Dr. Matthews ran her hand along the smooth undersurface of the dark blue machine and admired its sleek streamlined shape. "Can you believe that in all the worlds we've charted we've never once used the Varuna. Not even in the oceans of 22b."
"The navy was more interested in using 22b as a central supply hub and receiving waypoint for the Kepler Systems. They only wanted the planets waters for drinking not to explore her depths." Maddox Herschel's gravely voice came from a shadow further along the catwalk.
"Shame really." Matthews said coolly trying not to show her resentment towards the navy's narrow minded decision for that mission.
"More like a crime if you ask me. I heard the Leviathans were 200 feet long." He added as he stepped out from under one of the 48 foot long autonomous submersible's stern planes and into the light. "Did you...did you get to see one while you were planet side?"
The pressed her lips together and gave a wistful smile. "Yes. Beautiful creatures. There were bigger ones that our sensors detected but they never swam close enough to the surface for us to see them."
"Well, ma'am. The Varuna has a 100 percent mission capable rating. She's ready to launch whenever you give us the go ahead." The tall man tapped a stylus to his touchpad, which lit up beeped and then went dark again. The running lights on the submersible drone fired to life.
"If you say so Commander. You're the flight deck's Senior Air Officer. This is your hangar bay. " The doctor responded sweeping her arms around the launch chamber.
A not so gentle jolt rattled the decking below her causing her to reflexively grab the catwalks banister. The disconcerting sound of the ships bulkheads and decking groaned. "I never get used to that. No matter how many times we drop subluminal. Even if the Chief Engineer swears its totally normal. "
"Yeah them Gen 3 Scharnhorst Drives. Never a smooth ride. At least we dont gamma out and turn to hamburger every one out of ten times like the early systems. " Maddox chuckled lightly at the doctor's unease. "You'll get used to it. Inherent in FTL travel they say. Too bad the jump drives arent articulate enough for in-system travel."
"Thats what disturbs me becoming superluminal confetti. Well, I guess where here. I better get upstairs to Operations." Dr. Matthews patted Maddox on the shoulder and strode past him towards the drop bays launch control room and exited out into the decks port corridor.
Rounding the corner to the lift station she saw the familiar face of her colleague David Maxwell. Just the man she was looking for. "Dave you heading up to Opps?" She said picking up her pace to reach him in time to catch the same lift.
Slightly shy the man had always acted self conscious around her. She didnt know why. "Yeah..um..Dr. Kikushi wants all senior science personnel assembled for a briefing in the halo chamber." Maxwell paused awkwardly for a few seconds in the elevator before blurting. "The post jump scans are just like you predicted. Ocean surface temperature 28 celsius . It gets warmer the deeper you go towards the core. Bu..but the metallicity of Teegarden is higher than projections. It means oceanic ridges and thermal vents...maybe volcanos!"
Matthews grinned at David as the lift doors opened onto the Science Deck. "You dont say. You were the one who was adamant there would be a dynamic tectonic system."
David just stood there half frozen. She felt sorry for the man. He was a half brilliant, half self loathing mess. But he was the best exo-geologist MITRE had staffed in 30 years.
The two of them entered the Science Operations Center and walked down the short flight of stairs into its sunken halo chamber. Several of the staff had already circled the projector display listening to Dr. Kikushi speak. His eyes glanced at the new arrivals and turned to face them. Tall and gaunt the Chief Science Officer greeted them. His silver black hair taking on the hue of the muted blue light the projector emitted.
"I heard its looking just as we predicted doctor. " Matthews chimed.
Kikushi grinned hoping she would say that. " No, its not. Its even better than we projected." The Senior Officer tapped a button on the projector console, and a 15 foot diameter 3D projection of Teegarden-b loomed vividly overhead. The pale blue planet rotated gently as streams of lazy white clouds cast their shadows onto the alien sea below.
The view was breath taking. The crowd gasped. Jade green splotches ringed in turquoise speckled across the equator.
Dr. Kikushi turned and spread his arms gesturing to the planet. "Teegarden is not just a water world. It has islands, and coral. It is very alive!"
EGN STARSWIFT SEV-427
The Starswift is a 3rd + generation, state of the art Stellar Exploration Vessel belonging to the Earth Galactic Navy. Hull number 427 has a 660 foot length with a 335 foot beam. With six internal decks and a total draft of 110 feet, the tidy mid-sized ship is designed for short to medium length missions dedicated to scientific exploration up to 6 months at a time between resupply.
With a substantial antimatter 511Kev nano electro-voltaic conversion powerplant, the starship has ample power to run a wide array of systems simultaneously without compromising crew comfort or safety.
Capable of two modes of propulsion consisting of a Scharnhorst Superluminal Drive Field System and Mach Decoupling Jump Drive, the Starswift is currently one of the fastest ships in the Earth Galactic Navy's fleet. The Starswift's duel propulsion modes are facilitated by three superconducting resonators coupled to its Huygens metasurfaced hull.
Commissioned in 2085 the Starswift has had several successful campaigns on her logbooks, the most notable of which was the first deployment of the then new Mach Jump Drive and successful exploration of the Kepler 22 System. This mission also set a record for the furthest distance humanity had ever traveled from the Solar System and Local Group at 587 light years. Being the premier science vessel of the fleet the Starswift has since broken that record when it was the first to explore the triple star system K2-290 discovering 3 smaller rocky planets in addition to the two gas giant already known to the system. One of the new planets designated K2-290d located 880 light years away has been discovered to have a highly unique and rare jungle type ecosystem that has warranted two follow up missions to establish a permanant observatory station in orbit.
The Starswift has also participated in several classified missions that can not be discussed. However, rumor has recently spread about her having initiated first contact with two primitive civilizations and that she has traveled thanks to her jump drive far beyond her official distance records.
In honor of the Starwift's momentous first missions to the various "Kepler Sector Systems" the ships crest is that of a stylized swan with the stars of the constellation Cygnus overlayed. The ships crest can be found amongst the rest of the Starswifts liveries at the center of the Quarterdecks reception and ceremonial area.
The interior of the starship, being a science vessel, does not express the hard and utilitarian decor one would find in a typical naval starship. Soft carpeting adorns the quarter deck and other sections of the starships living spaces. A pleasing colour scheme of powder blue and light silver trim thats easy on the eyes contrasts the more functional grey internal surfaces. And, generous placements of holo-projected art and scenery are spread throughout the ship to reinforce crew moral and positive cognizant disposition.
Being a starship, the hull is a critical component of its stardrive. As such, much like a submarine, there are no windows onboard the Starswift. Instead, several holo displays in place of windows function as view ports and allow ships personnel to observe the views outside the ship. If wished, each "window" can display any sort of imagery of the individuals choosing. It is not unusual to enter a crewman's quarters and be greeted with a stunning view of a finely manicured Japanese garden or a Tahitian sunset on Bora Bora.
The Starswift fulfills is mission of scientific exploration and discovery in thanks to its extensive laboratories representing several different scientific disciplines , astronomical and sensor arrays , and through the use of its versatile compliment of probe, drone and shuttle craft.
Currently commanded by Captain Zachary Hoyt the Starswift is underway, heading to the Teegarden System only 12 light years from earth to charts its watery depths.
Starswift - Deck Plan Cutaway
Starswift deck Plan Cutaway
Starswift- Main Deck
The main deck is the heart of the Starswift. Dead center and running the full length of the vessels hull, the main deck is purposely designed to have large open spaces to foster a sense of crew comfort.
The main deck has a ceiling 20 feet high and features holo-projected scenic imagery along the entire wall length of the generously ample main corridors. At any time the walls can be programed to display lifelike panoramic vistas of whatever scene that suits the crews fancy. From a woodland forest or majestic serengeti to even a bustling city boardwalk, the crew has their choice of what animated life-like "wallpaper" to display from a vast catalogue of Earthly images of home.
Center of the deck is the main transport and cargo lifts along with adjacent stairwells that service the entirety of the ship. Fore of the central lift corridor are the ships mess and galley.
Although the Starswift is not intended for deployments longer than six month intervals, great effort has been put into the quality and variety of meals offered, along with open un-cloistered seating. The ships mess even has a modest bar for off duty crew and officers.
Hovering overhead in the starswifts cavernous mess hall is a 3D holo-projection of the milky way, which spands across the ceiling like a river of glittering jewels.
Throughout the Main Deck are additional 3D holoprojections of various palms and other stress reducing botanicals.
Further toward the bow is the crew lounge which features a theatre and recreational gaming stations, although many of the crew have access to quantum subspace communications and trans-stellar internet through out the Starship including their personal quarters.
The bow has an auxiliary forward stairwell and additional cargo lift that services the main holds, stores and food stocks.
Aft of the central lifts is the Starswift's powerplant and lower deck engineering. The stern most compartment is a state of the art medical bay, triage, labs and medical offices. Purposely built to service a larger compliment than the crew, the ships extensive medical facility allows the Starswift to function during emergencies as a temporary medical ship.
Along the extremities of the main deck are also the starships primary astronomical instruments. Port and Starboard are interferometer enabled 40 foot radio telescopes. At the bow a multi function X-ray, optical and infrared 180 inch telescope with a 720 inch focal length.
Amid-ship on both port and Starboard are the enlisted crews barrack that house the ships ablemen and bosuns.
Starswift Main Deck
Deck 2 - Science Deck
Deck 2, located just below the Main Deck is the vessels science deck where the main mission of the Starswift is executed. Outfitted for just about any kind of scientific mission, Deck 2 contains state of the art wet and dry bio-labs, sensor labs, physics labs, astronomy labs and a modular multipurpose lab should the ship require additional scientific support. Located throughout the deck are several specimen refrigerators and freezers along with sample storage holds and facilities.
Fore of the central lifts are the main science computer, library and scientific operations center, conference and holo-observation suit.
Towards the stern are scientific offices and the primary lower deck life support and its associated machinery. Just behind the main lifts and accessable by a small cargo lift in lower engineering is the powerplant ablative fuel pallet storage.
Starswift Deck 2 - Science Deck
Deck 3 - Hanger Deck
Deck 3 comprises the Starswift's hangar facilities, primary launch bay, modular drone launch bay and main cargo hold.
The Primary Launch Bay has two hangars each housing a shuttle craft. One shuttle is outfitted as a specimen and cargo transport. The other for away teams. An additional pair of landing aprons support a total of 4 JDY-36 hover craft or "Mules" used to transport small numbers of personel and cargo during atmospheric operations where shuttle craft are unnecessary or simply to support already deployed away teams.
In the rear of the primary hangar are three ceiling mounted launch racks for smaller exploratory or assisting drones of various configurations.
The Hangar Deck's Modular Drone Launch bay is designed to carry three large autonomous drones up to 55 feet in length. An aquatic submersible, a aerial long loiter drone and a terrain surface crawler are standard compliment. Held on racks the drones can be positioned above the central forward launch doors and deployed conveniently without disrupting operations in the primary launch bay. Furthermore, being modular in design the Drone Launch chamber its self can be swapped or refitted at suitable star base maintenance facilities.
Additionally the Hangar Deck contains extra vehicular suit lockers and facilities along with launch bay control and a briefing room.
The Starswift's hangar facilities can support dynamic and variable scientific missions.
Starswift Deck 3 - Hanger Deck
Level 1 - Quarter Deck
The Starswift's Quarter Deck is the soul of the vessel. Not only is the Quarterdeck where the ships docking gangways and airlocks are located. But its where the ships Bell, Plaque, Colors and Livery are displayed for receiving crew, passengers and for ceremonial procedures.
The Quarter deck also houses much of the ships, specialist, scientific compliment and jr. officers quarters. Keeping with the ships intended design for crew comfort many of the quarters are quite accommodating and spacious.
The Quarter Deck also has supplemental ship cargo holds and food stores along the bow.
Just aft of the central lift corridor one can find the Main Engineering Upper Deck.
The stern section of this deck contains the primary upper deck life support and its associated machinery systems.
Starswift Level 01 - Quarter Deck
Level 2 - Command Deck
The Starswift's Command Deck contains the starships bridge, helm, navigation and chartroom, communications and the Sr. Officer's Briefing Ready Room.
Additionally the ships main computers is located just behind the bridges communication centre.
Each Sr. Officer has a office and quarters on this floor.
A single VIP quarters, luxuriously accommodated, has been reserved for visiting admiralty or auxiliary temporary senior officers or personnel.
Starswift Level 02 - Command Deck
Level 3 - Sensor Deck
An impressive sensor suit along with an additional multipurpose astronomical array complete the Starswift's exceptional and comprehensive mission package.
The vast array includes passive quantum sensors, Rydberg multispectrum receivers and a host of active multi-band swept frequency arrays to explore the universe. Along side the sensor suit, level 3 hosts the Starswifts ultra long range OAM multiplexed holographic data relay and the entanglement comm relay used for trans stellar communication and internet.
Foremost on the Sensor Deck is the AMW variable output Positron Lance for mining and in emergencies starship defence.
Starswift Level 03 - Sensor deck
Hi Worldbuilding Community and fellow Hive folk!
This is my entrant to the monthly map melee contest hosted by 
@worldbuilder/monthly-map-melee-is-back-on-hive-191038
I'm personally looking forward to seeing the awesome creativity of everyone's entries. I've already seen some pretty cool things submitted.
I think this Worldbuilding community is unique here on Hive and I would love to see it grow. I encourage everyone to join the community and start sharing whats in your imagination.
Hoping everyone is healthy and safe right now, and wishing them the best,
Space pics supplied by pixabay.com
All starship schematics are the work of hidave
