with little or no detectable loss of that information. While the multitude of communications functions are directly traceable to the same hardware, the operating modes and protocols around which they are based are what?

66. During voice operations, the normal procedure involves a crew member stating his or her name, plus the party or ship area being called, in a form that can be understood by the computer for what?

67. During the initial message routing, there may be a slight processing delay until the computer has heard the entire name of the recipient and located same. From that point on, all transmissions are what?

68. If both parties discontinue without formally breaking the channel, and no other contextual cues have been offered to keep the line open, the computer will do what?

69. During most Alert conditions, the communications system is automatically switched over to high-speed operations optimized to afford the Bridge _________________ to the rest of the ship for contact with other departments and assessment of possible damage. At this time, routine channel operations are disabled.

70. Data transmissions may be established between any standard Starfleet hardware units equipped with RF or STA devices, either by __________________________________ the computer to handle the data transfers.

71. During both voice and data transmissions, channels may be secured by either, _________________ depending on the respective locations of the parties or devices involved.

72. The next higher organizational level for the overall communications system involves contact and information exchange between what?

73. The most energetic and far-reaching communications possible from the USS Enterprise encompass what?

74. The communications system designed into the starship comprises ten ultra-high power subspace transceivers. Each is a trapezoidal solid 6 x 4 meters by 3 meters thick, set below the hull skin layer. The antenna array is the only device imbedded within the outer 11.34 cm of the skin. It is tied to the rest of the transceiver by a what?

75. Communications with starbases are handled in a similar manner. Depending on the action level and distance from the starship, voice contact with a starbase can be routed through numerous what?

76. While docked at a major starbase, voice and data are normally transferred by what?

77. What is an extremely sophisticated computer program that is designed to first analyze the patterns of an unknown form of communication, then to derive a translation matrix to permit realtime verbal or data exchanges?

78. The first step in deriving a translation matrix is to obtain as large a sample as possible of the unknown communication. Wherever possible, this sample should include examples of at least what?

79. Given an adequate sample, it is usually possible to derive a highly simplified language subset in only a few minutes, although Federation policy generally requires what?

80. In the case where the individual lifeform communicated with has a similar language translation technology, it is sometimes useful to translate outgoing messages into what?

81. The accuracy and applicability of the translation matrix is only as good as the language sample on which the matrix is based. A limited sample will generally permit a basic exchange of concepts, but can lead to highly distorted translations when ____________________________________________ vary too far from the sample.

82. During Alert and crisis situations, Mission Ops also assists the Security Officer, providing information on what?

A= Away Teams and secondary mission operations, with emphasis on possible impact on security concerns.

83. Critical to the flight of any vehicle through interstellar space are the concepts of what?

84. These involve the ability to ______________________, to determine the locations of specific points in three and four dimensions, and to allow the spacecraft to follow safe paths between those points.

85. The theater of operation for the USS Enterprise takes it through both known and unknown regions of the Milky Way galaxy. While the problems of interstellar navigation have been well-defined for over two hundred years, navigating about this celestial whirlpool, ______________________, still requires the precise orchestration of computers, sensors, active high-energy deflecting devices, and crew decision-making abilities.

86. The ___________________________ of the USS Enterprise relative to the surrounding space involves numerous systems aboard both the Saucer Module and Battle Section.

87. As the starship maneuvers within the volume of the galaxy, the main computers attempt to calculate the location of the spacecraft to a precision of 10 kilometers at sublight, and _______________ during warp flight. The subject of velocity is important in these discussions, as different sensing and computation methods are employed for each flight regime.

88. During extremely slow in-system maneuvering at sublight velocity, the main computers, coupled with the reaction control thrusters, are capable of resolving spacecraft motions to _______________________ , and 0.5 meters of single-impulse translation.

89. During terminal docking maneuvers, accuracies of up to 2.75 cm can be maintained. Changes in spacecraft direction of flight, relative to its own center of mass, is measured in what?

90. Internal sensing devices such as accelerometers, optical gyros, and velocity vector processors, are grouped within the inertial baseline input system, or IBIS. The IBIS is in realtime contact with ____________________

___________________________________, which provide compensating factors to adjust apparent internal sensor values, allowing them to be compared with externally derived readings. The IBIS also provides a continuous feedback loop used by the reaction control system to verify propulsion inputs.

91. The whole of the galactic environment must be taken into account in any discussion of what?

92. The Milky Way galaxy, with its populations of stars, gas and dust concentrations, and numerous other exotic (and energetic) phenomena, encompasses a vast amount of low-density space through which Federation vessels travel. The continuing mission segments of the USS Enterprise will take it to various objects within this space, made possible by the what?

93. The Milky Way galaxy would seem, by any scheme of mapping, to be a record-keeping nightmare created to thwart all who would attempt to traverse it. Not only is the entire mass rotating, but it is doing so at different rates, from its core to the outer spiral arms. Over time, even small-scale structures change enough to be a problem in what?

94. Lighter mass materials such as interstellar gas and dust grains are translated away from the ship's flight path by the what?

95. During low-sublight travel, a number of nested parabolic deflector shields are projected by the main emitter dish. These shields encounter distant oncoming particles, imparting a radial velocity component to them, effectively clearing the space ahead of the vehicle for a short time. Higher sublight velocities require the additional use of __________________________________ directed at specific targets in the projected flight path.

96. Control of the deflector power output is available in a number of modes, from simple deflection to predictive-adaptive subspace/graviton; a series of __________________________ analyzes the ship's velocity and the density of the interstellar medium, and commands changes in the navigational deflector system.

97. What aboard the USS Enterprise are software-defined surfaces that are continually updated and reconfigured for maximum operator efficiency and ease of use?

98. What does LCARS stand for?

99. During _______ Mode operating rules require a minimum bridge staff of Commanding Officer (typically the captain), Flight Control Officer, Operations Manager, and at least one other officer available to serve at tactical or other stations as required. Other stations may be attended as specific mission requirements dictate.

100. During ___________ condition, all bridge stations are automatically brought to Full Enable Mode. Tactical systems are placed on full alert and, if unoccupied, the duty security chief will occupy the bridge Tactical station.

BONUS QUESTION: This question can be used to correct any question you may have missed earlier in the exam. It can not harm you to answer it and may actually help your exam score.

101. The Main Bridge also serves as a command center during alert and crisis situations. During Separated Flight Mode, combat operations are managed from the Battle Bridge, while control of the Saucer Section remains with the Main Bridge. In such scenarios, the __________________________ will generally command the Battle Section, while a designated junior officer will assume responsibility for the Saucer Section.