Gemini Station

Gemini Station is a piece of history, its founding pivotal to the first alliances of the Talos Sector. Yet 200 years later, the asteroid-based outpost was left decrepit and crumbling. The commerce and entertainment industries that inherited it had fled from the growing hostilities of the region, leaving the station to rot.
Now the Protectorate has returned to reclaim a piece of its origin, unexpectedly thanks to a towing agency.

History

Diplomat's Outpost

Gemini Station is a small, asteroid-based outpost in the belt separating Livonia and Janus from the outer planets of the system. The Protectorate founded it in 3003 to observe the ongoing war and devise a strategy for approaching the two planets. Its constructions marked a sea of firsts:

• The first outpost build outside Mithorous' stellar system
• The first designed for observation and diplomacy
• Built to monitor the first inhabited planets discovered since The Scream
• Host to the first additions to the Talos Sector Protectorate Alliance

The outpost was experimental, with numerous safety features and redundancies that today are considered superfluous. Anyone living there was trained on emergency drills and forced to follow strict rules on what was and wasn't allowed.

There aren't windows to remind us we're in space, but it's hard to forget. Any unexpected sound has us reaching for the nearest oxygen mask. We keep our vacsuits by our beds, ready to be jumped into at a moment's notice. I hope we're more confident in our survival before we invite anyone else here. Peace talks might rely on it.

— Protectorate diplomat's message home

Once the Protectorate had permanent embassies on both Livonia and Janus, they no longer needed Gemini Station. They sold it to private interests, who then shifted the station's purpose from office space and diplomacy hearings to refueling, lodging, and entertainment.

Entertaining Diversion

Over decades and eventual centuries, the station grew from small to slightly-larger-small. An expanded docking bay, more robust life support engine, and large observation windows improved the experience for visitors as meeting rooms got converted to shops, restaurants, and additional lodging.
The station was a modest success until the Livonia/Janus War reignited nearing the 3200s. The region became too hostile for most tourists. Visitors dwindled to scavengers who scoured asteroids for valuables, and the only remaining inhabitants were those who couldn't afford to leave. Without the funds for maintenance, the station fell into disrepair, until even the life support engine began to fail.

Sign of Progress

In 3227, a young starship towing company called Little Tow took advantage of the cheap real estate and purchased a ship bay on Gemini Station. The nature of towing meant they brought their customers back to the station, providing a captive audience for other stores. The influx of traffic couldn't earn them enough credits to save the station, but it did catch the attention of the Protectorate.
The Metadimensional Mapmaking Division found the station a useful base of operations for a key project they're working on. With their support, the Protectorate entered an agreement with the station's remaining owners to sponsor the station in exchange for hosting MMD. The full list of repairs and upgrades needed is expected to take years to complete, made slower by the stipulation that the station remain open throughout the process.

Political Implications

It's genius, honestly. The Protectorate swoops in to 'rescue' the remains of their first outpost, but since they don't officially own it, they're not on the hook for how not-to-code the whole place is. They get all flutter and none of the sting.

— Political commentator on the sponsorship

Official statements say the partnership is to enable further mapping of metadimensional pathways. However, they don't specify how. Entering the metadimension requires being at the edge of a stellar system, typically from a ship, so how could mapping be done from an asteroid?
This unanswered question has spawned numerous conspiracy theories. The most outlandish involve black holes and personal spike drives. The believable ones suggest it's a precursor to action in the Livonia/Janus war. In this scenario, it's not the MMD housed at Gemini, but incognito diplomacy and wartime specialists.
Regardless of the truth, the sector eyes this development with interest, wondering if it's another misstep and nail in the Protectorate's coffin, or an indication of shifting strategies.

Timeline

3003

Founded to observe nearby habited planets

3011

Livonia joins the Protectorate alliance

3017

Janus joins the Protectorate alliance

3052

The Protectorate sells the outpost to local businesses

3220

Sales dry up and businesses leave

3227

Little Tow purchases office space and a ship bay

3230

The Protectorate repurchases the station and begins repair work

3240

Estimated year of fully repaired and updated station

Information

Occupancy

30 current/110 maximum

Owned by

Cooperatively owned by business owners
Sponsored by the Protectorate

Amenities

Little Tow towing agency
Gemini General Store
Twin Inn Tavern
Rejected Crafts
The Arcade

Associated Campaign

Mini-Campaign: Inter-Seller

Author Commentary

Unspecified

I drew a rough map of the station for my players, but every time I tried to make a more official one, I got too hung up on the details. What scale makes sense? How many empty storefronts are there? How many ships can be docked at a time? One day I'll either have those answers, or find a way to make a map without them.

What's Here

Businesses

Few businesses call Gemini Station home at the moment, but with the Protectorate's sponsorship promising consistent business, the roster is expected to grow in the coming months and years.

Gemini General

Owned and operated by Petunia, the general store has all basic space travel amenities you'd expect, from power cells to neck pillows. About half the store is dedicated to books.

Twin Inn

Bottles dangle from the ceiling in the station's tavern, the glowing resin within forms the dim lighting for patrons getting food and booking overnight lodging from the tavern's owner, Fang.

Rejected Crafts

Jewelry, trinkets, and accessories made from imperfect materials, such as the metals on Gemini's asteroid. All products made by the store's owner, Nera.

Little Tow

With a total of five employees, the towing agency is the largest private business at Gemini. They're also the only towing agency in the star system willing to tow ships beyond planetary borders.

The Arcade

Much like its name, the arcade is a work in progress, fully funded by Little Tow. It started with a pinball machine whose VI-based historical romance theming left it unwanted on Janus, and has now expanded to five unique machines.

Residents

Gemini's residents are those employed by the station, whether they own businesses or help with day-to-day functioning. It's a fraction of how many should be involved for safe operations, and employee count will likely double over the coming months.

Petunia Broodis

The slightly-past-middle-aged owner of Gemini General, Petunia is kind to everyone. She refers to everyone as "deary", "lovey", and "sweety", and notes down regulars' favorite snacks to ensure she always has them on hand. One day, she hopes to pass on the general store to another and open a book store.

Fang Baltesh

The tavern owner is the sort of out-of-shape that suggests a past of being frighteningly in-shape. His eye patch and many scars indicate a storied past, but he's a man of few words and none of them about his prior employment. As the two longest-standing inhabitants, he and Petunia have a close friendship.

Sam Broodis

Petunia's 19-year-old nephew is ostensibly at Gemini while attending college remotely, but he's rarely seen studying. He sets up walkways between docked ships and Gemini's atrium, though the recent activity has made it difficult for him to do alone. He rarely says more than "hi" to anyone trying to chat with him.

Nera

The artisan of unusual materials is the newest addition to the station. Cool, fashionable, and with an air of confidence, she's made fast friends with the other business owners. Her fascination with the new and unwanted suggest it might not be long before she packs up for a new adventure.

Lawrence, Henri, Scorba, Kenta, Hana

Little Tow's owners and employees are the most unusual inhabitants of the station. They've been instrumental in bringing new life to the station, and in giving it a reputation for being a haven for the outcast and unexpected.

Protectorate

Protectorate employees have become a common sight at the outpost. Most are members of the Metadimensional Mapmaking Division, a department dedicated to finding safe pathways through metadimensional space. They're working on a major project, but don't say much about it. Other members of engineering departments, safety boards, and even the humanitarian division stop by for occasional inspections and other visits.

Aer

A member of MMD, operating from Gemini Station was Aer's idea, though they left the politicking to their boss and others who are more socially-inclined. Their focus is on getting results to justify the Protectorate's decision to sponsor the station.

Henderson Graves

A senior member of the Humanitarian Division, Henderson takes special pride in finding ways to bend the rules to help psions fleeing Livonia's quarantine zones. He makes sure people check on Little Tow's Hana, and even manages to stop by himself at times.

---

Hi! My name is Hana. I'm a 16 years old employee of Little Tow. To practice language, I made a scavenger hunt! Do you want to play? There are three clues hidden in other places. Each clue gives a letter of a password. Search for the password and I will give you a sticker! Have fun!

Hint #1

Each clue is in a place where there's also an answer to a different clue.

Hint #2

When you have the password, you need to enter it somewhere you can search and get results.

— ❤ Hana