Guides to performing various tasks aboard the ship, including everyday crew duties and more devious matters.
Most of the activities that take place aboard the ships are intended to advance the causes of Science and Profit, in simple terms. Dead or injured crewmembers typically reduce profits; new discoveries advance science; trade with other civilizations increases profits; and so on.
These apply to no department in particular, but are important for any crewman (or passenger) to know about, or esoteric enough to not be relevant to a particular department.
The Command Department is responsible for the ship itself as a space vessel representing NovusCorp's interests, protecting its allies, and neutralizing adversaries. The Captain and Commander, along with the Helm Officer, Weapons Officer, Comm Officer, Munitions Officer, and Weapons Technicians all belong to this department.
The Military Department is NovusCorp's combat arm; expected to go through a few vatclones in their career, these brave soldiers give their lives again and again to preserve the lives of their comrades. As such, they have skills that most non-military individuals do not have.
The Corporate Department exists to advance company interests and profits directly, and to supply the other departments with what they need to do their jobs. As such, the Resource Director, Internal Affairs agents, company Lawyers, Magistrates, Secretaries, Interns, Assistants, and Asset Protection Teams (a cross between military and security called in for emergencies) are some examples of these workers.
IntSec, Loss Prevention, call them what you will - they maintain the security and safety of staff, whether against the evils that exist outside the corporate enclave or the evils that creep in. The Chief of Security, Security Officers, Detective, Brig Physician, and Forensic Technicians work for Security.
Biotechnology is NovusCorp's expertise, and this science in particular is managed under the Medical Department, and is one of the best in the galaxy. As such, the Chief Medical Officer is a very important role, managing Medical Doctors, Surgeons, the Psychologist, Virologists, Geneticists, Medical Assistants, Nurses, Paramedics, and Xenobiologists.
The Research Director keeps an eye on the biotech department, particularly when it comes to genetic research, but also has to make sure the Chemists are mixing chemicals safely, the Roboticists are building useful robots, Xenoarchaeologists are looking for relics and artifacts, Researchers are studying the items found, and Scientists are being given new projects to work on based on the research thus far. Botanists are also ostensibly under the Research Director's control, particularly when xenobotany comes into play.
While research improves the realm of science, and corporate keeps the profits rolling in, the engineering department is responsible for keeping the ship functional. Engineers keep the power running, Network Technicians fix computers and telecomm systems, Atmospheric Technicians keep the air running, Mechanics maintain equipment and build or upgrade machines as necessary, Maintenance Technicians conduct running repairs, and Technical Assistants work with Engineers and Mechanics to solve minor problems.
While not considered the most impressive department, the functions of the Services Department make everything else run more smoothly – Janitors must keep things tidy, Entertainers, Clowns and Mimes keep the crew happy, the Quartermaster and Cargo Techs order crates and deliver goods where they are needed, the Bartender serves drinks while the Chef serves food, and Assistants help any department that is understaffed. The Botanists and Ranchers are responsible for growing food.
Technically a subdepartment of Services, the Expedition department consists of explorers, miners, and others willing to embark in strange and foreign environments for scientific and financial gain. While the Xenosciences have their own category, this covers most other instances of exploration.
These are books found within the world of SS13, and as such may not be entirely copacetic with SC13. Many are produced by Nanotrasen, and as such will have numerous errors. User discretion is advised.
Department Guides
Engineering Making and Breaking · Construction · Gas · Powering the station · Singularity · Mining · Materials and Crafting · Wiring · Hacking · MechComp · Mechanic components and you · Control Unit · Reactor Statistics Computer · Cargo Crates
Medsci Doctoring · Genetics · Robotics · Telescience · Plasma Research · Artifact Research · Chemistry · Chemicals · ChemiCompiler · Decomposition
Security Security Officer · Contraband · Forensics · Space Law · A Treatise on Space Law
Service Foods and Drinks · Botany · Writing · Piano Song Dump · Instruments
The AI Artificial Intelligence · AI Laws · Chain of Command · Guide to AI · Humans and Nonhumans · Killing the AI
Computers Computers · TermOS · ThinkDOS · Packets
https://wiki.ss13.co/Frontier_Justice:_A_Treatise_on_Space_Law
Not everyone aboard a NovusCorp vessel is in their employment! There may be tourists, survivors, traveling merchants and other odds and ends, as well as freshly recruited individuals looking for work under the NovusCorp banner.
These are the various sciences that delve into the truly unknown – things man doesn't understand. By understanding the technology, biology, and relics of other civilizations, NovusCorp hopes to develop new sciences and make new discoveries for science and profit.