Coal Station

The culture of the Smokers is defined by the brutal, 18-hour work shifts and the deafening noise. As a result, their society is built around tight-knit work crews who function as surrogate families, communicating through a mix of loud shouts, specific hand signals, and slang unintelligible to outsiders.

There is a powerful sense of pride in their role, mixed with a deep rage at the neglect they endure. Gallows humor is their primary language, and loyalty is given only to their crew, never to the Council. Weaving here is a tool as any other, used often and freely.

Coal Station is under the direct control of the Ministry of Infrastructure. It is not managed like a community but like a resource mine. The "rulers" are production foremen and supervisors who value quotas above worker safety.

The Wardens stationed here are the most hardened and brutal, acting as strike-breakers and guards for key infrastructure rather than peacekeepers. The Watchers are heavily armored, environmentally-sealed units designed to withstand the heat and grime. They are programmed to monitor machinery for signs of sabotage and the workforce for signs of organised labor movements.

The economy of Coal Station is driven by manual labor and manufacturing. Many residents work in factories under harsh conditions, producing goods for other stations. The economic disparity between Coal and other stations is stark.

The black market is thriving in Coal. It plays a huge role in the station’s economy. Illegal trade, smuggling, and unregulated businesses thrive, often with the tacit approval of corrupt officials looking the other way for a bribe.

Coal Station features overcrowded, dilapidated residential buildings. Many homes are cramped, poorly maintained, and lack basic amenities, contributing to a sense of desperation and squalor.

Public facilities are minimal and often in disrepair. There are few parks or recreational areas, and those that exist are poorly maintained. Essential services like healthcare and sanitation are severely lacking.

Public transport is unreliable and often unsafe. Many residents rely on walking or makeshift vehicles to get around. The station’s walkways and streets are narrow, cluttered, and in poor condition, reflecting the general neglect of the area.

Coal Station houses the Fortrop's mechanical and life support systems. Workshops and control rooms for oxygen generators, water recyclers, and other essential systems are found here, ensuring the survival of the entire spacecraft.

The residential areas are characterised by overcrowded, rundown buildings. The atmosphere is one of neglect and decay, with makeshift structures and a general sense of disarray.

The industrial district is dominated by factories and workshops, many of which operate under harsh conditions. Pollution is rampant, and safety standards are often ignored, leading to frequent accidents and health issues that no one really cares about anymore; they're the norm.

The systems' district houses the critical life support systems, including oxygen generators, water recyclers, and air filtration units. It is heavily guarded and maintained by a small team of specialised workers

Labor unions exist but are often weak and infiltrated by government spies; people gave up trying to better their situation and settle for the status quo.

Various criminal gangs control different parts of the station, engaging in turf wars and illicit activities. They often provide protection and resources that the official infrastructure does not.

The Reactor Core Chamber is the heart of Fortrop; a massive, shielded sphere containing the fusion reactor. The chamber is scalding hot and illuminated by a blue lightm and accessible only to elite technicians.

The FCF-7 Purification Plant is a located in a secure, isolated facility within Coal where elite Alternation Weavers purify the ship's coolant plasma.

The "Nests" are the residential zones. These are stacks of repurposed shipping containers and other scrap, welded together and crammed onto high catwalks and platforms above the factory floor. They are unstable and incredibly crowded.

The Scrap-Heap Market is the unofficial bazaar operating in a disused smelting chamber where workers trade scavenged parts, stolen tools, and potent, illegal stimulants necessary to somehow endure the work shifts.

Coal is made out of machinery, hissing pipes, grated catwalks, and exposed power conduits. There are no planned streets or public squares, only maintenance tunnels and accessways connecting vast, cavernous factory floors.

The architecture is purely functional and has been pushed far beyond its intended lifespan. Surfaces are raw, unpolished steel stained with grease and corrosion. Makeshift structures and unofficial workshops are crammed into every available space. The air is thick with heat, steam, and the metallic tang of ozone, creating a permanent smog.

Poor living and working conditions lead to frequent health crises. Accidents, pollution, and lack of medical care result in high mortality rates and widespread chronic illnesses.