What a credible starship away team would require

Routine away missions should not repeatedly expose a ship's entire senior command team. A credible starship would maintain specialists who combine engineering and scientific skills with the force protection expected of marines. They would carry enough defensive equipment for conditions that do not match remote scans. Initial landings would also use protective suits until the local air and other hazards had been checked directly. Dedicated teams would preserve command continuity aboard ship while giving the landing party the right training and equipment.