Capricorn Module

Capricorn is a Zodiac-Class Star Fortress serving as a base for the Star Army of Yamatai in companionship with the Shurista. It became operational in YE 44.

Formerly a Zodiac-Class Star Fortress that was under construction, the base was offered for completion and integration into Shurista's superstructure by Empress Himiko I in YE 44. It is also called “The Crown of Shurista”³⁾ and “Himiko's Crown” in some circles, due to the resemblance to such an ornament, and its use as a major landmark by Yamataian vessels in the area. The base is one of the very few places on Shurista featuring artificial gravity, includes advanced resource reclamation technology, courtesy of volunteers from the Council of Shuristan Shipbuilders, and is notably the coldest place in the megastructure, maintaining a comfortable 72 degrees fahrenheit for the safety and health of Star Army of Yamatai personnel and Yamatai Star Empire civilians choosing to make their home with the strange deep space nomads.

NOTE: Capricorn is mounted on a mobile megastructure with a known top speed of 5 ly/hr. Permanent map coordinates have been assigned based on a Plumeria's ability to locate and lock onto Capricorn's navigational beacon from any point in the Shuristan operational zone, which has been recorded as between Nataria in the west to Ayano at the far east, with Essia at the northern edge and Akina at the farthest South. Shurista has never been recorded in the Jaspis territory, or northeast of the Chen Nebula.

No art available

Description: On a round field of Or⁴⁾, A Chimera rampant azure on a star twelve points in argent

Symbology: The Capricorn Module unit patch features several points of symbolism that show the Star Army of Yamatai's dedication to diversity and unity.

• The Chimera is a mythical beast often described as having the head of a lion, the body of a goat with the head protruding from the creature's back, and the tail of a serpent. The Goat is symbolic of Capricorn in the Zodiac, the snake is symbolic of the Separa'shan refugees settling in some portions of the megastructure and the base, and the Lion symbolic of the strength and power the Star Army of Yamatai offers in Shurista's defense.
• The white twelve-pointed star is a symbolic representation of the twelve arms of Capricorn and its main hub.
• The gold field upon which these lie is representative of the megastructure to which Capricorn is docked.

Zodiac-Class Star Fortress Capricorn initially began construction in mid YE 40 to act as a picket station near the Lonely Expanse, however, concerns around the Kuvexian War and the direction of approach from Interstellar Kingdom Of Kuvexia incursion left the station incomplete as resources and manpower were drawn elsewhere.

In YE 44, the still incomplete fortress was offered to be integrated into Shurista's hull, the Council of Shuristan Shipbuilders worked quickly and donated resources and manpower to finish the station with advanced resource recycling technology ahead of even the most liberal of timescales. Modifications to the station allowed it to be moored permanently to the outer hull of Shurista. This includes fully integrated power cabling and the decommissioning of her onboard Aether reactors, sharing of water and atmosphere, and attachment at several key points of Shurista's superstructure. Protective hull paneling was built up around the moorings to allow maintenance access and prevent the accumulation of debris.

Later in YE 44, several bombs were discovered and disarmed by Skydasi cultists, apparently deterring a ploy by Shuristan isolationists to forcibly remove the Star Army's presence. While the debate in the councils is ongoing, no further action against the fortress seems to have been taken. Since the event, though, the moorings and systems were redesigned, recommissioning the onboard reactors to operate in standby mode, and the moorings can now be undocked by the station AI to allow Capricorn to operate independently in an emergency, capable of moving under its own power. However, Shôshô Kilborn ordered that the reactors be fully online at all times, even if at minimum power to hasten any emergency undocking and to ease any perceived strain on Shurista's power grid. This move notably annoyed Governor Khelas Nascen, as she felt that Shurista's power grid was perfectly capable of handling the needs of one fortress. Moreover, she referenced the belief that aether is a gateway to a primitive reality, and thus could allow something native to that reality to slip through, even in the form of degenerate plasma. She went on to publicly state that Capricorn is the only place in any Senti flotilla that will “Allow the use of something so dangerously irresponsible in its potential for alien corruption.”

She was, naturally, called “Superstitious and naive” by Shôshô Kilborn. Currently, the reactors run at 50% power on average, with regular testing to maintain full power capability. No further protests from Shuristan authorities have been logged.

After the Arrival of the Norians, Shuristan vandals began painting the names of Senti members of the Star Army of Yamatai on the hull of the fortress, alongside awards they had publicly earned, culminating in the public art display on the B arm of the fortress of hundreds of names, along with awards granted to the Flotilla itself painted in kilometer wide full color on exposed portions of the fortress's hull.

Capricorn Module is known to suffer minor jurisdictional disputes more often than other Star Army Bases or other planetary installations, mostly having to do with harsh Shuristan transport laws and spaceworthiness certification.

More important is the threat of lawsuit for the use of Burial Steel in the construction of various segments of Capricorn's construction, with the claim being that the steel is a substandard building material for military construction. However, the Council of Shuristan Shipbuilders has claimed that the previous construction was “slipshod and dangerously under limits”, and has agreed to use Star Army of Yamatai standard materials in future renovations, as long as all parts sent meet or exceed Shuristan building code on thickness, purity, and internal structure. It is notable that the demands are not based on the material qualities of Zesuaium or Durandium Alloy, and if implemented, will represent a significant and expensive upgrade.

Discussions and litigation are ongoing.

Capricorn Module is a heavily modified Zodiac-Class Star Fortress, with varying shades of paint depicting its history across the surface in bold, highly reflective color. Several murals also depict the history of the Senti interactions with the Star Army of Yamatai, down to a dedicated arm of the fortress displaying Shurista's actions to assist the community, including murals of the names and awards of known Senti members of the Star Army of Yamatai, maintained by public records offices located within the Grand Library.

The concourses are open and wide, with a bustling street market of local Shuristans peddling handmade wares, some even going so far as to make authorized modifications to Star Army Uniforms including tailoring, repairs, and species dependant alterations.

Several locations of Kikyo Pie Company have sprung up, both on the station itself and on Shurista proper, though difficulty in logistics due to Senti nomadism and the harsh Shuristan import laws have led the locations to mostly operate using local resources. This has not affected their menu or availability, and some locations have developed and adapted traditional Senti recipes for the Yamataian population. The novelty of their menu has proven quite popular among Senti, many of whom claim “Pizza in zero gravity is impossible. Most flatbreads are unless sandwiched between hot plates.” Yugumo Corporation has solved this issue by installing micro-scale artificial gravity generators in their kitchens, or by offering delivery to areas close to Capricorn.

Moreover, after the bombing threats and combat actions of Shurista in YE 44 during the attack of the eldritch entity chasing the Norians, Capricorn command required the mooring redesign to use an explosive bolt system and Capricorn's power systems be run independently at minimum a capacity that would allow it complete independence of Shurista's water and power systems.

While all systems are independent, water, air, and power are synchronized to allow system inter-compatibility. However, the procedure would allow Capricorn to launch and enter a combat scenario within five minutes of an order given, or jump to FTL within ten.

Capricorn Module's current personnel are listed below. People that can be found here range from Senti civilians to alien refugees to normal Yamataians. However, the vast majority will likely be military personnel.

Capricorn Module is one of the only Star Army of Yamatai assets with an active Senti burial forge, capable of producing Burial Steel in a traditional manner. This is considered one of the holy sites and is located in the A-arm near other houses of worship.

The Kikyo Pie Company has made its presence known, employing local Shuristans and immigrants.

Station Commander: Shôshô Isaac Z. Kilborn

Section Leads

• Taii Leopold Fritz - Capricorn Station (SAINT Unit) Chief
• Chujo Issus Elapide - Seventh Fleet Task Force Commander
• Taii Mitarashi Gendo - Star Army Research Administration Archaeology Lead

List of Characters on Capricorn

Capricorn Module is mostly used as a mobile fleet depot and storage facility for the Fleet Task Forces responsible for the defense of the eastern border of the Yamatai Star Empire.

A healthy competition has sprung up between Shuristan Civil Service and Yamataian Infantry (Formerly Frontier Guard) units stationed on Capricorn Module, mostly relating to antipiracy, Anti-Mishhuvurthyar, and search and rescue missions across the Lonely Expanse, with Star Army of Yamatai personnel rapidly learning that simply demanding respect from Shuristans rarely works, and that earning it through action will inspire both competition and cooperation.

Thus, the Crown of Shurista Task Force is quickly making a name for itself as generally well-prepared, and one of the fastest emergency response teams in the Kikyo Sector, second only to any Shuristan forces currently closer, or who launch before they do.

There is also a strong Star Army Research Administration presence on the Module, owing to the vast historical and archeo-technological data available through the Grand Library, which would allow a significant frame of reference for species and cultures outside the Kikyo Sector, mythology and history that led to the formation of several adversarial and neutralized factions, and improved construction and understanding of core Yamataian technologies that had been acquired in the earliest days of the Pre-empire. The Module is also home to the corporate offices of the Council of Shuristan Shipbuilders, and the consultation and warship towing firm vying for a contract under Ketsurui Fleet Yards to perform forensic analysis and design work on new Star Army of Yamatai non-combat vessels, such as hospital, colonial, or fast courier vessels.

Capricorn Module is unique in several respects, from its history to its systems as to date is the only Zodiac-Class Star Fortress that serves duty as a planetary military base. This, in combination with its proximity to Senti population centers, marks it as more culturally than militarily significant.

In accordance with Shuristan law, Capricorn's various art installations are constructed on diases that mark them not only as points of relaxation and beauty but as a source of support for the hungry and downtrodden. Several Senti artists have begun using gravity itself as an artistic medium, being unfamiliar with the concept and exploring it. Moreover, local vandalism has become a piece of the installation's local art displays and community outreach.

Capricorn Module was completed by Senti, and modified by them as though another piece of the Flotilla, before being refitted again for the safety and comfort of Yamataians. This leaves Capricorn Module with its own highly advanced aquaponics system, granting it the ability to nearly indefinitely supply its crew with Food, Water, and air even in the unlikely event of a life support failure.

The station was completed using advanced metallurgy and construction that used simple base alloys, much to initial command chagrin.

Capricorn is semi-permanently fused to any part of the much larger Shurista megastructure and operates as the only Zodiac class that is both a combat-capable star fortress and a planetary military base. These moorings are self-aligning, and docking/undocking tests are mandated every two years.

Capricorn has a small token force of Star Army of Yamatai vessels due to its relatively defendable mobility and surrounding by nonhostile governments. This includes one combat group from the Seventh Fleet led by Chujo Issus Elapide and the YSS Geoid operated by the local SAINT assets.

It also acts as a waypoint for First Fleet, First Expeditionary Fleet, and other fleets moving east toward the frontier space, as the station is still under assignment, and has not been fully staffed.

Capricorn brought opportunities for expansion for such businesses as Neppies Burger Restaurant⁵⁾, Meat On A Stick, Ramen To Go, Warm and Sweet, and Kikyo Pie Company among the more notable, leading to a wide variety of local and national chains, alongside some smaller independent restaurants.

Shurista's street markets and even farmer's markets have spread to the civilian concourse areas of Capricorn Module, leaving the civilian habitation sectors a bustling market that accepts both Shuristan water credits and Yamatai Star Empire KS. The Essia Monetary Exchange has several branch outlets here to assist in converting the two currencies, with personnel specifically trained in item and service appraisal.

Several corporations have taken up offices in Capricorn, directing operations across Shurista, and research on the Senti population. These include, but are not limited to, Second Chance Salvage Corporation, The Galactic Shipping Agency, Mining Guild, Iemochi Innovations & Sales, Yugumo Corporation and Taichimora Entertainment Technologies (TET).

• Mishhu situation - Recent Mishhu activity on Shurista prompted a decisive response. Further investigations are ongoing
• Unexplained corrosion - Murals and hull paneling are corroding at an accelerated rate despite the use of proper cleaning and protection. The investigation is ongoing.
• Agricultural decline - Agriculture in domes near the fortress is experiencing a blight, causing a decline in production. The investigation is ongoing.
• Grand Library Cataloging - Star Army Research Administration officials are actively cataloging and translating data from the Grand Library. This could shed light on events from before the rise of human and human-derived civilization in the Kikyo Sector. ⁶⁾
• Cultural Explorations - Senti is an extremely old culture that has continued to exist relatively unchanged for hundreds of millennia. Explorations of this culture are underway.

Madi Harper created this article on 2023/02/20 21:25.

This was approved by Andrew on 2023/09/19⁷⁾.