Flit-Point

An enormous mostly-stationary spaceship, Flit-Point is typically found on the edges of unexplored space, where it is used as a homebase for countless explorers and researchers. It was originally created as a simple supply station, letting people refuel and resupply before heading back out, but quickly grew beyond that point. It never shed its name, however, with those who make use of it far too fond of its irony. After all, visits to Flit-Point are not quick, and neither is it a quick-moving ship when they chose to relocate it.

Demographics

Flit-Point is not much of a proper city, but more of a base, with most of its inhabitants only temporary visitors. Those who remain for longer largely fall in two categories: those needed to run Flit-Point, and researchers who don't go out exploring themselves. Both categories are diverse in species and ethnicity, but are largely lower- or middle-class workers, with lower-class primarily found among the workers. The researchers fall into a variety of specializations, but are one and all researchers. Workers are far more diverse in profession, consisting of everyone needed to run a ship as large as a small city: maintenance workers, engineers, janitors and cleaners, medical staff, merchants, and many more.

Government

Flit-Point is run by whoever the owner of the ship is at that current moment, a role which was passed many times over the ship's lifespan. Its style of government is thus quite dependent on who is running it, but overall its atmosphere tends to be rather lax. The income needed to keep it running comes primarily from visitors, who buy fuel or supply, but also rent rooms to rest or meet in, or eat at local restaurants. More permanent inhabitants rent more permanent holdings and buy less stable food for discounted prices, to suit their longer-term situation.

Defences

Over time, much of Flit-Point's defenses have been removed, traded in to keep the enormous ship capable of moving when desired. It's still a sturdy, well-built ship, capable of withering much of the natural dangers the galaxy might throw at it. For more unnatural dangers, it packs the standard light shields any ship can be expected to have, though Flit-Point has quite powerful ones, backed up by an unusually large power supply, which is normally used to power all the business and housing in the ship. In an emergency, all that power can be rerouted to keep the shields on long enough for smaller attacking ships to fly out and fight back.

Industry & Trade

Once a supply station, always a supply station. Flit-Point primarily makes its money by supporting explorers and researchers heading out into little-explorer areas of the galaxy. A large part of this is supplying them with rations and supplies, as well as letting them refuel, but Flit-Point also functions as an easy point for travelers to get in contact with one another, renting out rooms for such purposes. A lesser part are the longer-term researchers, who stay in Flit-Point to work on their studies so they can remain (somewhat) close to the places they're researching without being in that place.

Districts

Flit-Point is largely split in districts based on purpose, rather than dividing the city-ship into sectors based on power or wealth. The massive shipyard is set centrally in the shopping district, where one can easily buy all one needs to explore the galaxy, such as fuel and long-lasted supplies. Adjacent to this district are the fleeting areas, a district with temporary lodging, restaurants, and places for people to meet. The third and final district is the more permanent living area, with long-term housing intermingled with shops that cater to them. The owner of the ship has their own cabin and quarters, but it's hardly a proper district; any who rule along with them are typically found in the third district.

Assets

Having begun its life as a supply station, and still (mostly) functioning as such, the Flit-Point doesn't have much in the way of permanent assets. It keeps large stocks of important wares, such as fuel and food, and routinely refills said stores via visiting merchant ships, but it also sells off said supplies to its visitors.

Founding Date

Second Age

Alternative Name(s)

Hopscotch, Touch-Point, Supply Stop

Type

Starbase