Matt the Radar Tech
ꜰɪxɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴏsᴇ ʀᴀᴅᴀʀs ᴀɴᴅ sᴛᴜꜰꜰ
SHADOWPORT 'BACKWATER'
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To create a mysterious and secretive Shadowport near First Order space for potential RP purposes
- Image Credit: Wookieepedia
- Canon: Link
- Permissions: N/A
- Links: N/A
- Space Station Name: Backwater (Shadowport/Port Backwater)
- Station Model: Shadowport
- Classification: Shadow Port
- Location: Polis Massa
- Affiliation: Smugglers, traders, thieves, bounty hunters, spacers, spooks, etc
- Population: Sparse
- Demographics: Mixture of sentients from all walks of (typically illegal or criminal) lifestyles
- Accessibility: Hidden location, information of coordinates shared between trusted allies and contacts
- Traffic: Low
- Description: The Polis Massa Shadowport is a secreted away asteroid facility, hidden deep within the extensive asteroid belt in the Polis Massa sector. The space port was said to be an old mining foundry, which had been built into a large asteroids interior space, which had once sought ores from the surrounding field; others say it used to be a secret development base for the Galactic Empire, some say it was the real birthplace of Leia Organa centuries ago, and one resident insists it exists on no material plane at all. Nonetheless, the Shadowport is a large construct that has numerous connecting sections filled with a myriad of community and storage areas for the local populace that utilize it. From trading kiosks, weapons dealerships, armor vendors and smuggling bays. From the exterior, the space port could be mistaken for any other large asteroid in the wide and numerously populated asteroid belt, save for when one gets closer and is able to make out the glow of building illumination panels and bay guiding lights; though, this isn't always the outward view the space port has, as it also has the capacity to dim itself and enter a concealed lockdown mode to avoid large patrols or fleets.
The following are locations in and around the Shadowport:
Landing Docks
The landing docks are as they sound. Simple docking bays that can handle up to several dozen vessels of varying size, to a corvette limit. Beyond that requires port tube connection to the larger vessel. There is a basic flight control, where access codes are expected to be provided, otherwise several turrets will deter unwanted visitors. The docks offer the basics, nothing special or stellar in quality, but all of them are containment shield protected and internally housed. And for a few credits you can have your vessel protected by local guard-types. It's probably recommended.
Service Depot
The service depot is nearby the docking bays, and offers a fly-in service that offers refueling and repairs. Limited in size to Corvettes, anything bigger requires a team in EVA suits that spacewalk and handle the services - but that costs extra. There are some limited customization options available, some parts on common vessel models can be swapped out for less common components - such as sensor dishes, navigation system updates, shield coupler replacements, etc. Anything large scale, like damaged hull replacement or engine mounting upgrades are probably better left to more 'supply-capable' ports. But, if you're desperate, maybe one of the service teams could be persuaded to take on a larger job - for credits, of course (if you're seeing the trend here).
Merchant Way
The hub of the Shadowport, plain and simple. By far the largest physical space within the complex, it houses hundreds of stores and wares suppliers. From long forgotten era collectibles, to weapons and armor, to droids and gambling, to mercenaries and bounty hunters looking for work, to basically anything you could think that isn't exactly legal - there's even a Wampa fighting ring, apparently. The merchants tend to be the live-in occupants of the port, and they each protect their stocks well, as you can imagine from the clientele that frequents the port. If you need to find something, ask around, the owners in merchant way understand that business is best when everyone is profiting - and most will give you a decent, if slightly inflated, deal.
Rent-a-Suite
If you need a place to stay, to hide out, or to wait on ship repairs - this is the place. Not a five-nebula class, by any means, each room is catered to the occupant type. Larger sentients get the bigger rooms, smaller ones get the smaller rooms, it's all straight forward. For your credits, you get a warm bed, a refresher unit, some snacks and specialist services if you want them (dancers, masseuses, even an all-hours doctor). The rooms are designed simply, to avoid repair costs and reduce wear and tear; lots of neutral colored (see: beige) plastoids and durasteel reinforcement, as needed. The softest thing in the room is the bed and pillows, really. Even the chairs are tough and uncomfortable.
Nilloocha's Bar
The largest bar, and the only one of any repute, is Nilloocha's place. She's a several hundred year old large, muscular Wookiee, who is said to have been a bounty hunter back in her earlier days - with scars to prove it. She settled in the port, carved out a pretty decent bar, and has been living her retirement dream ever since. The bar itself is designed with imported wood from several planets, carved into comfortable booths, chairs and tables and offers some decoration. Everyone who frequents the place knows to maintain a level of self-control, because it's one of the few nice things the port has. Not to mention ticking off the owner isn't a good idea. The bar serves most common drinks from throughout the galaxy, and even has some fancy and expensive options on the top shelves. And the prices are fair. It promotes a fairly calm, if rowdy, atmosphere, and allows for private conversation in the back booths. Be warned: Nilloocha has a bowcaster hung above the bar... but, because of the reputation and respect others have for the effort of maintaining the bar, she might not even have to personally rip your arms off - other patrons might just do it for her (re: behave, or don't at your own peril).
Trader's Section
This is where the physical trade of live cargo happens. It's away from the main merchant area, kind of tucked to one side of the whole port, and essentially has a fly-in/fly-out policy. While most won't bat an eye at the smuggling of exotic creatures, slaves, or other living cargo, there still remains a want to be separate from that throughout the rest of the merchant way owners. So, if this is your profession, make sure you have your buyer's lined up and ready to collect - quickly - so you can deliver, then either move on or circle back and use the docks like most other patrons. That said, there's no real negative opinion on slavers or living cargo merchants.
Storage Solutions
A portion of the asteroid is dedicated to storage. It tends to utilize the common, and easily stacked, cargo containers (of varying sizes). For a fee, you can keep your merchandise and cargo secure within a contained storage area, where it's absolutely protected against thieves and nosy parties - maybe. Whoever uses the service accepts that some damage might be incurred, and the storage manager uses a simple ticket system, so don't lose your number (or you might have to pay more to get the goods back). For the most part, though, the storage is secure and an affordable 'protection platinum' package is available for that added peace of mind.
Enforcement Office
Home to the local enforcement group, who are essentially bouncers and bodyguards with a self-inflated sense of authority. They parade around with weapons and armor, maintain peace so long as the establishment is topped up on bribes, and otherwise stick their noses into whatever seems to be of benefit for them - basically, if you bring in a big haul, slide some credits their way and they will make sure you're left alone. Don't, and they might become very interested in your dealings. Or maybe they won't care, it's hard to say. Either way, the enforcement group isn't composed of any particular species, but they do carry standard issue blaster rifles and basic body armors and have access to a detention cell for the real troublesome patrons to the port. Basically, there's enough to be a pain, if you cause issues... so don't? Or do, your choice.
Asteroid Control
The secure control room that handles the port movements, sensors, defenses, encryption, communications and other port specific things. They alternate orbiting trajectories, to avoid being in one place too long, and update security protocols, and generally make sure Backwater isn't overrun or attacked. Rumor has it the control group is run by some alien that can see the future, but that's just rumor - we think. We don't know. Either way, this area is under strict lockdown, and access is only through a single blast door that is heavily guarded by autoturrets, shielding and guards. They also have a crack slicer on hand, paid top credits, to handle any pesky intrusions to the systems.
SECURITY
The Shadowport has a security rating of Medium. It mainly relies on avoiding detection outright, by entering low-powered and low-visibility modes, and using thick layers of rock to mask electromagnetic emissions. The port itself, being majority part asteroid, blends into the literal ocean of asteroids that fill a portion of the Polis Massa sector. For when a location or field orbit is required to change, the port has basic maneuvering that can send it on new trajectories, where its techs seamlessly slip the mass into the flow of the asteroid belt again, to float and exist as needed. Outwardly, throughout the system, are basic sensor drones that maintain a level of observation for fleets or unauthorized vessels, but aren't state-of-the-art and could be passed by with advanced stealth measures. There is a small (and corrupt) enforcement group that maintains 'order' on the port, but credits can change opinions easily, and make them look the other way - if you have the right connections.
The main protection against hostilities is the deflector shield generator, which covers the whole port when active. And to protect the port from other asteroids, it makes use of a repulsorfield shell system. This involves a series of shell rods that are fired into surrounding orbiting asteroids, which join the Shadowports larger gravity pull, and those 'sister asteroids' act as opposing shell repulsion sources if they are knocked too close by other masses in the field. This requires a team of a dozen to monitor and maintain more or less consistently, and is by far one of the most important tasks to perform on the space port itself.
The port itself is armed with some laser cannon emplacements, but nothing numerous enough to hold off a real hostile threat. They rely on stealth and secrecy over direct confrontation. And as a last line of defense, so all the inhabitants can attempt escape, the port is equipped with a single Ion Wave Dish. When fired, it sends out a cone of ion energy that aims to disable any hostile vessels or fleets on its firing path. It is a powerful weapon, but the draw on the reactors is considerable, and the aim is dependent on the direction the port faces.
Though, on top of that are the individuals who use the port themselves; a lot of them own vessels (or varying sizes and armaments) and might be very determined to unify and protect their investments...
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
No one really knows when Backwater came into existence, but it's speculated as several decades at least, or even a century at most. It kind of just appeared slowly, over the years, on the radars of more and more spacers and criminal-types, who began using it when in the sector. One thing for certain is that it started out as some kind of asteroid-based facility, given how it's mounted inside of one, but the original purpose remains unclear. Either way, as the decades rolled on, the port known as Backwater began to draw more and more patrons. Some began to settle down, to create a living on the massive structure, and ply their wares. Others use it as a shadowport, where shady dealings occur everyday for all kinds of reasons, and some even use it to keep a low profile for a time.
For those that know about it, through contacts and word of mouth, it's a relatively safe place to deal if you have the right connections. It's hard to arrive unexpected, without someone with an 'in' to vouch for you or provide access codes, which change regularly. But it's not impossible, just be expected to pass over a good handful of a few thousand credits for the privilege, and to expect many eyes on you. Still, the sheer amount of stores, merchants, contractors and other suppliers can make a trip by Backwater well worth it. No matter your trade, there's likely someone who deals in it, even down to slaves and other living cargo.
And for those that want to make a reputation out of Backwater? Well, prove yourself to the other residents, put your credits where your mouth is, and prove you're a big deal. And if you're not, you'll know about it soon enough. Nonetheless, the privacy and secrecy of the port is of the utmost importance, and those who can't keep the secret of its location near the Polis Massa asteroid fields don't last very long - they have a tendency of falling out of suite windows, where no windows exist, if you catch the drift.
About six or so years ago the port was almost discovered by a Ssi-Ruu patrol, not long after the sacking of Dosuun and the First Order, but quick thinking by the asteroid control team resulted in the port avoiding detection. They powered it all down, adjusted the trajectory, and sailed into the field in a real do or die moment - and thankfully the attempt succeeded, and the shadowport remains to provide all kinds of services to this day. And since then, the protocols and steps to elude unwanted attention have gotten more refined and harder to overcome, as the control team do what they're best at: keeping Backwater floating in the middle of nowhere, undisturbed...
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