Tactical Computer

The Tactical subsystems takes care of the following functions.

Processing Tactical Officer input.
- Raise and lower deflector shields.
- Enable and disable the cloak device.
- Engage and disengage evasive tactics.
- Prepare and fire a phaserbank, photon torpedo or an anti-matter probe.
Handling Tactical Officer output.
- Issue warning messages about deflector shields operational status.
- Report the operational status of all (average) or one specific deflector shield.
- Report the operational status of phaserbanks,
  the amount of photon torpedo or anti-matter probe available.
Tracking the location of a fired missile (photon torpedo or anti-matter probe).

With the Tactical Function/Location buttons you invoke the specific tactical subfunction processor.
The tactical keypad with the small display (shown below), the keyboard and sections of the right-hand panels are for input to the Tactical Computer System. With the keypad you can enter a specific phaserbank or torpedo/anti-matter probe launch tube location [fore, aft, top, bottom, port or starboard] and the coordinates of a target. With the keyboard you can enter the name of a target.

When the small CRT at the right-hand side, mid section, is allocated to the Tactical station a 'help' display can be shown.
Press the Tactical Function Request button, "TFR", to pull up the 'help' screen.
As a response the TFR button lamp is lit.

When all Location buttons and any Function button(s) are pressed and "TFR" is pressed again, the 'help' text is shown and the TFR button lamp is turned off.

TFR Function code Location code EXEC

	When all Location buttons and any Function button(s) are pressed and "TFR" is pressed again, the 'help' text is shown and the TFR button lamp is turned off.
TFR Function code Location code EXEC

offensive tactical FUNCTION / LOCATION codes coordinates object PHASERBANKS 010 011 000 = by TACTICAL PHOTON TORPEDO 100 101 computer ANTI-MATTER PROBE 110 111 xxx = specified by entry defensive tactical FUNCTION / LOCATION codes DISPLAY SHIELD 000 LOC: 111=all , xxx=specified LOAD SHIELD 001 LOC: 000=all , xxx=specified LOCATION codes description 001 - fore 011 - aft 101 - top 010 - starboard 100 - port 110 - bottom ............................................................... ...............................................................

the 'help' display

Star Ship locations

As you can see, all commands have the option to specify a specific location.
The location is one of the sides of the Star Ship. For example, if you want to fire a phaser you must know at what side the target is relative to the Star Ship. If you select the wrong phaserbank it is obvious that you will not inflict any damage onto the target.
Firing a photon torpedo or an anti-matter probe from a launch tube that is not directed towards the target is not a problem as the missile plots its own trajectory to the target coordinates. The impact effect, however, can be less effective because of the travelled distance. The further away the target, the less effective the weapon becomes.
It is possible to let the Tactical Computer determine the best choice what phaserbank to use. The penalty is that this will use some extra resources. The amount of energy of the Dilithium crystals is not limitless...

	port		top
	starboard		bottom
	fore		aft