Scavenger Base
Scavenger Base is a large orbital installation carved into a hollowed asteroid and operated by Scavenger Salvage and Transit Services (SSTS). It serves as the primary home port for the SS Scavenger DX-1017 and a major logistical, cultural, and diplomatic hub within the Prose system.
Originally a mined-out industrial asteroid, the structure was purchased and repurposed by SSTS, evolving over time into a fully realized space station featuring a glass-domed central cavity and a concentric exterior docking ring.
Location
Scavenger Base maintains a stable orbital position within the Prose system, with its primary open face oriented toward the planet Prose. This orientation provides natural illumination, navigational visibility, and a constant planetary vista for interior habitation decks.
History
Pre-SSTS Era (Mining Period)
Prior to Annuli 3423, the asteroid functioned as a commercial mining outpost.
Characteristics of this period included:
- extensive raw material extraction
- large internal voids created by mining operations
- fusion pits and industrial tunnels
- minimal life-support and habitation systems
Once commercially exhausted, the asteroid was sold off as surplus infrastructure.
Acquisition by SSTS
Scavenger Salvage and Transit Services acquired the asteroid as a low-cost but strategically valuable asset.
Early SSTS modifications focused on:
- structural stabilization
- conversion of mining tunnels into pressurized corridors
- retrofitting fusion pits into a deep-buried power core
- creation of basic docking and maintenance facilities
At this stage, the installation functioned primarily as a salvage and repair outpost.
Purchase and Financing
The asteroid facility was acquired personally by Vek Tollin on behalf of Scavenger Salvage and Transit Services using a promissory note rather than immediate capital.
At the time of purchase, SSTS possessed little liquid funding, relying instead on future salvage operations and contractual recovery work. The promissory obligation was fully satisfied following a major scavenging run conducted in the aftermath of the Tonan Attack on Earth, during which SSTS recovered high-value materials, derelict assets, and restricted technology.
The success of that operation permanently secured Scavenger Base as an owned facility rather than a leased or Alliance-controlled installation.
Expansion into Scavenger Base
Between Annuli 3423 and 3430, Scavenger Base underwent continuous expansion:
- civilian habitation decks were added
- medical, cultural, and training facilities were introduced
- the central asteroid cavity was sealed with a **reinforced transparent dome**
- internal decks were organized into a vertical, ground-oriented layout
This transformation marked the station’s transition from industrial site to permanent living facility.
Exterior Docking Ring Upgrade
As traffic increased, a **concentric exterior docking ring** was installed around the asteroid’s widest circumference.
The ring features:
- multiple docking berths
- pressurized access spokes
- observation portholes
- independent traffic routing that does not interfere with interior operations
This upgrade represents the **final canonical form** of Scavenger Base.
Structural Design
Scavenger Base functions more like a vertical subterranean skyscraper than a traditional ring station.
- Artificial gravity runs perpendicular to the asteroid’s axis
- Levels are numbered **from bottom to top**
- The Prose-facing wall remains open behind transparent shielding
- Passenger lifts and freight elevators connect all pressurized levels
- Level 0 remains unpressurized and restricted to engineering access
Levels and Functions
| Level | Function | Established | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Reactor & Thruster Systems | Pre-3423 | Deep-buried fusion plant retrofitted for modern control; provides primary power and orbital correction thrust. |
| 7 | Storage & Logistics | 3423 | Bulk cargo holds, salvage vaults, and long-term storage. |
| 6 | Merchant Corps Training Center | 3429–3430 | Facilities of the Prosian Merchant Corps including holo-sim rooms, firing ranges, classrooms, and a small Alliance liaison office. |
| 5 | Commercial & Social Deck | 3428 → expanded 3429–3430 | Promenade with restaurants, cafés, lounges, dorms, and a public Transit Window to Prosiana City. |
| 4 | Residential & Medical | ~3425 | Crew quarters, family housing, childcare facilities, and Med Bay 4-C. |
| 3 | Operations & Command | 3423 | Traffic control, communications, administrative offices, and primary Operations Viewport. Restricted access. |
| 2 | Logistics Support | 3423 | Cargo routing and salvage sorting; buffer between Docking and Operations. |
| 1 | Docking & Maintenance | 3423 | Hangars, refueling lines, repair bays, and customs gates. |
| 0 | Substructure / Maintenance | Original | Unpressurized zone with cable trunks, coolant lines, and structural anchors. |
Architectural Characteristics
- Fully asteroid-integrated structure
- Transparent Prose-facing dome allows natural light and visual openness
- Concentric exterior docking ring with spoke access
- Internal orientation mirrors planetary architecture
- Designed to support long-term habitation and cultural life
Cultural and Strategic Role
Scavenger Base is both a commercial hub and a neutral meeting ground between Prosian, Alliance, and independent interests.
It appears prominently in stories such as:
The base symbolizes the reclamation of discarded infrastructure into a thriving, shared community.