Done my required google search...(actually lots of searches) but am having some difficulty getting a straightforward answer.

I'm in a small fleet - we've gotten stuck on the 2 things...
1. Heavy Phaser Satellite turrets..
Looked for the mission, not having much luck...is there a trick to getting that assignment?
2. Duty officer contributions...
I'm working hard to get ranked up, but was wondering what the system requires....
Are the Doffs common or higher? Is there a good place to start...the exchange has been touch and go for useful doffs...and I've purchased a few, but then they couldn't be contributed to the project??

(forgive the noob vibe in my post!)
Thanks

1. The mission for the plans just appears in the sectors listed here, randomly. http://www.stowiki.org/Assignment:_Secure_Prototype. To build them you have to check with your engineer in your ship interior. That mission is always available.

If your a KDF, you just get missions to buy them. Although that only gives you 10 at a time unless you get a critical.

2. DOffs for early starbase missions are common. Later tiers you need Uncommon/Rares. The best way to get DOffs is to talk to the Personnel Officers at Starfleet / Klingon Academy. There's one by the DOff Store Vendor (Ferra / Ss'tas) and three more race specific ones around campus. They give you 2 day long recruitment missions with a 36/48 hour cooldown (I think). Only thing is you'll only get 2 Doffs guaranteed within one area (Tactical / Science etc.) at a time, the rest are random. Don't understand why ones you got from the exchange didn't work if they were the right rarity and specialisation.

I hope by small fleet you mean 10-25, otherwise things are going to get extremely difficult very in short time.

1) Some of these can be found via duty officer missions in space that let you get 10 or so for 50,000 EC. A more stable alternative is to get the plans (duty officer spreadsheet is at bit.ly/DOFFS --> go to Prototype Plans section) and take that, a contraband, and the needed data samples or particle traces to the Engineer on your ship who will craft 20 at a time. Due to the cooldown, you may want to do this on multiple characters and mail them over.

2) Most projects require common (and only common) doffs. This has led to a major supply problem, though help is on the way -- my guess would be next Thursday. You can get more doffs from the Academy, C-Store, or exchange though all are expensive (in time, money, and EC respectively).

Heavy Phaser Satellite turrets require an assignment that gives a plan and you craft through the Engineering contact on your ship or starbase. Can use bit.ly/DOFFS to see if anyone has listed the assignment and in which zone. Or you can buy the plans or turrets off of the exchange.

Most of the duty officers need to be common, there is the odd uncommon one needed, but they are mostly for special projects which I don't recommend doing in a small fleet. Some upgrade projects need purple, but they are rare. First you have to make sure a duty officer belongs in the category you want if you purchase any off of the exchange. You can determine which duty officers belong to which category by looking at the duty roster.

Starfleet Academy has duty officer requistion officers. One that gives regular assignments and one that gives an assignment for vulcan duty officers. I have not found the other races. Do those when they are available and you should have plenty of duty officers. There are also the reinforcement duty officer pack which is available on the C-Store and Exchange and other duty officer packs which are available through lockboxes and exchange.

Appreciate the quick response....we do have a tiny fleet, but at least I know how to get some projects finished

again thanks!

You can also buy the plans as well as the heavy satellite turrets themselves on the exchange.

And just to clarify, for Federation characters, you need a doff assignment to get the prototype plans. Then take the plans to your engineer to make the turrets. Each plan will net you 20 turrets if successful.

For KDF characters, you need a doff assignment to 'purchase' the turrets. Costs 50,000 EC and you usually get 10 if successful. (This is still a lot cheaper than buying off the exchange)