Post by Marɨck Løcke on Nov 1, 2011 20:42:46 GMT -5
[Note this is not it's final appearance, we will edit it more shortly. Plus some pictures of each room aboard will be added soon.]
Position | Name |
Commanding Officer (CO) | Jadis Cariana |
Executive Officer (XO) | Golem Sacs (NPC) |
Chief Navigator | - |
Navigator | - |
Chief Helmsman | Lina’Cirana nar Ameerah |
Helmsman | - |
Chief Gunnery Officer | - |
Gunnery Officer | - |
Chief Security Officer | Ryz Skagan |
Security Officer | - |
Chief Medical Officer (CMO) | Marick Locke |
Medical Officer | - |
Chief Science Officer | - |
Science Officer | - |
Chief Engineer (CHENG) | - |
Power Engineer | - |
Propulsion Engineer | - |
Shuttle Pilot | - |
Shuttle Mechanic | - |
Armory Chief | Salvius Macer |
Requisitions Officer | - |
Mess Sergeant | - |
Yeoman | Gish’Klaav vas Usela |
- | - |
Crewman | Astrid Erikson |
Crewman | Sol Alarei |
Crewman | Thurnack Han'thrax |
[There are many other positions on the ship, these are merely the ones directly lifted from the game.]
History:
The SSV Dresden SR-0 (Systems Alliance Space Vehicle Dresden Stealth Reconnaissance 0) was once considered the cutting edge in a new line of frigates which would revolutionize Alliance intelligence on their enemies and even allies. An odd title was chosen for the vehicle, named after the controversial Allied forces bombing of Dresden during WWII in order to defeat the Nazi occupation in the city. While it crippled key enemy forces, it also destroyed a large number of sites with large cultural significance that can never be replaced as well as killing a number of civilians. The reasoning behind the name was to represent how the forces stealthily penetrated the airspace without detection, that difficult choices must sometimes be made, and that actions have consequences. However the uniquely composed starship is not publicly known by it's full name, instead it is merely called the MSV Dresden and a mere select few of it's crew know it's true origins. This vehicle was actually never intended for real use, instead it was a prototype designed by the Systems Alliance in a joint human and turian effort alongside Council support with the purpose of creating an undetectable ship. Built in facsimile of a full starship simply for testing purposes, it was only equipped with the more barebone essentials needed for research purposes. After an intense study it was deemed that the technology was sound and what would be the first real starship to use this system was created. It would come to be known as the Normandy, the vehicle used by the first human spectre which would be absolutely vital in the defense of the Citadel against the infamous geth attack.
The Dresden was then ordered to be scrapped, but a corrupt few technicians which were charged with it's decommission saw an opportunity to make a great deal of credits. Selling it in secret to the Blue Suns Private Security Organization, the glorified mercenaries began to use it to great effect for their illegal activities. The stealth functions of the starship allowed them to evade detection for quite some time and they may have even continued for many years had they not encountered the asari spectre [first name] Cariana. Putting an end to their weapon smuggling operation, she saw the potential in this unique vehicle and repurposed it for her own use. It was however only in her possession for a short time before the Alliance began constructing a small handful of Normandy-class stealth frigates and distributing them to select individuals, primarily being the elite Alliance operatives and Council spectres like Cariana. Despite the Dresden's usefulness, it couldn't compare to the fully equipped new model and was considered obsolete. The asari spectre then gifted it to her only child, the budding captain Jadis Cariana who was filled with the strong wanderlust to explore the universe that many asari in the maiden stage of their life experience. Approached by the Alliance due to her mother's position, their objective was to entice her to join their newly created Corsair program before the Asari Republics or the Citadel Council tried to convince her to join their own organizations. After some amount of deliberation she finally made up her mind, accepting their proposal to become a Corsair. All that was left was to assemble a proper crew...
Design:
The ship's design was actually rather radically different in some places than the Normandy class which would later be patterned off of it. Most significantly, the design is very large in comparison due to a miscalculation about how much size would be needed for the drive core. The Tantalus experimental propulsion and stealth system required nearly double the space needed for typical models and thus the ships total size was built in belief it would need to be as equally large. After testing they would find the size of the ship could be greatly reduced and as the goal was military efficiency, the following Normandy class would be half the size of the Dresden.
Because the ship was so large and only used for testing purposes, the indoor space was largely left empty and only once it fell into the asari spectre's hands was the space utilized. Undergoing construction by the joint effort of several commercial companies, the rooms were built with civilian-grade accommodations in the spectre's desire to make the ship with crew-oriented comforts. As such a great deal of funding was spent on amenaties that would never be found on a military starcraft. This was a tactical move in order to draw in quality staff and make joining the crew an attractive proposition, a necessary measure as the spectre had something of a stigma attached to her for undertaking extremely dangerous missions. This was not the only strategy used by the spectre to draw in others. A far larger portion of the spectre's wealth being funneled into this project was spent on non-essential technical equipment. This includes a thoroughly equipped research lab, med-bay, and security office among others. While these of course provide an important function, much of the equipment is specialized items that have limited uses which is done without on most other starships. The spectre used this as a tactic to attract front runners in their fields of expertise and often it did work. After the specialists had joined, in order to keep them interested and satisfied in their environment, she would further devote massive funds and resources to their requests to expand the facilities. The influence of these experts remains to this day.
Layout:
Deck 1: Crew Deck
▪ Crew Living Quarters – The primary living facility which is composed of several rooms, each with rows of bunks on top of each other in a style called "hot-bunking". This means that a bunk is shared by two or more individuals on separate shifts who sleep at different times. Under and to the side of each bed is sliding lockers built into the walls where clothing or other items may be kept. Additionally at the end of each bed is a locked storage locker for personal items and there are large tables in the center of the room for personal use. Just down the hall there is a laundry room as well as the largest bathrooms on the ship. There are three other classes of living quarters which may be located at other places on the ship, such as for those who need to be near to their workstation at all times. The level II cabin officer privacy to a single crew member, but offers little space beyond a bunk and desk. The level III typically contains an office and cabin which are somewhat spacious with room for luxuries. The level IV is the largest of which there are very few on the ship, is reserved for only the most important crew members.
▪ Mess Hall – The mess hall is rather high quality and is composed of four long rectangular tables for communal dining, alongside ceiling hanging monitors on both sides of each table for entertainment. The kitchen is well stocked with the food of various species, has sophisticated equipment to make complex meals, and is staffed by two chefs at all times. It is said that the food is quality enough that they'd rather eat on board than anywhere off ship.
▪ Gym – Incredibly well stocked this room contains just about any type of equipment suited to various races in order to keep the crew in peak physical condition. The VI found here has access to each of the staffs medical condition and can suggest the best way to maximize their exercise regiment. The room also segregates into various training facilities where an individual may practice specific skills such as hand to hand combat or acrobatics.
▪ Lounge – The lounge is a recreation area where the crew may come to reduce stress through recreation or bond with their fellow crew. The room includes includes a large observation window, lounging chairs and couches designed for comfort, a fully stocked self-serve bar, several shelves filled with books making up a mini-library of sorts, tables for watching holovids, and even lounges seats for simulstims. Needless to say this is many of the crew's favorite place to be when off-duty.
Deck 2: Command Deck
▪ Bridge – The bridge is fairly standard as far as alliance starships are concerned, with a large control panel for the helmsman and a separate terminals for the two co-pilots and a navigator to plot coordinates. An area for the ship's VI program can also be found here in order to coordinate information with the pilot. A large observation window wraps around the room in a u shape, which may be covered by plating during combat. Additionally there is a kinetic barrier seal which can separate the bridge from the rest of the ship during an emergency as well as direct access to a personal escape pod.
▪ Combat Information Center – Commonly abbreviated to CIC, this area contains a large set of panels which wrap around a giant hologram projection in the center of the room of the ship, constantly feeding information about it's status and where all information about the ships systems can be accessed. At the end of this enclosure is a wide black panel with a map of the galaxy projected on it where the captain may plan the next course. As such on opposite sides of this are both the navigators and yeoman's station. Dotting the outward bowing walls of the entire room are stations for the rest of the crew who collect sensor data, coordinate gunnery systems, and manage damage control efforts. Additionally this is the place where the commanding officer issues commands during combat.
▪ Captain's Cabin and Office – An elaborate office which contains high quality furniture such as a pair of chairs in front of a L shaped desk with personal terminal where the Captain may compose their business. Though it seems as both the office and cabin are one room, separated by an arc, a panel may slide out to segregate the rooms for privacy. The cabin at the back is considered level IV, of which there are very few on the ship. Typically these contain expensive furniture such as a large bed, lounging chairs, couches, shelves and a coffee table. Flush with the wall is a dresser which contains a set of sliding drawers as well as a closet and lockers for armor and weapons. It may also include luxury items like an aquarium built into the wall, a clear showcase for items which also doubles as a viewing screen for communications.
▪ Executive Officer's Cabin and Office – The living space and business office for the executive officer of the ship. Typically the design of this room relatively matches the Captain's, though slightly smaller and it has discarded the luxury items built into the walls.
▪ Briefing Room – This room is rather spartan in appearance with merely a large oval table which is visibly high quality, with a holographic projection of the ship in the center which may be used to display visual information about the mission. This is surrounded by chairs for the major members of the crew, though they can be sunk into the ground and those attending may stand. This room also doubles as the communication room with the table sinking into the ground, projecting a lifelike environment of the caller around the users.
▪ Primary Airlock – The primary exit of the ship to a docking port may be found here, though emergency ones may be found on other levels.
Deck 3: Technical Deck
▪ Tech Lab – A rather large technical laboratory which contains several state of the art equipment which can be used the creation of technological devices or for the study of just about any substance. This includes several terminal monitors for information, an examination table for study of materials, a mechanical arm attached to the ceiling for tasks that require fine manipulation, and a sophisticated microscope among other items. Additionally there is a quarantine containment for sensitive items such as live animals, with one way opening so that the technician may stick their arms through to interact with the object.
▪ Medical Bay – The medical bay is rather well equipped with two examination tables with sophisticated diagnostic tools, an advanced surgical arm for delicate procedures, gurneys for patients to rest upon, quarantine chamber, plenty of monitors to display patient information, a small workstation, and even a well stocked pharmacy built into the wall. So that the doctor can reach the injured quickly in case of an emergency, a door near the entrance leads directly to the doctor's office and cabin. The door at the back of the room leads to a small surgical ward which is merely a table for the patient to lay upon and a large series of hospital grade mechanical arms that hang from the ceiling. Practically a medical facility in it's own right, the med bay is far more equipped than those of a standard frigate. However it is still yet lacking in some areas and it is critical to transport severe cases to a full fledged hospital.
▪ Cryogenic Ward – A long hallway lined with cryo sleep chambers where the individual can merely step into, automatically closing the door and retracting into the wall as to conserve space. Located right next to the med bay in case the doctor needs to freeze a patient or check on the condition of a frozen crew member.
▪ Armory – The armory contains several terminals to analyze armament schematics, a vast array of weapons lockers and sliding drawers built into the wall to hold parts, allowing the dangerous packages to be kept in the most secure manner possible. More importantly there are various equipment so that the staff may design or upgrade small arms. Thanks to the sophisticated devices like a mechanical arm attached the ceiling, precise and detailed modifications that would be impossible otherwise can be made to weapons with relative ease.
▪ Firing Range – A room which looks more like a small hallway, there are numerous segmented lanes where an individual may practice their marksmanship in order to keep their skills sharp. In front of them is a sophisticated digital screen which requires special rounds be used. This device however completely simulates real conditions and is practically indistinguishable from a physical lane, displaying targets at any specified range with several options to make the targets move or zig-zag. Additionally the VI found here gives feedback about velocity, accuracy, and trauma caused as well as providing suggestions on improvement. The firing range is located next to the armory so they may test and make tweaks to modified weaponry.
▪ Security Office – Contains a desk in front of the door which separates the room and holds several monitors that offer surveillance of the ship. At the back of the room is a hallway with two small kinetic barrier sealed cells that make up the brig. There hasn't ever been much of a need to make them larger as the cargo bay can also be used in an emergency or even the cryo pods.
Deck 4: Engineering Deck
▪ Engineering – Composed of main engineering and sub-deck, this contains the main fusion plant and mass effect core. The appearance is far more spartan and industrial than the rest of the ship, with little more than steel grating on the floor, pipes lining the walls, and several terminals to control systems. The sub-deck is a rather dark and the most solitary place on the ship where excess parts are stored.
▪ AI Core – This room contains the several large servers and other components which make up the ships advanced AI, generally this room can only be accessed by a select group of people.
▪ Main Battery – This largely consists of a balcony platform which overlooks the primary mass accelerator cannons, with a few terminals that act as the gunnery control station and monitoring station to control the armaments. The combat information center sends targeting information on enemies down here, deciding who to shoot while the gunnery control decides how to shoot.
▪ Secondary Battery – Connected to the main battery, this room looks fairly similar, but instead overlooks the disruptor torpedo's loading facility and the laser defense system. Again it contains terminals which act as the gunnery control station and monitoring station.
▪ Life Support Control Room – A fairly simple room which contains the various air tanks and temperature control systems for the ship and the corresponding terminals for their modification.
▪ Waste Disposal Control Room – Linked to the life support control room, contains sanitation tanks as well as a garbage compactor with it's own airlock to jettison it for disposal.
Deck 5: Cargo Deck
▪ Cargo Bay – A large room which holds supplies of all varieties, organized by colored shipping compartments. There is a large mechanical arm which hangs from the ceiling with a sliding mechanism so that it can be moved over the entire room.
▪ Shuttle Bay – This is where the ships landing craft as well as the personal vehicles of crew members are kept within numbered hangar doors which line the walls. Within the center the room are several stations with raised platforms where the vehicles can be placed by the giant mechanical arm for refueling, repair, or maintenance.
▪ Hangar Bay – Connected to the shuttle bay, this contains a large ramp which may be lowered as an exit for vehicles.
Other Information:
There are five classes of cabin found throughout the ship which correspond to the individuals pay grade or position on the ship, with the level I being the basic crew quarters that are shared by several staff members. The level II cabin has two beds to offer some manner of privacy, but if often shared by more on rotating shifts and offers only standing space beyond a desk. The level III offers privacy to a single individual and while still small, contains more room for the person for recreation or personal items, the standard for the more important crew members. The level IV is usually only given to those who's job requires an office, combining it with their living quarters making it somewhat spacious in comparison to others with room for luxuries. The level V is the largest and as such there are only few on the ship and is only used by the most important of crew members such as the commanding and executive officer.
Public use restrooms are located on every floor. Only level III and IV cabins have their own for personal use.
There are two elevators located on opposite sides of the ship and there are ladders for emergency use on every floor.
The primary airlock is located on deck 2, but there are others for emergency use on every floor.
The primary escape pod access is on deck 2, but there are a few located on every floor.
Systems:
The most important feature of the Dresden is it was the first ship ever to test the Tantalus Drive Core which generates mass concentrations that may be ridden for propulsion without the use of heat-emitting thrusters. This allowed the ship to be faster than others of it's size, though causing some manner of difficult to pilot due to it's sheer size and offbalancing the frame. This also permits for the ship to travel at FTL speeds for much longer before having to discharge the drive, thus accelerating travel at long distances. More importantly this allowed for the ship to run quietly and stealthily. Incorporated by the Tantalus is an IES internal emission sink stealth system which allows for the storage of heat within lithium heat sinks found deep within the hull. For quite some time it was believed that starship stealth systems were an impossibility as the heat generated by even life support systems would show up against the near absolute zero background of space. While this system was revolutionary, it was not without it's problems. Activating this system during FTL travel is impossible because it will overload the sinks capacity to store heat and it may only remain in "silent running" for maximum of three hours before venting is required. The starship may drift inactively for a longer period of time, but if this heat is not radiated out of the hull after a time it will cook the crew inside.
Armaments:
Dual Mass Accelerator Cannons
Javelin Disruptor Torpedo Launchers
Defenses:
DEW Scatter Ablative Armor
Multicore Heavy Kinetic Shielding
General ARea Defense Integration Anti-spacecraft Network (GARDIAN) Point Defense Lasers