Observation lounge (Star Trek)
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In the fictional Star Trek universe, the Observation or Conference lounge on Galaxy and Sovereign class starships is analogous to the Briefing room on earlier Starfleet vessels. First appearing in the series Star Trek: The Next Generation aboard the USS Enterprise-D, it is used for senior staff briefings as well as various other meetings, gatherings, and events. On both ship classes it is located immediately aft of the Bridge on deck one and faces to the rear of the ship, the outer wall of the lounge actually consisting of the ship’s hull itself on the back side of the Bridge module.
[edit] Galaxy class
On Galaxy class ships the lounge is long and curved, echoing the curve of the hull of the Bridge module. A long, narrow conference table, matching the curve of the room itself sits in its center. The conference table seats and provides LCARS access for ten, with the Captain usually sitting at its head. Two doors leading to corridors exit from the room, one to Port and one to Starboard, the Starboard one leading onto the Bridge proper. A large display screen used for briefings is located next to the Starboard access door and between it and the outer wall. The lounge has seven large floor to ceiling transparent aluminum viewports looking rearward out over the back of the saucer section and the Warp nacelles. In early seasons of the series sculptured relief models of the various Enterprise ship designs decorated the interior wall, these were removed during the last two seasons.
[edit] Sovereign class
The Sovereign class lounge, as found aboard the USS Enterprise-E, is very similar to the Galaxy class in design, with the same relative location in the ship, same shape, and the same type of briefing room table, also with a capacity of ten individuals. Differences include the Sovereign layout lacking having any viewports, also, instead of a wall decoration, actual models of the various Enterprise named ships are housed in a large glass display case. The Sovereign lounge features a large ship’s system status display flanked on either side by doors which lead directly onto the Bridge.
