Subsystem: Replicators

==Subsystems: Replicators==
Replicators are one of the greates marvels of modern technology. They can create virtually any sort of food or inanimate objects, seemingly out of thin air. They actually use a variant of transporter technology to transform raw material- usually a sterilized organic particulate suspension formulated for ease of use, or recycled waste products- into other objects. This saves a ship the trouble of havign tocarry thousands of differnt types of foods, or countless bins full of spare parts. Instead, cerwmembers can simply replicate whatever they want. (Ships still carry carry supplies of crucial spare parts for times when the replicators are not fuctioning).
However, replicators are not perfect; they suffer from five major restrctions. First, they can only produce objects stored in the ship's computer's memory banks. If an object of food is not in the computer, or a crewmember doesn't have a sample to scan in, the replicators cannot produce it. Second, the larger the item replicrated, the greater the energy cost. Thus standard procedure dictates that large items are produced one part at a time, instead of all at once, which can be time-consuming. (Industrial replicators are better suited to producing large obejcts all at once.) Third, and most importantly, replicators cannot produce items at the quantum level of resolution used by transporters. Therefor living beings cannot be replicated, nor can certain items (such as some medicines) which require quantum-level resolution. (This relative lack of resolution explans why some people can discern the diffrence between replicated food and the real thing.) Fourth, some objects simply cannot be replicated for various other reasons. The most notable example is latinum, which explains its popularity of exchange. Fifth, safety interlocks prevent users form creating dangerous items (such as posions or explosives) or weapons without special uthorizations.
Starships have two types of replicators: food replicators and industrial replicators.
==Food Replicators==
Power Cost: (Size)
As their name indicates, these replicators create food and drink. They have a menu of 4,500 food and drinks items. They are located in every quarters, the bridge, recreation facilities, and other apprpriate areas of the ship.
==Industrial Replicators==
Power Cost: 2 Power per Network or Large Replicator.
Industrial replicators produce spare parts and other inanimate objects. They reange in size from units no larger than food replicators, to ones with emitter pad about 25 meters on a side (planet-based industrial replicators can be uch bigger). A network of small industrial replicators in appropriate areas of the ship (cargo holds, engineering, and so forth).
Category:Subsystem