Main Bridge

A cutaway of the bridge of the USS Black Hawk

The Main Bridge of the USS Black Hawk

Summary

The Primary Bridge configuration is a modification of the Sovereign Class layout. The central area of the Main Bridge provides seating and information displays for the Captain. The Captain’s Chair is raised from the rest of the Bridge Officers, to that of the Surrounding level which includes Tactical and the Executive Officer's Station.

Directly fore of the command area is the Flight Control Officer, who faces the main viewer. The FCO is equipped with a console that proceeds around at a ninety degree angle.

To the port side of the Flight Officer, also facing the main viewer, is the Operations manager's console - which is identical in size and design to the Helm station. The Operations Panel, due to the tremendous amount of sensitive information found there, has security protocols as stringent as the Tactical consoles.

At the very front of the bridge chamber is a large viewscreen. This main viewer performs all the standard duties expected of it. However, the viewscreen is not always activated like most other starships. It is a full Holographic display, that can be activated upon request. When the screen is not active, a standard bulkhead is present. This addition was made into the Century class, so that the hypnotic starfield syndrome among Bridge officers would be stopped. Too many officers became hypnotized during warp.

Aft and to the right of the command area is an elevated platform on which is located the tactical/security control station (comprised of two consoles, one for tactical, and one for security, located directly fore of tactical and to the right of the helm station). These consoles are to the right side of the Captain’s Chair. To the Captain's left is the Executive Officer's station. Ahead of the Executive Officer's Station is the Intelligence Officer's console.

To the Captain's right, behind the Tactical station, is the Mission-Operations section of the bridge. Located here are three additional, fully-programmable multi-mission consoles. When not in use, a single console remains dedicated to Mission Operations, Engineering and Environmental Control.

Against the port side walls of the main bridge are the consoles for Sciences along with others that are programmable for a multitude of functions. There are two Science consoles with Science 2 being a fully programmable multi-mission Console. Science I, which is the primary science console, has priority links to Conn, Ops, Computers, and Tactical. The Science I console is located directly to the Captain's left.

Science II is the ASO's (Assistant Science Officer's) console, which can be used by any personnel. Science II has access to all science, navigational, sensor, and communications systems. Science II can be configured to operate in tandem with Science I, although security links and all other non-science data is withheld from Science II. Science II usually works independently of Science I, and is located to the starboard of the main station.

Next to both of these is a station to monitor Squadron Operations.

Located against the aft wall of the bridge is a large master systems display monitor, similar to the one in main engineering. All relative ship information (such as damage, power distribution, etc.) is displayed on the cutaway image of the vessel. This monitor can be used to direct ship operations and can be configured for limited flight control if necessary. Also located against the aft wall of the main bridge is the large engineering console. This has a smaller cutaway diagram of the vessel, which displays all engineering-relevant data and shows warp fields and engine output. This console also has priority links to the computers, the WPS (Warp Propulsion System), the IPS (Impulse Propulsion System), navigation, SIF, and IDF. Although usually unattended, the Chief Engineer can bring this console to full Enable mode by entering voice codes and undergoing a retinal scan.

The Engineering console, as does every console on the bridge, also has the hand-input sub-console for use in setting the Auto-Destruct of vessel. The auto-destruct sequence follows Standard Starfleet security procedures which can be accessed via any secured Memory Alpha ODN connection.

There are two turbolifts on the bridge that can handle normal transit around the Century class. There is also an emergency ladder that connects the bridge to Deck Three. There are also two doors, on the aft platform of the bridge, that leads to the Conference Room, which is directly aft of the Main Bridge. Other connected rooms to the Main Bridge include the Captain's Ready Room and access to an Emergency Airlock, a gangway staircase and the head.

Layout