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Lieutenant Colonel Robert Picard - Commanding
Lieutenant Commander Dale Browne - Executive Officer
In recent months much of the USS Katana and it's systems where upgraded. This resulted in a new bridge, which due to
present pressures on Starfleet Engineering from the aftermath of the conflict against the Dominion, was a salvaged and
modified Intrepid Class Bridge Module. Upgrades have also included the addition of the newest Holographic Communication
Technology, which is located just in front of the CONN Station.
All four bridge exits lead to a single corridor that passes around the the back of the bridge. This corridor provides access to the CO and XO ready room's, the Conference/Briefing Room, two turbolifts, WC's and ramps to Deck 02.
The main bridge is directly responsible for the supervision of all primary mission functions. Through the on duty Operations
Officer, the bridge also monitor's all secondary functions to provide an optimal operations state.
Command Station
The Central area of the bridge provides seating and information for the Commanding Officer, and Executive Officer. All bridge Operations authority rest with the Commanding Officer on the bridge at that time, (usually the Captain, or XO, 2nd officer or Other Ranking Commissioned Officer [in that order]). The Commanding Officer is responsible for execution of Starfleet Orders and Policy, as well as for interpretation and compliance with Federation law and diplomatic directives. As such a Commanding Officer is directly responsible for the performance of the ship.
The Command seating has information displays, which provide the CO, and XO (or other officer in shift command at the time) with all information available to the different stations around the bridge, and simplified Conn and Ops controls. Upon a key or vocal command, the Commanding Officer can use these controls to override the basic operation of the spacecraft. Such overrides are generally reserved for emergency situations.
Normal operating rules require a shift Command Officer to be on duty at all times, although the presence of the other personnel is optional, depending on the specific mission requirements.
Flight Control
Conn, or sometimes called Flight Control or Helm, is located at the front of the bridge, giving a clear and unhindered view of the view screen. The Conn is responsible for the actual piloting and navigation of the starship. Although these are heavily automated functions, their criticality demands a living officer to oversee these operations at all times.
During impulse powered spaceflight, Conn is responsible for monitoring realistic effects as well as inertial damping system status. In the event that a requested manoeuvre exceeds the capacity of the inertial dampening system, the computer will request Conn to modify the flight plan to bring it within permitted performance envelope. During Alert status, flight rules permit Conn to specify maneuvers that are potentially dangerous to the crew or the spacecraft.
Warp flight operating rules require Conn to monitor subspace field geometry in parallel with the Engineering department. During warp flight, the Conn station is continually updated by long-range sensor data, allowing automatic course corrections to adjust for minor variations in the density of interstellar medium.
Because of the criticality of Conn in starship operations, Conn is connected to a dedicated backup flight subproccesor to provide for manual flight control. This equipment package includes emergency navigation sensors.
There are 4 major areas of responsibility for the Conn's Officer.
1. Navigational reference/course plotting
2. Supervision of automatic flight operations
3. Manual flight operations
4. Position verification
Operations
Ops is traditionally stationed at the front of the bridge with Conn. However, the new style bridge moved Ops to a larger and more advanced station. This required a separate styled station form original forms. Ops can now be found on the top right, (when looking from the view screen) of the bridge.
Many shipboard operations involve scheduling resources or hardware (such as power or the use of sensors) that affect a number of departments. In many such cases, it is common for various operations to present conflicting requirements. It is the responsibility of the Ops officer to co-ordinate such activities so that mission goals are not jeopardised. Having a crew member in this decision-making loop is of critical importance because of the wide range of unpredictable situations with which a starship must deal.
Most routine scheduling and resource allocation is done automatically by the Ops program. This frees the Ops Officer from routine activity, leaving him/her able to concentrate on decisions beyond the scope of the artificial intelligence software. The level of these decision filter programs can be set by the Ops officer, and also varies with the current Alert status of the ship.
During crisis situations and reduced power mode operations, Ops is responsible for supervision of power allocation in co-ordination with the Engineering department. Load shedding of nonessential power usage in such situations is based on spacecraft survival factors and mission priorities.
The Ops officer is also responsible for providing general status information to the main computer, which is then made available to all departments and personnel. Ops routes specific information to specific departments to inform them of anticipated changes and requirements that may affect their operations. Ops also maintains a watch on key engineering functions (see Engineering below).
Tactical - Security
Located in the mirror position to the Ops Station is Security. This is also the base for Tactical operations.
The main security Station is manned by a Security, or Tactical Officer, although a separate single tactical console is located directly behind the Command chairs. This separate tactical console is for use in conflict situations to allow the freedom of both the Security and Tactical operators on the bridge.
Under normal conditions the security console is manned by Tactical, and Security is run from the main Security Office. Under Yellow, and Red Alert mode operations the Security station is manned by a Security Officer, and Tactical takes control of the Tactical Station behind the Command chairs. The U.S.S. Katana also has a Marine detachment, who work as extra officers for Security when ship board functions are taking place, but take command on away team missions in accordance with Starfleet Policy.
SHIPBOARD SECURITY FUNCTIONS:
Under normal conditions, cruise mode, security does not man a position on the bridge, instead conducting it's ship wide
security from the Security Department Offices. Here Security controls the inventory of weapons, Security team personnel
assignments, ranging from personnel bodyguard's, to key location guarding. However under alert conditions Security can be
controlled from the main security station on the bridge.
STARSHIP DEFENCE FUNCTIONS:
The very survival of the ship will often rest in the hands of the Tactical officer, and his/her performance of operations in
hazardous situations. Tactical co-ordinates with Conn and Ops in all situations involving external hazards. Guidance and
navigation information, targeting data, and external communications are networked through these three stations, providing
expanded options for dealing with the unknown as they present themselves.
Tactical also has the latest defence technology available to it for defence, phasers, photon and quantum torpedoes, as well as tricobalt devices, and the latest development in shield technology and an experimental Mk4 Cloaking Device. Under normal conditions, Tactical mans the Security Station on the bridge, performing ship wide tactical analysis. However under Yellow and Red Alert conditions Tactical moves to the Tactical Station located behind the Command chairs.
Both Security, Tactical and Marine Officers work closely together in providing ship wide security, and can perform each others task, if a crisis situation requires this.
Engineering
Located at the front left (from view screen looking towards the Command chairs) of the bridge, the Engineering Station duplicates the primary status display in main Engineering. These displays include warp/impulse propulsion systems, as well as other major subsystems. The purpose of this station is to permit the Chief Engineer to maintain supervision over engineering systems while on the bridge, as well as a back up for engineering operations should Main Engineering be compromised, and unavailable for system use. This is Station is particularly critical during Alert situations that may require the Chief Engineer's presence on the bridge while simultaneously requiring that officer to maintain a close watch over the status of key systems. During most cruise mode operations it is the responsibility of the Ops officer to monitor these systems through the Ops station for the bridge.
Although this Station is normally configured for passive system display, priority access by the Chief Engineer or senior staff can provide full control of virtually all engineering systems.
The console is linked to the engineering system through the bridge's dedicated optical data network trunk, but an additional measure of redundancy is provided by the dedicated optical hardlines, which permit direct control of key systems in the event of a major control systems failure. In such a case, the main computer cores would be assumed to be unavailable or unreliable, so manual control of systems would be enabled with support from the bridge subproccesor.
In full enabled mode, this station is capable of individually addressing each control and servo device in all propulsion systems (subject to safety restrictions), giving the Chief Engineer enormous flexibility to reconfigure system operations in response to unforeseen situations.
Science
On the opposite side to the Engineering, Station the Science Station can be found. This station is used to provide real-time scientific data to command personnel. During normal conditions this station is not manned 24 hours, however under Yellow and Red Alert conditions the Chief Science Officer, or other available Science Officer will take command of this station.
The Science Station is generally configured for independent operations, allowing the Science Department to conduct operations on the Science Deck. Direct links provide Tactical, Conn, and Ops with scientific data. During alert status, the Science Station has priority access to sensor array, if necessary overriding ongoing science department operations.
In some cases, the Science Station is used by personnel attached to secondary missions including researchers, and mission specialists.
SCIENCE STATION FUNCTIONS:
- The ability to provide access to sensors and interpretative software for primary mission and command intelligence -
requirements.
- The ability to act as a command post for co-ordination of activities of various science laboratories and monitoring secondary
mission status.
- The ability to reconfigure and recalibrate sensor systems at a moments notice for specific command intelligence
requirements.
