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.
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.