Main Bridge

Located on Deck One at the very top of the primary hull, the Main Bridge of the Starship Enterprise allows for the supervision of all shipboard operations. The nerve center of the starship, the Bridge is constantly manned by the Senior Staff of the vessel - sans Chief Engineer and Chief Medical Officer - and has workstations dedicated to control every shipboard function. From this single location, the Commanding Officer could supervise all operations aboard the spacecraft.

Maintaining the traditional layout of workstations established on the earliest Starfleet vessels, the Enterprise's Bridge has returned to the warmer, carpeted interiors of the late 24th over the dark and utilitarian look of the early 25th Century. When originally launched the Bridge of the Enterprise was somewhat compact when compared to its historic ancestors, but was modified during a short refit after the Enterprise's mission profile was changed in 2439. Various workstations have been built into the perimeter of the bridge while the vessel's Flight Controls, Operations, and Tactical Systems have been assigned individual workstations near the Captain's Chair. A large forward viewscreen provides access to information from the Enterprise's sensors and the starship's dedication plaque is located next to the display.

Primary access to the Bridge from the lower decks of the Enterprise is provided by twin Turbolifts located on the aft port and aft starboard sides of the Enterprise's Bridge. Access doors located in small, curved alcoves provide personnel with direct access to locations on Deck One. The forwardmost door within the starboard alcove leads to an equipment storage compartment while a second door leads to a Security Checkpoint leading into Deck One. From this area personnel are provided easy access to the Captain's Ready Room and locations aft of the Main Bridge. The port alcove leads to a private restroom facility for the Bridge crew through the aft door while the forward leads to a second Security Checkpoint allowing access to the forward areas of Deck One, including the Executive Conference Room and the Executive Officer's Office.

Layout

Central Stations

Command Chair

Located in the exact center of the Bridge, the Command Chair (or Captain's Chair) is the primary command station aboard the Enterprise and provides the Captain or Duty Officer with an unobstructed view of the vessel's viewscreen. Unlike recent designs, the Captain's Chair is once again isolated in the center of the Bridge; however, the Chair is mounted on a circular pillar that can swivel so that the duty officer could address any member of the bridge crew with ease. Status displays have been installed to provide at-a-glance readiness reports to the Captain. The panels on the right control communications (including allowing for the recording of log entries), tactical, and the viewscreen while the interface on the left accesses flight control, operations priorities, and the ship's library. In an emergency situation the Enterprise can be controlled from the Command Chair alone.

Flight Control

Designed for maximum speed and efficiency of input, Flight Control (or Helm) oversees navigation of the Enterprise. Located near the Captain's Chair on the forward starboard workstation, the officer manning this console is responsible for piloting the Enterprise (despite its automated nature), setting course, and monitoring for any dangers on the ship's course. As a supplement to the Operations Manager, the Helm can review the vessel's long-range and navigational sensors, manage the ship's propulsion systems, and monitor the Enterprise's subspace field geometry to maximize efficiency. As needed, this station can also be used to monitor operational priorities, managing resources to ensure effective allocation.

Operations

Typically manned by the Enterprise's Executive Officer, the Operations Station (or Ops) located in the forward port workstation and is responsible for coordinating the operations of all departments aboard the Starship Enterprise. While resource allocation is routinely handled by the Main Computer, Ops can be used to evaluate departmental resource needs and then prioritize resource allocation based upon mission priorities or the orders of the Enterprise's Commander to overcome conflicting needs. Additionally, Ops is the primary link to the Enterprise's Computer systems and can be used to quickly diagnose the ship's condition as well as access or override any function aboard the spacecraft.

Security/Tactical

Located in a large, horseshoe shaped workstation, Security/Tactical is dedicated to the protection of the Starship Enterprise. In the event of danger to the ship information from the Threat Assessment/Tracking/Targeting System allows the user to respond to risks as information from sensor feeds create a tactical display for weapons deployment and monitor defensive systems. Built in intrusion detection systems monitor the ship for internal threats, allowing the Security Officer to deploy Security Teams and oversee criminal investigations. Secondary Tactical priorities are also addressed here, including communications, energizing transporters, launching sensor probes, and tractor beam usage.

Port Stations

Engineering

Located closest to the Viewscreen on the port side of the Bridge, Engineering is one of the largest workstations on the Bridge of the Enterprise and allows the Chief Engineer (or their designee) to manage the Engineering department from the Bridge. Engineering incorporates displays that replicate information provided in Main Engineering, permitting an Engineer to monitor the Enterprise's performance and evaluate the ship's overall status. Engineering also provides a detailed overview and control over the Enterprise's engines, allowing Engineers to make changes to the ship's systems, conduct diagnostics or complete recalibrations to ensure optimal efficiency.

Environment

While heavily automated aboard Federation starships, the Environment station allows personnel to monitor the status of the vessel's life-support systems in a crisis situation. When manned a user may conduct routine maintenance of the life-support systems of the spacecraft, monitoring atmospheric conditions aboard the ship. As needed, users may use this workstation to modify the output of the life-support system, rerouting life-support's power or even turning it off in certain areas aboard the ship, as well as venting atmosphere from entire locations aboard the ship.

Mission Operations

Located closest to the port Turbolift, Mission Operations is a specialized workstation that is designed to support the Enterprise's Operation's Manager. In its default configuration, the Mission Operations console monitors secondary missions occurring aboard the Enterprise, coordinates away missions, and manages the operations of the Enterprise's Shuttlebays. Mission Operations monitors communications and allows the Bridge crew control over the Transporter system, as well as priority monitoring of secondary sensor usage to help prevent resource conflicts among the various departments aboard the vessel.

Rear Stations

Master Situation Display

The Master Situation Display is a large, wall-mounted computer display on the starboard aft bulkhead of the Enterprise Bridge. Highly detailed, the Master Systems Display incorporates detailed readouts corresponding to the Enterprise and its overall mission and incorporates a large cutaway diagram of the vessel that shows the location of key systems and hardware, pinpointing systems operating outside of normal parameters and even personnel.

Master Systems Display

Replicating the functions of the Master Systems Table in Main Engineering, The Master Systems Display is a large, wall-mounted computer display on the port aft bulkhead of the Enterprise Bridge. Highly detailed, the Master Systems Display allows users to get an at-a-glance update on the overall status of the Enterprise and can be configured to give direct access to control preferences for many shipboard systems. In an emergency the Master Systems Display can be used to directly control any system aboard the spacecraft as well.

Starboard Stations

Science I

A mirror image of the Engineering Station, Science I is used to interpret information received from the Enterprise's sensors and probes and allows the Chief Science Officer to evaluate information received for dissemination to appropriate personnel. In addition to monitoring the external environment, Science I gathers and coordinates information from the various laboratories aboard the Enterprise. Priority linkages with the Enterprise's LCARS Computer Network allow the user to rapidly access information related to scientific investigation, allowing for ease of investigation by the Chief Scientist.

Science II

Located in the center of the starboard workstations, Science II serves Astrometrics functions and is used to chart stars, planets, nebulae, and other stellar bodies. While part of the Science division, Science II works closely with Flight Control and assists in monitoring Enterprise's course, often helping to determine the ship's position and analyzes any anomalies or dangers detected. Featuring priority connections to the Enterprise's Astrometrics and Stellar Cartography Laboratories, Science II supports the Chief Scientist in the investigation of stellar and planetary phenomenon, with such investigations often being prioritized to this workstation.

Science III

Often utilized by a member of the Enterprise's Medical Staff, Science III is used to investigate any lifeforms encountered by the starship. With its primary focus on the study of living organisms (including biology, botany, zoology, microbiology, physiology, biochemistry, and related subjects), Science III has priority connections with Starfleet Medical, and its databases are directly connected with the medical computers in Sickbay. In addition to monitoring life outside of the ship, Life Sciences also monitors the overall health and well-being of the Enterprise's crew.

Miscellaneous Stations

Status Displays

Located throughout the Enterprise's Bridge, Status Displays are general control panels that provide information to the user. Each Status Display provided a detailed readout related to the Enterprise's status, with the information configured based upon the needs of the Enterprise's crew or the mission profile.

Viewscreen

Located at the front of the Bridge, the Viewscreen of the Enterprise is a large, holographic display that occupies the forward bulkhead. Similar to a land vehicle's "windshield," the Viewscreen typically shows visuals from the Enterprise's forward sensors but can display images from any external sensor array regardless of orientation. A computerized heads-up display projects over the images, allowing crew to analyze sensor data or review information from the ship's computers germane to the ship's mission. In support of Enterprise's exploratory assignments, visual communications (both internal and external to the ship) can be projected on the Viewscreen for ease of contact.

Disclaimer

The Enterprise Bridge began life as the USS Lexington-B Bridge designed by Tadeo D'Oria. No infringement intended.

U.S.S. Enterprise Main Bridge