extensive walk around when they finish the refit.”
They left the warehouse area around the yards and proceeded to a three-story, squatty-looking building near some hangars.
“Exec, this is the flight simulator facility. They can build you almost any bridge of any ship in the fleet. The Vigilant’s new bridge is ready for a test flight. Come on in.”
Kelly followed Timmons inside, where an attractive female Chief Electronic Technician met them in the entrance. Her name tag said Blankenship.
“If you’ll follow me, Captain, I’ll get you both set up in the simulator.”
They followed her down the hall and into a large triple height room. In the center was a large box suspended above a gimbaled mount. They followed her up the stairs and inside, to an exact replica of the Vigilant’s cockpit.
Exec, you take the helm position. I’ll sit back here in my chair. Chief, will you get us up and flying?”
“Aye aye sir, strap in and hold on.”
Kelly didn’t quite know what to expect. He pulled hard on the four-point harness and braced himself. He had spent hours in fighter simulators and knew how much they could throw one about. He was unsure how something with the mass of the Vigilant would react.
The simulator lights dimmed. He felt the gimbal mounts kick in and lift the simulator away from the steps. He waited for something to happen.
“Uh, Exec, now would be a good time to turn on your console.”
Kelly turned red. He had been waiting for something to happen and had forgotten to fire up his console.
“Roger, sir. Just getting the feel of her first.” Kelly hoped he’d covered up his screw-up. He toggled on his controls and the simulation started. He found himself looking out at a generic planet that they were obviously orbiting.
“Okay, Kelly, let’s move out of the solar system. Navigation information is appearing on your screen.”
Kelly accepted the course plotting on his display and moved the Vigilant out of orbit and into open space. He verified the plotted course wasn’t passing near any of the planets or major objects in the system and gradually increased his speed.
“Kelly, hold up on making the jump until we pass the last of the orbital planes.”
At the touch of a button, the orbital plane of the system’s planets appeared in his display. He was a minute away from clearing the last orbital plane. He took that time to study the console more closely. He had full engine controls, weapons control over the stationary plasma cannons, and the ability to overlay maps or sensor data over his display. He also had partial control over the navigation shields. He could increase the forward shield intensity, but complete shielding was controlled on another console. He focused back on his job and watched as he crossed out of the system.
“Exec, new course data is coming to you. Let’s turn onto the new course and jump to FTL.”
Kelly did a quick check on the new course, accepted the course change, and throttled up to light speed. The sensation in the simulator was almost exactly as it was in reality.
The simulation was very good. The floor conveyed a faint vibration as would be felt in flight. The view out the front screen made that peculiar shift and blurring brought on by moving at light speed and higher. It had the unpleasant effect of making some people queasy. Kelly never had that problem.
“How does it feel?”
“It feels great, Captain. I don’t have any experience with this ship, but it feels like my past experiences on other ships, right down to the slight vibration through the floor. How does this feel compared
They left the warehouse area around the yards and proceeded to a three-story, squatty-looking building near some hangars.
“Exec, this is the flight simulator facility. They can build you almost any bridge of any ship in the fleet. The Vigilant’s new bridge is ready for a test flight. Come on in.”
Kelly followed Timmons inside, where an attractive female Chief Electronic Technician met them in the entrance. Her name tag said Blankenship.
“If you’ll follow me, Captain, I’ll get you both set up in the simulator.”
They followed her down the hall and into a large triple height room. In the center was a large box suspended above a gimbaled mount. They followed her up the stairs and inside, to an exact replica of the Vigilant’s cockpit.
Exec, you take the helm position. I’ll sit back here in my chair. Chief, will you get us up and flying?”
“Aye aye sir, strap in and hold on.”
Kelly didn’t quite know what to expect. He pulled hard on the four-point harness and braced himself. He had spent hours in fighter simulators and knew how much they could throw one about. He was unsure how something with the mass of the Vigilant would react.
The simulator lights dimmed. He felt the gimbal mounts kick in and lift the simulator away from the steps. He waited for something to happen.
“Uh, Exec, now would be a good time to turn on your console.”
Kelly turned red. He had been waiting for something to happen and had forgotten to fire up his console.
“Roger, sir. Just getting the feel of her first.” Kelly hoped he’d covered up his screw-up. He toggled on his controls and the simulation started. He found himself looking out at a generic planet that they were obviously orbiting.
“Okay, Kelly, let’s move out of the solar system. Navigation information is appearing on your screen.”
Kelly accepted the course plotting on his display and moved the Vigilant out of orbit and into open space. He verified the plotted course wasn’t passing near any of the planets or major objects in the system and gradually increased his speed.
“Kelly, hold up on making the jump until we pass the last of the orbital planes.”
At the touch of a button, the orbital plane of the system’s planets appeared in his display. He was a minute away from clearing the last orbital plane. He took that time to study the console more closely. He had full engine controls, weapons control over the stationary plasma cannons, and the ability to overlay maps or sensor data over his display. He also had partial control over the navigation shields. He could increase the forward shield intensity, but complete shielding was controlled on another console. He focused back on his job and watched as he crossed out of the system.
“Exec, new course data is coming to you. Let’s turn onto the new course and jump to FTL.”
Kelly did a quick check on the new course, accepted the course change, and throttled up to light speed. The sensation in the simulator was almost exactly as it was in reality.
The simulation was very good. The floor conveyed a faint vibration as would be felt in flight. The view out the front screen made that peculiar shift and blurring brought on by moving at light speed and higher. It had the unpleasant effect of making some people queasy. Kelly never had that problem.
“How does it feel?”
“It feels great, Captain. I don’t have any experience with this ship, but it feels like my past experiences on other ships, right down to the slight vibration through the floor. How does this feel compared
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