Gateway Station
| Type | Fixed Orbital Base |
|---|---|
| Faction | Planetary Union Fleet |
| Speed | N/A (stationary) |
| Propulsion | None (station is orbit-locked) |
| Armor | Layered crysteel bubble over hardened pressure-safe structures |
| Armament | * Point-defense turrets (minimal)
|
| Hangar Capacity | * 1× Enclosed hangar per pier (5 total)
|
| Notes | * Legacy station designed to support five full battle groups
|
Overview
Gateway Station is a fixed-position military orbital base capable of supporting and housing multiple large Fleet vessels. Constructed over a century before the events of the The Crypt series, it remains one of the largest non-mobile space stations ever built by the Planetary Union Fleet.
Design
- Central disk-shaped hub is 1.75 km across
- Five 1-kilometer piers radiate from the central hub like spokes on a wheel
- Each pier connects to a specific sector of the central hub
- Each pier sector contains:
- Sector command
- Housing for ship crew and pier personnel
- Admin offices
- Barracks and lounges
- The center of the hub contains:
- Shared warehouse and cargo processing facilities
- Training facilities
- Central housing and administrative offices
- Covered walkways and crysteel domes protect from vacuum; each building retains pressure integrity
- Entire base has adjustable fakegrav (0.2g to 2.0g)
- Each pier sector is capable of full lockdown via security checkpoints
Nomenclature
Although Gateway Station is a military installation, many of its internal facilities are referred to using civilian-style terms such as “buildings,” “rooms,” and “warehouses.” This is a holdover from the station’s legacy design, originally modeled after terrestrial bases and planetary naval facilities.
- Official Fleet documentation uses terms like:
- Sector
- Subsector
- Compartment
- However, on Gateway Station, the following are commonly used:
- “Building” refers to any large, stand-alone structure, often pressure-sealed and hardened
- “Room” refers to specific compartments inside a building (e.g., Room 1402)
- Warehouses and reception centers are identified by pier sector and facility number (e.g., Two-Three = Pier Two, Warehouse Three)
- Each pier sector uses its own localized numbering and signage
- Central hub facilities use a shared numbering scheme accessible from all pier sectors
Fleet personnel aboard Gateway commonly switch between official nomenclature and legacy terminology in casual and semi-formal communication. This dual-usage system is understood station-wide, especially given Gateway’s age and patchwork modernization efforts.
Tactical Role
- Designed to support five full battle groups simultaneously
- Functions as:
- Resupply and refit facility
- Training hub for Raiders and Fleet crew
- Secure drydock for highly classified ships
- Due to its orbit and location:
- Ideal for operations near Tower Republic and Leekee Collective
- Critical staging area for missions near the Zone of Interference
Notable Features
- Pier Two is home to the PUV James Keeling and has been extensively resecured for black-ops containment
- The central hub remains semi-operational, with limited staff maintaining shared resources
- Each pier’s facilities include:
- Reception center for intake and ceremonies
- Sector-specific enlisted clubs and lounges
- Admin structures referred to in-universe as "buildings" but formally considered subsectors and compartments
- Due to its outdated and massive scale, Fleet could not afford to build another facility like Gateway
