Farpoint is a typical deep space, multipurpose military outpost. Built during the last big territorial expansion, she's well past her heyday, but she's still got it where it counts!
The station served initially as a well-protected staging point, repair base and command post for forward fleet operations. The overall design is standardized, although differences in local conditions, components, manufacture and assembly ensured no two outposts ended up identical.
The station's structure is divided into several sections differing in purpose, functionality and layout. From "top" to "bottom", these sections are Science, Engineering, Hab, Drive and Power.
The Science Section
As a military outpost, Farpoint was originally fitted with state-of-the-art telescopes, able to locate and track space objects at astronomical distances, as well as more exotic sensors capable to detect jump drive signatures.
In recent years, this powerful array of detectors has been mostly re-purposed for civilian use, providing astronomical data to universities and research institutes, as well as useful and accurate space traffic oversight and stellar weather observations. In return, a significant percentage of the station's operating budget is now covered from external "donations". The loss of the station's military surveillance capability was not deemed significant by Fleet Command.
Engineering
As her name suggests, Farpoint is in fact the most distant operational outpost established to date, the staging point for a significant complement of ships on extended tours. The Engineering section is up to the challenge, with advanced labs and fabricators that can service and maintain virtually any type of equipment in use in the fleet.
The station's fleet of assembly drones allow hull repairs, inspections, service and maintenance work to take place quickly and effectively on any ships parked nearby. This is perhaps Farpoint's best-maintained capability, due to the high civilian demand, and offered price, for its high-quality work.
Habitation
Originally designed for military use, Farpoint boasts an extensive habitation ring, able to provide a full-G environment in a large volume. Most hab sections and life support installations are currently mothballed, with current personnel occupying a small fraction of the station's total capacity.
Proposals to take advantage of Farpoint's giant spinhab by turning it into an exotic tourist destination have met with strong resistance from local Fleet personnel. The most recent suggestion is to devote most of the unused volume to an enormous complex of casinos, luxury hotels and privately-owned residences. The future of Farpoint is shining bright!
Storage
Engineering needs materials to work with, people in the hab need volatiles to live, ships need endless amounts of supplies to roam the endless void, and Storage section is where it's at! The four giant lobes house thousands of storage cells, all linked together by a complex internal transport network. The system is able to store, move, load and unload prodigious amounts of raw materials, parts and all the types of consumables that space travel requires.
While unglamorous, this is arguably the most important function of any permanent space facility, and very probably the last to be shut down when the station is finally decommissioned.
Power
Arguably, the most vital section is the station's living, beating "heart", which provides power to everything else. The high-capacity reactor is currently operating at its lowest setting, yet provides ample power for Farpoint's modest present needs.
A running joke on board is that Storage and the hab ring are optimally placed to shield the sensitive equipment in Engineering and the sensors in Science, from the reactor's residual radiation. Fleet staff strongly deny any such intent.
Military Value
Returning Farpoint to operational status would be extremely difficult. The station's defensive armament was decommissioned, dismounted and placed in storage to prevent accidents and reduce maintenance expenses. The drives are also mothballed and the whole power plant would require significant work before being declared safe to run anywhere near its rated power.
The current strategic context renders any future military involvement for Farpoint, highly unlikely. The station is presently running at minimal capacity, providing valuable services for the local civilian economy until the time comes for its complete deactivation.
That's it for this brief tour of Farpoint Station, in its day the most advanced and, now, one of the last deep space outposts still in operation. They sure could build them!
In Capital Command, Farpoint is the focus of the game's campaign, where you play as the captain of a ship assigned to the station for an extended tour of duty. How things turn out and what happens next, you'll just have to see for yourself!
As always, don't forget to wishlist the game, and thanks for reading!
The dev