Barter
A giant space station made from a ton of ships welded together. Jump capable. Has a modest defense fleet and legions of camp followers and other hangers-on.
A wretched hive of scum and villainy, and therefore awesome.
Contents
Overview
Barter is a colossal, jump capable starship graveyard that is owned and operated by the Scravers Guild. It is the largest man made object in space, larger than any space station, any dock, any waypoint. While not comparable to the mass of a jump gate, some rare Anunnaki relics, or perhaps some as of yet undiscovered Vautech, it is otherwise bigger than anything else out there. Essentially Barter is the result of dozens if not hundreds of ships being riveted, lashed, and welded together over the course of centuries. Anything that can be sold, has been or is currently being sold on Barter. It is able to fend off church inquisition with the ardent help of rich and bored nobles whose routine business keeps the space junkyard of sin operational.
Logistics
The Juggernaut, the massive 2nd republic dreadnaught owned and operated by the Scravers forms the heart of Barter. When its engines fire, Barter moves. When it jumps, Barter jumps. The only parts of the station the Scravers guarantee will make every relocation and jump are the primary docks and market, the waste processing facility, the oxygen and agra facility, and the tram. Everything else has to opt-in, which for system movement means either synchronizing their engines with the Juggernaut's, or making sure the plasma latches and welding jobs are top notch.
The same general statement applies to jumping, any ship or station section without either a jump envelope or a synchronized jump engine is left behind. Since it takes well over a month for Barter to move from the inner planets to a jump gate, any sector which does not have an operating jump drive or has successfully contracted a jump envelope is labelled a Black Sector. Sections and pieces of the station are left behind every jump.
Yet Barter is more than just the station proper. A massive trade fleet follows it at all times, often times housing the bulk goods bought and sold daily in the station's markets. It makes little sense to bring thirty-seven metric tons of Bulgur through the stations docks, only to have another trader purchase the bulk goods and immediately ship it away. Other services not easily available on the station can also be found in the trade fleet. Finally the Avestites have committed one of their few war ships to the "defense" of Barter's "interests" and it stands Vigil at all times in the event a wayward soul is found to have strayed from the light of the Pancreator.
Law, Order, and Anarchy
Barter is not a completely "free" place and it operates under a loose set of regulations and guidelines brutally enforced by the Scravers, a grim necessity when so much value is located in such small space.
Weapons
Weapons are segregated into five loose categories, with each sector of the station clearly demarcating what maximum category is allowed, and what category will get you spaced.
| Level/Title | Weapons Allowed | Places Allowed |
|---|---|---|
| 1 - Major Hazard to Station | High-yield explosives, Anti-ship weapons | Not allowed on Barter (can still be purchased from Freeport or The Armory) |
| 2 - Minor Hazard to Station | Low-yield explosives, Plasma weapons, Rail Guns, Wireblades | Only The Armory |
| 3 - Major Hazard to Occupants | Non explosive grenades, Laser Weapons, Slug Throwers, Flame Weapons, Crossbows, Power Armor, Assault/Battle Shields | Freeport, Rax, Nuclear Wrestler, Nick's Space Bar |
| 4 - Minor Hazard to Occupants | Melee and Thrown weapons, Tasers, Plasteel Armor, Personal and Duelling Shields | Just about everywhere |
| 5 - none | Hands and Feet | Highlane, The Alley |
Goods and Services
Goods and services are segregated into where they can be purchased. While there exists plenty of overlap, there are only four markets on Barter (3 public, one private) and each has their specialty.
| Market | Primary goods and services |
|---|---|
| The Zocalo | All commodities and services required to survive, both low and high class. The biggest and most boring market to intrepid adventurers. Also the "safest" market. |
| Freeport | The premier destination for adventurers, almost anything can be easily found in freeport that isn't explicitly banned by either the Scravers or the Avestites. |
| The Armory | The armory is where all dangerous munitions can be bought and sold. If anything goes wrong, the Scravers space the entire sector, no questions asked. |
| Underspace | This anonymous, secret, and mobile market sets up shop at a different time and place every day. All of the most antinomous, heretical, and plainly depraved goods and services are peddled here. |
Living Quarters
The vast majority of barter is dedicated to living quarters, a typically boring yet critical piece of station infrastructure. Living quarters fall into the following labels which are largely used by the populace to demarcate a loose social structure.
| Sector Color | Quality |
|---|---|
| Gold | The highest end long-term quarters. Spacious, highly advanced, and with high end services. All of the gold sectors have access to private shuttle docks. |
| Green | Green sectors are safe, fully functional, and have easy access to the Tram and the markets. |
| Yellow | The yellow sectors are about the worst, long term quarters anyone would willfully opt to live in. Security isn't terrible but nothing is guaranteed either. Running water and an odor-free environment is about the best Yellow-sector-dwellers can hope for. |
| Red | Nothing is guaranteed in a Red sector. Water, sewage, oxygen, security, heat. These are all question marks in red sectors. |
| Black | Black sectors have one thing in common: They may not be there next time the engines or jump drives fire up. To this end their bulkheads are automatically sealed off during all acceleration/deceleration and jump maneuvers, regardless of who is inside at the time. |
Locations
The following locations can be found within the Barter superstructure
- Juggernaut: The Scraver dreadnaught at the heart of Barter.
- The Pier: The primary shipping and receiving docks for the station.
- The Zocalo: The primary commerce center, focusing on legal everyday goods.
- Freeport Docks: The "free" docks of the station with fewer restriction than the Pier.
- Freeport: The "free" commercial zone where most illegal things can be purchased.
- Underspace: The secret black market where all of the worst things and services in the galaxy can be purchased.
- Rax: A specialized housing and docking structure strictly for mercenaries.
- The Armory: The only place on the station where highly destructive weapons and explosives can be legally purchased.
- Highlane: A casino/resort/bar for rich and well off patrons.
- The Nuclear Wrestler: The casino for everyone else.
- The Alley: The only dedicated brothel of Barter.
- Green Village: Upper-end housing.
- The Blue 7: Middle-income housing just off of the Zocalo.
- Red 1-12: Various general purpose housing zones.
- Last Chance: The public infirmary.
- Hell: The tiny Orthodox temple.
- Dung City: Cheapest, sustainable housing on Barter.
- Nick's Space Bar: A middle class bar away from the markets with its own dock.
- The Pit: The waste processing facility.
- Winny's Jungle: The Agra facility.
- Black Sector: Any sector without a functioning or connected jump drive. The slums.
- Tram: There are various tram lines and they connect different parts of the station.
The following locations are part of the Barter Fleet.
- Elwin's Pleasure Dome: Exotic, high end Casino for the ultra rich.
- Jessie's Fixit: Low rent repair dock.
- Fellow's Garage: Official Engineer repair dock.
- Vigil: Temple Avesti's permanently assigned Destroyer.
- The Fleet: The two dozen or so Scraver Cruisers, Destroyers, Frigates, and Fighters that escort Barter.
