The Parliament of Ghosts
Once the council chambers of the UCE, the Parliament of Ghosts is a space station in low earth orbit.
The station itself is massive, so much so that it can be seen from the surface of earth on clear nights, twinkling like a star. It's unlike anything built these days, and perhaps the most heavily defended 'ancient' structure in the solar system.
The structure looks like it's made completely from spun glass, like a space station made of ice. Solar panels, defensive emplacements, and engines indistinguishable from one another. Seemless in their construction. Like carved from a single piece of material.
Theoretically, the station could be the greatest cache of untouched old-world information within our solar system. At least in comparison to anything that we know about. Practically, it's the most dangerous landmark to approach in the whole of the solar system.
Any ship that approaches it, stealthily, peacefully, or gun ports open, is obliterated. No amount of armor, shielding, or maneuverability seems to be able to even give the station pause. Railguns and beam weapons of an incredible magnitude cut through chips like a knife through water.
Let's not forget the scans that reveal movement and differences in temperature that would indicate something alive on the station, despite the fact that the temperature hasn't gone the ambient temperature of the space around it since the fall of man. Or the fact that the station hasn't had power, and thus no food production or life support, for the same amount of time.
Or the faint, ephemeral, figures that are reported by curious scannermen when ships skirt the exclusion zone around the station. Like the silhouettes of shadowplay, playing on repeat for an empty theater.
That's what the sailors say, anyways.
Alternative Names
Diamond of the UCE, Fool's Prize, The Shipeater
Owning Organization
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