NationStates Jolt Archive

Anyone who bothers to look outside the ecliptic plane of the Solar System can see that busy DarkSithian ships are building two huge structures at the points known as Zenith and Nadir of the system. There is nothing up there, not even asteroids. Zenith and Nadir form the perpendicular line that is the axis where all planets orbit around, so the fortresses are not close to any planet.
Security is high, and the engineering and supply ships are escorted. The two points are constantly protected, too. As there is nothing around, any non-DarkSith ship approaching will be obviously intercepted and told to turn around.
From the frame already in place and the pace of building, this huge project will take several years to complete.

The rythm of constructions is steady. The core of the station, a huge fusion plant, is in place, though not operational, and some parts in both stations have now limited atmosphere.

Location: Imperial Observation platform, on the edge of the solar system.

"Looks like their station is taking shape."

"Indeed. It should look impressive when it's complete."

"True. Send them a good luck message."

(OOC: Thank you, TIN man. :))

The progress in the last year has been faster. Both stations are fifteen km long, and external plating has started to be placed. People working on the stations now live inside them, as more and more parts are pressurized.

Nadir Station
Sol System

"Sir? Everything is checked. We are ready."

"All right."

Under the looks of the Bridge crew, the Commander rose and approached a pannel with a big, red lever. The Commander put his hand on the lever, and moved from the "Emergency - Off" position to "Normal - On". No apparent change was visible, but one of the crewmen said.

"Sir. We have reaction. It's burning... Power levels coming up... Power levels at nominal, sir"

"Switch power source."

"Yes, sir. Switching from external to internal," Not even a flicker in the lights announced the change from using the surrounding ships as power source to the huge, internal fusion plant, "We are self-powered now, sir. Power levels nominal and holding. Atmospheric plant says all systems are green and they have started the cycle. Gravity generators are online and green."

A smile appeared on the commander's face as the bridge crew started cheering. They were now self-sustaining.

"Good work, everyone. Not only we are ahead of schedule but we beat those at Zenith. I want to say them hello. How much time until we are HyperPulse capable?"

"Half an hour, sir."

"All right, people. We are on our own power now, but there is still a lot to do. This station isn't half finished and we still cannot defend ourselves. Let's keep working."

"YES, SIR!"

Now both stations seem almost finished, bristling with weapon turrets, missile launchers, a forest of sensors and two kinds of docking points. Workers are painting the external plates, with the DarkSith colors.

Several ships approach the stations, carrying the personnel and troops to be stationed there.

Zenith JUMP point
Sol System

The calmness of space is interrupted by the sudden appearance of several spheres. They are the physical manifestation of a Kearny-Fuchida Jump. The spheres are replaced by the form of several Warships, painted with the markings of DarkSith. The flagship, a Sovietskii-Soyuz class heavy cruiser, starts signaling the station.

"Base Zenith, this is the Kaiburran WarShip Connor McLeod. We request permission to dock and recharge."

"McLeod, this is Zenith, you are cleared for docking and recharging at port one, repeat, port one. We bid our welcome to Sol to our first customers. Once docked, the command crew is to report to the station bridge."

"Zenith, copy docking at port one. Thanks for the welcome. It is good to be finally allowed here. Over."

Nadir JUMP Point
Sol System

"Sir, incoming Jump. Several actually."

The Base commander looked at his on-screen clock.

"Yeah. Almost to the second. Those guys are punctual."

"Oh my god! One McKenna and one Texas Warships, escorting ten merchants. IFF Transponder positive. They are the Hate and the Dragon, from Pringats. Sir, they are hailing."

"On screen."

"Nadir Station, this is the Pringatian Warship Hate, requesting permission to dock and recharge. Dragon also requests permission to dock and recharge."

"Hate, this is Nadir, you are cleared for docking and recharge at dock one, repeat dock one. Dragon is cleared for docking and recharge at dock three, repeat dock three. Both command crews are to report to the station bridge. Welcome to Sol, craddle of our homeland."

"Nadir, this is Hate, copy our docking at one and Dragon at three. See you soon at your bridge. Over."

A telescope in the mountains takes notice of activity just outside the Solar system, including flashes of light (from FTL engines). An X-wing (we have bought one squadron, but we took out the hyperdrives some time ago, to stay in the Sol system for now) is dispatched to investigate. It took several hours to get there, but the pilot takes notes on the two space stations, with numerous ships docking already. He then returns home and gives a debriefing.

(OOC: Ahem... just for you to have the exact image of the location of the stations, imagine the solar system. All the planets revolve around the sun, and all the orbits are more or less on the same plane. If you draw a perpendicular line to that plane centered on the sun, the "upper" (over the sun) part is called zenith, and the "lower", nadir. The stations are millions of kilometers apart and quite distant from any planet.

BUT for a nation like mine, that uses Kearny-Fuchida drives to travel between the stars, these two points are strategically vital, as they are the only safe place to jump in a system (that is not exact, as the so-called "pirate" jump points do exist), so right now DarkSith controls the two most important entry points into Sol system. Any ship using KF drives will appear close to my stations, so if they mean war, I have firepower there. And if they mean bussiness, I can recharge their drives and get a fee for it. Also, my jumpships can get here, recharge, and continue travel faster to another system, without having to wait about a week for the drive to recharge.

As most NS nations use Star Wars or Star Trek style FTL travel, I don't expect much opposition for my taking these points. But any BattleTech nation inbound for Earth has to stop here or risk using a pirate jump point.

Now my puppets can bring ships to sol safely. :) )