Levels of Security Clearance

Access to a Starfleet vessel's computer system is highly regulated. A standard set of authorization codes have been programmed into the computer cores of all ships in order to stop any undesired access to the systems. Certain officers receive specific clearance to access specific functions of the computer, and by extension the ship itself.

Security Clearance differs from Data Access in that Security Clearance deals specifically with shipboard systems (or station systems, as the case may be), and access thereto, where Data Access deals with broader information applications.

There are four principal areas governed by security clearance.

The first of these is Ship's Records. This includes duty rosters, personnel files, library data, replicator statistics, transporter logs, meeting minutes, or any other piece of raw information contained within the ship's databanks. In the rare instances where the governance of this information creates a conflict between security clearance and data access level, data access supersedes security clearance.

Second is Ship Systems. This includes the ability to configure (or deactivate) subsystems aboard a ship (sealing a hatch, raising or lowering defensive shields, or modifying plasma flow, for example).

Next is Computer access. This includes use of computing power and cycles to pursue both duty-related and leisure projects, including holodeck access. Note that computer access denotes the ability to assign portions of the core's computing power, and is not reflective of access to information contained within the databanks.

Finally, security clearance governs command functions aboard a Starfleet vessel. Command functions can be used to override or access any other protocol aboard a ship. Activation of a ship's self-destruct sequence requires the concurrence at least one officer with full command clearance.

While an officer's specific clearance can vary from ship to ship (COs have wide discretion in this regard), the codes (and who generally possesses them) are as follows:

• ALPHA - TWO

Unlimited access to all ship's records, systems, commands and computers. This clearance is held by all Starfleet COs and XOs (for their specific ship only, of course). Flag officers coming aboard any Starfleet vessel are granted Alpha-2 clearance as a matter of protocol, though they rarely need to use it.

Unlimited access to all ship's records, systems and computers. No access to ship localized command functions. This is a niche clearance, and is generally held only by the Chief Intelligence Officer aboard a given vessel. In some cases, ambassadors and other high-level dignitaries (generally those with high levels of Data Access) can be granted this clearance, but this happens at the CO's sole discretion.

Unlimited access to all ship's records, systems and computers. Limited access to command functions. The heads of a ship's Engineering, Operations, and Security departments possess this level of clearance per regulation. In practice, this clearance is often extended to Assistant Department Heads and senior NCOs (Chief Petty Officer or above) for the sake of convenience, but this is at the discretion of the department head.

Unlimited access to all ship's records and computers. Limited access to command functions. Access to ship systems is limited to duty related functions. A ship's Chief Medical Officer holds this clearance per regulation, as do duty Flight Control, Operations, Security, and Tactical officers.

Limited access to all ship's records, systems, commands and computers. Access Limited to duty related functions. Officers in Science and Medical, as well as all Enlisted personnel, hold this level of clearance per regulation.

Limited access to all ship's records and computers. Access limited to job related functions. This is a civilian level of clearance, and is a default clearance for any being permitted aboard a Starfleet vessel. "Job related functions" are dealt with case-by-case with the department head deemed most responsible for the civilian in question.