In contemporary military parlance, a ready room is a waiting room where pilots are given their orders prior to going on their missions. In the Star Trek universe, a ready room is the captain's office, adjacent to the bridge, where he or she can work, while remaining available to return to the bridge at a moment's notice. Janeway's ready room desk features Richard James' distinctively functional futuristic styling and was robustly constructed for seven years of service on a television soundstage.