Bridge: Difference between revisions

The '''bridge'''<ref>'''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''', campaign level, ''[[The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Combat Evolved level)|The Pillar of Autumn]]'', [[Jacob Keyes|Captain Keyes]]: "Bridge to Cryo 2, this is Captain Keyes. Send the Master Chief to the bridge immediately."</ref> is a [[UNSC]] term for the command center of a ship. Normally, this is where the [[commanding officer]] resides while in command of the ship and where the bridge officers control the ship's vital functions, such as navigational work, weapons, communications, and monitoring the status of the ship's systems. Various screens and scanners are used to monitor the ship's surroundings; starships that don't possess viewports use external cameras to get a view of the space outside the ship. The bridge of UNSC spacecraft is usually located at the ship's bow. A ship's bridge is sometimes represented by a red star.<ref>'''Halo: Combat Evolved''', campaign level, ''The Pillar of Autumn''</ref>

The parallel [[Covenant]] term is "Control Room".

The bridge of the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} consists of several consoles devoted to various functions. There is a large domed viewport at the front of the room which looks out into space. This was evidently meant to be armored before the ''Autumn'' 's mission but there hadn't been time. The navigation and helm control officers are suspended in this dome. There are six consoles which line the sides of the room, and two in the center. The captain or commander of the ship stands before a large tactical map which can provide a series of important pieces of information. The [[holotank]] for the ship's [[AI]] is also located near the captain's station. At the time of its arrival in the [[Soell]] system, the ''Autumn'' 's bridge was manned by fourteen officers.

The ''Pillar of Autumn'' is piloted by two helm control officers which sit suspended in the ship's domed viewport. These officers are presumably responsible for steering the ship at sublight speeds and executing [[slipspace]] transitions.

The Pillar of Autumn has three tactical stations located in various positions. These consoles are responsible for controlling and maintaining the ship's weapon systems. Auto-cannons, [[Archer Missile]] Pods, the [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon]] and [[Shiva]] nukes are launched and controlled by the two tactical officers.

The bridge of the [[UNSC Frigate]] [[UNSC In Amber Clad|''In Amber Clad'']] was considerably smaller than that of the ''Pillar of Autumn'', indicative of its smaller size. It is physically located at the top of the ship and also has a viewport which looks into space. The commanding officer sits in a chair, in front of which are the tactical and navigation consoles. There are several other stations behind these three, but they were not manned at the time of its arrival at [[Installation 05]].

By the late 25th century, the bridge of a [[UNSC destroyer]] such as the ''[[UNSC Las Vegas|Las Vegas]]'' had the navigation, operations, engineering, communications and weapons stations arranged in a narrow oval shape.<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', "[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]", ''page 438''</ref> [[Gorgon-class Destroyer]]s introduced in the early 26th century had a raised center with a padded command chair.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', "The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole", ''page 448''</ref>

The bridge on [[Phoenix-class Colony Ship]]s, such as the refit {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}, is located toward the fore of the ship. The bridge is moderately sized, with one main viewport and an elevated platform near the front and smaller windows over the bridge stations. In the center is a large [[Holotank|holographic table]] for displaying tactical information, accompanied by a smaller holo-pedestal reserved for the shipboard AI.<ref>'''[[Halo Wars]]'''</ref>

The control room of the [[Covenant]] cruiser ''[[Truth and Reconciliation]]'' is far more cavernous than its human analogues and appears to require far less controlling crew. It consists of a large room, within which is an "aesthetically barren" raised platform which is surrounded by transparent holographic displays and two larger displays mounted on one of the walls. Only the [[Ship Master]] was present on the platform when the Master Chief's incursion happened. Physically, it was located deep within the ship; a far more logical placement than the exposed bridges of many UNSC ships.

File:Hood.jpg|The bridge of Cairo Station with [[John-117]], [[Sergeant Johnson]] and [[Admiral Hood]] in the foreground.