Auxiliary Ship Operations Officer

Auxiliary Ship Operations Officer 

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Part of the OPS Department  aboard Union Capital Ships and Military Stations. The Auxilary Ship Officer is responsible for all Auxiliary Crafts (except Fighters) the ship carries. Union Ships, especially Capital Ships are more than just weapon platforms but also carry a huge number of independent Space Craft, landing Crafts, shuttles, Boats, Drones and Sensor Buoys (as well as mines and Robotic Attack craft) The ASO (often nicknamed Mother hen as he or she mothers and cares about the aux craft like a mother hen cares about a gaggle of Chicks) coordinates Aux Craft operations with Ship Command, allocates personnel, maintains supplies and repairs, coordinates with Engineering for Upgrades and repairs. The ASO has Command Authority over Ship Hangars and Hangar personnel. Aux Fuel supplies and munitions. If the Union Ship carries Marine Equipment such as Landing tanks, Thor Gun Boats, Planetary Artillery Units and Boarding Crafts they are also under the Control and Care of the ASO. The ASO furthermore maintains and commands the Ships Infantry Robot Compliment (Not Security Robots) and is responsible for all Deep Space and EVA equipment (such as Deep Space enabled Battle Suits, Umbillical equipment and all Drones and Robotic EVA equipment)

It is both a demanding and very prestigious posting that usually leads to Flight Boss or Command Roles, such as SHIP OPS, XO and Captain. The Service patch shows a Terran Mother Hen – the Service Ribbon is yellow with three “eggs”.