Changes: Away team

Revision as of 01:00, 7 January 2010

You might also be looking for the computer game Star Trek: Away Team.

An away team is a team of specialized starship or starbase crewmembers assembled to perform missions on planet surfaces and other starships.

These missions, deemed away missions, may include exploration, first contact, diplomacy, scientific research, or even combat. These missions are typically launched using a ship's transporter to send the crew to their destination, or by shuttlecraft, when use of the transporter is impossible or undesirable.

See also: List of away teams

22nd century usage

The Earth Starfleet of the 22nd century used the term "away team", most notably the crew of the Enterprise (NX-01). Later, the term away team was replaced by "landing party." (ENT: "Observer Effect")

23rd and 24th century usage

The name fell out of favor in the 23rd century with Federation Starfleet personnel. Such a team was referred to as a "landing party" or "boarding party". The term was also used by Starfleet personnel in an alternate reality in the 23rd century. (Star Trek)

The term was brought back in the 24th century. In this era, the first officer usually forms and leads the away team (Star Trek: The Next Generation). It is standard procedure for the second officer to be part of such a team. (TNG: "Time's Arrow")

Starfleet regulations, specifically Starfleet Code Section 12, Paragraph 4, recommend against the captain joining away missions. (Star Trek Nemesis) Data once reminded Commander Riker of the captain's place on the bridge. (TNG: "Gambit, Part I")

Types of away teams

Arctic Archaeology Team
- A-6 Excavation Team
Assault team
Damage control team
Engineering team
- Diagnostic team
Forensic team
Observer team
Rescue team
Security team
Survey team

Background

This term entered common use at the beginning of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and continued its usage throughout the subsequent television series, up to and including the prequel Star Trek: Enterprise.

A recurring plot device throughout Star Trek: The Original Series was that a red shirted member of the landing party would be dead in the following ten minutes of the episode.

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 These missions, deemed [[away mission]]s, may include exploration, [[first contact]], [[diplomacy and law|diplomacy]], [[science|scientific]] research, or even combat.  These missions are typically launched using a ship's [[transporter]] to send the crew to their destination, or by [[shuttlecraft]], when use of the transporter is impossible or undesirable.
-The guy wearing red always dies.
 '''See also''': [[Away teams|List of away teams]]