Patryk Mazur - Kodu
Sania Mehta - Calumet
Hu Mingli - Meili
Matheus Oliveira - Calumet
Jane Paxton - Bahay
Guadalupe Rivera - Parchman
Notes on Navigational Notation
The Commonwealth Space Force uses the following standards with respect to navigational bearings and distances.
Navigational bearing and distance are specified as:
rotation mark/minus elevation (on point) (at distance)
All such references are with respect to a point, a baseline, and a plane.
If no point is specified, the point is the ship, the baseline is the long axis of the ship projected through the bows, and the plane is defined by the plane of the ship with the command cylinder(s) considered to be 'up'.
If another ship is specified as the point, such as 'on the enemy', the point is the enemy ship, the baseline is the vector of the enemy ship's velocity, and the plane is the plane of the ecliptic.
If a planet is specified as the point, the point is the planet, the baseline is a line from the planet to the sun, and the plane is the plane of the ecliptic.
If a sun is specified as the point, the point is the sun, the baseline is a line from the sun to the primary inhabited planet, and the plane is the ecliptic.
If the galactic center is specified as the point, the point is the galactic center, the line is the line from the galactic center to the ship, and the plane is the plane of the galactic lens.
Bearing angles are always specified as 'number-number-number'. Designations such as 'ninety-three' and 'one-eighty' are not permitted. These are correctly specified as 'zero-nine-three' and 'one-eight-zero'. An exception occurs for 'zero-zero-zero', which may be stated simply as 'zero', such as in 'zero mark zero' or 'zero mark one-eight-zero'.
These rules were standardized by the CSF after the War Of Independence. Prior to that time, the less formal designations were often used.
rotation is specified as 'number-number-number' in degrees clockwise from the projection of the baseline onto the plane when viewed from above. Leading zeroes are included, not dropped. number-number-number runs from zero-zero-zero to three-six-zero.
If the point is the ship, 'above' means from above the ship with the command cylinder(s) considered to be 'up'.
If the point is an enemy ship, a planet, or the sun, 'above' means from the north side of the solar system as determined by the right-hand rule: with the fingers of the right hand in the direction of orbit of the planets, the thumb points north.
If the point is the galactic center, 'above' means from the north side of the galaxy, as determined by the right hand rule applied to the rotation of the stars about the galactic center.
elevation is specified as 'mark/minus number-number-number' in degrees up/down from the plane. 'mark' is used for bearings above the plane, and 'minus' is used for bearings below the plane. 'Above' is defined as for rotation. Leading zeroes are included, not dropped. number-number-number runs from zero-zero-zero to one-eight-zero.
distance is specified in light-units, most frequently in light-seconds.
Acronyms and Terms
AAR – After Action Report.
below decks – cylinders on a ship containing enlisted quarters and mechanical areas such as propulsion, weapons control, etc.
bogey – an unidentified contact, such as on radar.
bulkhead – wall on a spaceship.
CFP – Commonwealth of Free Planets.
CNO – Chief of Naval Operations.
Commonwealth – Commonwealth of Free Planets.
CPS – ship prefix, Commonwealth Passenger Ship.
CSF – Commonwealth Space Force.
CSS – ship prefix, Commonwealth Space Ship.
deadhead – make a trip aboard ship while not serving; guest; ferry.
deck – floor in a spaceship.
deckhead – ceiling in a spaceship, with a room directly above.
division – half of a squadron; in CSF, four ships.
door – physical closure on a doorway; may not be airtight.
doorway – opening in a bulkhead.
ENS – ship prefix, Earth Navy Ship.
ESN – Earth Space Navy.
EVA – Extra-Vehicular Activity. Working outside the ship, in space.
Exam – Citizenship Exam of the Commonwealth of Free Planets.
g – one gravity, the amount of gravity one feels on Earth.
Goat Locker – Chief's Mess on a ship.
hatch – airtight cover on a hatchway in a deckhead or overhead.
hatchway – opening in a deckhead or overhead, with a hatch.
HQ – Headquarters.
IS – interstellar.
ladderway – opening in a deckhead or overhead, without a hatch.
light-second – distance light travels in one second; 186,282 miles.
light-year – distance light travels in one year; 5.88 trillion miles.
low-g – low gravity; gravity under 0.2 g.
MP – Military Police.
OGS – ship prefix, Orlov Group Ship.
overhead – ceiling in a spaceship, without a room directly above.
PhD – Doctor of Philosophy; the most advanced degree in a field.
R&R – Rest and Recuperation.
section – half of a division; in CSF, two ships.
squadron – group of ships under one command; in CSF, eight ships.
system periphery – published boundary inside which hyperspace cruise and transition are dangerous to the ship.
topside – cylinder(s) on a ship containing officer's quarters and command & control areas like the bridge, CIC, etc.
UJ – University of Jablonka.
XO – Executive Officer, First Officer.
zero-g – completely weightless; in free fall.
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