Deficiency Report

[Rhan K'hal 0]

TO: Commanding Officer – Captain Asher Swain

TO: Executive Officer – Commander Jalen Stanton

CC: Chief Medical Officer – Lieutenant Commander Maryse Dubois

CC: Chief Engineer – Lieutenant William Chocox

 

It is unfortunate that so soon after launch that I must formally file a deficiency report regarding multiple design aspects of the bridge; especially since so many other aspects of the vessel are up to date and are considerable improvements on earlier classes. However, the concerns are urgent and/or major enough that a delay would be unacceptable.

I have identified three major deficiency categories in the bridge design, mostly due to the fact that the layout and console design was contemporary with primary operations of the Galaxy-Class starships and design phase of intermediary starships like the Intrepid. Unfortunately this was not updated even though the underlying technology was, due to a waiver issued by Starfleet Command. I still suspect similar reports have and will be filed by other ships in the Block II construction of Luna-Class vessels while this bridge module is actively installed.

Deficiencies

1. Standing Stations

   1. Pursuant to findings in Starfleet Medical Report 1087 § 12, full duty-shift assignments at standing consoles present high risk of upper spine and neck injuries over time with standard use. The findings additionally list generic impact injuries as a likely occurrence due to lack of support during inertial disruption events. The study also finds fatigue to be an issue for full duty shifts assignments. The official recommendation of this report is to phase out standing stations as soon as possible in new designs, refits and upgrades. This recommendation was accepted and folded into Starfleet Design Guideline 337β.

   2. Pursuant to findings in Starfleet Operational Research 783 § 1, standing consoles present an unacceptable risk to ship operations in emergency situations due to the likelihood of crew-members being unable to remain on station due to inertial disruptions causing loss of balance, or complete dislocation of personnel from the station. The remedy to this finding was folded into Starfleet Design Guideline 337β.

2. Station Designations & Locations

   1. The inclusion of the Navigation designation at the port fore console is antithetical to the last 30 years of Starfleet bridge operations and designs, as computer improvements and helm officer training has eliminated the need for this position. Its place in “prime real estate” for receiving commands during emergency operations makes it far too valuable to be an auxiliary station.

   2. The tactical station’s placement aft of the command seating bank has been proven (Starfleet Operational Research 791 § 1) detrimental to crew-members comprehension of orders during high volume events in comparison to fore stations.

   3. With recent trials of split bridge operations rated positive (Starfleet Operational Research 833 § 12), as well as the experience in those trials of most of the current bridge personnel, reverting to a consolidated operations station is not recommended, though no official guideline has been passed.

3. In Starfleet Design Guideline 362λ, it was decided that lighting should be increased to assist with multiple aspects of service on the bridge: alertness, awareness of surroundings, and communications between personnel. This guideline was followed in this bridge module, however the material guidelines remained from the original design specifications which relied on a considerably lower brightness level. The result is higher specular lighting, with increased reflectivity on metal or glossy surfaces. This distracts personnel as well as providing issues with eye strain and headaches.

Recommendations

1. Installing suitably tall chairs (with folding arms to act as restraints & using adjustable but secure mag-lock bases to account for crew physical statures) at all standing stations would be sufficient short-term until such time as they can be replaced with permanent seated consoles.

   1. Additionally, configurable holo-emitters can be installed to provide extra eye-height information to the standing consoles that lack displays without permanently blocking visibility.

2. Operations should be split between ship and mission profiles.

3. The replication and installation of new light fixtures and/or light covers to diffuse the light sources to levels sufficient to meet medical recommendations while maintain brightness levels mandated by Starfleet Design Guideline 362λ.

4. Station layout improvements based on most recent Starfleet Design Guideline 388α, Starfleet Operations Efficiency Recommendations, and limitations of current console designs (attached file: 8W8AXSUW9DGI). Switching now before officers become “entrenched” would make the transitions easier.

All listed recommendations (other than full replacement consoles) can be implemented while the ship is in space, with materials on hand, with minimal disruption if the work is completed during “low-activity” shifts.

 

Senior Operations Officer

Lieutenant J.G. Rhan K’hal