7-002: Illuminator – Oliver’s Cabin


Reading the Menus

Routine and Safety procedures

I concur, the Routine Procedures are about things like waste disposal, temperature control in cabins, climate adjustments for Felline, and how to operate the Fresher.  The Safety instructions are written for someone who’s never been on a spaceship before and have things like how to identify emergency vacc suit lockers and what to do in case of a fire.  There are some specifics for the Illuminator that I assume Oliver will note.

Directions aboard ship

The directions aboard ship section starts with a naming and numbering standard that is common practice and boils down to:  Things aboard ship are numbered from Forward to Aft along the Drive Axis, then Inboard to Outboard parallel to the drive axis, then Dorsal/Back to Ventral/Front.  The main airlock defines the Port side of the ship and thus if you stand with the main airlock on your left, lower numbered things are behind you (Dorsal) and higher numbered things in front of you (Ventral).  Odd numbers are assigned on the Port side and Even numbers to Starboard.  Things actually on the Dorsal line or the Main Drive axis start with 0, otherwise they start with 1.  In routine operation, standing on the deck, Forward is above Oliver’s head (sometimes called the Top end) and Aft is below his feet (sometimes called the Bottom end). 

I imagine Oliver’s mother sometimes referred to things in their apartment using the same numbering standard, “Oliver, bring me the red box from the table in room number 2.”

The basic layout of the Illuminator is that the habitat is at the forward or ‘top’ end of the ship in a series of rings stacked around a giant empty cylinder that is the space allocated for the hangar bay and cargo hold.  Project team accommodations are at the very top, labs and offices below that, amenities below that and crew accommodations below that.  Aft of the habitat decks are the engineering decks that make up approximately two-thirds of the ship.  The main airlock through which Oliver entered seems to be somewhere amidships near the FTL drives, hence the ride up in the elevator.

About the Illuminator

The Illuminator is the newest Clarifier-Class Research Ship operated by the Vizierate.  The Clarifier-Class are the pride of the Vizierate fleet.  These modern, highly advanced ships have capacity to support a staff of 300 researchers, analysts and project team members in furthering the Vizierate’s portfolio of responsibilities and enhancing the Dominion.  This is in addition to the ships’ operational crew.  The Clarifier-Class’s range and speed make it suitable for assignment to a wide variety of project profiles.  An assignment aboard a Clarifier-Class vessel is a prestigious, pleasant and productive one, with all crew and project teams having individual cabin assignments and their own private facilities.  The vessels are equipped with comprehensive laboratories and work areas.  Project teams and crews are encouraged to use the ship’s recreational facilities to keep minds and bodies sharp in furtherance of our work program.  

Key statistics

Length: 191m
Beam:  50m
Mass:  ~300kt (unladen)
Range:  Jump-4
Speed:  2xFTL, 1G


Minor Vizier Lilith Saden-Ejder, Shipboard Assignments Meeting

Dear Project Team, 

please assemble in Briefing Room 1201 at BG06 once we have cleared dock and are underway.  Vizier Richard and I will go over your assignments aboard ship while we travel to Zargonia.

Warm Regards.

Vizier Lilith 


Anything Unusual?

Give me an IQ roll.


1 Response

  1. Oliver Starr says:

    Oliver makes a mental note to arrive on time to.the meeting.

    I assume there’s no stack of books for him to get stuck in to?

    6 on int.

    He plans to scout the ship when he has a moment.

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