After coming across this beautiful computer model of a Federation starbase at starstation.wordpress.com, I asked the creator Basill if he would allow us to use his images and stat up his version of Star Station India. He has graciously agreed, and so ELH and I bring you the stats for the Lotus-class starbase. This could be a great home setting for a DS9-style game.
Here’s Star Station India as Basill envisioned it. Later in the article, we will discuss how you may integrate this into your campaign.
Star Station India is an exemplar of the Lotus class starbase, and orbits a moon of a gas giant. It is the main orbital facility of Starbase 37, which has a planetary facility on the moon as well. The Lotus class made its first appearance in mid-2280s, just before Excelsior-class starships traveled the stars.
It consists of a command pod atop four upper pylons, each of which connects to a pier assemblage. Four lower pylons continue from the piers and connect to a ring-shaped base where the deuterium storage tanks reside. Four fueling stations are attached to the lower pylons on the inward side. Each arm is called an Arch, and named after the four cardinal directions. SoLo is a premiere observation lounge within the inner South Arch.
Each pier has two concourse levels sandwiching the main gangway extensions, with primary shuttlebays and maintenance bays directly beneath the lower concourse. Within each pier the large bays are interconnected, creating one immense bay throughout the pier structure, but sections can be isolated as needed. Bay doors are sealed by large-scale force fields. Each pier has a large docking port, projecting inward toward the station’s central axis of symmetry. The inner docks are often better for larger ships and shorter layovers. Outward, the central bays, also called ‘cradle docks’, are partially enclosed due to the large jetty structures that are part of the pier, and are better for ships requiring more extensive maintenance. Each pier may also accommodate multiple additional ships at different angles. The orbital structure is defended by phaser banks, photon torpedoes, and a tractor beam.
Here are some more images of Star Station India, but check out his original images and concept at his website. There are also docking scenes. Please visit his site, read about his vision, and applaud his efforts.
Basill places the station close to Klingon space and the Taurus Reach, possibly within a sector or two of Organian Space. Some maps place Star Station India in India Sector, within reach of K7, Sherman’s Planet, Organia, and the Taurus Reach.
Star Station India was referenced in a TNG episode, “Unnatural Selection”. There it was near Gagarin, and at least one map source placed it on the far side of Romulan space, between Starbases 173 and 123.
So, given the inconsistency, it’s really up to you where you place it, based on the needs of your campaign. You can also create your own Lotus class starbase with a designation from the NATO phonetic alphabet (although some combinations might sound strange):
Alfa, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Juliett, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, X-ray, Yankee, Zulu
If you are using our Sargon and Beyond campaign setting, Star Station Echo could have been upgraded to the Lotus class configuration around 2290.
The stats are for a Lotus class built in 2286, but you may of course apply Refits as necessary.
