The Admiral nods to John and then turns to Andrew, "Give it a try, Hope did say the communication grid was working." If Andrew does so he'll have access to some basic functions of the ship (though nothing of great or life-threatening importance), as well as having Hope speak into his ear.
About half-way to the bridge, all the terminals turn on with Hurst's face on them. She says, her voice echoing slightly, "The engines are working just fine, we are forwarding the logs to the bridge for Mr. Costa to look at." The terminals shut back off. Quite a feat, after 30 years of continuous acceleration and another 20 of deceleration.
The main module ends in a large blast door, about twice the height of an average man. The Admiral places his palm against the door and his hand sinks in just past the wrist. After a moment the polymer of the blast door shifts from the dusty-white of the rest of the ship into a deep gun-metal colour before the top half slides into the roof and the bottom half falls into the floor.
Beyond is the bridge, which is similar to the rest of the ship, but the floor is made out of a light-gray metal. Ackland is the first through, his boots connect with the floor and he stays. "I never really liked flying..." he mutters and walks (somewhat awkwardly due to the magnetic boots) toward the closest console.
The bridge is arranged like a three disk Tower of Hanoi set, but as semi-circles rather than full circles. The smallest disk (and the highest) has only a single high-backed chair (built from the ever present white polymer). The armrests end in two metal balls, which act as a sort of trackball for the user. The second disk has the most common positions on a bridge. Pilot, co-pilot, weapons station, defense station, communications, etc. The last, lowest and largest disk usually has ensigns ready to do any task (Such as the Communications Officer using them to relay messages when she cannot handle them all herself).
"Get the sensors station working. I'll try to turn on the external cameras," Ackland orders. The bridge has no windows, glass breaks too easily, especially if it has to endure 50 years of micrometeorite hits. Instead the Hope has external cameras and the inside of the bridge has large flat-screens that display the outside environment. (Something akin to active camouflage).
