SAR History and Operations

Created by Rear Admiral Lucas Thorton on Tue Sep 25th, 2018 @ 4:22pm

History
Just prior to the 24th Century, Starfleet determined that dedicated Search and Rescue units would be beneficial to rescue spacefarers in distress and extract stranded personnel from within enemy-controlled territory. The inspiration for such units and personnel came from a similar force of the United States military called the United States Air Force Pararescue command.

Just like 20th and 21st Century Pararescuemen, SAR Operatives were to be proficient not only in emergency medical treatments and diagnosis but also combat skills to defend their patients from hostile forces.

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Starfleet Search & Rescue or SAR is a sub-organization of Starfleet that combines all active branches of the service. The organization is managed through a number of autonomous operations centers, usually referred to as SAR Ops.

Search and Rescue's role is to locate and extract personnel who have been stranded, either by accident or through hostile action. If performed under combat conditions it may be known as Combat Search and Rescue, or CSAR. SAR can be performed to rescue large numbers of people from doomed planets and starships, or to rescue individuals who have been stranded or captured in the line of duty.

SAR operations may be performed by either Starfleet crews, by dedicated rescue teams, or even by civilians, all highly trained in an eighteen-month course known as 'The Pipeline', possessing specialized skills in the search, rescue, and recovery of starships and personnel. Although not an offensive force, the SAR are capable of maneuvering into hostile territory, covertly or overtly, and removing Starfleet equipment and personnel. They may at times work alongside Starfleet Intelligence, the Starfleet Rangers, or the FSA (Federation Security Agency).

The various SAR Ops centers direct all search and rescue operations for their designated sector. Starbase 864, aka Unity Base, SAR Ops currently coordinates missions in the Delta Quadrant.

While there is no designated SAR starship, SAR Ops does have the ability to requisition Starfleet vessels and their crews to carry out their operations. In cases where a vessel has been temporarily assigned to a SAR Ops center, a ranking member of that Ops center is generally assigned to the vessel as a mission specialist to assist in the coordination of the mission. Frequently an entire SAR Team will also be assigned. Sometimes a unit, not a full squadron, may be assigned to a ship with another designation, such as a medical support ship, on a more than temporary basis. All SAR Ops centers have various small craft at their disposal, such as runabouts, Mauls, and Flamingoes, to assist in missions.

(Explain here how the SAR Team on the planet works)