bow thrusters, five ticks."
"Larboard bow thrusters operating, five ticks."
The ship stopped turning but was still moving away from the space port dock when Jenetta said, "Helm, sub-light engines at minimum power until we clear all station traffic. Engage sub-light engines."
"Aye, Commander, engaging sub-light engines, power at minimum."
The enormous ship began to glide forward slowly, reaching ten meters per second as the helmsman maneuvered around traffic in the port. In addition to the docked ships, there were numerous ships in planetary orbit or in close proximity to the station. Once clear the helmsman called, "Clear of all vessels, Commander."
"Astrogation, is our course laid in, and our heading correct?"
"Aye, Commander."
"Tactical, what's the status of the AutoTect grid?"
"The AutoTect grid is green, Commander. The board is clear."
The sizeable tactical station aboard the Prometheus was designed to accommodate no less than seven tac officers. The lead tactician, usually a commander, or at least a lieutenant commander, sits amid an almost complete circle of displays and electronic control consoles. Facing him or her, on the outside of the circle, are six stations for the rest of the tac team, although most seats are normally only occupied during general quarters. A bevy of holo-screens hang suspended over the encircling hardware so the lead can see exactly what each tac team member is seeing.
The ship's ACS, or anti-collision system, has the potential to detect another vessel that's hours away, even when both ships are proceeding at top FTL speed towards one another, if both vessels are transmitting a proper AutoTect code. The signals travel on an Inter-Dimensional Band in hyperspace at a speed of point-zero-five-one-three light years per minute. Green means that no other ships are reporting a course that intersects with Prometheus' projected course in such a way as to present a danger. Until recently, use of AutoTect systems had been discontinued because the Raiders could use it to identify plump targets. As a result of Jenetta having discovered and destroyed the Raider base operating in this deca-sector, Space Command was once again requiring its use by all vessels in transit.
"And the status of the DeTect grid?"
"The DeTect grid is also green, Commander."
The ship's DeTect equipment uses a special frequency in hyperspace to detect everything within four billion kilometers of a ship, much as radar and lidar serves planetary vessels. The quality of the image isn't especially good, but the computers can identify the movement of any ships, extraterrestrial bodies, or miscellany that poses a threat to the ship's navigation.
"Tactical, is the Chiron out of port traffic?"
"She's just clearing the port now, Commander," the lead tactical officer said.
"Helm, disengage the sub-light engines and build our temporal envelope."
After two minutes the helmsman said, "Envelope complete, Commander."
"The Chiron reports that their envelope is complete," the com operator said.
"Helm, engage the Light Drive to Light-375."
"Aye, Commander. Light-375 engaged."
The viewscreen showed the ship moving forward with steadily increasing speed while the small inset showed the Chiron off the starboard stern. The helmsman called out the speed variations as the ship accelerated gradually to its top speed. Although capable of almost instant acceleration to the maximum rated speed of the ship, SOP was to accelerate very slowly for the first minutes whenever leaving a space station, planetary orbit, or any RP where other ships were assembled. The temporal envelope eliminated the need to engage the gravitative inertial compensator required when accelerating or decelerating in normal space.
Jenetta turned to the Captain. "We're away, Captain."
The captain had witnessed the entire procedure, but it was traditional to report the departure when the Captain wasn't handling it.
"Thank you, Commander."
"Aye, sir. Sir, Commander Kanes
"Larboard bow thrusters operating, five ticks."
The ship stopped turning but was still moving away from the space port dock when Jenetta said, "Helm, sub-light engines at minimum power until we clear all station traffic. Engage sub-light engines."
"Aye, Commander, engaging sub-light engines, power at minimum."
The enormous ship began to glide forward slowly, reaching ten meters per second as the helmsman maneuvered around traffic in the port. In addition to the docked ships, there were numerous ships in planetary orbit or in close proximity to the station. Once clear the helmsman called, "Clear of all vessels, Commander."
"Astrogation, is our course laid in, and our heading correct?"
"Aye, Commander."
"Tactical, what's the status of the AutoTect grid?"
"The AutoTect grid is green, Commander. The board is clear."
The sizeable tactical station aboard the Prometheus was designed to accommodate no less than seven tac officers. The lead tactician, usually a commander, or at least a lieutenant commander, sits amid an almost complete circle of displays and electronic control consoles. Facing him or her, on the outside of the circle, are six stations for the rest of the tac team, although most seats are normally only occupied during general quarters. A bevy of holo-screens hang suspended over the encircling hardware so the lead can see exactly what each tac team member is seeing.
The ship's ACS, or anti-collision system, has the potential to detect another vessel that's hours away, even when both ships are proceeding at top FTL speed towards one another, if both vessels are transmitting a proper AutoTect code. The signals travel on an Inter-Dimensional Band in hyperspace at a speed of point-zero-five-one-three light years per minute. Green means that no other ships are reporting a course that intersects with Prometheus' projected course in such a way as to present a danger. Until recently, use of AutoTect systems had been discontinued because the Raiders could use it to identify plump targets. As a result of Jenetta having discovered and destroyed the Raider base operating in this deca-sector, Space Command was once again requiring its use by all vessels in transit.
"And the status of the DeTect grid?"
"The DeTect grid is also green, Commander."
The ship's DeTect equipment uses a special frequency in hyperspace to detect everything within four billion kilometers of a ship, much as radar and lidar serves planetary vessels. The quality of the image isn't especially good, but the computers can identify the movement of any ships, extraterrestrial bodies, or miscellany that poses a threat to the ship's navigation.
"Tactical, is the Chiron out of port traffic?"
"She's just clearing the port now, Commander," the lead tactical officer said.
"Helm, disengage the sub-light engines and build our temporal envelope."
After two minutes the helmsman said, "Envelope complete, Commander."
"The Chiron reports that their envelope is complete," the com operator said.
"Helm, engage the Light Drive to Light-375."
"Aye, Commander. Light-375 engaged."
The viewscreen showed the ship moving forward with steadily increasing speed while the small inset showed the Chiron off the starboard stern. The helmsman called out the speed variations as the ship accelerated gradually to its top speed. Although capable of almost instant acceleration to the maximum rated speed of the ship, SOP was to accelerate very slowly for the first minutes whenever leaving a space station, planetary orbit, or any RP where other ships were assembled. The temporal envelope eliminated the need to engage the gravitative inertial compensator required when accelerating or decelerating in normal space.
Jenetta turned to the Captain. "We're away, Captain."
The captain had witnessed the entire procedure, but it was traditional to report the departure when the Captain wasn't handling it.
"Thank you, Commander."
"Aye, sir. Sir, Commander Kanes
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