External Support Mode

This article is considered a canon article for Star Trek: Equilism.

This is a state of reduced activity that exists when the ship is docked at a starbase or other support facility. During External Support Mode, the ship will typically receive umbilical support for at least a portion of operating power and/or life support, thus enabling a partial or total shutdown of onboard power generation.

External Support Mode rules permit the spacecraft to conduct a cold shutdown of all primary power plants as long as sufficient umbilical support is provided for all remaining personnel and systems. These protocols are intended to permit maintenance of critical systems, which would otherwise be difficult to accomplish during normal service cycles.

External Support operational rules include:

• Spacecraft must be hard docked to support facility with umbilical connects providing electro plasma system power, environmental support, structural integrity field (SIF) power, and thermal and gravitational control. At least one hard gangway must provide direct shirtsleeve access between the spacecraft and the service facility.
• Cold shutdown of all primary power plants is permitted as long as sufficient umbilical support is provided for all onboard activity. It is preferred that at least one auxiliary fusion generator remain on-line, if possible.
• Partial shutdown of environmental support systems is permitted, allowing atmospheric and water processing to be handled by support facility through umbilical connects. Life support service must continue to be provided for all inhabited portions of the ship's interior. Onboard ventilator fans, airconditioning, thermal control, and plumbing must be maintained, although specific areas may be shut down as needed for maintenance work.
• Gravitational power generation may be discontinued so long as field energy for synthetic gravity is provided through umbilical connects.
• Cold shutdown of both structural integrity field and inertial damping field is permitted so long as spacecraft remains hard docked to support facility. It is preferred that at least one SIF generator remain at hot standby.
• Cold shutdown of all navigational and tactical deflector systems is permitted so long as the spacecraft remains hard docked to the support facility. It is preferred that at least one SIF generator remain at hot standby.