<div class="floatleft">(http://www.coldnorth.com/owen/game/startrek/challenger/federation/voyager_bridge.jpg)</div>The primary Bridge configuration is a proven design, being adopted by later vessels, such as Defiant-class starships. The Captain's Chair, Tactical, Operations, and Engineering are on a raised area of the bridge. The central area of the Main Bridge provides seating and information displays for the Captain. The Captain's seat is equipped with fully programmable consoles for a variety of uses.<br/><br/>The Tactical/Security control station (comprised of two consoles, one for tactical, and one for security functions) is to the left of the Captain's Chair. Tactical console access is extremely limited; only Level 4 Tactical clearance personnel can use it, and the user must input special codes to even get access to the massive amounts of computer links that give tactical nearly limitless information. For full access, the console's security subsystem can run a battery of scans on the user, including thermal, biological, retinal, and vocal tests. If all of these are passed, full access to the ship's offensive and defensive systems is made available.<br/><br/>To the Captain's right is the Operations manager's console. Identical in size and design to the Tactical/Security station, the Operations manager is located closer to the bridge engineering station rather than close to the front of the bridge. The Operations Panel, due to the tremendous amount of sensitive information found there, has security protocols as stringent as the TAC consoles. Directly aft of the Ship Operations Console is the Mission Operations Console, for use during Away team missions.<br/><br/>Also located on the platform, against the aft wall of the bridge, is a large master systems display monitor, similar to the one in main engineering. All relative ship information (such as damage, power distribution, etc.) is displayed on the cutaway image of the ship. Below the MSD is a large engineering console encompassing Eng I and Eng II. This console has a smaller cutaway diagram of the ship, which displays all engineering-relevant data and shows warp fields and engine output. This console also has priority links to the computers, the Warp Propulsion System (WPS), the Impulse Propulsion System (IPS), Reaction Control System thrusters (RCS), the Structural Integrity Field (SIF), the Inertial Damping Field (IDF), and the navigational deflectors.<br/><br/>Although usually unattended, the Chief Engineer can bring these consoles to full Enable mode by entering voice codes and undergoing a retinal scan. The Engineering II console is fully programmable, and can run any Secondary Console function, including Sciences, Medical, Operations, Limited Helm control, or Security.<br/><br/>Directly fore of the command area is the Flight Control Officer, who faces the main viewer. The FCO is equipped with a console that proceeds around an almost one hundred and eighty degree angle and has priority links to the navigational sensor and deflectors, as well as to the Warp/Impulse/Thruster propulsion systems. This console also has links to engineering controls and monitors (such as the SIF, IDF, hull integrity monitor, and structural stress monitors), as well as access to the tractor beam controls.<br/><br/>At the very front of the bridge chamber is a large viewscreen. It performs all functions expected of it, including communication and magnified visual scans of nearby objects.<br/><br/>Against the port walls of the main bridge, forward of the raised command section, are the consoles for Science and others that are programmable for a multitude of functions. There are two Science consoles. Science I, which is the primary science console, has priority links to the Main Computer and to all sensors and probes, as well as links to Flight Control, Operations, and Tactical.<br/><br/>Science II is the ASO's (Assistant Science Officer's) console, but can be used by any personnel. Science II has access to 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 are withheld from Science II. Science II usually works independently of Science I.<br/><br/>Against the starboard wall of the main bridge, forward of the Captain's chair, is the Executive officer's console. This console has priority links to almost all ships functions as well as the hand-input sub-console for use in setting the auto-destruct system.  The auto-destruct sequence follows Standard Starfleet security procedures which can be accessed via any secured Memory Alpha ODN connection.<br/><br/>There are two turbolifts on the bridge that can handle normal transit around the ship as well as an emergency ladder that connects the bridge to Deck two. There is also one door, to the rear of the raised section, which leads to the Captain's Ready Room, which is directly aft of the Main Bridge.<br/><br/>There are no escape pods connected to the bridge. Pods are located on decks three through six. Two pods are reserved for the top four officers in the chain of command on the ship, because they are the last four to leave the ship. These are located on deck three. 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, opt to arm the auto-destruct (not always necessary, but there if needed), and then leave in the two escape pods.