The communicator is the central piece of Solas Tempus equipment given to any and all Solas Tempus employees, contractors, personnel, and even citizens of the Serenity Concord. It is designed to provide effective and easy to use communications for the user across BlueNet and similar subspace, mirowave, and conventional radio networks. The feature set was scaled back considerably from the earlier design to make a more effective unit and balance out several issues. This third generation device has made some significant improvements over previous designs.
The Mark 3 design replaced the Mark 2 design in February of 2384.
Capabilities
The system can accept multiple onboard computer core types. Solas Tempus personnel and contractors are able to optionally install an Encapsulated Computer Core which may have any number of extensive AI Software packages installed on it. The standard installation of this type of core is to have a HAL 9000 system installed. In this mode the system maintains a link with HAL via BlueNet. A custom Encapsulated Computer Core can install a QUINN AI, provided the AI grants permission for such. Civilian installations are capable of having an ALICE Interface installed. They may also have an LCARS holographic interface installed to the system for simplest operation and lowest power consumption. The core module is hot-swappable and thus there are additional customized cores for both civilian and military use.
Communications
The communicator has multiple methods of communication.
- Subspace (Preferred Method /w Connection to BlueNet or other networks)
- Microwave (Primarily Terrestrial)
- EM Radio (Primarily Terrestrial)
- UV Laser Pulse (Line of Sight Required)
Beacons
The beacons have a status indicator by the color of the end of the crown.
- Emergency Beacon
- Triggered automatically by life signs monitoring, when life signs fall to critical levels.
- Triggered if emergency transporter node is activated.
- Transdimensional Beacon (Military Only)
- Feature is protected and must be activated by the Janus Gate during gate-entry.
- Locator Beacon
- Feature can be activated by the user or not, designed to flag the users for transporter lock on when traditional methods have failed.
- Can also be used to locate the user or device when traditional methods fail.
- The user can also remote-activate this feature.
Temporal Retrieval Beacon (Military Only)
A new type of beacon is equipped in this particular model has built into a special kind of beacon which can call to Starbase Pandora for an emergency temporal extraction. This beacon also goes two ways, a Temporal Operative can also be remotely retrieved using this beacon as long as they are wearing the communicator on their person.
Utilities
The device is designed to be of more utility than simply a communications device, though that is its primary function.
Sensors
There is a simple EM / subspace scanner of relatively low resolution compared to its larger Tricorder cousin. The system can piggy-back onto a Tricorder or other sensor system which it can access remotely in order to provide more detailed information. If such a system is available it will automatically default to that external system. The sensor pallet also includes a life signs monitor which monitors vital signs of the wearer when in physical contact with the persons skin. Rudimentary vital signs (heart rate, breathing, and body temperature) can also be achieved through the simple EM sensors at close range.
Scattering Field (Military Only)
Using the sensors and transmission arrays the device can project a sensor scattering field in the immediate vicinity. This confuses nearby sensors and can even be calibrated to specifically hide a persons life signs, heat signature, or some other aspect. However, its capabilities are limited, and one cannot hide more than one thing at a time. One can hide the energy signature of a persons life signs, but that doesn't include their ambient heat signature (the heat trail they leave behind). Or one can make their heat trail, but not their life signs.
This works primarily with sensors, however optics (such as eyes and conventional cameras) are not fooled by this. However, sensor arrays that read energy signatures and translate them into representations of visible light, would be fooled.
Authentication Scanner
When in physical contact with the wearer the system is able to perform DNA scanning. In addition the EM pallet is able to scan a persons retina or heat signature at close range to assist in determining identity. This can also trigger protective measures and ensure only someone authorized to use the device may use it.
Transporter / Pattern Buffer
The device has a built in transporter pattern buffer which can store up to 712 kg at molecular resolution as long as power holds out. At quantum resolution, the pattern buffer has a maximum storage duration of 2-4 hours depending on mass and complexity before the pattern will lose too much cohesion to be extracted from the buffer.
Emergency Transporter Node (Military Only)
A short range / unidirectional integrated transporter node is able to transporter the wearer up to 6.7 km away, once. This entirely depletes the power reserve and requires the reactor to recharge for several hours before it can be used again. Using this system automatically triggers the emergency beacon and has the unfortunate side effect of emptying the pattern buffer prior to transport.
Holographic Projector
Short range model, does not provide any subspace to the hologram (there is no magnetic containment field to provide a physical surface to the hologram). It supports a single holographic construct at a time, runs in low-power mode by default providing a translucent holographic projection. The hologram is limited to rough line of sight and 30 meters max range of projection, in any direction without major obstruction such as a wall or closed door.
Adaptive Camouflage (Military Only)
Advanced adaptive camouflage is also available using the devices exiting holographic projection capabilities. The adaptive camouflage projects a false holographic image onto the wearer which allows them to easily blend into any surroundings. This is not true invisibility, but rather it makes something appear near-invisible by making its surface look like what is behind it. This means that an impression or outline of the persons body causes a problem in perspective, thus one can still be detected, especially when in motion or at close range.
This mode is coupled with the scattering field function of the sensor array.
Deflection Buckler (Military Only)
The device's band has been put to use, affixed tot the arm of the wearer the tritanium mesh is embedded with a focused deflector shield emitter. When activated the mesh band produces a tightly focused deflector field around 18 cm in diameter focused on the forearm. The shield can deflect a small number (between 2-8) high powered physical impacts and a smaller number (between 1-5) high energy beam impacts. Energy beams are deflected from the shield like a mirror for a limited time.
The cost on the devices's power reserves is significant and only its basic features continue to work while such a drain is in operation.
Power Source
This new Mark 3 device is powered by a revolutionary new Spacial Variance Reactor which draws power from verteron particles as they pass between subspace barriers. As such the device's power supply is theoretically limitless while inside normal space. The energy is passed through an series of amplification coils which increase the particle pressure inside the reactor itself building up sufficient power for the device.
Since the power supply has a continuous energy supply, the reactor has a built in battery or energy buffer to both operate in the event of a power drop off or allow the device to recharge itself in the event that the entire reactor output is required.