USS Sulu - Crew Bios

INTRODUCTION

Like many other Naval traditions from Earth history, Starfleet continues to decorate those who distinguish themselves during their time in service. Starfleet decorations have undergone many changes in their rich history and have been influenced by a multitude of Federation cultures, resulting in many different and radically asymmetrical designs. Because of this, the wearing of decorations on the uniform has long fallen out of favor save for the ceremony in which they are awarded. However, many personnel keep their decorations in display cases as mementos.

Some commanding officers have approved the wearing of ribbons in lieu of medals. Such decorations are only worn with the dress uniform on the right breast in specific arrangement. Captain Salinger has approved the wearing of such ribbons aboard the USS Sulu with the dress white uniform.

TYPES OF AWARDS

Top Honors
These are the medals least likely to be awarded aboard the USS Sulu. They involve heroics and sacrifice so selfless that few qualify and even fewer live to see them actually awarded. Many top honors are awarded posthumously.

It should be noted that Top Honors would NEVER be allowed for any new PC coming aboard the Sulu. They must be earned in the sim.

Medium Honors
These are the medals that will only rarely be awarded aboard the USS Sulu. They are for characters that have had a significant positive impact in a particular mission and whose in-character conduct warrants such an award.

New PCs coming on board with a bit of rank and career experience might be able to choose one or two awards from this list for their bio. PCs with little time in service would not normally have earned one of these awards but that circumstance may be waived if the actions are well described in the bio.

Lower Honors
These are more common than the other awards aboard the USS Sulu and even they are fairly rare. They are awarded for the same reasons as Medium Honors though they may also be given based upon role-playing performance, literary ability, and/or player dedication provided that an in-game rationalization can be found for said award to a particular character.

Any PC with significant experience might have one or two Lower Honors when coming aboard the USS Sulu while characters with only a year or two in Starfleet would likely have none. Brand new PCs fresh from the Academy or Enlisted Training should have no more than one of these awards and the reason it was awarded should be clearly explained in the character's bio.

Special Honors
These are the awards typically given for excellent service within occupational field, during a particular campaign, or under a very specific set of circumstances. The GMs have ultimate say in how they are awarded and to whom though the guidelines for many are so specific as to be quite clearly defined.

Anyone serving in Starfleet during a particular time frame or particular place is eligible to have one or more of the campaign awards (see below) while the occupational awards are generally the providence of NPCs or PCs coming aboard the Sulu with significant character experience. They also might be awarded as part of a prolonged subplot agreed to beforehand by the GMs. With the exception of the various campaign awards, Special Honors should be used sparingly if at all when writing a bio.

It should be noted that many of the occupational special honors (Starfleet Surgeon's Medallion, Vulcan Scientific Legion of Honor, etc.) are quite prestigious and often more highly regarded by people within those occupations than even the top honors. With that in mind, new PCs should treat them similarly and not include them in their submitted bio.

CITATIONS AND COMMENDATIONS

The most common awards aboard the USS Sulu are Citations and Commendations. Ideally, the end of each mission will see several of these awards handed out. Citations are quite prestigious and can mean more than even some of the lower honors. Commendations, both major and minor, recognize significant actions during the course of a mission but lack the weight of the many other decorations.

The new PC with significant career experience coming aboard the Sulu might bring a couple citations and as many as a dozen major and minor commendations. Characters with only a few years in might have a handful of minor commendations with a major being their crowning achievement. Characters fresh from the Academy or Enlisted Training might only have a few Academy commendations to their name and they do not count anywhere outside of the Academy except for bragging rights. Note that commendations from Specialty Schools such as Starfleet Medical or Command School are considered major commendations.

CLUSTERING

When a decoration is awarded more than once to a particular crewmember, a second medal is not awarded but the original medal earns a cluster. For example, a Petty Officer who had been awarded the Purple Heart twice would have the award referred to as a "Purple Heart with Cluster". A Lieutenant who earned three Starfleet Survival Crosses would have their award referred to as "Starfleet Survival Cross with Clusters". That trend continues beyond the third award with Clusters basically meaning any more than two. It should be noted that few Starfleet personnel ever earn more than five of any particular decoration (save for citations and commendations mentioned below) and almost no one sees more than one of the top honors.

Clusters are small arrowheads of bronze, silver, or gold. Each bronze cluster represents a subsequent award and bronze clusters are the only clusters that take the actual medal into account. In other words, one would get their medal. On a subsequent award of the same decoration, one would get a single bronze cluster. On yet another award of that decoration, another bronze cluster would be awarded. So someone with a decoration with two bronze clusters would actually have been awarded their decoration three times.

At five awards, the medal itself ceases to be counted and instead earns a silver cluster. Thus any decoration with a silver cluster denotes five awards, not six. On the rare chance that a sixth decoration would be awarded, that crewmember would receive a bronze cluster but it is considered bad form to mix cluster types. Most would wait until their tenth such award and then wear a second silver cluster.

It should be noted that certain decorations such as citations and major and minor commendations may be awarded many, many times during a career. In that event, a gold cluster can be worn to represent twenty awards. Once a crewmember earns a gold cluster, they will typically refrain from further clustering until twenty more decorations have been earned, taking then another gold cluster.

DECORATIONS AND AWARDS

	United Federation of Planets Medal of Honor Award Level: Top Honor Non-Combat/Combat: Both Other Restrictions: None * * * Presented by the President of the Federation in its name, it is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a Federation citizen or member of Starfleet. Those who wear it do not refer to themselves as winners but as recipients, for what they received it was not a contest but a time of terror and death when their valor was tested beyond the call. The Medal of Honor is award to one who distinguishes himself or herself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her life above and beyond the call of duty; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing force; or while serving with friendly forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United Federation of Planets and Starfleet is not a belligerent party. The deed performed must have been one of personal bravery or self-sacrifice so conspicuous as to clearly distinguish the individual above his/her comrades and must have involved the risk of life. Incontestable proof of the performance of the service will be exacted and each recommendation for the award of this decoration will be considered on the standard of extraordinary merit. The United Federation of Planets Medal of Honor is the only decoration worn around the neck and is typically the only medal worn with the dress white uniform. When worn in ribbon form, the Medal of Honor goes above all other awards even if there is only one other below it. It sits on a row of its own.
	The Star Cross Award Level: Top Honor Non-Combat/Combat: Both Other Restrictions: None * * * Awarded to officers and enlisted personnel of Starfleet who distinguish themselves by extraordinary heroism or exceptional service, not justifying the award of the Medal of Honor. While originally awarded for combat heroism, it is no longer only a combat decoration and may also recognize service and sacrifice in exploratory, scientific, or medical fields while under the threat of great danger.
	Medal of Valor Award Level: Top Honor Non-Combat/Combat: Combat Other Restrictions: None * * * Awarded to any member of Starfleet who, while serving in any capacity distinguishes themselves by gallantry in action against an enemy of the United Federation of Planets; or while serving with friendly forces against an opposing armed enemy force.
	The Legion of Honor Award Level: Top Honor Non-Combat/Combat: Both Other Restrictions: None * * * Awarded by the Chief in Command of Starfleet (either in person or via subspace) to officers or enlisted who perform exceptionally meritorious service in a degree of great responsibility.
	Grankite Order of Tactics, Class of Excellence Award Level: Medium Honor Non-Combat/Combat: Combat Other Restrictions: None * * * Awarded by Starfleet Command for a superior display of tactical knowledge while in a position of significant responsibility and while assigned to a joint activity. This award can apply to ground combat as well as space combat.
	Preantares Award for Conspicuous Gallantry, First Class Award Level: Medium Honor Non-Combat/Combat: Both Other Restrictions: None * * * Originally, called the Preantares Ribbon of Commendation, it was the first of the commendation awards. It was and still is awarded to members of Starfleet who distinguish themselves by heroism, outstanding achievement, or gallant service that involves the saving of a life or lives.
	Kragite Order of Heroism Award Level: Medium Honor Non-Combat/Combat: Both Other Restrictions: Lieutenant Commander and Below Only * * * Awarded to officers (Lieutenant Commander and below) and enlisted personnel serving in Starfleet who distinguish themselves by outstanding heroism. Originally, a combat award, the order is now awarded for both combat and non-combat service.
	The Silver Palm Award Level: Medium Honor Non-Combat/Combat: Combat Other Restrictions: None * * * This is awarded to Starfleet personnel who distinguish themselves by heroic or meritorious achievement in the performance of assigned duties against an opposing enemy force. It is a combat-only award.
	Starfleet Command Distinguished Service Medal Award Level: Medium Honor Non-Combat/Combat: Both Other Restrictions: None * * * Awarded to personnel who have distinguished him or herself with exceptionally meritorious service to the Federation in a duty of great responsibility.
	Grankite Order of Tactics, Class of Merit Award Level: Lower Honor Non-Combat/Combat: Combat Other Restrictions: None * * * Awarded for superior use of tactics against an opposing force. This award can apply to ground combat as well as space combat.
	Preantares Award for Conspicuous Gallantry, Second Class Award Level: Lower Honor Non-Combat/Combat: Both Other Restrictions: None * * * A lesser version of the Preantares Award for Conspicuous Gallantry First Class, this decoration is awarded to members of Starfleet who distinguish themselves by heroism, outstanding achievement, or gallant service yet it does not involve the saving of a life or lives.
	Starfleet Command Meritorious Service Medal Award Level: Lower Honor Non-Combat/Combat: Non-Combat Other Restrictions: None * * * Awarded to any member of Starfleet who distinguishes himself or herself by either outstanding achievement or meritorious service to the United Federation of Planets.
	The Palm Leaf of Axanar Award Level: Special Honor Non-Combat/Combat: Both Other Restrictions: Special Circumstances (See Description) * * * Originally a commendation award for a specific mission, this is now awarded to members of Starfleet who distinguish themselves by meritorious direct participation in a significant act, or operation of humanitarian nature, or who have rendered a service to "mankind". Operations which merit consideration for the award include disaster, flood, plague, relief work, or rescue operations anywhere in the Galaxy.
	The United Federation of Planets Merit Award for Diplomacy Award Level: Special Honor Non-Combat/Combat: Both Other Restrictions: Diplomatic Missions Only * * * Commends an individual who has set a personal example to foster peace, cooperation, and mutual respect between divergent races.
	The Archer First Contact Award Award Level: Special Honor Non-Combat/Combat: Non-Combat Other Restrictions: Special Circumstances (See Description) * * * Awarded to individuals and/or starship crews that have engaged in peaceful relations with no less than five species not heretofore encountered. The species in question must be warp-capable and the contact must not be in violation of the Prime Directive. Normally, the Archer First Contact Award only considers encounters that are peaceable from the outset but does occasionally recognize contacts that begin hostile but end peacefully. The number of First Contacts only applies to a particular command and does not carry over with individual personnel although individual contacts will. In other words, if a ship encounters four new species and begins peaceable relations but a particular crewman is transferred off the ship before the fifth occurs, that individual is ineligible for the award and must begin again at the new command. However, if an individual makes four contacts as the leader of an Away Team and then transfers to a new ship where he or she makes a fifth contact as an Away Team leader, the Archer First Contact Award will have been earned.
	The Enterprise Award for Exploration Award Level: Special Honor Non-Combat/Combat: Non-Combat Other Restrictions: Special Circumstances (See Description) * * * Awarded to starship crews that have completed extensive exploration of uncharted space, be that by accident or design. Exploration must take place for a specified period of time and the ship in question must have extremely limited access to Federation and/or Starfleet support for the duration. Exploration times are as follows: First Award 6 months Second Award 1 year Third Award 2 years Fourth Award 3 years Fifth Award 4 years Note that the award is for months or years spent in continuous exploration. Exploration times do not accumulate for the individual.
	Starfleet Survival Cross Award Level: Special Honor Non-Combat/Combat: Both Other Restrictions: Special Circumstances (See Description) * * * Awarded to Starfleet personnel who have been either stranded in an inhospitable environment or held captive by enemy forces for a period of no less than three months. In situations where the captivity or environment are especially arduous (i.e. extremes of temperature or weather harmful to the character's species, torture, etc.) the time requirement may be shortened or practically eliminated.
	Purple Heart Award Level: Special Honor Non-Combat/Combat: Combat Other Restrictions: Special Circumstances (See Description) * * * Awarded for combat action only, and is awarded to persons severely wounded in action while serving in Starfleet. It is also awarded posthumously to the next of kin of personnel killed in action, or who died of wounds received in action. For the purposes of this award, severe wounds are defined as wounds that kill (even if the crewmember is ultimately revived) or wounds that cause some degree of lifelong consequences not repairable by Federation medical science.
	The Vulcan Scientific Legion of Honor Award Level: Special Honor Non-Combat/Combat: Non-Combat Other Restrictions: Typically Science and Medical Staff Only * * * Awarded for outstanding performances, discoveries or research in several scientific fields. Traditionally, the Vulcan Science Academy announces a number of nominees every five tosri (approximately every 1.55 Starfleet Standard years) from the following scientific fields: Mathematics, Physics, and Exobiology. Award recipients are selected by committee after another tosri (.31 Starfleet Standard years) of reflection, review, and debate. Thus, there are three awarded every 1.86 Starfleet Standard years, one in each of these sciences. Traditionally, this award is exclusively for personnel in the Starfleet Science or Medical Departments though it is frequently awarded to civilian scientists and there have been literal decades in which no Starfleet officer has been awarded the Vulcan Scientific Legion of Honor.
	The Cochrane Medal of Excellence Award Level: Special Honor Non-Combat/Combat: Non-Combat Other Restrictions: Typically Engineering or Science Staff Only * * * Awarded to engineers for outstanding research in warp theory. Once each year in the Terran month of June, a special committee of Federation engineers and physicists announces five nominees from Starfleet service. The committee chooses a single recipient following a period of research, review, and intellectual debate. Typically, this award is finalized by mid-August though in the case of one controversial nominee, the committee took until early January to announce. This award is prized by Science personnel but is absolutely coveted by most engineers and seen as the pinnacle of a shining career.
	Starfleet Surgeons Medallion Award Level: Special Honor Non-Combat/Combat: Non-Combat Other Restrictions: Medical Staff Only * * * Awarded to anyone serving exclusively as a Starfleet Medical officer or enlisted who has labored intensively to preserve the lives of others even at the risk of their own. This award can be given to acknowledge an especially significant incident in a person's career or it can be given in recognition of years of service. Only a very few are awarded each year.
	Battle of Wolf 359 Service Award Award Level: Special Honor Non-Combat/Combat: Combat Other Restrictions: Special Circumstances (See Description) * * * Awarded to officers and enlisted who served on the starships that battled the Borg at Wolf 359 in 2367. This award was also given posthumously to those who perished in the fight.
	Dominion War Campaign Medal Award Level: Special Honor Non-Combat/Combat: Both Other Restrictions: Special Circumstances (See Description) * * * Awarded to officers and enlisted on active Starfleet service during the Dominion War from 2373 to 2375. The character need not be serving in a "front line" capacity during the conflict as all service to Starfleet is seen as service to the war effort. Cadets and Recruits still at the Academy or Basic Training are not eligible though such trainees serving aboard starships during the conflict may be given special dispensation. Likewise, commissioned officers and enlisted attending secondary schools are eligible for the award.
	Sol System Defense Medallion Starfleet Award Level: Special Honor Non-Combat/Combat: Combat Other Restrictions: Special Circumstances (See Description) * * * Awarded to the officers and enlisted serving on the starships that aided in the defense of the Sol system during the Borg attack of 2373.
	Citation Award Level: Citation Non-Combat/Combat: Both Other Restrictions: None * * * Citations are awards from the Federation or Starfleet Command levels and are granted for various achievements to the Federation or Starfleet for which there is no equivalent award or the action is not quite deserving of an existing decoration. When the Federation, Starfleet Command, Starfleet Medical, and Starfleet Surgeons have decorated personnel, they have awarded a citation even if the word is not used in the name of the award. Examples include: Federation Citation of Outstanding Service in the Line of Duty Special Citation for Astrometrics Citation for Excellence, Advanced Tactical Training Citation for Conspicuous Bravery Citation for Bravery Citation for Exceptional Skill Citation for Exceptional Ability Citation of Exemplary Service Citation from Starfleet Surgeon General Starfleet Citation for Conspicuous Gallantry Citation for Excellence in Propulsion Systems Special Citation for Temporal Protection
	Major and Minor Commendations Award Level: Commendation Non-Combat/Combat: Both Other Restrictions: None * * * Major commendations are usually unit-level awards given by the Commanding Officer to recognize service to that particular ship, station, secondary school, or outpost. Department heads can make recommendations to the Command staff but Starfleet Command must approve the commendations before they can be officially awarded. Minor commendations are departmental-level awards within a particular command. They initiate with the appropriate department head and need only to be approved by the Commanding Officer. They are the most common award aboard any ship or station. Examples of both Commendation types include: Commendation for Bravery Commendation for Exceptional Service Commendation for Exceptional Valor Commendation for Distinguished Service Commendation for Excellence Commendation for Attention to Duty Commendation for Service in Operations Management Commendation for Service Commendation for Medical Ingenuity Commendation for Excellent Service Commendation for Original Thinking Commendation for Loyalty Commendation for Creativity and Dedication

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