Starship operating modes

Starships could have various **operating modes**. These varied by operator, but were typically used to indicate to onboard personnel a general or alert status.

## Klingon Defense Force

The Klingon Defense Force had a limited number of operating modes as compared to their contemporaries. Alert Status One (Klingonhol: *ghuH Dotlh wa'*) was called by whichever officer stood in command and indicated to the crew to prepare for combat. Generally known as Battle Alert, deriving from the term used to activate it (*may' yIghuH*), the status was roughly the KDF equivalent of Starfleet's Condition Red.

## Starfleet

Within Starfleet there were several operating modes coded with colors and alerts.

### Condition Green

Often referred to as “cruise mode” or “under weigh,” Condition Green was the standard operating status of a starship. When in this mode, routine duties were completed by the crew and regular shift assignments applied. A level 4 diagnostic check on all the ship’s primary and tactical systems was run at the beginning of each shift.

A limited crew staffed the bridge in Condition Green. At minimum, personnel included the officer of the watch (OOW) and individual officers from the flight control team, operations team, and tactical team. This could be expanded at the discretion of the starship’s commanding officer (CO) and did not exclude other personnel from being present on the bridge outside their shift assignments.

Systems in operation included the navigational deflector and one shield generator in each major section. At least one additional shield generator would be available for immediate activation and forty percent of the starship’s armaments were at cold standby and available for action in ninety seconds. Additionally, one shuttlecraft was at urgent standby and ready to launch within five minutes.

The status emblem was typically only displayed when coming down from a higher alert status, a visual indication to a starship's crew to return to cruise mode.

### Condition Yellow

Condition Yellow indicated that an increased state of readiness was required aboard ship. This mode could be initiated by the CO, executive officer (XO), or OOW by stating "Set to Condition Yellow" or “Yellow Alert.” When a starship took damage or detected the possibility of damage to itself or its crew, the computer automatically engaged Yellow Alert. Yellow alert condition lighting activated throughout the starship pulsed accompanied by status screens displaying an alert emblem in the same color. This condition indicated to a starship’s crew that there was a possibility of combat, hazardous flight conditions, or malfunctions in ship systems. Defensive shields were activated and additional auxiliary craft were placed on urgent standby, while weapons systems remained offline.

#### Intruder alert

A type of Condition Yellow, intruder alert status was initiated when there was an internal breach of security aboard a starship. The following protocols were enacted in addition to Yellow Alert.

* All nonessential personnel were confined to quarters or duty stations until alert was lifted.
* Movement throughout the starship required authorization of an immediate superior officer and all turbolifts required authorization codes for use.
* Armed security teams patrolled each deck, with additional personnel stationed at all sensitive areas of the starship.
* The security officer on duty ran a full internal scan, and readied ship systems to seal bulkheads, activate internal force fields, or perform other responses as required by the situation to resolve the breach.

#### Medical alert

A medical alert, also coded to medical emergencies, was called when there was a need for medical assistance due to injury or illness. A number of processes immediately activated to facilitate aid.

Personnel processes:

* The transporter chief operating the pad nearest sickbay established a transporter lock on the shift medical officer and the affected individual and stood ready to initiate a site-to-site transport of the officer to the patient or vice versa.
* Security personnel were dispatched to clear corridors and obstacles to ensure clear travel and access for medical personnel.
* Sickbay personnel were placed at readiness and other science department personnel were placed on standby to assist as needed.
* The shift operations officer stood ready to transmit emergency information, such as a distress call.
* The shift conn officer determined the nearest planets, stations, or starships, and stood ready to divert course if needed.

Computer processes:

* The computer prioritized turbolift traffic so that medical personnel could quickly reach the emergency location and transport the patient to sickbay.
* Sickbay was elevated in priority regarding power allocation and the computer brought all medical equipment online.
* A comm line was immediately opened between the chief medical officer, shift medical officer (if not the CMO), sickbay, and the bridge.

#### Quarantine alert

In the event of an outbreak or other widespread medical emergency, the quarantine alert operating mode automatically restricted movement throughout a vessel and isolated life support systems for each deck. The main sickbay was given priority status regarding power and systems usage, which allowed the chief medical officer the ability to run a full internal scan to locate and eliminate any contagion.

### Condition Red

Condition Red indicated an actual state of emergency, such as when the ship or crew was endangered or during combat situations. The officer in command could switch to this condition by stating “Red Alert” or "battle stations," although the computer would automatically activate Condition Red in certain circumstances. Both pulsing red alert condition lighting and an emergency klaxon communicated the heightened status to starship personnel.

All crew members reported to battle stations, security teams secured all strategic locations on the ship, medical personnel reported to sickbay and aid stations, engineers checked critical systems and were stationed nearby, all auxiliary craft were brought to urgent readiness, weapons systems were fully prepped and activated, shields were raised, active sensors began full sweeps, and the computer ran a continual level 4 diagnostic check.

### Condition Blue

Condition Blue aboard was used when a vessel was docking, either with another vessel or a facility, or during a planetary landing for those vessels capable of reascending. The mode was activated when the officer in command stated “Blue alert.” Alert condition lighting throughout the starship pulsed blue and status screens displayed the alert emblem in the same color. This notified personnel that they were to secure all cargo and equipment and prepare the appropriate docking hatches and air locks. Once berthed with a support facility, Condition Blue was automatically deactivated and the starship entered external support mode.

### Condition Gray

Condition Gray was enacted when a situation required maximum power conservation or a severe reduction in onboard power generation and engine emissions. It was generally used in tactical or emergency situations and consistedof two tiers: reduced power mode and emission control mode.

#### Reduced power mode

When in reduced power mode (REPOM) of Condition Gray, the starship ran on reserve power with non-essential areas and systems completely offline. This allowed the starship to maintain essential operations while allowing for maximum energy conservation. The mode could be invoked when fuel iswasin short supply or required by a tactical situation.

#### Emission control mode

Alternatively known as “silent running,” emission control mode (EMCOM) involved the energy conservation of reduced power mode combined with the shutdown of propulsion systems. The starship relied upon thrusters and inertia for movement. This mode was typically invoked during tactical situations where the starship needed to avoid detection by threat forces.

### External support mode

External support mode (EXSUM) was used when a starship was docked or berthed at a support facility, such as a starbase. The starship was in a reduced state of activity and many or all systems were powered down. Personnel were typically granted shore leave or given assignments at the facility during this mode's operation.

### Condition Black

An extremely rare operating status, Condition Black was only available on vessels with highly experimental systems, such as the *Crossfield* and *Dauntless*-classes, when the experimental system was being activated. This mode was initiated by the CO, executive officer (XO), or OOW by stating “Black Alert,” and was followed by a status emblem appearing on screens throughout the ship. This would communicate to the crew, trained in the experimental system, that they needed to prepare for use of said system. Required tasks would depend on the ship and its experimental equipment.

## Appendices

### Sources consulted

* Alert signal article at *Memory Alpha*.
* *Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual* by Rick Sternbach and Michael Okuda.
* *U.S.S. Cheyenne Operations Manual* by Dan W. Shanks.
* *USS Khai Tam Technical Orientation Manual* by Kevin McNulty.
* *Galileo-Class Starcruiser Ship's Organization and Regulations Manual* by W. Paul Hollingsworth.