VisionM
07-28-2008, 12:01 AM
Starfleet's Centre for Stellar Cartagrophy (often shortened to SCē) is the leading institute responsible for litteraly mapping the stars. It's campus houses the biggest observation dome in Federation history, including four accompanying towers that house the immense computer cores that enable this facility to function. What started out as an ordinary mapping station during the early days of warp flight in 2160, now is a state of the art research centre anno 2385. It uses a combination of holodeck technology and physical means to create a 360 degrees, 3D map of all quadrants. Every section of each quadrant can be magnified locally and inspected closer by means of an inspection cart, while a general overview can be maintained and viewed from a central platform. Please hold into consideration that the South Tower is not shown, but is there!
http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/264/sc2exterioris8.jpg (http://img142.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sc2exterioris8.jpg)
What people see above is just a tip of the iceberg, literally, as the majority of the facility is subterrainean. Undergrounds it's safer to let the computercores operate at subspace speeds. This is necesary as every quad of data is routed directly to SC2. The giant, 24/7 active hologram therefore represents the most acurate map known to Federation scientists. Every spaceship with a mission profile of 5 years and longer is required to synchronize it's maps with the one availlable at SC2, and ships with a shorter profile and civilian ships are adviced to do so. It's easy to access the outer ring of the facility, but to enter the dome you will need to make an appointment as it's always crawling with people.
The system of carts has proven highly effective in that multiple observation sessions can be executed without anyone hindering someone else working in the dome. It has a solid reputation, with only two accidents in the past five years. Both accidents involved a disabled safety system of the carts, and apart from some bruises the victims did not have serious injuries. An emergency forcefield is present, which activates if an object in the dome reaches speeds of over 15km/h, such as a falling person or cart, after which the person in question can be transported to the sickbay present in the facility, or a cart can be transported to the garage under the dome.
http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/271/sc2interior1kb8.jpg (http://img142.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sc2interior1kb8.jpg)
Those who step in for the first time are always amazed! The dome measures 1 kilometer in diamater, but the entrance to said dome is done via the entrance hall. There the most important interfaces towards the dome are present, and during crisis times this room and it's adjecent rooms are the most crowded spaces in the entire complex. Starfleet Command uses the dome to view both friendly as enemy movements in said periods, and several wars were won because of the fact that several simulations could be played at once, including the effect a said movement would have on the rest of the fleet
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/624/domeentrancevh7.jpg (http://img84.imageshack.us/my.php?image=domeentrancevh7.jpg)
Before you go anywhere in the complex, you need to go to the reception, where you are given the clearances needed and appointments are confirmed. The way in is guided by a pond on both sides of the entrance, even flowing inside the Hall. Then, visitors are identified by the computer by means of biosignal and communicator ID. Those who work in the facility are also identified by this means and can thus enter the inner circle without passing the reception. Also present in the reception are two large screens which both give a different view on the Dome, making it possible for visitors to get a glimpse of the working Dome without the need to register.
http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/9218/sc2interior2ky0.jpg (http://img142.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sc2interior2ky0.jpg)
And we go up and up, towards the walkways connecting the four towers which house the visible parts of the immense mainframe which SC2 uses to process it's data. Some swear by the tubes, as they are known, as they love the view and can come to rest. Others hate it, as they can't stand the height at which they are and become terrified when a gush of wind moves them a little bit. Point remains that the towers, in combination with the walkways, mark the most recognisable parts of the Starfleet Centre for Stellar Cartagrophy!
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/2409/sc2interior3xy0.jpg (http://img84.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sc2interior3xy0.jpg)
http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/264/sc2exterioris8.jpg (http://img142.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sc2exterioris8.jpg)
What people see above is just a tip of the iceberg, literally, as the majority of the facility is subterrainean. Undergrounds it's safer to let the computercores operate at subspace speeds. This is necesary as every quad of data is routed directly to SC2. The giant, 24/7 active hologram therefore represents the most acurate map known to Federation scientists. Every spaceship with a mission profile of 5 years and longer is required to synchronize it's maps with the one availlable at SC2, and ships with a shorter profile and civilian ships are adviced to do so. It's easy to access the outer ring of the facility, but to enter the dome you will need to make an appointment as it's always crawling with people.
The system of carts has proven highly effective in that multiple observation sessions can be executed without anyone hindering someone else working in the dome. It has a solid reputation, with only two accidents in the past five years. Both accidents involved a disabled safety system of the carts, and apart from some bruises the victims did not have serious injuries. An emergency forcefield is present, which activates if an object in the dome reaches speeds of over 15km/h, such as a falling person or cart, after which the person in question can be transported to the sickbay present in the facility, or a cart can be transported to the garage under the dome.
http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/271/sc2interior1kb8.jpg (http://img142.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sc2interior1kb8.jpg)
Those who step in for the first time are always amazed! The dome measures 1 kilometer in diamater, but the entrance to said dome is done via the entrance hall. There the most important interfaces towards the dome are present, and during crisis times this room and it's adjecent rooms are the most crowded spaces in the entire complex. Starfleet Command uses the dome to view both friendly as enemy movements in said periods, and several wars were won because of the fact that several simulations could be played at once, including the effect a said movement would have on the rest of the fleet
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/624/domeentrancevh7.jpg (http://img84.imageshack.us/my.php?image=domeentrancevh7.jpg)
Before you go anywhere in the complex, you need to go to the reception, where you are given the clearances needed and appointments are confirmed. The way in is guided by a pond on both sides of the entrance, even flowing inside the Hall. Then, visitors are identified by the computer by means of biosignal and communicator ID. Those who work in the facility are also identified by this means and can thus enter the inner circle without passing the reception. Also present in the reception are two large screens which both give a different view on the Dome, making it possible for visitors to get a glimpse of the working Dome without the need to register.
http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/9218/sc2interior2ky0.jpg (http://img142.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sc2interior2ky0.jpg)
And we go up and up, towards the walkways connecting the four towers which house the visible parts of the immense mainframe which SC2 uses to process it's data. Some swear by the tubes, as they are known, as they love the view and can come to rest. Others hate it, as they can't stand the height at which they are and become terrified when a gush of wind moves them a little bit. Point remains that the towers, in combination with the walkways, mark the most recognisable parts of the Starfleet Centre for Stellar Cartagrophy!
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/2409/sc2interior3xy0.jpg (http://img84.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sc2interior3xy0.jpg)