Bridge

The Bridge of the Starship Saratoga allows for the supervision of all shipboard operations. The nerve center of the starship, the Bridge is constantly manned by the leadership of the vessel and has workstations dedicated to each shipboard function. While the Constitution III Class Saratoga is overall smaller than its Galaxy Class ancestor, the Bridge of the Saratoga was nearly double the size of its immediate predecessor.

The Bridge of the Saratoga maintains the traditional layout of workstations established in the earliest of Starfleet vessels, but has done away with the warmer, carpeted interiors common with the previous generation of Federation starships. Like the rest of the ship, the interior of the bridge was dark and primarily furnished with reflective flooring and walls giving the ship a clean, albeit militaristic look. Various stations were placed on the perimeter of the bridge, while the helm and science stations were at the front of the Bridge. In the center of the command center seating was provided for the command crew of the Saratoga, with the Captain located in the middle of the room.

Entry to the Bridge was provided by twin turbolift shafts located on the port and starboard sides of the Bridge. Behind the Command Area a large door leads to the Saratoga's Executive Conference Room and the Captain's Ready Room. Unlike other Neo-Constitution Class vessels, a small anteroom connects the Executive Conference Room and the Ready Room.

Layout

Command Section

Located at the center of the Bridge on a raised platform to maximize interaction with bridge personnel, the command stations provide seating and information displays for the senior leadership of the Saratoga.

Captain's Chair

Located centrally, the Captain's Chair is the workstation of the Saratoga's Captain and allows for the supervision of all the ship's operations. The armrests of the Captain's Chair incorporate miniaturized status displays, allowing the Captain to use keyboard or vocal commands to direct shipboard operations, with various functions controlled by each armrest.

Executive Officer

To the Captain's right is a workstation for the vessel's First Officer. Located slightly ahead of the Captain's Chair, this standing workstation is built into the surrounding superstructure and gives the First Officer priority access to any shipboard system and sensor array.

Guest

Located opposite the Executive Officer's console, a second, identical workstation to that of the XO is located to the Captain's left. This workstation is used by guests to the Bridge or the on-duty officer when the Captain or First Officer are unavailable.

External Operations Section

Communications

The Communications console was a standing workstation on the Bridge of the Saratoga and was dedicated to managing all transmissions aboard the starship. This station was also responsible for monitoring away team objectives and status.

Security/Tactical

Dedicated to defensive systems control and internal security, Security/Tactical was one of the only seated positions on the Bridge of the Saratoga. The default layout of the workstation presented the user with information readouts dealing with the internal protection of the starship and its crew. In addition, access to the Saratoga's defensive systems were available from this console, ranging from the defensive shields to phaser and torpedo systems.

Science II

A supplement to the primary Science Station, Science II is a standing workstation adjacent to the Security/Tactical console on the Saratoga Bridge. By default Science II is assigned to Astrometrics functions, charting stars, planets, nebulae, and other stellar bodies and determine the ship's position relative to the galactic core.

Forward Section

Flight Control/Operations

The Flight Control/Operations Station was responsible for the actual piloting and navigation of the starship while the Operations functions presented the user with a continually updated list of current major shipboard activities and allowed the officer to set priorities and allocate resources. Despite many of these functions being heavily automated, their critical nature demanded a humanoid officer to oversee these operations at all times.

Science

The Science Station was a console located on the Bridge of the Saratoga and was designed to monitor scientific activity aboard the ship. Manned by a Science Officer, the workstation offered priority linkages to the Saratoga's powerful sensor telescopes for the analysis and interpretation of phenomenon encountered as well as direct connection to the Saratoga's library computer databases.

Viewscreen

Located at the front of the Bridge, the Viewscreen of the Saratoga takes its inspiration from 23rd Century designs and features a large transparisteel window with a computerized heads-up display overlay. This advanced display allows the Bridge crew to analyze data from the ship's sensor arrays, communicate with others, or view library records. Using the ship's computers, the viewer can be polarized to negate any glaring light and a large evacuation hatch has been built into the window that can be jettisoned in an emergency.

Internal Operations Section

Environment

The Environment station was a console that allowed users to control environmental operations aboard the Saratoga. Due to the highly automated nature of these systems, this console was unattended under normal circumstances but became of crucial importance during alert situations to maximize crew survivability.

Engineering

One of the largest workstations on the Bridge of the Saratoga, the Engineering Console enables the monitoring and control of engineering functions from the Bridge. Duplicating the displays from the Engine Room related to the Saratoga's engines, systems, and allows control over energy distribution, Engineering is one of the few workstations with seating for the user.

Mission Operations

Mission Ops supports the Operations Officer and was responsible for monitoring activity relating to secondary missions. Mission Ops was responsible for assignment of resources and priorities according to guidelines specified and by operating protocols.

Captain's Ready Room

Accessed from a small anteroom attached to the Executive Conference Room, the Captain's Ready Room was the personal office of the Commanding Officer of the Saratoga. From here, the Captain or the Officer in Command of the Saratoga could complete administrative work, hold private discussions, and/or receive communications while having near instant access to the Bridge in a crisis.

Like the Executive Conference Room, the Ready Room on the Saratoga shares much of its design with the Ready Room on the Intrepid Class. Located on the starboard side of Deck One, the Ready Room was adjacent to the Bridge and had large windows looking out behind the starship. Divided into two sections, an informal sitting area was on the lower level of the room and featured a large, curved sofa that sat beneath the windows. A replicator and table were located here to provide refreshments for the Captain and any guests during conversations. Various mementos were scattered throughout this area, as well as a few photos hung on the bulkhead walls.

Located on a slightly elevated platform in the back of the Ready Room, the Captain's desk was the main focal point of the room and was near to the door to the anteroom and a private rest room for the Captain's usage. The area was separated from the sitting area with a small railing and contained chairs for two guests next to the desk. The enhanced computer interface could accept both keypad and verbal commands, supplemented by holographic projectors built into the room that allowed for data to be presented both in a two dimensional as well as three-dimensional formats. A shelf behind the desk allowed the Commanding Officer to display personal belongings.

Executive Conference Room

Located on the aft port side of Deck One, the Executive Conference Room was located behind the Saratoga's Bridge and was accessible from a small anteroom that also provided access to the Ready Room. A second entrance leads directly to the Deck 1 Turbolift. Due to the smaller size of the Constitution III Class, the Executive Conference Room was more compact than similar rooms on exploratory vessels starships but served the same purpose of its larger cousins.

The design of the Executive Conference Room on the Saratoga was heavily inspired by the Briefing Room used aboard the Intrepid Class Light Explorer, a personal favorite of her first Commanding Officer. The Conference Room offered many comforts to meeting attendees and was designed with several large windows that faced the rear of the ship, providing an unobstructed view of the ship's Warp Nacelles and support structure. A small sculpture made from debris salvaged from an early accident involving the Saratoga is attached to the starboard bulkhead near the Turbolift access as a reminder of the vessel's past. Various photos and other objects related to Saratoga's history are also on display.

Designed for the comfort of its users, the Executive Conference Room incorporates a large, ovoid table at the center of the room with seating for up to seven people. Normally the Saratoga's Captain would sit at the head of the table, beneath the windows, and enjoyed an unobstructed view of the display monitor on the opposite wall. This display monitor was designed to allow for communications, files, and other visuals to be shared as part of a briefing if needed. The table itself was also equipped with a circular holo-projector for presenters to use in conjunction with the screen, but this was sparingly used.

Maelstrom

U.S.S. Saratoga Deck One