Pōmaika'i a Sila

Overview

Pōmaika'i a Sila Specific Technology

Bedroom Assignments

Bridge/Operations

Overview

Pōmaika'i a Sila is a Seraphim-class exploration vessel.

Originally designed as an escort frigate by the Kinsei Navy, the first three vessels of the class were still in the Roche Albion construction yard when it was captured by Coalition forces near the end of the Civil War. Though the nearly complete ships were not deemed suitable for addition to the Department of Defense war fleet, they were too valuable to waste and so were rechristened, assigned to the Coalition Defense Force, and sent to recon distant frontiers.

While the ship retains the familiar “cathedral” design common in Kinsei warships, most of the weaponry and war gear was replaced with sensors and science equipment for its second life as a reconnaissance ship. The original design was created as both a fast escort and a transport. The hangars were designed to hold a squadron of light fighters that could be used both in space and atmosphere. The cavernous main hold could carry several ground craft and troops with the large doors at either end facilitating rapid loading and deployment.

For armaments, Pōmaika'i a Sila has only a pair of turreted laser cannons – one fore and one aft. These were designed to provide cover fire during landing operations and are not well positioned for space combat. The frigate originally had a pair of spinal-mounted mass cannons to fill that role, but these were removed when the ship was refitted for the Department of Scientific Advancement.

How it ended up sitting derelict in a Heritage Terminal dock for a decade is a mystery though.

While the Pōmaika'i a Sila is officially owned by Seth Frost and CJ Shirley, with the ship's port of origin registered to Paradise, the way it's run is rather unique in that there is no set chain of command amongst the crew. With no Captain to call the shots, the ship runs democratically. Monetary gains are split equally between each crew member after a percentage is put back into the ship for things like supplies, tech updates, docking fees, gateway tolls, and the like.

If a situation requires someone to step up and make a final decision, it will usually fall on whichever crew member has the necessary skills and knowledge in that specific scenario. Because of this, any player could potentially find their character in a temporary 'leadership position' based on the needs of the current plot.

Pōmaika'i a Sila Specific Technology

Each member of the crew is equipped with their own personal datapad that's all set up for the job they do. That said, each datapad can access each account with a simple sign in system that acts as a failsafe in the case of lost or damaged datapads.

Communication between crew members is most often done via comm bracelets. They're a simple piece of technology, basically a glorified walkie-talkie, made to be worn around the wrist but could easily be fastened anywhere convenient, like a belt loop. They can be activated with a simple voice command, or by intentional touch, and are intended to quickly relay information or requests - "CJ, come to the bridge please." Or "Can I get another set of hands in engineering?"

Personal phones can be used for private conversations - via text or call - and because phones run off the ship's signal, they work in space. Interstellar phone communications while on the ship are done via recorded audio or video, like sending data packages back and forth, and take a while to reach the receiver. While on any larger space station or planet, phone calls can happen pretty much in real time but usually with lag depending on how far the message is traveling.

Communication and information between ships is sent via directed 'beams' providing secure transfer from one ship to the other. Wider-range calls intended to hail all nearby vessels is also possible by switching to a broadband frequency.

For reference, the technology aboard the Pōmaika'i a Sila is comparable to Firefly or Star Wars. A Coalition military ship or the ship of someone rich would be comparable to The Expanse or Star Trek.

Bedroom Assignments

Nebula
Sorochi
Annari
Andy
Open
Seth & CJ
Mox
Charlie
Open
Zeke

Bridge/Operations

Like the waterborne battleships of old, Pōmaika'i a Sila's bridge is situated in a conning tower above the main hull. While the view is excellent the position is also somewhat exposed to enemy fire. All of the ship’s major functions can be controlled from the bridge and while there are redundant controls for propulsion, scanners, and communications, those on the bridge have priority.A doorway in the back corner of the bridge leads to a storage closet which contains EVA suits for the bridge crew and a small arms locker.There is also a ladder leading up to a pressure hatch. This leads to the outside of the ship and is used for maintenance or when docking with other ships in the black. Other doors lead to the lift and stairs – both of which go only downwards from here.Note that there is a deck’s worth of stairway and equipment space between the bridge and science level. This can be seen on the cut-away side view of the ship but is not explicitly mapped out. This equipment area is taken up by the ship’s computer system and is accessible by removing floor grating on the bridge.

Hydroponics

Originally a triage and multi-table surgical theater, then a state-of-the-art research lab, nowadays this area hosts the humble beginnings of a lush hydroponics bay. Of course, much of its equipment became outdated between its commission and it landing in the hands of our intrepid heroes, and so it's been an ongoing effort to bring it up to modern speeds. A touch panel on the wall by the door connects to most of the tech inside, keeping track of temperatures, pH levels, humidity, etc. From there, much of these systems can be adjusted, though any fine tuning needs to be done at a proper computer station. It's also synced to the speakers fixed throughout the lab, and the ship's communication system. The center of the bay has been completely transformed, to host a variety of edible plants and vegetables. Even a fruit tree! Plants line the walls in bins, both hydroponic and semi-hydro, and one corner of the room is absolutely covered in the oxygen-gifting greenery - largely lifted from Paradise itself. As well as one good-sized marijuana plant, by the name of Frank, for whom this is their first real home in a while too. Patterned rugs can be found scattered throughout the bay, along with a few other homey touches like seashells fresh from the beach and a cozy nest for Darla. An overstuffed chair sits comfortably in one corner, with a relaxing view of the lush space. The tiled floors are easy to clean, and have grates positioned strategically across the room to drain any spilled fluids into for recycling. And although they aren't in much need of it, leftover devices from the hydroponics bay's previous life as a science lab are stashed away in a cabinet somewhere. If they ever want to analyze...stuff.Similar to the other isolation cells on the ship intended for people, there is a cell in hydroponics as well. This one is somewhat smaller, meant to be used as a holding space for unstable or unsafe materials. It can be hermetically sealed and the atmosphere inside can be controlled through a similar panel to the one on the wall.Though inconvenient it is possible, given a few hours of work, to remove the ceiling plating and open sections of the roof of this level to space. This is how most of the equipment was originally installed. The area would have to be fully depressurized if this were to be done in space, and mechanical assistance such as a crane would be needed to do this planet-side.

Lounge

The nose of the main deck is packed with sensor and targeting equipment. Just behind this is a lounge/recreational area with a cozy couch on the port side and a TV mounted on the wall opposite. Abutting the couch is a raised plant bed that houses mostly flowering plants and there are potted plants throughout the room as well. These, along with the mismated rugs, give the room a homey feel. The starboard side has a pool table and a couple more chairs that could easily be pulled over near the couch for movie marathons. Toward the bow is a pair of lockers that hold board games, decks of cards, and extra blankets. Toward the center of the room is a hatch that opens directly into the bow turret, which looks down at the area in front of the forward cargo doors. It was originally designed to provide suppressive fire while troops disembark the front end of the ship.The center section of the roof of the lounge is transparent, providing a broad view of the space above.

Galley

Between the galley and the lounge is a wide hall where the stairs from the forward end of the cargo hold come up to the main deck. There are storage lockers on either side – holding an uninteresting array of maintenance gear and a few emergency EVA suits. The port side of the galley area contains a large steel dining table and eight chairs. Along the walls are a beverage station, a large video screen, and some lockers holding dishes, utensils and an assortment of games. The walk in closet holds linens and bedding.On the starboard side is the kitchen, containing double refrigerators and an actual grill and oven. A small herb garden can be found on the counter, along with plenty of space for prepping meals. More plants line the top of the cabinets to help with air quality.The pantry just aft of the kitchen has shelves lined with cooking supplies and a small cargo lift that allows easy access to the hold. For safety reasons, the lift is kept in the “up” position when not in use.Across from the pantry is a fairly standard laundry room with one washing machine, two dryers, and a table for folding or sorting. There are also shelves to hold laundry detergents and other general cleaning products.

Main Cargo Hold

Pōmaika'i a Sila has a cavernous cargo hold – originally designed to carry troops and combat vehicles, but now holding more mundane supplies. Even with only a quarter of the hold full, there are enough provisions for Pōmaika'i a Sila to remain in space for 3 months at a stretch. The crew often uses the empty space for impromptu sporting events. The hold is equipped with cargo shelving along either side of the main hold that extends 15 feet out from the wall. Ladders and a small lift near the bow end of the hold allow crew access to these balcony areas. Automated ramps near the aft end rise up for balcony access and lower into the hold floor when not needed. There is a large storage closet on the port side forward of the cargo balcony. This contains a couple of EVA suits and various tools and maintenance equipment. On the starboard side aft of the balcony is a rack holding several hover pallets. These are used to move heavy cargo. The hatch in the floor across from the pallet rack has standard exterior couplings and is meant for deep space docking. When Pōmaika'i a Sila is on the ground, there is about 3 feet of clearance below the hatch, making it usable but not convenient. Note that the main cargo doors do not function as an air lock. Though the stairways and lift can be sealed, the entire hold is open to the exterior environment (or lack thereof) when either set of cargo doors are opened. This is another holdover from the frigate design which favored rapid troop deployment over convenience.

Escape Pods

Pōmaika'i a Sila is equipped with four standard Magnum II escape pods. The primary entrance hatch is in the rear of the bullet-shaped pod. The quarters are fairly tight but the chair armrests fold up out of the way to allow passengers entering to more easily take their seats. Each cushioned chair is also equipped with a 5-point harness as the ride can get pretty rough at times. Designed to get clear of the danger area and then either hold position or land on a nearby world, the pod is equipped with both a parachute and a flotation ring. It can also land on engines alone (either bottom-first or by plowing a long furrow in the landscape). The air and water recyclers will support four people for four days. There is also a distress beacon and a basic survival kit with food for four days.All of the pods are on the main deck. Two are near the middle of the ship and the other two are in the engineering area. Around the two forward ones are access and control surfaces for Pōmaika'i a Sila’s life support systems. This area can be reached from the crew’s quarters hallway or through the workshop or auxiliary control room. The pods launch at a pretty steep angle, allowing them to clear a considerable distance even if used while Pōmaika'i a Sila is on the ground. This was important because the ship was originally designed to disembark ground forces in combat hot zones. The only real fault of the system is that it is a long way from the bridge to the nearest pods, meaning that either the bridge crew has to abandon their posts early or give up any hope of escaping.If given the opportunity, those on the bridge will sometimes don vacuum suits prior to combat. In addition to protecting from a hull breach, it means that the nearby hatch can be used as a last-ditch means of evacuating the ship.

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