Shepard Terminal

Built on a unknown abandoned outpost, Shepard Terminal truly represents what an huge amount of birr can do. Erected over the period of fifteen years (an overwhelming short amount of time) by a consortium of Dars, the station swiftly became the centre of the civilization of the Melik system: a trading hub filled with life, in an almost mandatory passage on the Coriolis-Dabaran trade route. Dabarani's atmosphere can be breathed over the rich and decorated corridors of the Promenade levels, where merchants, travellers, and pilgrims meets for trading goods and stories. Every level of the residential district bursts with colours and spicy smells, hinting the exotic origin of most the inhabitant of the station. Unfortunately the station itself is plagued by problems: corruption and criminality are rampant, and the Dabarani government too weak to fight back. Rumors hint about a powerful Syndicate family behind all those issues, but as for now no clear evidences exists about it. Currently the station is the only access for reaching Khufu : only the Ferries (huge armored ships) the depart daily from the hangar levels are able to withstand the incredible hostile atmosphere of the planet.

Aaah, Shepard Terminal. The little, shiny gem of Melik. A gem covered in horse shit, that is. Ever wondered how to create a mess? Dabaran taught us this lessons in the hard way: take a poor and undistinguished system, put a lot of effort and money on it and suddenly all the worst scum will be attracted to it like flies on a corpse.
This little beacon of civilization is a cesspit of faction interests, petty merchants and wretched pilgrims, fighting over a cake too small for everyone. And bitter indeed.
Beware traveller, as this insignificant system is becoming much more dangerous than it seems. Take care of yourself.
—
Coriolis News Billboard - Anonymous Comment

Levels

The stations is segmented in four different zones, each one built over several levels: The Tower, the Ring, The Docks, the Lower Levels.

The Tower

Home of the Dabarani governor, as well as all the principal administrative functions of the station, The Tower areas represent the brain of Shepard Terminal. Bureaucracy freely flows on the heavily guarded corridors, hundreds clerks ceaselessly drafting trade contracts and reports, sending them to Dabaran. Two levels are dedicated to house the station Security services, from which station and system patrols are planned and analysed.

The Ring

The middle section of the station hosts the residential levels. Almost all the permanent inhabitants of the Terminal reside in one of the twenty levels that compose this area. The ninth, tenth and eleventh levels host the Promenade, a uninterrupted ring corridor in which all the commercial and entertainment activities lies. If the Tower represents the station's brain, The Promenade is its heart. Travellers from and to Dabaran system end up here, resting a bit before leaving Melik. Merchants display their merchandises over the corridor sides, ranging from exotic animals and spices to cloths, rare items, or services. The Ring section also house the hydroponic farms the sustain the station. Scattered through the various levels, they also represents an important source of breathable air: the plants recycle the carbon dioxide produced by Shepard Terminal, giving an important hand in the air recirculation system. Small gardens are also present in the farms area, giving a way for the inhabitants to relax and get some fresh air. Sort of.

The Docks

No station could be so without a docking level. Shepard Terminal features three docks levels and fifteen warehouses ones, with a wide range of hangars that can host a traffic much higher that the one Melik System ever seen in its life. This area also hosts the metal processing plants, essential to manufacture the loads received by Khufu surface.

The Lower Levels

The last area is dedicated to all the maintenance and operation activities necessary to the station to live. A wide range of rooms, from replacements warehouses to generator and sensor rooms can be found here.