Probe Storage
This page is a Work in Progress as much of the lore/Development for the game is yet to be established.
The Probe Storage area is a room designed to store and launch probes. It is managed by the Operations department, but is more than likely going to be used predominantly by science personnel who are most invested in gathering materials for analysis. Probe Storage is used to collect samples for studies, though may also feature probe maintenance and construction facilities once the area is fully provisioned in the game.
Location and Design
On a Magellan Class vessel, the Probe Storage area is found in the aft area of C Deck, as part of the ship's primary science and research facilities. It can be accessed via the aft-corridor leading to Ring 2.
The room is separated into two sections: one for probe operations and the other dedicated to storing collected samples. The former is the main compartment, effectively a large hangar located adjacent to the rear upper surface of the ship to allow unimpeded egress of probes into space. Probes are stored and maintained here. Probes are launched through one half of a doubly sectioned portal into outer space and return to the ship through the adjacent half, thus avoiding collisions. This arrangement has the benefit of allowing more efficient and safer traffic control of probes undergoing movement to and from the portal back into their parking spaces around the hangar, in what is essentially a hazardous working environment. Unused probes are currently stored on the port side of the hangar.
The storage samples room is located at the entrance to the facility acting like a portico separating the hangar from the ship itself. It is used to temporarily retain samples awaiting collection by members of (mostly) various laboratories on C-Deck. The storage room features three different sizes of shelving accommodating each of the standard containers probes are capable of transporting.
In future updates, Probe Storage is expected to feature an airlock for probes to ensure crew safety whilst probes leave from and return to the ship.
Planned Functionality
Once fully implemented, the Probe Storage area will necessarily feature specialised equipment needed to build and maintain probes; possibly also to modify them too. It will be operated and controlled by the operations department, with Deck Crew members assigned to run the facility itself. The Probe Storage equipment will include various control consoles and 3-D printers. It's intended primarily as a facility for collecting samples, which can be sent on to Science Labs to perform studies and experiments, contributing to the science department's capabilities. Other types of probes, other than for collections, (e.g., traditionally electronic surveillance, planetary communications relays, electronic warfare, mine laying even, etc.) are not beyond the bounds of possibility although not at this early stage of development being contemplated; however, a probe facility is undoubtedly a versatile enhancement to an exploration vessel tasked with Magellan class mission parameters.