Advanced Engineering Guide

Index
1. Introduction
2. System/Diagnostic Modes
3. General
4. Tools
5. Starfleet Corp of Engineers

1. Introduction

By now you've been able to settle into your position on your SIM and have gotten to know who you are working for. Hopefully you have been enjoying yourself up to this point and are hoping to someday be able to train and inspire new recruits.
The purpose of this guide is to give you more ideas of how you may keep yourself busy so your department is fun even if your department head (DH) doesn't have something for you to do this week or is away.

2. Systems

As discussed in the basic engineering guide an engineer is responsible for the warp corp, the shuttlecraft and hangar bays, sensor maintenance, enviromental systems, matter/energy distribution and structural maintenance.

To be able to know the exact status of the ship or station's systems diagnostics are run along with the regular routine of on-site inspection. There are 5 different levels of diagnostics.

Level 1 is the most comprehensive systems check, a level 1 involves manual verification by crew members, in case the system's computer diganostics are untrustwory. This can take many hours and may even require a system of two to go off-line during the diagnostic check.
Level 2 is a swifter procedure than level 1, this leve still inovlves crew members manually verifying certain systems, although not necessarily all aspects of them.
Level 3 is a short procedure (ten minutes or less) with manual check of only key systems.
Level 4 is an automated procedure whereby the computer checks for malfunctions or other anomalies in a system's performance or operation.
Leve 5 is a routine automated prodecure taking less than three seconds. Used when time is of the essence or when the computer is too busy with more important, timely functions.

EPS TAPS
EPS Taps are those which divide the energy into 3 usable levels, all crucial to the operation of the ship. Taps for the Electro Plasma System [EPS] are available in three primary types.

Type 1 A capacity flow for high-energy systems - Warp Nacelles, Defense systems, Field generators, etc
Type 2 A capacity flow for experimental devices - Science, Engineering and Medical labs, Holodecks, etc.
Type 3 A capacity flow for low-power input applications - Computer core and all subsystems, lights, PADDs, etc.

Keep away from EPS type 1 Tap failures. Just dump the engine core immediately and pray the Warp Coils (Squashed horseshoe-shaped,paired together to form rings to makeup the Nacelles - composed primarily of verterium cortenide) won't overload and explode before it's complete.
A core shutdown ceases the juice to the EPS taps, yet everything doesn't shut down. Lights, computers and life support continue to run because they function on Impulse which is a separate system and which, like the Dilithium (warp) system, dumps its raw plasma energy into the EPS. Both feed the EPS.
Impulse is created through fusion (and the matter supply) which is more stable and keeps the ship running - originally warp drive was fusion based, and gradually it became more common a use for Sublight Impulse. If both Impulse and Warp are down, that's when backup generators need to maintain all ship's power usage. If neither engines are repaired soon, the generators eventually run out of energy and the ship is lost. If repaired, the EPS circle around and promptly re-charge the backup generators. Without repair, escape pods and shuttles would be the only option.

3. General

Using the various Engineering skills and specializations, your character can diagnose, modify and repair vious systems adn devices, from the warp drive and the computer network to the enviromental systems and transporters. Given the right tools and the materials, a sufficiently skilled engineer can build the item or system from scratch.

If you have not chosen a specialization for you character it may be beneficial for you to do so now. You can choose something to do with the systems as well as holotechnology. Try to pick something that will enable you to keep busy and be able to write logs about. If you're a structural engineer then you would be more responsible for watching the structure of the ship or station and you would be more likely consulted if your SIM met up with a ship needing reinforcement. Remember that just because you majored in one thing doesn't mean you don't know anything about another aspect of Engineering. A computer systems engineer would have a variety of things to choose from ranging from transporters to replicators as well as holodecks.

4. Tools

The following list is to give you an idea of things you might consider when doing a job on your ship or station. Some of the tools have been explained and some haven't. We did our best to put a list together but some tools' uses were not explained in Trek. Upon arrival at your SIM all engineers are provided with a kit from their department head. At least, they should be. This kit contains a bottle of windex, duct tape, a swiss army knife, a spork and a small bottle of scotch. Rumor has it that this kit can get you out of any number of scrapes and fix a multitude of problems.

micro-optic drill
Handheld engineering tool for drilling tiny precision holes in substances. In 2368, Chief Engineer La Forge and Ensign Ro used a drill of this type to create a small hole in the ceiling of the Ten-Forward Lounge, where Ux-Mal criminals were holding crew members hostage.

Phase coil resonator, Phase coil calibrator.

Bipolar torch
Cutting tool used by personnel on Deep Space Nine. In 2369, a torch was used to cut through the toranium metal inlay on one of the station's doors.


Anyon emitter

Tool used by Starfleet Engineering personnel. In 2368, Lieutenant Commander Data used a modified anyon emitter to remove chroniton particle contamination caused by a Romulan interphase generator from the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D. The emitter was also used to return Chief Engineer La Forge and Ensign Ro to normal space from the phased condition in which they had been inadvertently trapped.

Isolinear coprocessor

Isolinear Optical Chip

Isolinear rod

Don't let the small list fool you, there are several other tools used in engineering but not many are easily found written down. Using your imagination is the best way to expand on this list. The more you use technobabble the more easily it will come to you.

As with everything else, remember to respect your fellow players and to have fun.

5. Starfleet Corp of Engineers. S.C.E.

The Starfleet Corp of Engineers is a group of engineers who are sent out to deal with mostly engineering problems that might arise on other ships and planets. They often end up making first contact with other civilizations which is why they have linquists and the Captain is usually from regular fleet channels.

Members of the S.C.E. are some of the most resourceful folks in the business. Often finding themselves in situations where they do not have the correct part on hand and cannot wait to get it, they must improvise and manage to fix alien technology when necessary.

Captain Montgomery Scott is the head of the S.C.E and acts as liason between his people and the Admirals at Starfleet Headquarters. He is responsible for making sure they are given the resources that they need to continue their job of excellence.