It's the year 2389, space travel has stitched together the many worlds of the Sol system and broadened the horizons of your life beyond the moon or planet you were born on. There is no faster-than-light travel, teleporters don't exist; voyages across the celestial sea take time and care. Warp currents provide a sort of "wind" that starships can harness to accelerate their voyages, and while they often outline major transit routes, they are prone to changing and shifting over time. Space is fraught with dangers, from opportunistic bandits to enormous space fauna to the fickle whims of your own starship's systems, but it's nothing a good crew can't manage. Emergency services are available to rescue a stranded crew or tow a damaged ship, and salvage companies will clean up what remains of those who are not so fortunate. Commercial flights between worlds are a popular way to travel for the vast majority of travelers who haven't the time or know-how to operate a starship themselves. But you're not most travelers. You've got a ship of your own and a trusted crew to help it sail. You're the needle that stitches the worlds of Sol together. You are a starship captain.
There are many reasons you and your crew might want to venture out into space. You might be hauling vital goods across great distances in a cargo ship, you might be studying space itself in a science vessel. You could be a dashing rogue seeking your fortune in whatever ship you come to possess, or you might chase wanted men from world to world to apprehend and turn in for their bounties. You might offer private transit services for clients who can afford the comfort and protection your vessel provides, or you might be a mining operation combing asteroids for the next big score. You might be smugglers or thieves, or outlaws fighting the overreach of planetary powers, or you might serve those same powers and seek to enforce order in your world's side of the Asteroid Belt. Whatever you're doing there's a ship to accommodate you and a crew to back you up, but as the captain of your outfit you take responsibility for the well-being of those under your command.
Captaincy is not always as glamorous as it's made to seem in stories or film- a captain is ultimately responsible for everything that happens on their ship, and that includes a long list of very mundane checks and chores. You are in charge of ensuring your ship remains starworthy, that it is stocked with provisions to sustain a long voyage in space and that it is compliant with all licensing and certification that your occupation requires you honor, and when traveling between worlds you're responsible for immigration and customs documentation. You need to maintain safety plans in the event of emergencies in transit, you need to maintain radio equipment to ensure you can dial into satellite relay networks and call for help if your ship should become adrift and you ultimately need to ensure your crew can come to rest on solid ground again at the end of your voyage.
Long story short, while you get to enjoy the glamor of giving orders and commanding your crew, you're also the representative head of the ship responsible for its operation, and so all the boring paperwork and record-keeping falls upon your shoulders. Your crew may act on your command, but you ultimately bear responsibility for what they're doing.
A starship captain should be familiar with all necessary operations aboard their ship, and should be able to serve in any role when needed, big or small. It is a lot of work, but that's a big reason why commercial starline voyages are the main way most people travel the Sol system! Most captains have a background in a particular role aboard their ship, and their expertise is reflected in the way they lead their crew or the jobs they embark upon, but when you're ready to assume the role of captaincy you should have a handle on the other roles required of a starfarer. A good captain knows to trust the trustworthy and delegate responsibilities appropriately- before you set sail there are a few vital roles you'll want to ensure your crew can account for, regardless of what type of ship you're in command of.
- First Mate: In the event you become incapacitated, indisposed or otherwise unable to lead, you'll want to have a crewmember designated who can act with your authority and take on your duties. A first mate may also serve in another capacity, especially among a smaller crew, but on larger crews their role may be split among a second- and third-mate as well. The odds are small that you'll be in command of that big of a crew, though.
- Navigator: Space is a big place and planetary bodies are always in motion. While two planets may sometimes be neighbors, they will often find themselves on opposite sides of Sol, so a short journey can become a very long one depending on when you set sail. A good navigator is familiar with the rhythm and flow of the system, and can anticipate hazards before they become a problem. Do not leave home without a navigator!
- Helm: While many long voyages will allow you to set course and step away from the controls, it's vital to have a good helmsman among your crew. This is your ship's pilot, they know the limitations of the craft and how to maneuver it carefully or quickly when the need arises. Hazards can reveal themselves without notice, and a good helmsman can respond in kind. Helm and Navigation work closely together to ensure a ship arrives where they need to be.
- Linguist: You'll encounter people from many worlds on your journeys, and a ship linguist ensures you'll be able to communicate with them effectively. While many people have learned to speak Common Terran, you shouldn't make assumptions. Automated translators exist, but even by the technological standards of today they still struggle with the kinds of idioms and shorthand that flavor the many languages from the many cultures on the many worlds of Sol. The need for a good linguist is often overlooked by inexperienced or field-promoted captains, but when you encounter other sentient life in the celestial sea you'll be glad you hired one onto your crew.
- Engineer: Your ship is a wonder of technology, allowing you to cross the freezing, inhospitable and irradiated vastness of space, but regardless of which world it was built on, it is still a machine and it is still prone to failure if it is not properly maintained. Preventative maintenance is life-saving before you're venturing into space, and a keen ability to work with what materials are on hand to improvise solutions can keep a ship intact should calamity arise while you're up there in the void. Engineers often come in two flavors: mechanical engineers who handle the bulk of ship hardware, computers and power distribution; and warp engineers who are in charge of keeping a ship's engines, shields and warp sails intact. On smaller crews one person can fulfill both of these roles, but the specialist distinctions exist and are often filled by different people aboard larger ships who can afford the manpower.
These roles are considered the core of a starship crew, and a good captain should be able to step into these roles competently should the need arise, as you don't want to be caught in space unable to fulfill these vital functions. In addition to these roles, a few other good crewmembers to account for include:
- Cook: Look, you can spend long voyages eating pre-packaged food or digging into your nonperishable rations, but any seasoned starfarer can tell you that's no way to live. Remember, there is no faster-than-light travel, you're gonna be up there for a minute wherever you're headed, so you'll want someone on hand who can prepare tasty meals and keep your crew well-fed and in good spirits. A ship's cook often serves another role among a smaller crew, often a job that doesn't need to be on-hand all the time so they can afford to spend time in the kitchen preparing dinner. A good captain who can serve in this capacity has a great ace up their sleeve to treat their crew to a special occasion and keep their morale high.
- Doctor: Whether your job in space is to meet other crews or keep to yourself, a doctor is great to keep on any ship. Help is a long, long way away, so make sure you bring your own healthcare professional with you on your voyage; someone who can both take care of your crew and ensure the well-being of distressed crews you may encounter is welcome company aboard any vessel. While a good captain shouldn't be expected to fill the full function of a doctor, they should at the very least know enough first aid to stabilize a risky situation in a pinch. A good doctor is indispensable.
- Security: A lot of the dangers of space are natural, but a fair few are encounters with other sentient lifeforms. A security officer can execute safety plans in the event of an encounter with belligerent starfarers and ensure the well-being of the rest of their crew. Security officers will often stay tuned in to appropriate communications channels so they can hear about troublesome activity before they encounter it, but they are also able to recognize dangers and ambushes while they're in the midst of dealing with security problems.
- Cannoneer: There are many reasons for a starship to have a suite of weapons, besides the obvious. Turrets are useful for precisely cutting derelict bulkheads, cannons are good to have for breaking up asteroids and a missile array can deter deep space xenofauna before they become a more expensive problem. A cannoneer is useful to have on hand to manage the ship's weapon systems while other crewmembers are attending to the rest of a ship's operations.
As you know, a lot of work goes into operating a starship, so it's vital to you as a captain to hire on good help- it's also important that you take care of that help, and that you earn their respect and their trust! Remember, you are ultimately responsible for their well-being, you need to make sure they know they're taken care of when they are under your command. Crew are happy when they feel like they're working with you, rather than for you. Be willing to dig in and work alongside them; you are on this voyage together and the only way you're all making it home is by working together. If they don't feel they can trust your command, they will find someone among their lot who they can, so don't let captaincy go to your head! Be humble, be assertive and be prepared to meet the challenges of space travel, and a long and adventurous career awaits you in the Sol system.
Good luck on your journeys, wherever they may lead you. Be sure to stop by Titan Garden when you're in the neighborhood, you'll never know who is waiting to share stories and drinks with you and your crew.