Here’s another look inside the making of the U.S.S. Enterprise D. We were focused on these areas after receiving our latest improved sample from our factory and let them know a little more about how the ship needs to work.

After reviewing the latest sample we would like to confirm the saucer section to have a secondary power source so that lights and sound can be maintained in the saucer section when separated.

We spoke early on about button-type battery cells in the saucer section. I have outlined where I would like to have the button cells placed. The panel on the ship will be snapped on whereas the main battery door will be screwed on.

Currently there are 3 lights in the saucer section: the 2 rear impulse engines lights and the bridge dome light.

Note the play function for the saucer section is revised and will be as follows:

1- When back button is pressed and saucer section is attached, all lights will remain on including on the saucer section until pressed again. When the button is pressed and saucer section is detached the lights remain on until pressed, same as when saucer is attached. If the button on the saucer section is pressed while the lights are on, the lights will blink in sequence and then remain on until the back button is pressed again.

2- The button on the top of the saucer section will activate sounds as usual but the following phrase-sound will be removed from normal playback “emergencysaucersep.” Also I am revising this phrase, so eliminate it and see function below.

3- When the saucer section is separated, the saucer section will automatically sound the following phrase “emergencysaucersepREV”+”Undocking Saucer Noise”

For exclusive version, when saucer is separated only “Undocking Saucer Noise” will activate. All other functions remain the same.

4- When detached the saucer section will playback sounds as if it was attached to rest of ship.

5- When the saucer section is placed back on, the ship will activate the following sound “Undocking Saucer Noise”

Also, can you let me know how long the sound chips can be? We’ve got a lot of sounds we’d like to include.

They replied:

After studying with the sound chip programmer about your new specifications, they need the additional IC for circuit control.

The I/O contact pins may be increased from 4pcs to 6pcs.

Also, they’re concerned about the shorter battery life if no auto-sleep engaged after the button activates the LEDs.

We recommend to add the auto-sleep feature after 60 secs to prolong batteries.

And since we knew we wanted the light to stay on as long as people wanted to keep it on, we went with:

Noted on sound chips, do whatever you can to reduce contact pins.

Remove the auto-sleep. Have shut-off be manual. We are not concerned about battery life if the consumer wishes the item to remain on. It is like a flashlight, you would not have auto shut-off on a flashlight.

Which brings us to the final response:

Noted for your information with thanks! To avoid any mis-understanding. Enclosed please find the Play pattern of Star Trek Enterprise D. Please kindly let me know that it is correct or not?

And of course a look at just how complicated this darn thing is going to be by the time I’m done with it!