Auxiliaries:

Definition: 'Ships that assist Starfleet starships in their duties'.

Academy myths about auxiliaries include that they are ships for lesser-abled Starfleet graduates, mostly freighters and totally boring to be on, unchallenging and tedious missions following starships around.

The reality is that Auxiliary assignments can be one of the most challenging and often exciting and up-front assignments that a Starfleet graduate can do.

Auxiliaries operate differently as compared to Starfleet starships. Auxiliaries spend more time away on average per year from starbases and planetary facilities than Starfleet vessels do. Some Auxiliaries are operated by Starfleet personnel, these have NCC registry numbers, such as NCC 6135, U.S.S. Argus. Others are operated by non-Starfleet Federation personnel under NFT and NAR registry numbers.

Starfleet starships may spend an equal amount of time away from starbases, but time is inevitably spent at recreational planets and generally away from assignment duties.

Auxiliaries perform a number of roles: Logistics, tankers, hospital ships, repair vessels and many more besides. Auxiliaries are expected to perform their duties no matter the conditions and often without the resources and capabilities of a starship. Auxiliaries are often expected to put themselves in harm's way, despite the fact that auxiliaries have poor defences, are not very manoevreable and not designed for combat in the way that starships are.

Auxiliaries run by Starfleet require above-average Starfleet personnel who must be resourceful and quick-thinking and able to solve problems without the technological 'magic' that starships have to offer. Auxiliaries require officers from all fields, though perhaps for not all of the time. Thus a Starfleet officer may be assigned for months rather than years.

Ships may become associated with a specific role or assignment. For example, U.S.S. Argus, NCC 6135, was assigned to the Klingon Homeworld to assist in repairing the atmospheric damage caused by the explosion of the moon Praxis.

Auxiliaries have a high proportion of Non-Starfleet and Non-Commissioned Officers as compared to Starfleet starships. In addition there is a much smaller crew-to-ship size ratio. Junior Starfleet officers may find themselves in a higher position of authority and responsibility than they would on a starship. The auxiliary services require the best and selection is a tough as it gets.