Basalt Station

The culture of the Basaltites is one of pride and order. They see their status not as a privilege but as the just reward for their essential skills and unwavering loyalty.

The station's professional diversity creates a more dynamic social fabric than in other stations; engineers mingle with doctors and off-duty Wardens in cafes and public libraries. There is a strong emphasis on education, professional guilds, and community standards. Weaving is treated as a respectable craft and a subtle status symbol. A perfectly tailored uniform from an Alternation Weave or an intricate set of dining utensils from a Creation Weave are signs of a skilled and prosperous household.

The Council's presence here is less oppressive and more bureaucratic, providing reliable services in exchange for the station's crucial labor and political support.

The Wardens are professional and well-equipped, and their patrols are seen by the residents as a welcome source of protection. The Watchers, while numerous, are later models that blend more smoothly into the architecture. For most Basaltites, who have little to hide, the surveillance network is viewed as a necessary component of the security that guarantees their comfortable lives.

The economy includes a mix of skilled trades, retail and service industries. Many residents work in maintenance, repair, and administrative roles, contributing to the overall stability of Fortrop.

A burgeoning technology sector has started to emerge, with some residents developing small tech startups and innovative solutions to everyday problems, often drawing on the expertise of engineers from Fabrik Station.

Low to mid-rise residential buildings, which are more spacious and better maintained than those for the lower class. Apartments often have basic amenities and shared communal spaces.

There are public amenities available, like parks, recreational centres and libraries.

Basalt is semi-well connected and has a (mostly) reliable public transport systems, including trams and shuttles. There are walkways and cycling paths across it.

Most of Basalt is housing, and so the residential district is the more prominent. It has a mix of apartments and single family quarters.

There is also a busy commercial district with shops, cafes and restaurants. The market is formalised, with various small businesses catering to the local population, including grocery stores and specialty shops.

Trade unions operate within Basalt Station, advocating for workers' rights and better working conditions. These unions hold regular meetings and collaborate with each other on issues affecting their members.

There are various community groups that focus on local issues, including environmental concerns, social justice, and economic development. These groups, however, are mostly loud without any substance behind them; even if events or initiatives are organised, they are quickly shut down.

Plaza of Concord is the station's largest public square, surrounded by sanctioned restaurants and cafes. It is a common site for public addresses from the Ministry of Civil Affairs and state-approved festivals.

The Basalt Technical Guildhall is a prestigious institution where the station's various tradespeople can network, receive advanced training, and maintain their high-level certifications.

The Promenade is the main commercial thoroughfare, featuring shops that sell higher-quality goods unattainable in the lower decks, such as flavored nutrient paste, synthesized textiles, and recreational data-slates.

Public Library Archive 3 is one of the few remaining libraries on the Fortrop, its access is a privilege of middle-class citizenship. It contains a wealth of technical manuals and Council-approved historical and fictional texts.

Positioned in the well-protected mid-section of the ship, Basalt's design is a significant step up from the lower stations. The architecture is still based on a functional, brutalist framework, but it is of a much higher grade. The concrete is polished, metal surfaces are clean stainless steel, and structural conduits are hidden behind well-maintained wall panels.

The layout is logical and open, with wide thoroughfares and residential blocks built around clean, central plazas. The station's lighting is bright and consistent, and the air filtration is noticeably superior to that of the decks below.