USS MILLENNIUM: boarding and launching the ship

They could immediately see that it followed the standard bridge designs for fleetwide application in newer starships, adding a few specific modifications called for by its unique operational parameters. The central area had seating and information displays for the Captain and two other officers. The Captain’s Chair was raised from the surrounding level which included Science, Engineering, Navigation, Tactical, Security, Communications and Operations. The two Officer seats each side of the command chair were themselves equiped with fully programmable consoles for a variety of uses.

Directly fore of the command area, they recognized the Flight Control Officer station facing the main viewer, equiped with a console surrounding the seating position in a semi-circle leading each side to an operational station most needed in coordinated actions like combat and hazard situations. To the starboard side of the Flight Officer, also facing the main viewer, was the Operations manager's console, identical in size and design to the Helm station.

"Efficient design," approved Kheren as he noted that he could oversee effortlessly all three critical stations from his own elevated command seat.

"The Operations Panel, due to the tremendous amount of sensitive information found there, has security protocols as stringent as the TAC console on the port side of the FCO station, with all defensive and offensive systems controls there," added Tess.

The primary Tactical station also faced the main viewer and allowing the tactical officer to control the ship's phasers and cannons, EDBs, torpedo launchers, regenerative armor and shields.

"Due to the sensitive nature of this terminal," Tess said, " it is restricted to personnel with a Level 4 security clearance, and like all consoles on the bridge requires a security verification to be initalized. Flight control, Ops and tactical are all linked together as one crescent-shaped console so that this three-in-one station unique to this design provides instant coordination between flight, tactical and operations of the ship, optimizing coordination and response time during alerts without even needs for verbal communications. In exceptional circumstances, it also allows one officer to manage all three stations alone, providing effectiveness even in situations with minimal crew availability."

"The only time i saw such a design was aboard the old kumari class patrol ships of the Andorian Guard," Kheren noted outloud. "I expect that it will be included in all new warships we might launch." 

"Already planned, Sir," Tess confirmed as they continued their tour of the bridge. 

At the very front of the bridge chamber the classic large viewscreen was apparently missing. ess explained.

"The main viewer performs all the standard duties expected of it. However, the viewscreen is not always activated unlike 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 initially made into the Sovereign class, so that Starfield syndrome among Bridge officers would be prevented. Too many officers became hypnotized during warp, which led to dangerous unresponsiveness in sudden, critical situations. Aft of the bridge however can be found an even larger and more detailed holographic situation display that is always active. And we have available individual eyedisplays modeled after those of the Jem'hadars for the Captain, Exec and Helmsman."

Aft and to the left of the command area they came to an elevated platform on which was located the engineering control station comprised of two consoles, one for the chief engineer and one for his assistant, while on the right could be found the same arrangement for the Science department with primary sensor and computer controls operated there. Also located there was a large engineering console with a smaller cutaway 3D diagram of the vessel displaying all engineering-relevant data and both quantum and warp fields and engine output.

"This console has priority links to the computers, QSD propulsion system, the Warp Propulsion System, the Impulse Propulsion System, navigation, SIF, and IDF," tess confirmed. "Like the other bridge stations for their respective head of departments, the Chief Engineer can here bring this console to full Enable mode by entering voice codes and undergoing a retinal scan. Directly aft of this console is the Engineering II console, which is fully programmable to run any Secondary Console function, including Sciences, Medical, Operations, Limited Helm control, or Security."

They went then to the other side similarily arranged but with completely different consoles. Against the port side walls of the main bridge were indeed the consoles for Sciences along with others that programmable for a multitude of functions. There were two Science consoles just like the engineering station whic Tess proceeded to detail.

"Science I, which is the primary science console, has priority links to Conn, Ops, Computers, and Tactical. Science 2 is a fully programmable multi-mission Console. It is the Assistant Science Officer's console, which can be used by any personnel to access 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."

Kheren might have been only an amateur scientist, but he could appreciate the astounding sophistication of the instrumentation he found there. It was obvious that the main goal of this ship was to acquire knowledge and that it had all the very best tool to do it, second to none.

To the Captain's chair's right, behind him, he recognized the Security station of the bridge. Located here were also three additional, fully-programmable multi-mission consoles.On the left side parallel to security was the tactical center control also equiped with three additional fully-programmable multi-mission consoles and the holocamouflage controls. Located also against the aft wall of the bridge was a large master systems display monitor, similar to the one in main engineering. All relative ship information such as damage and power distribution was displayed on the cutaway image of the vessel. This monitor could obviously be used to direct ship operations and even configured for limited flight control if necessary.

"This console, as does every console on the bridge, also has the hand-input sub-console for use in setting the auto-Destruct of the vessel," now revealed Tess. "The auto-destruct sequence follows Standard Starfleet security procedures which can be accessed via any secured Memory Alpha ODN connection. because of the unique mission parameters of this vessel, the self-destruct system is exceptionally secured and at the same time easily activated with the proper identification and codes and can ultimately be implemented by the computer itself... which would be me," she finished, blushing slightly, to the amazement of the Andorian. 

The sophistication of her android shell in imitating life was truly as impressive as the Temporal Investigations agents had boasted. Commander Sisko has outdone himself when designing this shell for the ship's AI.

He allowed time to recompose herself as he looked around. he noted that there was one turbolift on the bridge that coul handle normal transit around the Millenium class. There was also an emergency ladder connecting the bridge to Deck 3. In addition, there was one door, on the aft platform, that lead to the Conference Room, aft of the Bridge past the Situation Room. Other connected rooms to the Bridge included his Captain's Ready Room and, to his surprise, his quarters, Senior officers quarters were accessible from deck 2 via the curving ramp they had taken to come up here. The design called for main bridge officers and especially the commanding officer of the ship to be able to quickly get to the bridge at all times and in all circumstances, including complete power shutdown or bridge lock-out.

Behind the bridge proper and before the conference room serving also as captain's table and officers' observation deck, with the ready room on one side and the turbolift and the captain's quarters with the access ramp, they found the Situation Room. tess detailed it with the merest hint of pride in his voice and features.

"Essentially a miniaturized version of the stellar cartography bay found in other modern large cruisers, this can process similarly all space-time data and tactical or mission parameters for officers to study in real time or recorded simulation while still able to command the ship. As you can see, Sir, the display is constantly in operation and monitored by the main computer, that being me, so as to provide constant relevant data to the officers regarding the most complex and delicate operations this ship is designed to be tasked with. Using the time-protected circuitry T-MKVII, it can maintain the projection of the main timeline even in the event of temporal alterations and provide references to it and any relevant alteration in the space-time continuum. When not on duty on the bridge or with you, Sir, This is where you will find me... this mobile interface I mean."

"The T-MKVII circuitry?" wondered Kheren and to which the android answered with the same twinkle of pride in her golden eyes.

 "Complementary data system: Mark VII-T refers to a type of information storage or retrieval device primarily used by the Federation Department of Temporal Investigations. Mark VII-T devices use triple-redundant temporal phase discriminatorsin order to prevent real historical data from being corrupted by timeline changes. it has been successfully tested in the field during the USS Spectre's mission to restore the timeline from the Kelvin aberration. It is not only an integral part of the core of my own system but also fully installed into the secondary isolinear computer core, to ensure full protection for the crew against changes in the timeline. The Emergency Holographic Doctor is linked to this protected basic core and can alert and debrief you in case of such alteration unnoticed by the living crew, following protocol Pocket Watch delineating all procedures to do so safely and efficiently."
 

The Andorian nodded appreciatively. He knew from experience how this could happen and the consequences of such alterations. To have some protection against it was obviously vital to their mission.

At the very aft of deck 1, they reached the Captain's Observation Deck currently configured as the main conference room for senior officers. The fore wall had a large viewing screen and computer interface while the aft wall offered a wide transparency looking out into space behind the ship. A replicator and a multipurpose work station were at each end while the center of the room occupied by a triangular conference table with a holographic projector and tridimensional computer interface in the middle of it. each side of the table had three chairs was colored according to departments; gold for technical were the chief engineer, chief of ops and chief of security and tactical could sit, blue for science for the chief scientist, chief medical officer and chief counselor and red for command where he would sit with the first officer and the mission advisor.

"I'm glad my preferences were taken into account," Kheren said with obvious satisfaction in his deep voice. "I dislike the forced hierarchy of the standard banana table that hampers the freedom of exchange between senior officers. I prefer my officer to feel as much as they know that their input is vital to my decision process... and on this ship and mission, more than ever."

"When not used for duty meetings, the table and chairs, also holographic, reconfigure into plush chairs and sofas with a gaming table between them, or into a dining table for you and your chosen guests," added Tess, activating the transformation system to illustrate.

"I don't see the escape pod hatches," suddenly remarked the Andorian as they emerged from the wide room.

"There are no escape pods connected to the bridge," confirmed Tess. "Pods are located on all decks below Deck 2. One pod is reserved for the top four officers in the chain of command, the last four to leave the ship. Another is for all the serving bridge officers. These are located on Deck 2. As the number of experienced captains dwindles in Starfleet, the notion of a captain going down with his ship has been abolished. If the ship is abandoned, the top four officers in the chain of command will wait until everyone else is off the ship, arm the auto-Destruct, which in such circumstances might very well be necessary, and then leave in the escape pod."

"I appreciate this concern," Kheren offered in his typical Andorian dryness. "But what about you? Your android body can certainly enter a pod, but your entire consciousness is housed in the computer core itself. Downloading you even in a inactive state as we did from the USS Genesis then might not be easy in an emergency evacuation. We could not simply abandon you..."

Again she blushed sllightly at the obvious concern of the captain for her. But she smiled and shook her head.

"Not to worry, Captain. In such extreme circumstances, the entire main computer core can also be ejected, similar to warp core ejection, encased within its own lifepod equiped with shuttlecraft-type warp and impulse engines. This allows my survival like any other crewmember and the means for me to escape and hide until I can be either retrieved or wait for the proper opportunity to send a distress signal."

Kheren again nodded, satisfied that everyone would be safe on his ship.

"Well, guess there is nothing left for me but to go to the poopdeck and get ready for my taking command of this flying marvel."

"As your yeoman, I'm ready to debrief you, Sir," she said, mufling a laugh after hearing the Andorian's peculiar old navy designation of his ready room.

They went to the smaller room were they found Lyrya just finishing decorating the room as it had been on the Horizon, with his numerous medals, his ushaantors, miniature replicas of the USS Artemis and the USS Horizon, his former commands, a transluscent desk and chairs looking like ice, white walls and blue highlights for the replicator, the captain's personal armory and even a very advanced-looking two-men transporter pad.

"They sure don't want to loose me," kheren commented, looking at the transporter.

"This is more than just ashuttlecraft-type transporter, Sir," Tess said. "This is an experimental temporal transporter that can be used to send up to two standard-sized individuals accross time or other alternate realities, just like the ship itself can. It can be used to ensure such displacement in case the ship itself is unable to, either because of the nature of a specific mission or in case of trouble. Only the one in command of the ship can activate it... and me of course."

"Experimental you say... as in never tested before?"

"Well, Sir, I tested it myself with this interface body and I can assure you the system is operational. But it needs to be actually used in an actual mission... and with a true organic sentient life form. Our estimates are that the strain of displacement would limit use for three transports for any one being within a nine standard months period to avoid any subatomic degradation that could lead to permanent injuries or debilitating effects of one's psyche."

"Guess they don't care about me as much as I thought after all."

This time, Tess laughed with a cristalline voice that was echoed by the Aenar counselor as she left the room so that they could proceed with his preparations for the upcoming launch.