Communicators

The communicator is the intermediate step between spacial chat and long-range comms. Worn on one's person at (almost) all times, the communicator is most commonly used for person-to-person dialogue aboard starships or facilities, among squads, and between the two.

Privacy
The communicator is not intended to be used for private discussion. When a character uses their communicator, both sides of their conversation can be seen in the spacial chat window (and of course, speech bubbles appear over the head of the person using the communicator, as will 'transmission bubbles' displaying the text of the person they are talking to).

Who can be called?
A player need only click on the 'communicator' icon in their user-interface to open the communicator menu. Here, the player is presented with a list of individuals they may call, depending on that player's status:

Civilians
Civilians may call:
 * Friends aboard the same ship, planet, or facility.

Citizens
In addition to the above, citizens may:
 * Place emergency calls to the Medical or Security departments of faction-aligned ships or facilities they are aboard.

Crewmen
In addition to the above, crewmen may call:
 * The Chief of their department.

Chiefs
In addition to the above, Chiefs may:
 * Call the Chiefs of the other departments aboard their ship or facility.
 * Call the Captain.
 * Make announcements to all crewmen (both on- and off-duty) in their department.

Captains
In addition to the above, Captains may:
 * Make announcements to all crew (both on- and off-duty) and passengers aboard their vessel.
 * Call the Admiral of the fleet (if their ship is a part of one).

Admirals
In addition to the above, Admirals may:
 * Make announcements to all crew (both on- and off-duty) and passengers in their fleet.

Squads
Squads are a special case, wherein the rules above are cast aside. In addition to any friends who may happen to be aboard the same ship, planet, or facility the squad is visiting, members of squads have the option to call any other member of the squad, regardless of rank or status, or the entire squad as a whole (only the Leader of the squad may call back to the Captain [or acting-Captain] aboard their ship, however.)