The Turnstile Station
by NefariousDrO
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Description
The star is not exactly an ideal place to set up shop, in many ways. Dim, low-mass (only 9% the mass of our own sun, to be more specific) and prone to infrequent outbursts of high-energy X-rays and gamma rays. All of these are bad enough, but it also has only a few small worldlets orbiting it, and a very thinly-spread collection of asteroids and comets. The only thing going for it is its location. The third-closest star to Earth, and within reach of 12 different systems make this a hub of necessity rather than desirability. Still, humans are a resilient and stubborn lot, and when we choose a course we tend to be reluctant to give it up or change it.
And thus "The Turnstile Station" has come to be. It has an official designation, of course, and most of the various governments who are involved with the station insist upon the official names when any references are made. The rest of us, of course, use the name that is easier to remember. "The Turnstile Station" is one of those names that seemed to come out of the unpredictable and incomprehensible stew of human interactions, and nobody really knows who first coined the name, even. Yet it is so appropriate that the name has become the de facto name even ship captains and the station's own staff use. The newer governments to make the post-war leap into space sometimes use it as well, probably to annoy their more experienced brethren.
The name, of course, suits because of the very nature of the system and the purpose this station serves in human travels. It isn't a destination, but a layover. Rephi Portals being what they are stars like this can anchor them, giving a stable orbit to the necessary masses and allowing predictable movements for ships that ply the long dark web of the human reaches in nearby space. So we pass through the turnstiles, adding to the count of ships that come by and the people who pause long enough to see, but who's visit is too brief to cause any lasting change.
Even the crew is here only temporarily, and will move on to other, hopefully more interesting places. Ever onward, ever upward, and always restless; the people who see The Turnstile Station are part of something, and this is merely the necessary lull in their journey.
And yet, the station itself is a lively place. Perhaps the uncertainty and constant change makes the residents grab what fun is to be had as they prepare for their futures. It's proximity to Earth and many other stars makes this a very active hub, and commerce is busy. Variety is everywhere, and the active hustle carries an undercurrent of haste that speaks of ambitions and dreams. "Get what you need and move because there's many more waiting to come in behind you" seems to be the consistent tone.
And so we visited the stores and the clubs and the places to eat in a rush, even the needed work on our ship was carried out with dispatch, and then we moved on.
But I found this place especially interesting, and as we pulled out I found myself strangely reluctant to leave. A decision was forming in my mind, and I decided then that for upon my return trip I wouldn't continue on. I would stop for a while and watch this strange and always-rushing place for a time. For when people are always pushing and looking towards their futures there is always an undercurrent, and I hadn't the time to find it on this visit, but I somehow knew this place would have something unique to be found, if only one looked in the right place.
-From "The Travels of Martin Leftwick, Wanderer and Observer" a popular post-war biography
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The station and the other ships here were all my own creations in Bryce 6. Most of the textures are also my own creations, but there were a few presets used as well. The planet and stars were from the Lunarcell and Glitterato plugin, but then altered somewhat as I tend to do. The nebula is the result of combining 3 different photographs of clouds.
Thanks for taking a look, and comments/critiques are definitely welcome.
Comments (19)
geirla
Great looking model! Very intricate design and great textures! It definitely has that lived-in industrial look.
claude19
splendid storyline for a wonderful scene of SciFi !!! great spatial schip !!!
peedy
Fantastic image and modeling. Corrie
grafikeer
I agree with geirla,the textures really have that time-worn,lived-in feel to them...the modelling is amazingly detailed,as always...excellent work all around!!
ia-du-lin
fantastic space station, wonderful construction, great image
preeder
Awesome space station image.
Ancel_Alexandre
That's some great story, with an awesome illustration! Bravo!
faroutsider
Magnificent modeling, and I love the diary entry...
jmb007
beau travail!
SIGMAWORLD
EXCELLENT!
shayhurs
well done!
wblack
Wonderful sophistication -- love all the details, the varied spacecraft, this is very nicely done all around.
RodS
Mike, you get more out of Bryce than anyone I know! These ships are amazing. The tiny ships far below the station give this an incredible feeling of depth, and the incomprehensible vastness of the universe. Just amazing! Hope to get back to playing with Bryce myself once things here calm down a bit.
kjer_99
Yes, it definitely has a worn sense to it. Interesting writing too.
Debwhosmiles
Awesome construct! Very complex. Love your story with it! =)
carlx
Superb space station and mood!!!
MagikUnicorn
EXCELLENT
gmvgmvgmv
Fine render with an awesomely detailed model. Lots of nooks and crannies to explore.
dcmstarships
interesting space station design with great background work