Navigator

Ships that travel between star-systems in Hyperspace require a crew member known as a Navigator. A Navigator will take a drug called Phantom and directly interface with the ship's central computer system using with brain implants and essentially become part of the ship. The computer interface extends the Navigator's mental abilities and physical awareness, they see and feel the world around them using optical, thermal and radiation sensors on the ship and use that knowledge to plot paths and direct ships through Hyperspace, making critical course corrections to ensure the safety of the ship and crew.

As normal ship sensors cannot see far through the dust clouds, the navigator uses Phantom to extend their own physical awareness. They'll be able to feel beyond the ship's sensors becoming hyper aware and able to reach beyond the local area of the ship and through the clouds.

Being a Navigator requires immense mental strength to endure the toll that is forced upon them. They'll be trained in virtual reality from a young age and often take the highly addictive psychoactive drug Phantom to aid in interfacing with the computers.

The Navigator sits behind the pilots of ships. Their minds are connected directly with the ship's computer via cables and wear a headset that covers their eyes to allow them to see the world around them.