Byrd Station Wiki - User contributions [en]

Terminology

2026-10-19T18:14:03Z

Ichthyoacanthotoxism1: Added some details as to origins of some terms, added a few details to a few terms

== Department / Job Shorthands ==

=== CC ===
'''CC''' is short for '''C'''entral '''C'''ommand.
These are the folks that oversee your station.

these are the people behind the scenes who decide that gets done with everyone after the shift is over they're almost never seen outside of the CC station unless they're doing an inspection, these are the people who the end of round reports are for, and these are the people the heads of the departments answer to.

=== NT ===
this stands for NanoTrasen, this is the company that in universe owns the space stations the game takes place on. they are also every crew members employer, this is who CC answers to.

=== NTR ===
this means [[Nanotrasen_Representative|NanoTrasen Representative]], these are the specific people from NT who audit the station and write a report on each shift/round.

=== BSO ===
this stands for [[Blueshield Officer|BlueShield Officer]]. this is CC and the department heads personal bodyguard, they generally tail around whoever is the highest rank onboard the station at any given moment.

=== SEC ===
this means security as a whole department

=== HoS ===
this refers to the [[Head of Security]], they are the head of the Security department and tend to be armed to the teeth.

=== Secoff ===
[[Security Officer|security officer]], they answer to HoS.

=== wardenloose ===
this is usually a joke used when the warden is seen outside the brig

=== HoP ===
this means [[Head of Personnel]], this one can have two meaning depending on the context, 99% of the time when this is said people mean the office of the HoP, this is where you can formally request items that someone in your role wouldn't usually have, its also where you can go to request changes to your ID, things like a chef or bartender wanting access to the botany room in order to grow ingredients themselves. this term can also refer to the actual head of personnel, whom of which is the head of the service department.

=== jani ===
this is used to refer to everyone with the [[janitor]] role/job at a given time, this is used in the same way as SEC but technically janitor falls under the service department and is not their own department, and they answer to HoP.

=== QM ===
this refers to the [[Quartermaster|Quarter-Master]], the head of the cargo department

=== Salv ===
this is used similarly to jani in that it refers to people in the [[Salvage Specialist|salvage]] role as if they were their own department when they actually fall under the Cargo department and thus answer to the QM.

=== lavaland ===
this is a salvage thing that exists outside the station, according to itchy there are two variants, hostile and mining. seen as an alternative to VGroid (VGroid, the randomly generated astreroid, also called VRoid or Redrock), and often called lava or lala. hostile lavaland spawns structures and entities while mining lavaland has a bunch of minerals and ores.

=== Cargonia ===
this is a joke about cargo declaring independence, actually doing this is strictly not allowed on byrd.

=== Engi ===
this refers to the engineering department as a whole

=== CE ===
this refers to the [[Chief Engineer]], they have a lot of responsibility as head of their department and are usually yelled at first if something goes wrong with the power, air or gravity.

=== atmos ===
the in-game guidebook says this refers to atmospherics just in general but I've only ever seen it used to refer to [[Atmospheric Technician|atmospheric technicians]], atmos is also apart of engineering and they thus answer to the CE.

=== modsuit ===
this refers to modular suits, the supposedly better version of the hardsuit, what makes it better i have no idea.

=== Med/Medi ===
this refers to the medical department as a whole

=== CMO ===
this means [[Chief Medical Officer]], they are the head of the medical department.

=== Sci ===
this refers to everyone in the Science department

=== RD ===
this refers to the [[Research Director]], they are the head of the science department and will generally be the one begged for specific research to be done along with yelled at if any anomalies cause mass damage

=== anomaly crit ===
this one I'm not entirely sure on but anytime i hear it used something bad has happened because of an anomaly, so if you hear someone saying something along the lines of 'the anomaly is going to crit' on the radio or in local chat you're gonna wanna get outta there fast if you're nearby it.

[TODO SCI STUFF]

=== Borg ===
this is a shorter way to refer to [[Cyborg|cyborgs]], they generally answer to the crew, then the RD and at the top is the station AI, though this order can vary a lot and depends on the lawset the cyborg has.

=== janibot/janiborg ===
this refers to a cyborg with a janitor chassis and they are generally treated as if they are part of the janitor role rather than science or silicon.

== general in character slang list ==

=== AOS ===
this means Arrest On Sight

=== KOS ===
this means Kill On Sight

=== AA ===
this means All Access, the in-game byrd guidebook says the captain is the only one who should have this under normal circumstances but all cyborgs actually get this by default too! this is especially useful as a janibot because it means that you can get into places a normal janitor can't!

== general OOC slang list ==

=== IC ===
this means In Character, this is how the vast majority of the game is played, with you speaking as your character using only knowledge that your character should reasonably have.

=== OOC ===
this means Out Of Character, its when players are talking to each other as real people and not as their in-game characters, in order to communicate like this you have to use the OOC or LOOC chat.

=== LOOC ===
this means Local Out Of Character, this is the same thing as above but using the local version that way so if you have a question or thought on something currently happening in the role-play that you don't blab it for the whole server to hear, 99% of the time if a round is active and you have something you want to say OOC you should use LOOC chat instead of global OOC to avoid spoiling info for others.

=== Ick Ock ===
this is what will probably get yelled out in global OOC chat if someone spoils current round info, this is usually used in a slight poking fun manner but can also summon an admin if they were previously unaware that someone spoiled current round info, I've yet to see any actually punishment handed out for someone doing this as it's always been on accident when I've seen it, I'm sure someone doing this maliciously would get kicked pretty swiftly though.

=== Bwoink/Bwoinked ===
Originates in an onomatopoeia for the sound effect that plays when a user is sent a message from an administrator.

this refers to when you get an in-game message from an admin using the aHelp menu, the in-game guidebook is all ominous about it saying 'pray it isn't a ban' but the admins on byrd are really chill and considerate so if they're talking to you its probably either to check on you or a gentle 'hey don't do that'

=== Gibbed ===
Originates from the word "giblet", which refers to the internal organs of an animal.

this means there wasn't a body to revive when someone died, generally when someone says they 'got gibbed' that means they died so forcefully they became a pile of organs

=== Failrp ===
Originates from a shortening of "'''fail'''ed '''r'''ole'''p'''lay".

this is when someone uses the wrong channel when typing somthing, ie; writing a speech response and then sending it as an emote would be failrp

=== Antag ===
Originates from a shortening of "'''antag'''onist".

Refers to a character or entity whose goals go against the general health and safety of the station. Antagonists come in many different shapes and sizes, and are often given special tools to aid them in completing their job.

=== Self-Antag ===
Originates from a shortening of "'''self-antag'''onist".

Refers to [[Passenger|a person]] who has decided to perform antagonistic actions without rolling an antagonist role.

While self-antag is usually considered a rulebreak, actions clearly stemming from roleplay that would otherwise fall under this category may be considered permissible.

=== AHelp ===
Originates from a shortening of "'''a'''dmin '''help'''".

Refers to sending a message to the administrators via f1 or being sent a message by the administrators (see 'bwoink').

==== Ling ====
Originates from a shortening of "change'''ling'''".

this refers to changelings

=== Sling ===
Originates from a shortening of "'''s'''hadow'''ling'''". Used to avoid conflict with Ling.

== terms used both IC and OOC ==

=== Maints ===
this just means the maintenance tunnels, for the most part anyone can enter these areas freely, but some doors that lead into specific departments are usually restricted to only be opened by that department.

=== dispos ===
this means disposals, it refers to the never working trash grinding machine that you might see in maints behind the janitors room, nobody's in change of it and i dont think it actually is able to do anything?

Research Director

2026-10-19T18:01:16Z

Ichthyoacanthotoxism1: Moved stuff in Research Director... again.

[[Category:Roles]]
{{Template:Role_card
|title = Research Director
|image = [[File:Hand teleporter.png|245px]]
|subtitle = Research Director Aurea Starseeker, sitting at her desk with the Hand-Held Teleporter.
|department = Science
|supervisors = Captain, NTR
|subordinates = All of Science
|roleplay_difficulty = High
|mechanical_difficulty = Medium}}
= Introduction =
So, you have made it. You have survived the countless brushes with death endemic to science and are finally at the top. You are the Research Director, the head of the most explosive department on the station. Settle in and hope that your time getting acquainted with your new office is not interrupted by someone blowing themselves up.

= Overview =
As the Research Director, you are expected to ensure your scientists do their job properly. You generally decide which technologies are researched, however, be aware that this is not an ability exclusive to the Director, and a sufficiently laid-back Director may find their scientists a little too happy to research technologies on their own without first consulting you.

It is a good idea to communicate with the [[Jobs:Links/Roles#Command|heads of other departments]] to ensure you are researching technologies as efficiently as possible. For example, if there is known Syndicate presence on the station, it is probably a better idea to research Scarlet technologies instead of construction bags of holding. If the Captain does not speak Galactic Common, it may be wise to invest in translator implanters instead of the H.O.N.K Mech. The list of what should and should not be researched at any given time varies between shifts, and it is ultimately your job to come to the conclusion as to what would be the most beneficial for the crew.

= Responsibilities =
The main job of the Research Director is directing research. With the exception of [[Research_Assistant|research assistants]], the Science department tends to be rather independent.
Once you have ensured that [[Anomalies|each]] [[Xenoarchaeology|sub-]] [[Xenobiology|department]] has had an appropriate number of employees assigned to it, you will generally not need to micromanage the work of your employees.

As a short, but far-from-exhaustive list, the responsibilities of the Research Director include:

* Ensuring [[Research_Assistant|your]] [[Scientist|employees]] do not attempt to activate the "Imminent Doom" [[Xenoarchaeology|node]]
* Keeping track of all of the [[Anomalies|anomalies]] and determining whether to keep or destroy them
* Preventing [[Xenobiology]] from keeping two hundred slimes in one pen
* Preventing [[Xenobiology]] from making war crimes
* Preventing [[Roboticist|Robotics]] from [[Cyborg|borging]] [[Research_Assistant|your interns]]
* Fixing the [[Station_AI|Station AI]] when it begins trying to flood distro with plasma for "the health of the crew"

Similarly to every other department head, the Director is expected to thoroughly understand the ins-and-outs of their department. If and when things go wrong, as they inevitably will, it is your job to keep Science in order.

= Tools =
The Research Director's locker comes filled with a few handy items. Of the "ordinary" items, these will be a filled tool belt, a multitool, a power drill (on certain stations), and an anomaly locator containing with a small power cell. Alongside these four, the Director is provided a menagerie of Director-exclusive trinkets.

== Hand Teleporter ==
This is the ace of a Research Director's toolkit. It is both incredibly powerful and incredibly underutilized. The Hand Teleporter allows the creation of two portals: one orange, one blue. Using the Hand Teleporter will cycle through three actions: firstly, placing an orange portal; secondly, placing a blue portal; and finally, using it a third time will clear both portals, allowing a new set of portals to be created.

If both an orange and blue portal are created, a link will exist between them. Anything that passes through one portal will come out the other portal moving with the exact same velocity and direction.

If only an orange portal exists, it will teleport anything that walks through it into a semi-random position. Generally, this position will be in the direction whatever was attempting to traverse the portal was attempting to go, allowing the Director to, with a small amount of luck, phase through thin walls.

What you should NOT do with the teleporter:

* Create a portal from Science to Cargo for "convenience." It is Cargo's job to haul cargo, not yours. Make Bluespace carpets.
* Create a portal from Science to Medical for "convenience." Turn your coordinates on and/or tell Medical before you do something stupid.

The Research Director's Hand Teleporter does not work between different grids. You cannot construct a portal from Cargo to the ATS or from somewhere hazardous to the Emergency Shuttle.

The Hand Teleporter's capabilities are functionally limited only by the Director's imagination. It can, depending on the circumstances, be used as a weapon, a getaway route, a trap; so on, so forth.

== Science Door Remote ==
[[File:Remote Normal.png|thumb|Aurea looking at the door remote and a door that looks very remotable. ]]
This remote is a Science-flavoured version of the Door Remote given to every department head. It has three modes: toggling the bolts on a door, toggling the emergency access of a door, and opening/closing the door.

== Intellicard ==
The Intellicard is a card capable of storing and uploading a single artificial intelligence. This is most commonly utilized to transport the Station AI from its core to Central Command at the end of a shift, but has a variety of other interactions regarding "sapient" electronics. It interfaces with positronic brains, personal AIs, simplebots such as weldbots or cleanbots, vending machines, and other similar player-controllable machines.

== AX-32 "Gemini" Holoprojector Rig ==
The AX-32 "Gemini" Holoprojector Rig, often shortened to "Gemini", is a piece of equipment fitting into the belt slot that will open up a Familiar ghostrole. This Gemini is an exact copy of its wearer, minus the contents of your pockets. As is with every ghostrole, the usefulness of a Gemini can range from as useful as a second Director to an active hinderance to department operations. The Gemini is fragile but does not need to breathe and is incredibly good at space movement, and, so long as the AX-32's wearer is alive, can be instantaneously recalled or revived, rendering it functionally "immortal". When a Gemini is destroyed, all of its accumulated items will drop onto the ground in a pile, and the Gemini's consciousness will be returned to the holoprojector rig.

== Research Director's Hardsuit / "Minerva" Modsuit ==
[[File:Aurea Hardsuit Selector.png|thumb|216x216px|Aurea staring at the hardsuit selector. ]]
[[File:RD Hardsuit Selector Screen.png|thumb|244x244px|The hardsuit selector screen.]]
Depending on the station, the Research Director's Hardsuit Selector will appear either in its own specialized box, or alongside the rest of the Director's belongings in their locker. Alongside the Hardsuit Selector, there will be an air mask, a tank of oxygen, and a tank of nitrogen. Utilizing the Hardsuit Selector will pull up a menu asking you to select one of two choices: the Research Director's Hardsuit or the Minerva Modsuit.

Both the Hardsuit and the Modsuit function identically to every other Hardsuit and Modsuit, with the Hardsuit being worn on the outer clothing layer and the Modsuit taking up the backpack slot. Generally, it is up to the Director whether they prefer the Hardsuit or the Modsuit. All of the Director's important belongings can fit inside the Minerva Modsuit, often with room to spare, so space is not as much of an issue as it would be for some other Command roles.

The Director's Hardsuit and Modsuit are both well-equipped to resist explosion and radiation damage, though struggle greatly regarding brute damage types.

== Silicon-Interfacing HUD / Glasses ==
The Silicon-Interfacing HUD / Glasses allow their wearer to access the Binary channel via the prefix +b. It is the Silicon hivemind, usually accessible only by the Station AI and any Borgs that may be on-station. It is a good idea to check in with your silicons regularly to ensure that none of them are malfunctioning. The glasses also provide some amount of flash protection.

= Roundstart =
At the start of the round, it is best to converse with your Scientists to discuss the rough research plans for the day and to discuss who is partaking in what sub-department of Science. Generally, it will fall upon you to retrieve the 30 Gold and Silver from the vault, usually for the purpose of constructing the AI a B.O.R.I.S.

Research Assistant

2026-10-19T17:52:54Z

Ichthyoacanthotoxism1: added overview and details to the RA card

[[Category:Roles]]
{{Template:Role_card
|title = Research Assistant
|image = [[File:Placeholder.png|245px]]
|subtitle =
|department = Science
|supervisors = Research Director, Roboticists, Scientists
|subordinates = Passengers
|roleplay_difficulty = Low
|mechanical_difficulty = Medium
|comms = Common, Science
|accesses = Science
|time_requirements = 0h30m Overall Playtime}}
= Introduction =
The Research Assistant is the introductory role for NanoTrasen's most self-destructive department.

= Overview =
The main purpose of Research Assistants is to learn the ins-and-outs of the Science department.
Research Assistants should familiarize themselves with the mechanics of [[Anomalies|anomalies]], [[Xenoarchaeology|artifacts]], and [[Xenobiology|slimes]].

[[Cargo_Technician|Various]] [[Station_Engineer|people]] will often make requests of the Science Department. If the chance arises, it is a good idea for Research Assistants to get a solid foundation on who will want what, even if they do not necessarily have the means or permission to fulfill these requests.

While this won't be listed on the job description, it's a good idea to watch out for [[Roboticist|certain members]] of the Science Department who would jump at the chance to turn a Research Assistant into [[Cyborg|one of their experiments.]]

= Tools =
TBA