Entry in the Unique Space Station Contest.
Introduction The Nikarrochezzit is an Ouragos class base ship. It is used as a trade depot, embassy, and rest stop. The Nikarrochezzit orbits the world of Nechezz. The humans of Nechezz are somewhat xenophobic and will not allow anyone to land on their planet. However, they are interested in trade and use the Nikarrochezzit as an intermediary location for interacting with aliens. History The Nikarrochezzit was originally a planetary defense platform of Iolkos. The Iolkons named it the Korbades and used it as a fighter base. The Korbades was part of an expensive military buildup that left Iolkos virtually bankrupt. It was heavily damaged in a war with neighboring Sesklo. Unable to afford repairs and desperate for funds, they sold it to the Nechezz. Description All ships entering the air envelope of Nikarrochezzit must pay 1 sp/ship ton/month for the right of using the air. This duty is upheld every time that ship enters the envelope, even if it left for one minute. Ships with fouled air envelopes will pay a fine of 50gp/10 tons for entering the Nikarrochezzit's envelope. Ships with poisoned atmospheres pay a fine of 100gp/10 tons. The offending ship must then leave the envelope and never return. The Nechezz do not provide water, although a store or visiting merchant may provide it. Even the residents operating shops must import their own water. Only base personnel are provided with water from the planet's surface. The Nikarrochezzit is divided into two areas: Topside and Planetside. Topside consists of the following areas. The Tower: This consists of five levels. It is the administrative center of the base. Here are located offices dealing with treaties and trade contracts with various organizations and worlds. A signal center with various implements (flags, lights, etc.) is located high in the tower to signal approaching vessels. An entrance to the Cargo Deck is on the first level. However, the main feature of the Tower is the Security Center. This is the HQ for the Larroch, the forces that police the vessel. A cellblock is within and a small armory. The Larroch make sure that visitors cause no problems. Weapons are either not allowed on the base or they must be left here until the time of departure. Anyone found concealing a weapon or casting offensive spells (including multi-use spells such as Light) will be fined 100gp and expelled from the base forever. The Larroch will typically have 2 squads (20 men) to greet any vessel landing or docking with the base. Weapons will be relieved of visitors at this time. Individuals with natural weapons (claws and such) and spellcasters will be followed everywhere by at least a half squad of Larroch who will watch these aliens carefully. These forces will take no chances, shooting first and asking questions later. The Larroch always travel in teams of at least 5 fighters and 1 wizard (at least 3rd level). They are armed with short swords, light crossbows, and short-hafted man-catchers. Armor consists of chain tunics and steel skullcaps. The tower also has 2 light catapult emplacements on the second level and 2 light catapults on the fourth level. These are used to fire at attacking vessels. Finally, three quad heavy crossbows are mounted on the third level. They are facing the Deck and will be used to sweep it clean of alien scum should it become necessary. The Deck: This large open area is used as a cargo area and landing pad. The aft end of the deck is used as a park where small vessels (up to 10 tons) may land and stay indefinitely (for a charge of 1 sp/hour/ton). The central area is used as a loading/unloading zone. Vessels up to 20 tons may land briefly to pick up/drop off passengers or cargo. The forward area of the dock has been closed off to vessels. Here the deck is sagging and needs repair. The area was originally patched to cover a hole blown in the deck during the Iolkos/Sesklo War. There are rigging areas along the starboard edge of the deck where larger vessels may temporarily dock with the Nikarrochezzit for cargo purposes. There are four weapons pits each along the port and starboard sides of the deck. Each pit contains an armored turret and either a heavy ballista or a heavy catapult. A small building on the starboard side of the deck, amidships, houses a stairwell leading to the Cargo Deck. Two massive lifts, one aft and the other forward on the port side of the ship, also lead to the Cargo Deck. Cargo Deck: This area is divided into three sections. The forward and aft sections are used to store cargo temporarily. Trade goods from Nechezz are unloaded here until the receiving merchant arrives. Imported goods are also stored here until a cargo lighter may deliver them to the planet's surface. Goods may be allowed to be stored here for an exchange between merchants unrelated to Nechezz business. This happens frequently due to the amount of traffic along the local flows. The central, and largest, area of the Cargo Deck is the Red Zone. The Larroch call it this since trouble is most likely to occur here. The area consists of various shops and services for visiting merchants. Rooms are leased out to various individuals and groups for these business transactions. Some enterprising Nechezz also have items for sale here. The various businesses include a restaurant, tavern, festhall, casino, ship supply center, clothing shop, jewelry store (Nechezzi owned), container store, small equipment center, snack bar, hygienist (cuts/shaves hair, de-scales, oil massages/immersions, and other services according to racial needs), pharmacist and more. There are no weapons or armor sold here of course, and there are no illicit operators (fences, pick pockets, etc.) as the Larroch are very strict and watchful. The Red Zone consists of two intersecting corridors. The first follows the beam of the vessel and connects the stairwells leading to the Deck. The other corridor follows the keel. It has doors at either end leading to the cargo areas. Along its length are the various shops. At the end of each corridor is a locked guard post that is always occupied. The Larroch here view the corridors through shuttered slits. These slits are large enough for the quad heavy crossbow in each guardroom to fire out into the corridor. Note that these weapons have a +4 chance to hit any individual. The Larroch will indiscriminately fire into a crowd to hit one perpetrator if they believe the danger warrants it. Lamps light all of the interior areas. These lamps consist of an irradiated form of quartz found on Nechezz that has been mounted in a claw-like chandelier hung from the ceilings. Anyone found stealing one would be fined 100gp and expelled forever from the base. Anyone found tampering with a lamp is assumed to be attempting to steal one and will be treated accordingly. The Nechezz sell hand lamps for 25gp. Fires are illegal except for cooking. Anyone lighting a fire is fined 25-1000gp, depending on the size of the fire, and must pay for any damages. They are also expelled forever from the base. A permit is required for cooking fires (2gp every five days or 100gp a year. Facilities are inspected once a week for safety). The Nechezz are unused to smoking for pleasure and are currently reviewing their policies. In the meantime, smoking is only allowed on the Deck. Planetside is off-limits to everyone except base personnel (even other Nechezz). It houses the sleeping quarters, common areas, training rooms, armory, kitchen, and storage areas. The primary areas of Planetside are the two hangars. One hangar is the fighter bay. It contains 30 fighters. The other hangar has 1 10-ton yacht, 1 armored yacht, and 20 Wreckboats. 15 of the Wreckboats have been armed with light catapults. These vessels patrol only the immediate vicinity of the base. The Nechezz navy covers the rest of the sphere. Both hangar entrances are guarded by 2 medium ballistas. Planetside has no deck, its surface covered by green plants that replenish the air envelope. These plants occupy large ceramic containers. They float in a mixture of earth and nutrients. The nutrient solution is concocted from the waste products of the base. Wastewater is part of this solution. Interspersed amongst these planters are 8 armored turrets containing either a heavy catapult or a heavy ballista. Personalities: Captain Nalik is the commander of the Nikarrochezzit. He does not trust aliens, although he recognizes the benefits of trade. He would prefer for the station to be at the edge of the sphere rather than in orbit around the homeworld, but the Queen has decided on this location for improved defense. Nalik will order the Larroch to slaughter any offenders on the station if he sees fit. He would like nothing more than return to duty as a ship captain. Lieutenant Kalar is the leader of the Larroch. Despite his small size he will not back down to anyone. Kalar is even less trusting of aliens than Captain Nalik and would like his people to bar aliens from entering their sphere altogether. Kalar has quite a bit of experience in dealing with (killing) aliens. He especially hates lizardmen, illithids, rastipedes, and similar races. Sakal is the trade representative on the station. He is very forward thinking and eager to learn about alien races and cultures. Some of the other station personnel consider him to be a traitor, but they will not turn against one of their own kind without good reason. Recent News: An IEN ship recently arrived, offering a treaty between Nechezz and the Imperium that would allow the IEN to set up a base and patrol thesphere in mutual defense. The delegation was rebuffed. Khuzaren Konstruction has offered to build a military base for the Nechezz in the sphere's asteroid belt. The Queen is considering the offer. If she accepts, a great many dwarves will no doubt be visiting the station. A small clan of Mogaru (molemen) has requested permission to mine asteroids for mineral wealth and split the profits with the Nechezz. It is not known if there are resources within the asteroids, but the Queen is considering their offer. The Larroch recently slew an "unruly" rastipede who claimed to be an authorized agent of the Arcane Herroditian. The Queen is hiring skilled spacers to train her people as helmsmen, marines, spacemen, and shipwrights. Humans preferred, of course. Overview Tonnage: 1500 Hull Points: 1780 Crew: 0/400+ Maneuver Class: 0/G Landing--Land: No Landing--Water: No Armor Rating: 9 Saves As: Thick wood Power Type: None Ship's Rating: None Armament: 8 Heavy ballistas Crew: 4 each 8 Heavy catapults Crew: 5 each 4 Medium ballistas Crew: 2 each 4 Light catapults Crew: 1 each Cargo: 750 Keel Length: 500 ft. Beam Length: 80 ft. Clearance: 100 ft. total (tower=50 ft.) The Ouragos Space Control Ship class is a large base ship. They are typically constructed of thick, wooden beams, although rare metal plated and all-metal versions are known to have existed. The Ouragos is an old and popular class typically used as a carrier for fighters, fleet re-supply depot, headquarters vessel, rest and relaxation center, and even as a troop transport. They are colloquially known as the Long Dock, quayship, or wharfship. Ouragoi with helms are extremely rare. The ship is typically built or towed into a semi-permanent location, usually orbiting a planetary body. Ouragoi are still found amongst the spheres, but they are being built less frequently. Modern nations tend to lust after mobile capitol ships instead of these huge, but stationary vessels. In addition, the Ouragos class has been challenged in the base ship category by other vessels.
