Bridge

UNSC Bridge floor sign

The Bridge is a UNSC term for the command center of a ship. Normally, this is where the officers reside while doing weapons, navigational work, etc and to get a clear view of the area surrounding the ship via viewscreens. The parallel Covenant term is Control Room. According to Halo literature, the bridge of UNSC spacecraft is usually located at the ship's bow. A ship's bridge is usually represented by a red star.

Halcyon-class Cruisers

The Pillar of Autumn 's bridge with Captain Jacob Keyes in the foreground.

The bridge of the 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 Threshold system, the Autumn 's bridge was manned by fourteen officers.

Helm Control

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.

Lifepod Control

There is a console located at the front-left side of the Bridge marked 'LPOD'. The ship's lifepod operations are coordinated from this station.

Tactical

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.

Engineering

There are two consoles in the Autumn's bridge marked "ENG". They are probably the equivalent of Operations consoles. The ship's nuclear fusion reactors and other engineering functions are maintained here.

Communications

There exist two consoles marked "COM." Obviously, the ship's communications systems are operated here.

UNSC Frigates

Miranda Keyes in the In Amber Clad's bridge

The bridge of the In Amber Clad was considerable smaller than that of the Pillar of Autumn, possibly indicative of it's 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 Delta Halo.

Orbital Defense Platforms

The Bridge of Cairo Station with John-117, Sergeant Johnson and Admiral Hood in the foreground.

The bridge of the Cairo orbital defense platform dwarfs the other two encountered. It's ceiling is covered by large windows allowing an unobstructed view of space. There are two raised platforms on either side which overlook the many consoles below. Like the Pillar of Autumn, there is a tactical map located at one side where the station's CO stands. Its age size is presumably because it was designed not only to control the station's systems, but also to coordinate large-scale operations.

Covenant Battlecruisers

File:Orna elite.jpg

Orna 'Fulsamee on station in the Truth and Reconciliation's control room.

The control room of the Covenant cruiser Truth and Reconciliation is far more cavernous than it's 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 UNSC ships.