Pōmaika'i a Sila
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
Elise
Annari
Open
Open
Seth & CJ
Mox
Charlie
Daria
Zeke