From 7c19a7d1de4e44c5da0760e7417a6898efabe8b6 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: eoineoineoin <helloworld@eoinrul.es>
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2026 18:38:21 +0000
Subject: [PATCH] Improve UX and visuals of communications console  (#41899)

* Implment mockup of comms console UI

* Fix broadcast broken by 31823

* Separate announce/broadcast functionality

* Tweak resizing behaviour; make window wider by default

* Split up comms console into different widgets

Makes each section of the UI easier to understand
Apply some cleanup, renames, make consistent with style guide, etc.

* Polishing, todos, missing pieces

* Consolidate button border images. Allow more accent colours with geometric_panel_border

* Resolve some TODOs, small polish

* Fix warning

* Revert modification to StripeBack

Old texture relied on two stripe colours, had to replicate with only styles.
Split out a new version with tweakable modulation

* Make UI more boring

* Some element shuffling, style changing

* Remove some leftover changes

* Remove more leftovers

* Fix warnings

* Feedback; remove unused bits, dependencies, formatting, highlight
---
 .../CommunicationsConsoleComponent.cs         |  14 ++
 ...CommunicationsConsoleBoundUserInterface.cs |  63 +++----
 .../UI/CommunicationsConsoleMenu.xaml         |  74 ++------
 .../UI/CommunicationsConsoleMenu.xaml.cs      | 159 +++++-------------
 .../UI/Widgets/AlertLevelControls.xaml        |  22 +++
 .../UI/Widgets/AlertLevelControls.xaml.cs     | 146 ++++++++++++++++
 .../UI/Widgets/MessagingControls.xaml         |  30 ++++
 .../UI/Widgets/MessagingControls.xaml.cs      | 116 +++++++++++++
 .../UI/Widgets/ShuttleControls.xaml           |  31 ++++
 .../UI/Widgets/ShuttleControls.xaml.cs        |  67 ++++++++
 .../communications-console-component.ftl      |  33 +++-
 11 files changed, 535 insertions(+), 220 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 Content.Client/Communications/CommunicationsConsoleComponent.cs
 create mode 100644 Content.Client/Communications/UI/Widgets/AlertLevelControls.xaml
 create mode 100644 Content.Client/Communications/UI/Widgets/AlertLevelControls.xaml.cs
 create mode 100644 Content.Client/Communications/UI/Widgets/MessagingControls.xaml
 create mode 100644 Content.Client/Communications/UI/Widgets/MessagingControls.xaml.cs
 create mode 100644 Content.Client/Communications/UI/Widgets/ShuttleControls.xaml
 create mode 100644 Content.Client/Communications/UI/Widgets/ShuttleControls.xaml.cs

diff --git a/Content.Client/Communications/CommunicationsConsoleComponent.cs b/Content.Client/Communications/CommunicationsConsoleComponent.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5fdb2771da
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Content.Client/Communications/CommunicationsConsoleComponent.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+using Content.Shared.Communications;
+using Robust.Shared.Prototypes;
+
+namespace Content.Client.Communications;
+
+[RegisterComponent]
+public sealed partial class CommunicationsConsoleComponent : SharedCommunicationsConsoleComponent
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     The prototype ID to use in the UI to show what entities a broadcast will display on
+    /// </summary>
+    [DataField]
+    public EntProtoId ScreenDisplayId = "Screen";
+}
diff --git a/Content.Client/Communications/UI/CommunicationsConsoleBoundUserInterface.cs b/Content.Client/Communications/UI/CommunicationsConsoleBoundUserInterface.cs
index 9366e3ad12..1a26ffd191 100644
--- a/Content.Client/Communications/UI/CommunicationsConsoleBoundUserInterface.cs
+++ b/Content.Client/Communications/UI/CommunicationsConsoleBoundUserInterface.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-using Content.Shared.CCVar;
+using Content.Shared.CCVar;
 using Content.Shared.Chat;
 using Content.Shared.AlertLevel;
 using Content.Shared.Communications;
@@ -23,41 +23,36 @@ public sealed partial class CommunicationsConsoleBoundUserInterface(EntityUid ow
         base.Open();
 
         _menu = this.CreateWindow<CommunicationsConsoleMenu>();
-        _menu.OnAnnounce += AnnounceButtonPressed;
-        _menu.OnBroadcast += BroadcastButtonPressed;
-        _menu.OnAlertLevel += AlertLevelSelected;
-        _menu.OnEmergencyLevel += EmergencyShuttleButtonPressed;
+        _menu.OnRadioAnnounce += RadioAnnounceButtonPressed;
+        _menu.OnScreenBroadcast += ScreenBroadcastButtonPressed;
+        _menu.OnAlertLevelChanged += AlertLevelSelected;
+        _menu.OnShuttleCalled += CallShuttle;
+        _menu.OnShuttleRecalled += RecallShuttle;
+
+        if (EntMan.TryGetComponent<CommunicationsConsoleComponent>(Owner, out var console))
+        {
+            _menu.SetBroadcastDisplayEntity(console.ScreenDisplayId);
+        }
     }
 
     public void AlertLevelSelected(ProtoId<AlertLevelPrototype> level)
     {
-        if (_menu!.AlertLevelSelectable)
-        {
-            // TODO: This does not work until the console UI is predicted and uses component states.
-            // Also someone decided to send BUI states regularly in an update loop, so this just gets randomly bulldozed until the message reaches the server.
-            // _menu.CurrentAlertLevel = level;
-            // _menu.AlertLevelSelectable = false;
-            // _menu.AlertLevelButton.Disabled = true;
-            SendMessage(new CommunicationsConsoleSelectAlertLevelMessage(level));
-        }
+        // TODO: This does not work until the console UI is predicted and uses component states.
+        // Also someone decided to send BUI states regularly in an update loop, so this just gets randomly bulldozed until the message reaches the server.
+        // _menu.CurrentAlertLevel = level;
+        // _menu.AlertLevelSelectable = false;
+        // _menu.AlertLevelButton.Disabled = true;
+        SendMessage(new CommunicationsConsoleSelectAlertLevelMessage(level));
     }
 
-    public void EmergencyShuttleButtonPressed()
-    {
-        if (_menu!.CountdownStarted)
-            RecallShuttle();
-        else
-            CallShuttle();
-    }
-
-    public void AnnounceButtonPressed(string message)
+    public void RadioAnnounceButtonPressed(string message)
     {
         var maxLength = _cfg.GetCVar(CCVars.ChatMaxAnnouncementLength);
         var msg = SharedChatSystem.SanitizeAnnouncement(message, maxLength);
         SendMessage(new CommunicationsConsoleAnnounceMessage(msg));
     }
 
-    public void BroadcastButtonPressed(string message)
+    public void ScreenBroadcastButtonPressed(string message)
     {
         SendMessage(new CommunicationsConsoleBroadcastMessage(message));
     }
@@ -87,23 +82,11 @@ public sealed partial class CommunicationsConsoleBoundUserInterface(EntityUid ow
 
         if (_menu != null)
         {
-            _menu.CanAnnounce = commsState.CanAnnounce;
-            _menu.CanBroadcast = commsState.CanBroadcast;
-            _menu.CanCall = commsState.CanCall;
-            _menu.CountdownStarted = commsState.CountdownStarted;
-            _menu.CountdownEnd = commsState.ExpectedCountdownEnd;
+            var currentAlertLevel = alertComp.CurrentAlertLevel;
+            var selectableAlertLevels = _alertLevel.GetSelectableAlertLevels((stationUid.Value, alertComp));
+            var canChangeAlertLevel = _alertLevel.CanChangeAlertLevel((stationUid.Value, alertComp));
 
-            _menu.CurrentAlertLevel = alertComp.CurrentAlertLevel;
-            _menu.SelectableAlertLevels = _alertLevel.GetSelectableAlertLevels((stationUid.Value, alertComp));
-            _menu.AlertLevelSelectable = _alertLevel.CanChangeAlertLevel((stationUid.Value, alertComp));
-
-            _menu.UpdateCountdown();
-            _menu.UpdateAlertLevels();
-
-            _menu.AlertLevelButton.Disabled = !_menu.AlertLevelSelectable;
-            _menu.EmergencyShuttleButton.Disabled = !_menu.CanCall;
-            _menu.AnnounceButton.Disabled = !_menu.CanAnnounce;
-            _menu.BroadcastButton.Disabled = !_menu.CanBroadcast;
+            _menu.UpdateState(commsState, currentAlertLevel, selectableAlertLevels, canChangeAlertLevel);
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/Content.Client/Communications/UI/CommunicationsConsoleMenu.xaml b/Content.Client/Communications/UI/CommunicationsConsoleMenu.xaml
index b74df979cf..0104fe92d3 100644
--- a/Content.Client/Communications/UI/CommunicationsConsoleMenu.xaml
+++ b/Content.Client/Communications/UI/CommunicationsConsoleMenu.xaml
@@ -1,62 +1,24 @@
-<controls:FancyWindow xmlns="https://spacestation14.io"
+<comms:CommunicationsConsoleMenu xmlns="https://spacestation14.io"
+    xmlns:comms="clr-namespace:Content.Client.Communications.UI"
+    xmlns:widgets="clr-namespace:Content.Client.Communications.UI.Widgets"
     xmlns:controls="clr-namespace:Content.Client.UserInterface.Controls"
-    Title="{Loc 'comms-console-menu-title'}"
-    MinSize="400 300">
+    MinSize="400 654" SetWidth="450"
+    Title="{Loc 'comms-console-menu-title'}">
+    <BoxContainer Orientation="Vertical" HorizontalExpand="True" VerticalExpand="True" Margin="12">
+        <PanelContainer StyleClasses="PanelDark" VerticalExpand="True">
+            <widgets:MessagingControls Name="MessagingControls" VerticalExpand="True" />
+        </PanelContainer>
 
-    <!-- Main Container -->
-    <BoxContainer Orientation="Vertical"
-        HorizontalExpand="False"
-        VerticalExpand="True"
-        Margin="6 6 6 5">
+        <controls:HSpacer Spacing="12" />
 
-        <TextEdit Name="MessageInput"
-            VerticalExpand="True"
-            HorizontalExpand="True"
-            VerticalAlignment="Stretch"
-            HorizontalAlignment="Stretch"
-            MinHeight="100"/>
+        <PanelContainer StyleClasses="BackgroundPanelDark">
+            <widgets:AlertLevelControls Name="AlertLevelControls" Margin="0 12 0 12" />
+        </PanelContainer>
 
-        <!-- ButtonsPart -->
-        <BoxContainer Orientation="Vertical"
-            VerticalAlignment="Bottom"
-            SeparationOverride="4">
+        <controls:HSpacer Spacing="12" />
 
-            <!-- AnnouncePart -->
-            <BoxContainer Orientation="Vertical"
-                Margin="0 2">
-
-                <Button Name="AnnounceButton"
-                    Access="Public"
-                    Text="{Loc 'comms-console-menu-announcement-button'}"
-                    ToolTip="{Loc 'comms-console-menu-announcement-button-tooltip'}"
-                    StyleClasses="OpenLeft"
-                    Margin="0 0 1 0"
-                    Disabled="True"/>
-
-                <Button Name="BroadcastButton"
-                    Access="Public"
-                    Text="{Loc 'comms-console-menu-broadcast-button'}"
-                    ToolTip="{Loc 'comms-console-menu-broadcast-button-tooltip'}"
-                    StyleClasses="OpenBoth"/>
-
-                <OptionButton Name="AlertLevelButton"
-                    Access="Public"
-                    ToolTip="{Loc 'comms-console-menu-alert-level-button-tooltip'}"
-                    StyleClasses="OpenRight"/>
-
-            </BoxContainer>
-
-            <!-- EmergencyPart -->
-            <BoxContainer Orientation="Vertical"
-                SeparationOverride="6">
-
-                <RichTextLabel Name="CountdownLabel"/>
-
-                <Button Name="EmergencyShuttleButton"
-                    Access="Public" 
-                    Text="Placeholder Text"
-                    ToolTip="{Loc 'comms-console-menu-emergency-shuttle-button-tooltip'}"/>
-            </BoxContainer>
-        </BoxContainer>
+        <PanelContainer StyleClasses="BackgroundPanelDark">
+            <widgets:ShuttleControls Name="ShuttleControls" Margin="0 12 0 12"/>
+        </PanelContainer>
     </BoxContainer>
-</controls:FancyWindow>
+</comms:CommunicationsConsoleMenu>
diff --git a/Content.Client/Communications/UI/CommunicationsConsoleMenu.xaml.cs b/Content.Client/Communications/UI/CommunicationsConsoleMenu.xaml.cs
index 92bc2dab9f..6801eae590 100644
--- a/Content.Client/Communications/UI/CommunicationsConsoleMenu.xaml.cs
+++ b/Content.Client/Communications/UI/CommunicationsConsoleMenu.xaml.cs
@@ -1,133 +1,58 @@
-using System.Globalization;
-using Content.Client.UserInterface.Controls;
 using Content.Shared.AlertLevel;
-using Content.Shared.CCVar;
+using Content.Shared.Communications;
+using Content.Client.UserInterface.Controls;
 using Robust.Client.AutoGenerated;
 using Robust.Client.UserInterface.XAML;
-using Robust.Shared.Configuration;
-using Robust.Shared.Timing;
 using Robust.Shared.Prototypes;
-using Robust.Shared.Utility;
 
-namespace Content.Client.Communications.UI
+namespace Content.Client.Communications.UI;
+
+[GenerateTypedNameReferences]
+public sealed partial class CommunicationsConsoleMenu : FancyWindow
 {
-    [GenerateTypedNameReferences]
-    public sealed partial class CommunicationsConsoleMenu : FancyWindow
+    public event Action? OnShuttleCalled;
+    public event Action? OnShuttleRecalled;
+    public event Action<ProtoId<AlertLevelPrototype>>? OnAlertLevelChanged;
+    public event Action<string>? OnRadioAnnounce;
+    public event Action<string>? OnScreenBroadcast;
+
+    public CommunicationsConsoleMenu()
     {
-        [Dependency] private IConfigurationManager _cfg = default!;
-        [Dependency] private IGameTiming _timing = default!;
-        [Dependency] private ILocalizationManager _loc = default!;
-        [Dependency] private IPrototypeManager _protoMan = default!;
+        IoCManager.InjectDependencies(this);
+        RobustXamlLoader.Load(this);
 
-        public bool CanAnnounce;
-        public bool CanBroadcast;
-        public bool CanCall;
-        public bool CountdownStarted;
-        public TimeSpan? CountdownEnd;
+        MessagingControls.OnRadioAnnounce += message => OnRadioAnnounce?.Invoke(message);
+        MessagingControls.OnScreenBroadcast += message => OnScreenBroadcast?.Invoke(message);
 
-        public ProtoId<AlertLevelPrototype>? CurrentAlertLevel;
-        public List<ProtoId<AlertLevelPrototype>> SelectableAlertLevels = new();
-        public bool AlertLevelSelectable;
+        AlertLevelControls.OnAlertLevelChanged += newLevel => OnAlertLevelChanged?.Invoke(newLevel);
 
-        public event Action? OnEmergencyLevel;
-        public event Action<ProtoId<AlertLevelPrototype>>? OnAlertLevel;
-        public event Action<string>? OnAnnounce;
-        public event Action<string>? OnBroadcast;
+        ShuttleControls.OnShuttleCalled += () => OnShuttleCalled?.Invoke();
+        ShuttleControls.OnShuttleRecalled += () => OnShuttleRecalled?.Invoke();
+    }
 
-        public CommunicationsConsoleMenu()
-        {
-            IoCManager.InjectDependencies(this);
-            RobustXamlLoader.Load(this);
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Use the specified prototype ID as an example display in the
+    /// UI subsection where users type broadcast messages
+    /// </summary>
+    public void SetBroadcastDisplayEntity(EntProtoId broadcastEntityId)
+    {
+        MessagingControls.SetBroadcastDisplayEntity(broadcastEntityId);
+    }
 
-            MessageInput.Placeholder = new Rope.Leaf(_loc.GetString("comms-console-menu-announcement-placeholder"));
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Configure UI to be consistent with the input state
+    /// </summary>
+    public void UpdateState(CommunicationsConsoleInterfaceState commsState,
+        ProtoId<AlertLevelPrototype> currentAlertLevel,
+        List<ProtoId<AlertLevelPrototype>>? selectableAlertLevels,
+        bool canChangeAlertLevel)
+    {
+        MessagingControls.CanRadioAnnounce = commsState.CanAnnounce;
+        MessagingControls.CanScreenBroadcast = commsState.CanBroadcast;
 
-            var maxAnnounceLength = _cfg.GetCVar(CCVars.ChatMaxAnnouncementLength);
-            MessageInput.OnTextChanged += (args) =>
-            {
-                if (args.Control.TextLength > maxAnnounceLength)
-                {
-                    AnnounceButton.Disabled = true;
-                    AnnounceButton.ToolTip = Loc.GetString("comms-console-message-too-long");
-                }
-                else
-                {
-                    AnnounceButton.Disabled = !CanAnnounce;
-                    AnnounceButton.ToolTip = null;
+        var alertLevelSelectable = selectableAlertLevels != null && canChangeAlertLevel;
+        AlertLevelControls.UpdateAlertLevels(selectableAlertLevels, currentAlertLevel, alertLevelSelectable);
 
-                }
-            };
-
-            AnnounceButton.OnPressed += _ => OnAnnounce?.Invoke(Rope.Collapse(MessageInput.TextRope));
-            AnnounceButton.Disabled = !CanAnnounce;
-
-            BroadcastButton.OnPressed += _ => OnBroadcast?.Invoke(Rope.Collapse(MessageInput.TextRope));
-            BroadcastButton.Disabled = !CanBroadcast;
-
-            AlertLevelButton.OnItemSelected += args =>
-            {
-                var metadata = AlertLevelButton.GetItemMetadata(args.Id);
-                if (metadata != null && metadata is ProtoId<AlertLevelPrototype> cast)
-                {
-                    OnAlertLevel?.Invoke(cast);
-                }
-            };
-
-
-            AlertLevelButton.Disabled = !AlertLevelSelectable;
-
-            EmergencyShuttleButton.OnPressed += _ => OnEmergencyLevel?.Invoke();
-            EmergencyShuttleButton.Disabled = !CanCall;
-        }
-
-        protected override void FrameUpdate(FrameEventArgs args)
-        {
-            base.FrameUpdate(args);
-            UpdateCountdown();
-            // TODO: Countdown for alert level delay
-        }
-
-        public void UpdateAlertLevels()
-        {
-            AlertLevelButton.Clear();
-
-            if (CurrentAlertLevel == null)
-                return;
-
-            if (!AlertLevelSelectable)
-            {
-                // selection is locked, only show the current alert
-                var name = _protoMan.Index(CurrentAlertLevel).LocalizedName;
-                AlertLevelButton.AddItem(name);
-                AlertLevelButton.SetItemMetadata(AlertLevelButton.ItemCount - 1, CurrentAlertLevel);
-            }
-            else
-            {
-                foreach (var alert in SelectableAlertLevels)
-                {
-                    var name = _protoMan.Index(alert).LocalizedName;
-                    AlertLevelButton.AddItem(name);
-                    AlertLevelButton.SetItemMetadata(AlertLevelButton.ItemCount - 1, alert);
-                    if (alert == CurrentAlertLevel)
-                        AlertLevelButton.Select(AlertLevelButton.ItemCount - 1);
-                }
-            }
-        }
-
-        public void UpdateCountdown()
-        {
-            if (!CountdownStarted)
-            {
-                CountdownLabel.SetMessage(string.Empty);
-                EmergencyShuttleButton.Text = Loc.GetString("comms-console-menu-call-shuttle");
-                return;
-            }
-
-            var diff = MathHelper.Max((CountdownEnd - _timing.CurTime) ?? TimeSpan.Zero, TimeSpan.Zero);
-
-            EmergencyShuttleButton.Text = Loc.GetString("comms-console-menu-recall-shuttle");
-            var infoText = Loc.GetString($"comms-console-menu-time-remaining",
-                ("time", diff.ToString(@"hh\:mm\:ss", CultureInfo.CurrentCulture)));
-            CountdownLabel.SetMessage(infoText);
-        }
+        ShuttleControls.UpdateState(commsState.CanCall, commsState.CountdownStarted, commsState.ExpectedCountdownEnd);
     }
 }
diff --git a/Content.Client/Communications/UI/Widgets/AlertLevelControls.xaml b/Content.Client/Communications/UI/Widgets/AlertLevelControls.xaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7af0d5b7a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Content.Client/Communications/UI/Widgets/AlertLevelControls.xaml
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+<BoxContainer xmlns="https://spacestation14.io"
+    Orientation="Vertical">
+    <!-- Info about the current alert level -->
+    <BoxContainer HorizontalAlignment="Center">
+        <Label StyleClasses="StatusFieldTitle" Margin="0 0 9 0"
+            Text="{Loc 'comms-console-alert-current-level-header'}" />
+        <Label Name="CurrentAlertLevelLabel" Margin="9 0 0 0"/>
+    </BoxContainer>
+
+    <Label Name="CurrentAlertLevelFlavorLabel" Align="Center" />
+
+    <!-- Controls for changing the alert level -->
+    <BoxContainer Margin="9 12 9 6">
+        <OptionButton Name="AlertLevelSelector" StyleClasses="OpenRight"
+            ToolTip="{Loc 'comms-console-menu-alert-level-button-tooltip'}"
+            HorizontalExpand="True" SizeFlagsStretchRatio="4" />
+        <Button Name="ConfirmAlertLevelButton" StyleClasses="OpenLeft"
+            HorizontalExpand="True" SizeFlagsStretchRatio="1"
+            Text="{Loc 'comms-console-confirm-alert-level-button'}"
+            Disabled="True" />
+    </BoxContainer>
+</BoxContainer>
diff --git a/Content.Client/Communications/UI/Widgets/AlertLevelControls.xaml.cs b/Content.Client/Communications/UI/Widgets/AlertLevelControls.xaml.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..97b49c5186
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Content.Client/Communications/UI/Widgets/AlertLevelControls.xaml.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+using Content.Shared.AlertLevel;
+using Robust.Client.AutoGenerated;
+using Robust.Client.UserInterface.Controls;
+using Robust.Client.UserInterface.XAML;
+using Robust.Shared.Prototypes;
+
+namespace Content.Client.Communications.UI.Widgets;
+
+[GenerateTypedNameReferences]
+public sealed partial class AlertLevelControls : BoxContainer
+{
+    [Dependency] private ILocalizationManager _loc = default!;
+    [Dependency] private IPrototypeManager _protoman = default!;
+
+    private bool _alertLevelSelectable;
+    private ProtoId<AlertLevelPrototype>? _currentAlertLevel = null;
+
+    public event Action<string>? OnAlertLevelChanged;
+
+    public AlertLevelControls()
+    {
+        IoCManager.InjectDependencies(this);
+        RobustXamlLoader.Load(this);
+
+        AlertLevelSelector.OnItemSelected += args =>
+        {
+            AlertLevelSelector.Select(args.Id);
+            EnableDisableConfirmLevelChangeButton();
+        };
+
+        ConfirmAlertLevelButton.OnPressed += _ =>
+        {
+            var metadata = AlertLevelSelector.GetItemMetadata(AlertLevelSelector.SelectedId);
+            if (metadata is ProtoId<AlertLevelPrototype> cast)
+            {
+                OnAlertLevelChanged?.Invoke(cast);
+            }
+        };
+
+        AlertLevelSelector.Disabled = !_alertLevelSelectable;
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Updates the UI components to display the current alert level and the
+    /// selectable alert levels
+    /// </summary>
+    public void UpdateAlertLevels(List<ProtoId<AlertLevelPrototype>>? selectableAlertLevels, ProtoId<AlertLevelPrototype> currentAlertLevel, bool alertLevelSelectable)
+    {
+        _alertLevelSelectable = alertLevelSelectable;
+        _currentAlertLevel = currentAlertLevel;
+        CurrentAlertLevelLabel.Text = GetLocalizedAlertName(currentAlertLevel);
+        if (_protoman.TryIndex(currentAlertLevel, out var alertData))
+        {
+            CurrentAlertLevelLabel.ModulateSelfOverride = alertData.Color;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            CurrentAlertLevelLabel.ModulateSelfOverride = Color.White;
+        }
+
+        AlertLevelSelector.Disabled = selectableAlertLevels == null || !_alertLevelSelectable;
+
+        // If user had changed the selection, but hadn't pressed the confirm
+        // button at  the point we received an update message, we want to
+        // remember what they had selected, so we can attempt to re-select it
+        // if it's still an option in the new set of alert level possibilities.
+        ProtoId<AlertLevelPrototype>? previousSelection = null;
+        if (AlertLevelSelector.ItemCount > 1)
+        {
+            var metadata = AlertLevelSelector.GetItemMetadata(AlertLevelSelector.SelectedId);
+            if (metadata is ProtoId<AlertLevelPrototype> cast)
+            {
+                previousSelection = cast;
+            }
+        }
+
+        // The server will only send alert levels which are selectable, but
+        // unfortunately, for a short time after changing the alert level, no
+        // level is selectable, so we won't have any levels to put into the
+        // alert level list. Here, we make a dummy item to handle that; this
+        // item also informs the user what this combo box is for.
+        AlertLevelSelector.Clear();
+        AlertLevelSelector.AddItem(Loc.GetString("comms-console-change-alert-level-button"));
+        AlertLevelSelector.Select(0);
+
+        if (selectableAlertLevels != null)
+        {
+            foreach (var alert in selectableAlertLevels)
+            {
+                AlertLevelSelector.AddItem(GetLocalizedAlertName(alert));
+                AlertLevelSelector.SetItemMetadata(AlertLevelSelector.ItemCount - 1, alert);
+
+                if (alert == previousSelection)
+                {
+                    AlertLevelSelector.Select(AlertLevelSelector.ItemCount - 1);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        if (_loc.TryGetString($"comms-console-level-{currentAlertLevel}-flavour-label", out var flavour))
+        {
+            CurrentAlertLevelFlavorLabel.Text = flavour;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            CurrentAlertLevelFlavorLabel.Text = string.Empty;
+        }
+
+        EnableDisableConfirmLevelChangeButton();
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Configure the "confirm alert level changed" button to be consistent with
+    /// the server state and user interactions
+    /// </summary>
+    private void EnableDisableConfirmLevelChangeButton()
+    {
+        // Disable the button when:
+        // 1. Server says we can't change level
+        // 2. User selected special info option (id 0)
+        // 3. User selected the same level the station is currently on
+        var selectedId = AlertLevelSelector.SelectedId;
+        ConfirmAlertLevelButton.Disabled = !_alertLevelSelectable || selectedId == 0;
+        if (selectedId != 0)
+        {
+            var metadata = AlertLevelSelector.GetItemMetadata(selectedId);
+            if (metadata is ProtoId<AlertLevelPrototype> selected)
+            {
+                ConfirmAlertLevelButton.Disabled |= selected == _currentAlertLevel;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Utility function to convert an alert level identifier into a localized string
+    /// </summary>
+    private string GetLocalizedAlertName(ProtoId<AlertLevelPrototype> alertProto)
+    {
+        if (_protoman.TryIndex(alertProto, out var alertData))
+        {
+            return alertData.LocalizedName;
+        }
+
+        return alertProto;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Content.Client/Communications/UI/Widgets/MessagingControls.xaml b/Content.Client/Communications/UI/Widgets/MessagingControls.xaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..59537d532c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Content.Client/Communications/UI/Widgets/MessagingControls.xaml
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+<TabContainer xmlns="https://spacestation14.io" >
+    <!-- Controls for sending radio announcements -->
+    <BoxContainer Orientation="Vertical" VerticalExpand="True"
+        TabContainer.TabTitle="{Loc 'comms-console-announce-tab-title'}">
+        <Label StyleClasses="StatusFieldTitle" Align="Center"
+            Text="{Loc 'comms-console-station-announcements-header'}" />
+        <PanelContainer StyleClasses="BackgroundDark" Margin="10 6 6 6"
+            HorizontalExpand="True" VerticalExpand="True">
+            <TextEdit Name="RadioMessageInput" MinHeight="100"
+                HorizontalExpand="True" VerticalExpand="True" />
+        </PanelContainer>
+        <Button Name="AnnounceButton" HorizontalExpand="True" Margin="10 6 6 6"
+            Text="{Loc 'comms-console-menu-announcement-button'}"
+            ToolTip="{Loc 'comms-console-menu-announcement-button-tooltip'}" />
+    </BoxContainer>
+
+    <!-- Controls for putting messages on station screens (aka broadcasting) -->
+    <BoxContainer Orientation="Vertical" VerticalExpand="True"
+        TabContainer.TabTitle="{Loc 'comms-console-broadcast-tab-title'}">
+        <Label StyleClasses="StatusFieldTitle" Align="Center" VAlign="Top"
+            VerticalExpand="True" VerticalAlignment="Top"
+            Text="{Loc 'comms-console-station-broadcast-header'}" />
+        <SpriteView Name="BroadcastEntityDisplay" Scale="8 8" />
+        <LineEdit Name="ScreenMessageInput" Margin="10 0 6 0"
+            PlaceHolder="{Loc 'comms-console-menu-broadcast-placeholder'}" />
+        <Button Name="BroadcastButton" HorizontalExpand="True" Margin="10 6 6 6"
+            Text="{Loc 'comms-console-menu-broadcast-button'}"
+            ToolTip="{Loc 'comms-console-menu-broadcast-button-tooltip'}" />
+    </BoxContainer>
+</TabContainer>
diff --git a/Content.Client/Communications/UI/Widgets/MessagingControls.xaml.cs b/Content.Client/Communications/UI/Widgets/MessagingControls.xaml.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..25c608b979
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Content.Client/Communications/UI/Widgets/MessagingControls.xaml.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+using Content.Shared.CCVar;
+using Content.Shared.TextScreen;
+using Robust.Client.AutoGenerated;
+using Robust.Client.UserInterface.Controls;
+using Robust.Client.UserInterface.XAML;
+using Robust.Shared.Configuration;
+using Robust.Shared.Prototypes;
+using Robust.Shared.Utility;
+
+namespace Content.Client.Communications.UI.Widgets;
+
+[GenerateTypedNameReferences]
+public sealed partial class MessagingControls : TabContainer
+{
+    [Dependency] private IConfigurationManager _cfg = default!;
+    [Dependency] private IEntityManager _entMan = default!;
+
+    // Entity temporarily created to display a screen preview
+    private EntityUid _broadcastDisplayEntity = EntityUid.Invalid;
+
+    public event Action<string>? OnRadioAnnounce;
+    public event Action<string>? OnScreenBroadcast;
+
+    private bool _canRadioAnnounce;
+    public bool CanRadioAnnounce
+    {
+        set
+        {
+            _canRadioAnnounce = value;
+            SyncButtonState();
+        }
+    }
+
+    private bool _canScreenBroadcast;
+    public bool CanScreenBroadcast
+    {
+        set
+        {
+            _canScreenBroadcast = value;
+            SyncButtonState();
+        }
+    }
+
+    public MessagingControls()
+    {
+        IoCManager.InjectDependencies(this);
+        RobustXamlLoader.Load(this);
+
+        RadioMessageInput.Placeholder = new Rope.Leaf(Loc.GetString("comms-console-menu-announcement-placeholder"));
+
+        RadioMessageInput.OnTextChanged += (_) => SyncButtonState();
+
+        AnnounceButton.OnPressed += _ =>
+        {
+            OnRadioAnnounce?.Invoke(Rope.Collapse(RadioMessageInput.TextRope));
+        };
+
+        var appearanceSystem = _entMan.System<SharedAppearanceSystem>();
+        ScreenMessageInput.OnTextChanged += args =>
+        {
+            if (_broadcastDisplayEntity.IsValid())
+            {
+                appearanceSystem.SetData(_broadcastDisplayEntity, TextScreenVisuals.ScreenText, args.Text);
+            }
+        };
+
+        BroadcastButton.OnPressed += _ =>
+        {
+            OnScreenBroadcast?.Invoke(ScreenMessageInput.Text);
+        };
+
+        SyncButtonState();
+    }
+
+    public void SetBroadcastDisplayEntity(EntProtoId broadcastEntityId)
+    {
+        _broadcastDisplayEntity = _entMan.Spawn(broadcastEntityId);
+        if (_broadcastDisplayEntity.IsValid())
+        {
+            BroadcastEntityDisplay.SetEntity(_broadcastDisplayEntity);
+        }
+    }
+
+    protected override void ExitedTree()
+    {
+        if (_broadcastDisplayEntity.IsValid())
+        {
+            _entMan.DeleteEntity(_broadcastDisplayEntity);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void SyncButtonState()
+    {
+        if (_canRadioAnnounce)
+        {
+            var maxAnnounceLength = _cfg.GetCVar(CCVars.ChatMaxAnnouncementLength);
+            if (RadioMessageInput.TextLength > maxAnnounceLength)
+            {
+                AnnounceButton.Disabled = true;
+                AnnounceButton.ToolTip = Loc.GetString("comms-console-message-too-long");
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                AnnounceButton.Disabled = false;
+                AnnounceButton.ToolTip = Loc.GetString("comms-console-menu-announcement-button-tooltip");
+            }
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            AnnounceButton.Disabled = true;
+            AnnounceButton.ToolTip = Loc.GetString("comms-console-message-cannot-send");
+        }
+
+        BroadcastButton.Disabled = !_canScreenBroadcast;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Content.Client/Communications/UI/Widgets/ShuttleControls.xaml b/Content.Client/Communications/UI/Widgets/ShuttleControls.xaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..547e8725b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Content.Client/Communications/UI/Widgets/ShuttleControls.xaml
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+<Control xmlns="https://spacestation14.io"
+    xmlns:controls="clr-namespace:Content.Client.UserInterface.Controls"
+    xmlns:sys="clr-namespace:System;assembly=mscorlib">
+    <!-- Controls for calling, recalling and displaying info for the emergency shuttle -->
+    <BoxContainer Orientation="Vertical">
+        <Label StyleClasses="FancyWindowTitle" Align="Center"
+            Text="{Loc 'comms-console-shuttle-controls-header'}" />
+
+        <!-- This contains some blank `Controls` to act as dummies. This is because the
+            GridContainer will always left-align the children, while we want them centered.
+            The dummy Controls will attempt to take an even amount of space each, which
+            will re-center our real controls -->
+        <BoxContainer>
+            <!-- Row 1: the buttons themselves -->
+            <Control HorizontalExpand="True" />
+            <Button Name="EmergencyShuttleCallButton" VerticalAlignment="Center"
+                Text="{Loc 'comms-console-call-button-label'}" />
+            <Control HorizontalExpand="True" />
+
+            <BoxContainer Orientation="Vertical">
+                <Label StyleClasses="LabelSubText" Align="Center"
+                    Text="{Loc 'comms-console-shuttle-status-label'}" />
+                <Label Name="CountdownLabel" ReservesSpace="True" Align="Center"/>
+            </BoxContainer>
+            <Control HorizontalExpand="True" />
+            <Button Name="EmergencyShuttleRecallButton" VerticalAlignment="Center"
+                Text="{Loc 'comms-console-recall-button-label'}" />
+            <Control HorizontalExpand="True" />
+        </BoxContainer>
+    </BoxContainer>
+</Control>
diff --git a/Content.Client/Communications/UI/Widgets/ShuttleControls.xaml.cs b/Content.Client/Communications/UI/Widgets/ShuttleControls.xaml.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6582043f6c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Content.Client/Communications/UI/Widgets/ShuttleControls.xaml.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+using Content.Shared.CCVar;
+using Robust.Client.AutoGenerated;
+using Robust.Client.UserInterface;
+using Robust.Client.UserInterface.XAML;
+using Robust.Shared.Configuration;
+using Robust.Shared.Timing;
+
+namespace Content.Client.Communications.UI.Widgets;
+
+[GenerateTypedNameReferences]
+public sealed partial class ShuttleControls : Control
+{
+    [Dependency] private IGameTiming _timing = default!;
+
+    private bool _canCall;
+    private bool _countdownStarted;
+    private TimeSpan? _countdownEnd;
+
+    public event Action? OnShuttleCalled;
+    public event Action? OnShuttleRecalled;
+
+    public ShuttleControls()
+    {
+        IoCManager.InjectDependencies(this);
+        RobustXamlLoader.Load(this);
+
+        EmergencyShuttleCallButton.OnPressed += _ => OnShuttleCalled?.Invoke();
+        EmergencyShuttleRecallButton.OnPressed += _ => OnShuttleRecalled?.Invoke();
+        SyncButtonState();
+    }
+
+    public void UpdateState(bool canCallShuttle, bool countdownStarted, TimeSpan? expectedCountdownEnd)
+    {
+        _canCall = canCallShuttle;
+        _countdownStarted = countdownStarted;
+        _countdownEnd = expectedCountdownEnd;
+        SyncButtonState();
+    }
+
+    protected override void FrameUpdate(FrameEventArgs args)
+    {
+        base.FrameUpdate(args);
+        UpdateCountdown();
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Syncs and animates the display of the time-to-shuttle-arrival label
+    /// </summary>
+    private void UpdateCountdown()
+    {
+        // Set the label on the LCD countdown
+        var countdown = _countdownEnd == null ? 0.0f : (float)Math.Max(_countdownEnd.Value.Subtract(_timing.CurTime).TotalSeconds, 0);
+
+        var remainingWholeSeconds = _countdownStarted ? (int)Math.Ceiling(countdown) : 0;
+        var message = (remainingWholeSeconds / 60).ToString("D2") + ":" + (remainingWholeSeconds % 60).ToString("D2");
+        CountdownLabel.Text = message;
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Configure the shuttle call/recall buttons to have a consistent state
+    /// </summary>
+    private void SyncButtonState()
+    {
+        EmergencyShuttleCallButton.Disabled = !(_canCall && !_countdownStarted);
+        EmergencyShuttleRecallButton.Disabled = !(_canCall && _countdownStarted);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Resources/Locale/en-US/communications/communications-console-component.ftl b/Resources/Locale/en-US/communications/communications-console-component.ftl
index 209be1adeb..5bab4a0fea 100644
--- a/Resources/Locale/en-US/communications/communications-console-component.ftl
+++ b/Resources/Locale/en-US/communications/communications-console-component.ftl
@@ -1,20 +1,29 @@
 # User interface
 comms-console-menu-title = Communications Console
 comms-console-menu-announcement-placeholder = Announcement text...
-comms-console-menu-announcement-button = Announce
+comms-console-menu-broadcast-placeholder = Broadcast text...
+comms-console-menu-announcement-button = Announce over radio
 comms-console-menu-announcement-button-tooltip = Send your message as a station-wide radio announcement.
-comms-console-menu-broadcast-button = Broadcast
+comms-console-menu-broadcast-button = Display on screens
 comms-console-menu-broadcast-button-tooltip = Broadcast your message to wall-mounted screens around the station. Note: They fit only ten characters!
-comms-console-menu-alert-level-button-tooltip = Change the station alert level. Applies immediately on selecting.
-comms-console-menu-call-shuttle = Call emergency shuttle
-comms-console-menu-recall-shuttle = Recall emergency shuttle
-comms-console-menu-emergency-shuttle-button-tooltip = Calls or recalls the emergency shuttle. You can only recall when there's enough time left.
-comms-console-menu-time-remaining = Time remaining: {$time}
+comms-console-menu-alert-level-button-tooltip = Change the station alert level.
+comms-console-change-alert-level-button = Change status
+comms-console-confirm-alert-level-button = Confirm
+comms-console-call-button-label = Call
+comms-console-recall-button-label = Recall
+comms-console-shuttle-status-label = Arrival time
+comms-console-shuttle-controls-header = EMERGENCY SHUTTLE CONTROLS
+comms-console-alert-current-level-header = Alert level
+comms-console-station-announcements-header = Station Announcements
+comms-console-station-broadcast-header = Station Broadcast
+comms-console-announce-tab-title = Radio
+comms-console-broadcast-tab-title = Screen
 
 # Popup
 comms-console-permission-denied = Permission denied
 comms-console-shuttle-unavailable = Shuttle is currently unavailable
 comms-console-message-too-long = Message is too long
+comms-console-message-cannot-send = Communications temporarily disabled
 
 # Placeholder values
 comms-console-announcement-sent-by = Sent by
@@ -26,3 +35,13 @@ comms-console-announcement-title-centcom = Central Command
 comms-console-announcement-title-nukie = Syndicate Nuclear Operative
 comms-console-announcement-title-station-ai = Station AI
 comms-console-announcement-title-wizard = Wizard
+
+# Flavor text for alert levels
+comms-console-level-Green-flavour-label = Work is to proceed as normal
+comms-console-level-Blue-flavour-label = Record suspicious activity with form NT-4772-b
+comms-console-level-Violet-flavour-label = Maintain social distancing
+comms-console-level-Yellow-flavour-label = Prepare to hold your breath
+comms-console-level-Red-flavour-label = Remain vigilant
+comms-console-level-Gamma-flavour-label = Suggest extreme caution
+comms-console-level-Delta-flavour-label = Good luck
+comms-console-level-Epsilon-flavour-label = You're fired