Mark 2 Communicator

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.

The Mark 2 design took over for the Mark 1 design in November of 2381, it was subsequently replaced by the Mark 3 design in February of 2384.

Capabilities

• Multiple Communication Methods / Bands
  • 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
  • Emergency Beacon

  Triggered automatically by life signs monitoring, when life signs fall to critical levels.

  Triggered if emergency transporter node is activated.

  • Transdimensional Beacon

  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.

• 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).

Supports a single holographic construct at a time, runs in low-power mode by default providing a translucent holographic projection.

Hologram is limited to rough line of sight and 30 meters max range of projection. That is 30 meters in any direction without major obstruction such as a wall or closed door.

• On Board Computer

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 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.

• Life Signs Monitor

Must be in physical contact with the skin of the user.

• Authentication Scanner

Can scan multiple methods to identify the wearer is the registered user.

Scans DNA, heat signature, bone structure, fingerprints (if finger is pressed to screen), and retina pattern (if user looks directly at the screen as directed).

• Short Range Wide-Band Scanner

Simple EM/Subspace scanner, low resolution compared to that of a Tricorder or other specialized device.

• Pattern Buffer

Pattern storage buffer, capable of storing a total mass of 525 kg stored with molecular resolution.

Cannot store quantum resolution matter stream for more than a few hours (depends on stream complexity and mass).

• Emergency Transporter Node

Short range, unidirectional, single person transport up to 5km distance.

If able to the system will signal for external transport to preserve power.

Automatically activates emergency beacons.

Erases sufficient contents of pattern storage buffer to allow for transport.

Power Source

The device uses a nano-fusion battery which runs off of a store of subatomic particle plasma. This provides power for up to 90 days before it requires recharging with new plasma. While on board a Solas Tempus facility the device periodically is recharged without user interaction by receiving a micro-transporter burst of plasma into the battery refilling it. The system warns the user if such a recharge system is not available. Standard procedure is for the computer to initiate such a recharge cycle when the user is about to leave such an equipped facility.

The device can also accept power from a directed energy beam to the unit, but this is not often used outside of replacing the on board battery to provide continuous power if such a thing is needed, or if the battery is damaged and the device needs to continue to be operated when the battery is not operational.

Redesign from the Mark 1

The Mark 1 design of the communicator had several issues that had to be addressed. Not the least of which being the political pressure on the Serenity Concord to have a model of communicator which did not violate privacy concerns, since the device was now being used out in the open. The original device design was kept largely secret, used by only Solas Tempus personnel, however, the communicator began to be seen in certain military-adjacent civilian sectors. The accusation was made that the communicator was a tool to spy on the population, otherwise the secretive organization of Solas Tempus would never have allowed it to be used outside their control. Solas Tempuse issued General Order 23811101-G which effectively terminated use of the Mark 1 and put the Mark 2 into immediate service. As the device had already been on the design table for some time, it went through final testing in the days leading up to the general orders release.

Other design considerations were ease of use, power supply longevity, and a general scaling back of the feature set. The new design philosophy was less about being prepared for anything and more along the lines of do one thing, and do it well. With the expansion of the military new recruits had to be provided with a device that was rugged and easy to use. The original Mark 1 design was heavily flawed and generally difficult to use.