
Captain Ed Mercer deploys a Krill distress beacon.
A distress beacon was a semi-automated system used to alert other ships, stations, or shuttlecraft of an emergency and to indicate the relative position of the sender.
In the early 25th century, distress beacons were used by at least the Krill[1] and Planetary Union[2] but possibly by other civilizations as well. The Union distress beacon was a messaging system that was part of a shuttlecraft. The Krill distress beacon was very different than its Union counterpart; a Krill distress beacon was a portable, remote device used on land in cases of emergencies to signal help.
Planetary Union distress beacon[]
A distress beacon was part of each shuttle to send emergency signals even in the event that the shuttle was no longer operational. The Union's distress beacon was not an independent device as found among the Krill. A distress beacon signal was emitted through the shuttle's panel, which meant that the beacon depended on the craft's dysonium-based power supply - a fact which posed a problem for Union personnel if their shuttle's store of dysonium had depleted.[2]
Krill distress beacon[]

Interface of a Krill distress beacon.
A distress beacon was found in every escape pod and was transportable by backpack. The device was mounted upon a tripod. It had two antenna and a user interface. While the function of the buttons of the panel is largely unknown, the lower right black button sent the distress signal.[1]
Distress beacons emitted a distress signal "on a Krill frequency."[3]
See also[]
- Communication buoy - A messaging beacon left in space that could send a distress call