DECK BY DECK DETAIL: BRIDGE

The next page contains a 3D cutaway drawing of the bridge with labels.

On entering the bridge, one finds the layout immediately familiar and comfortable as it conforms to the usual design adopted by Federation Starfleet: a large round area with five main workstations around the perimeter. These stations resemble booths, as each is separated by a protruding bulkhead. At these workstations personnel sit or stand in order to carry out their assigned duties, the normal position facing outwards from the centre of the bridge, with controls and display monitors at all levels - desk level, eye level and accessible only when standing.

view across the front work stations looking toward the command centre (the whole area is damaged)

work station with wall-mounted monitor display

The command seating is in the centre of the bridge, with the Captain's and First Officer's chairs facing the viewscreen, and in front of them the helm directly in front of the viewscreen in order to obtain an unimpeded view. The decor also is standard Starfleet, with a grey, plain carpet covering the whole floor. In fact the bridge design and the relative position of the various workstations and command centre are very similar to that of an Intrepid-class starship but on a smaller scale, even though externally the smaller Nova-class is similar in design to the Defiant-class. However, Nova-class ships do not possess specific Ops or Security/Tactical stations because the nature of the typical Nova-class vessel precludes regular use of such facilities. As with all Starfleet ships at this time, narrow red striplights illuminate and flash to indicate red alert status and are located between the control panels at the workstations; and red alert status is accompanied by an audible warning tone. The master situation display, which provides bridge personnel with continuously updated data on the status of ship's systems, is located at the rear of the bridge, behind the command seating. The very lefthand part of it can be seen in the screenshot below right. Images of the master situation display, including a labelled one, are on Page 3.

Close-up of the captain's chair (complete with captain!) The LCARS panels at work stations in the background have a number of red sections - these are those which operate when the ship is at red alert, so that whenever these are seen they signify red alert status. Presumably the same principle applies to the Equinox as with Voyager, as explained by Ben Betts, [Voyager]'s video engineer: "When we go to red alert we would switch all the graphics to the red alert version. Things move a little faster, they're more frantic, to indicate that the ship is now at alert; the lights will dim down and we'll turn on special lights that blink with red alert." (from Inside [Voyager]'s Scenic Art Department: Ben Betts)

Close-up of the control panel between the seats of the Captain and First Officer, featuring a specially adapted external device connected directly into the controls which relate to the new anti-alien shields and/or accessing the power generated by the aliens' dead bodies.

The captain's chair. The narrow strip lit red indicates that the ship is at red alert. The lefthand end of the master situation display at the rear of the bridge can be seen to the right of the picture.

view of bridge looking toward the command centre, the captain is sitting in the captain's chair with the first officer's (empty) chair to his left

view of bridge from starboard

view of bridge from port

Four stations to the left and right of the master systems control (which forms a display at the rear of the bridge) are designed to be operated by a single crewmember. There are mobile chairs but high-stools can easily be added if more personnel are required. In the above two screenshots Thompson is the name of the crewman shown manning these stations, although due to the shortage of crew numbers the bridge personnel tend to man whichever station is required at the time.

an LCARS computer interface, at the moment the progress of the regeneration of the protection grid against hostile aliens is being monitored

close-up of LCARS computer interface, here a subspace communication is being received

audio-visual communication, then communication terminated

view across the front stations to the rear of the bridge, with damage substantially repaired

LCARS computer interfaces for these stations

Entrance to and exit from the bridge is via twin sets of sliding double doors port and starboard of the bridge. The port doors leads tothe main turbolift network, next to the wall where the ship's dedication plaque is displayed. As stated in [#17 Projections], as with other Starfleet vessels, access to the bridge can be gained via the Jefferies tube network if necessary.