Merchant Marine

Federation Merchant Marine
Allegiance:	United Federation of Planets
Service type:	space service
Dates active:	from 2161
Headquarters:	Starfleet Merchant Marine Command, Alpha Centauri
Primary missions:	transporting cargo and troops, enforcing interstellar law, providing emergency assistance, maintaining infrastructure
Motto:	"Service in the name of Prosperity"

The Federation Merchant Marine (sometimes referred to as the Starfleet Merchant Marine) is a service organization of the United Federation of Planets charged with the duty of moving cargo and goods vital to the survival and expansion of the Federation. The Merchant Marine is distinct from the Federation Starfleet, but works with Starfleet as a complementary organization with definite associations and personnel answering to both services. (Last Unicorn RPG module: The Price of Freedom)

Specifics

Aside from shipping vital cargo, Merchant Marines were additionally tasked with enforcing interstellar law, transporting Starfleet Marines troops, providing emergency assistance, and maintaining infrastructure items such as navigation beacons and communications arrays. (FASA RPG module: Cadet's Orientation Sourcebook)

They conducted rescue operations, undercover assignments, and worked to reduce Orion pirate smuggling. (FASA RPG module: Game Operations Manual)

Established by the Federation Council not long after the Federation's founding, it was overseen by the council's Merchant Marine Committee. (Last Unicorn RPG module: The Price of Freedom)

Its command authority was called Starfleet Merchant Marine Command. (FASA RPG module: Cadet's Orientation Sourcebook) Its headquarters were based out of Alpha Centauri, which maintained a spaceport and a number of drydocks. In the 2380s, Admiral Jenidox Parl was its most senior officer, supervising various vice-admirals, each of whom directed segments of the fleet. Additional HQ staff included officers, administrators, civil servants, and ministers. (Last Unicorn RPG module: The Price of Freedom)

Federation citizenship was not required to join. Prerequisites were far less stringent than joining Starfleet, though applicants did need to pass an entrance exam as well as mental and physical tests. For additional training, one might "step up" by graduating from a qualified merchant school such as the Merchant Marine Academy or attending Starfleet Academy. (Last Unicorn RPG module: The Price of Freedom) One fourth of Federation Starfleet officers were assigned to service roles in this division. (FASA RPG module: Cadet's Orientation Sourcebook)

Uniforms and ranks

24th century Merchant Marine uniforms.

In the 24th century, Merchant Marine uniforms were similar in design to the Starfleet uniform (2366-2373), with a jumper and trouser style that had a black midriff and one's division color by the neck and shoulders, with an optional pocketed duty jacket. A service variant uniform came with pocketed sleeves and pants. As most vessels did not have science personnel, uniform colors denoted command (green), operations (red), and quartermaster (maroon) divisions. Rank was indicated via stripes at sleeve ends. Merchant Marine ranks were equivalent to those in Starfleet. (Last Unicorn RPG module: The Price of Freedom)

Starships

The Merchant Marines operated a number of transports, freighters, and police vessels. (FASA RPG module: Cadet's Orientation Sourcebook) Merchant Marine vessels were generally not designed for combat, outside of dealing with thieves and pirates. They had less powerful weaponry and sensor arrays than Starfleet vessels. A typical Merchant Marine freighter could ferry up to 2,000 passengers at a cruising speed of warp six. (Last Unicorn RPG module: The Price of Freedom) Merchant Marines maintained several standardized freighter classes. (Adventures RPG module: Beta Quadrant Sourcebook)

Some Starfleet starships were temporarily assigned to Merchant Marine service, such as the Chandley-class frigate USS Niwen. (FASA RPG module: Where Has All the Glory Gone?)

Vessel classes/types

• Antares-class (Last Unicorn RPG module: The Price of Freedom)
• Gnat-class agricultural freighter (Adventures RPG module: Beta Quadrant Sourcebook)
• Merchant Marine freighter (Last Unicorn RPG module: The Price of Freedom)
• T'like-class bulk ice hauler (Adventures RPG module: Beta Quadrant Sourcebook)

Notable vessels

• USS Anderson (navigation beacon maintenance)
• USS Antares
• SS Beagle (TOS episode: "Bread and Circuses")
• SS Carpathia
• SS Columbia
• Dorado (border patrol)
• Half Moon (TNG novel: Ship of the Line)
• SS Ibiza (ST - The Fall novel: A Ceremony of Losses)
• SS Lisbon (VAN novel: Storming Heaven)
• USS Niwen (temporary assignment)
• Roulashakballih (prior to its sale as surplus) (FASA RPG module: Margin of Profit)
• USS Sparon (region patrol)

History

The Stafleet Training Center on Earth had been used for longer than a century by such organizations as the Merchant Marines, MACOs, UESPA, and Earth Starfleet. (TOS novel: Academy: Collision Course)

The 22nd century Earth Cargo Service and similar civilian operations were merged into the Merchant Marines once the Federation was founded. (Adventures RPG module: Beta Quadrant Sourcebook) Other services, such as on Andor and Vulcan, were exempt from being absorbed. (Last Unicorn RPG module: The Price of Freedom)

In the early 23rd century, Merchant Marine rescue teams were unable to save personnel after an asteroid destroyed the Faraway Observation Station beyond Pluto. (FASA RPG module: Cadet's Orientation Sourcebook)

Captain R.M. Merik, after failing to complete the required courses at Starfleet Academy, became an officer in the Merchant Marine. He was commander of the SS Beagle. (TOS episode: "Bread and Circuses")

Lee Sterling served for nine years in the division after graduating from Starfleet Academy before his promotion to chief science officer of the USS Lexington. (FASA RPG module: Cadet's Orientation Sourcebook)

Some Maquis members were disgruntled former Merchant Marines officers. (Adventures RPG module: Alpha Quadrant Sourcebook)

Notable personnel

Merchant Marine personnel

• Brent Atherton (TNG novel: Ship of the Line)
• Khunying Boonmee (VAN novel: Storming Heaven)
• Holbrook Brown (prior to joining Starfleet Intelligence) (FASA RPG module: The Triangle Campaign)
• Earl Connor (prior to joining SI) (FASA RPG module: The Triangle Campaign)
• Duncan
• Lincoln Galle
• Llewellyn Grahm (prior to joining SI) (FASA RPG module: The Triangle Campaign)
• William B. Harrison (TOS episode: "Bread and Circuses")
• Horek
• Louis Jago
• Kefford
• Martin
• R.M. Merik
• Karen Morrow (FASA RPG module: Margin of Profit)
• Jenidox Parl (Last Unicorn RPG module: The Price of Freedom)
• Chip Reynolds (TNG novel: Ship of the Line)
• Simon Rigg
• Sabella (ST reference: Spaceflight Chronology)
• Ivar Sorensen
• Erhard Voss
• Joseph Winter (FASA RPG module: Margin of Profit)
• Nathaniel Zar III (FASA RPG module: Star Trek: The Next Generation Officer's Manual)

Starfleet officers detailed to Merchant Marine service

• Banda (six years) (FASA RPG module: A Doomsday Like Any Other)
• Arnold Buchwalter (10 years) (FASA RPG module: Return to Axanar)
• Carstairs
• Darva Chones (prior to joining SI) (FASA RPG module: The Triangle Campaign)
• Hung 'Chu (2nd cadet cruise)
• Carl Curtis (cadet cruise)
• Winston Driveon (one year)
• Janissa Grenadine (FASA RPG module: Decision at Midnight)
• Caldwell Groom (seven years) (FASA RPG module: Old Soldiers Never Die)
• Sellachevo Kaparthi (four years) (FASA RPG module: Star Fleet Intelligence Manual)
• Sandra Kingman (cadet cruise) (FASA RPG module: Where Has All the Glory Gone?)
• Hwung Ky (one year) (FASA RPG module: Where Has All the Glory Gone?)
• Karl Link (15 years) (FASA RPG module: Where Has All the Glory Gone?)
• Shinavva Longfellow (five years) (FASA RPG module: Return to Axanar)
• Gwendolyn Marcus (less than one year) (FASA RPG module: The Triangle Campaign)
• Gregori Markova (four years) (FASA RPG module: Return to Axanar)
• Sevill Marquart (one year) (FASA RPG module: Return to Axanar)
• Anna Masaryk (one year) (FASA RPG module: Old Soldiers Never Die)
• Baxter Mitzmartin (five years) (FASA RPG module: Return to Axanar)
• Timothy O'Shanter (FASA RPG module: Decision at Midnight)
• Michael Pollard (cadet cruise plus nine years)
• Jehan Qamer (four years) (FASA RPG module: A Doomsday Like Any Other)
• Kristine Reardon (eight years)
• Octavio Rodriguez (nine years) (FASA RPG module: Where Has All the Glory Gone?)
• Talmadge Roxun (two years) (FASA RPG module: Old Soldiers Never Die)
• Saalik (two years) (FASA RPG module: Demand of Honor)
• John Smythe (one year) (FASA RPG module: Return to Axanar)
• Soran (two years) (FASA RPG module: Old Soldiers Never Die)
• Lee Sterling (nine years)
• Stoan (two years)
• Sylik (two years) (FASA RPG module: Old Soldiers Never Die)
• Marvin Wanglestien (one year)
• Patrick Wilkins (first cadet cruise) (FASA RPG module: Return to Axanar)
• Wanda Worrenstill (two years)

Complementary local organizations

• Alpha Centauri merchant marine (ENT - Rise of the Federation novel: Tower of Babel)
• Andorian Merchant Marine (Last Unicorn RPG module: The Price of Freedom)
• Royal Merchant Marine, planet Noah (TOS novel: The Galactic Whirlpool)
• Vulcan National Merchant Fleet (TNG episode: "Unification")

Appendices

References

• TOS episode: "The Ultimate Computer"
• TOS episode: "Bread and Circuses"
• ST reference: Spaceflight Chronology
• FASA RPG module: Star Fleet Officer's Manual
• FASA RPG module: Cadet's Orientation Sourcebook
• FASA RPG module: Game Operations Manual
• FASA RPG module: Margin of Profit
• FASA RPG module: Where Has All the Glory Gone?
• FASA RPG module: Star Trek IV Sourcebook Update
• FASA RPG module: Old Soldiers Never Die
• FASA RPG module: Orion Ruse
• FASA RPG module: Return to Axanar
• FASA RPG module: The Triangle Campaign
• FASA RPG module: Decision at Midnight
• FASA RPG module: Star Fleet Intelligence Manual
• FASA RPG module: Spacelanes: The Magazine of Interstellar Trade
• FASA RPG module: Star Trek: The Next Generation Officer's Manual
• Last Unicorn RPG module: The Price of Freedom
• Last Unicorn RPG module: The Way of D'era: The Romulan Star Empire
• Last Unicorn RPG module: All Our Yesterdays: The Time Travel Sourcebook
• TOS novel: Best Destiny
• TNG novel: I, Q
• TOS novel: Academy: Collision Course
• VAN novel: Storming Heaven
• ST - The Fall novel: A Ceremony of Losses
• Adventures RPG module: Alpha Quadrant Sourcebook
• Adventures RPG module: Beta Quadrant Sourcebook

External link

• Merchant Marine article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.